Sports and leisure activities Dordogne

An outing for the whole family or a group of friends, to cruise slowly along the Dordogne, from 8 km in 1h30 (Vitrac), to 16 km in 3 hours (La Roque-Gageac) or 22 km in 4 hours 30 (Beynac). Multi-day hikes (2 to 7) are also available to enjoy a different view of the Périgord countryside, its castles and typical villages, not forgetting swimming breaks on the pebbles. This rental company awaits you 7 km from Sarlat to tell you all about the region and get you out on the water. They'll give you practical advice, transport you by bus and lend you all the equipment you need.

This Adventure Park offers 11 tree courses of progressive difficulty, depending on your desires for sensations, emotions, thrills or challenges, and 171 workshops. A course for toddlers from 2 years old allows adults to keep an eye on their budding Indiana Jones. The duration of the adventure courses is between 2h30 and 5 hours, depending on the difficulty. There is also an area reserved for Paintball on a surface of 6 hectares and a Via Ferrata. The participants operate in complete autonomy, but ground patrollers are there to ensure safety.

From an individual canoe or kayak trip down the Dordogne from the base at Vitrac, to a group caving excursion, climbing or horse-riding, Canoës-Loisirs organizes a wide range of outdoor sporting and cultural activities. On the river, you'll experience an exceptional moment as you navigate. Choose from a range of free descents from 9 km to 25 km for a magical day, or multi-day trips with overnight camping or hotel accommodation.

Take a walk to the rhythm of a donkey's footsteps, for a day or more. These companions can carry your luggage and tired legs, up to a week's walk, with a stopover at a campsite or farmhouse. Several types of stay are available. Arcâne also designs your hikes and pre-books accommodation for your departure and return to the ferme du Clédou. Nathalie offers a gîte for 8 to 10 people. She processes and sells biodynamically-produced plants from the farm in the form of cosmetics and herbal teas.

Christelle Magnier, a student of equestrian tourism, takes you to horseback riding, for a simple walk of one to two hours or for a day or longer hike. For younger people, a playful initiation to horseback riding and pony rides is offered.

In the land of canoeing, Stand Up Paddle Périgord has opened France's first river-based Stand Up Paddle rental school. Stand Up Paddle or SUP is a new water sport, an outdoor leisure activity derived from surfing. It's practiced on long, bulky, highly stable boards with a large paddle. A great way to get out on the water, it's fun, easy and accessible to all, and is said to keep you in shape. Initiations, accompanied descents among medieval castles and prehistoric remains are on the program.

This ski lift, one of the best equipped in France, regularly attracts high level training courses and regional or national competitions. Specialized wakeboard operators will welcome you and help you to progress, on a water surface protected from the wind in the middle of nature. Kneeboarding (the simplest activity) is a water sport that consists of sliding on the water in a kneeling position on a board. You can try water skiing and wakeboarding for the more adventurous. A double pulley allows people over 10 years old to try it.

It offers a variety of dance classes for all ages and levels. Adults can participate in ballet classes focusing on postural maintenance, while children aged 8 and over can take ballet classes. Teenagers can also take part in ballet classes. Couples can take classes in Cuban salsa, rock, jive, samba, cha-cha-cha, paso doble, rumba, quickstep, tango, waltz and ballroom. Individual dance classes are also available, with choreography for madison, charleston, rock/jive, samba, tango, cha-cha-cha, jerusalem, etc. The school also offers tap dance classes. Trial classes are offered and enrolment is open all year round. Private lessons and special private lessons for weddings are also available by appointment. The school is run by Nathalie, a state-certified teacher and choreographer in ballet, Latin dance and standards.

La Grange aux Livres is a bookbinding workshop located in Florimont-Gaumier. Run by Anne-Marie Mamet, the workshop offers bookbinding, gilding and restoration services for antique books and documents for private and public customers. They also carry out artistic projects on commission, such as guest books and wedding albums. La Grange aux Livres also offers bookbinding courses and workshops on request. The workshop participates in antique book fairs in the region, notably in Dordogne, Lot and Gironde. They specialize in different types of bindings, ranging from classical to "Bradel" bindings, as well as bindings with or without nerves. La Grange aux Livres also offers a small stationery shop, with albums, notebooks and cardboard boxes.

Stéphane and Georges, who are passionate about equestrian tourism, create four- to six-day tours that include visits to sites, museums, caves, local gastronomy and accommodation in gîtes. The horses are authentic trekking horses, and the saddles are by Gaston Mercier or Forestier, as good as armchairs! Last but not least, Joëlle Fournier welcomes you to her gîte and offers riding lessons and courses.

The Spéléo Club de Périgueux is a sports club based in Périgueux. With 33 members of the French caving federation, the club offers caving adventures to discover and explore the underground environment in complete safety. The club's website provides more information on activities and membership options.

From the base at Cénac or Siorac-en-Périgord, there is a wide choice of routes ranging from seven to thirty kilometers between Saint-Julien-de-Lampon and Limeuil. You're free to ride for half a day, a full day or just a few hours. With a little training and determination, it's also possible to go on real treks of two or more days on the waters of the Dordogne, from 38 to 110 km. It's a wonderful experience in an exceptional natural setting that will leave you with wonderful memories, whether with friends or family.

River Canoë Kayak offers free hiking on the Dordogne. The beginner journey stretches over six kilometers to the small picturesque town of Allas-les-Mines. Enjoy a stop and discover its Gallo-Roman heritage and Renaissance style buildings. Back to the starting point, if you want to renew the experience, longer shipments are possible towards Grolejac, Vitrac or La Roque-Gageac.

Tariff: 10 € in canoe and 14 € in kayak (6 € for children under 10 years).

Duration: 1:30.

Difficulty: easy.

Located in the heart of the Périgord Noir in the Dordogne, the La Marterie golf course (Par 73, 5,748 metres) is part of the Glofy network. It offers players a beautiful hilly course (good legs or an electric cart are required) of 18 holes with water hazards and bunkers, between forest, heather and broom. La Marterie golf course offers visitors a practice area, a putting green, a pitching green and a practice bunker. The main advantage of this course is that it can be played all year round, as rainwater does not stagnate.

Here is a little corner of freshness below the Château d'Hautefort, which will be a great ally for your desire to laze by the water. All in length, the small pond of the Cuckoo is anchored in a green setting. At your disposal, picnic tables, inflatable water games in season, a small beach and even a guinguette to provide you with food and drink! This spot is also very popular with fishermen. It is really pleasant to go around the pond (5 km), on foot, by bike or even on horseback. A fitness trail marks out the route.

Caroline and Thierry Tribier organize courses called duck fat. During 2 days, the gourmets will be able to live at the rhythm of the farm and the manufacture of preserves according to the traditional techniques. 2 days of cutting, salting and cooking confits, pâtés and stuffed necks and making semi-cooked foie gras. Between tastings and visits to a nearby site, you will also be able to discover the farm and its practices and traditions. At the end of the stay, everyone will leave with their own production and will be able to impress their guests during a future meal.

" Arborigène "proposes to rediscover Nature by teaching you to climb in the trees safely, to ruin in height and even to sleep in the branches… whether you are alone or in groups. So you can practice the "climb" over a 1-day period at 2 days.

Allo Canoë offers you to discover the region on board a canoe-kayak. Located on the banks of the Dronne, the base allows you to evolve on the river for 1 hour, half a day, a day or even several days if you wish. Beginners can try canoeing on the Fontaine d'Amour-Vigonac course, estimated at two hours. You will be able to discover the fauna and flora that feed on the water of the Dronne, but also the architectural heritage of the places you cross.

Price : 30 €, 15 € per person (for a two-seater canoe).

Duration : from one hour.

Difficulty : easy.

At the beginning of Brantôme, Brantôme Canoes invites you to discover the Green Périgord in canoe or kayak. Several routes are possible around the Dronne, including this mini-hiking. 4 km long, it is the easiest route to start. You will descend the river from Brantôme to Fountain of Love (count from 1 am to 1 pm), accompanied by a monitor. The return to the starting point is done by shuttle - nothing easier! Canoes, kayaks and paddles-up are also available to train around Brantôme.

Tariff: 20 € for two people for a canoe ride, or € 10 for the time of a kayak. It is better to book ahead during July-August.

Duration: from one hour.

Difficulty: .

Jean-François welcomes you in Dordogne for a moment of sport and relaxation. Whether alone or accompanied, you will be able to sail on a canoe or kayak. Several routes are available depending on your time: rent on time, Cubas-Tourtoirac or Cubas-Sainte-Eulalie, and many more. Depending on your choice, shuttles come to get you back to the base, allowing you to go further without saving forces for return! Green 'Auvézère also offers climbing, mountain biking and speleology.

Tariff: 6 € per person for a canoe, 8 € for a kayak.

Duration: an hour.

Difficulty: easy.

Please note: Green 'Auvézère can accompany you in your outings throughout the year (reservation).

Canoes Valley Vézère proposes you to spend time and the Vézère to discover the landscapes that attracted the first men. The base is located in Les Eyzies, capital of Prehistory, where you can choose the most suitable course. Varying from one hour to the day, the choices are multiple and the prices include a departure by mini-bus, which allows you to carry out the journey in one direction. The simplest route is the Parcours route. It is 9 km long and lasts 1 hours and is accessible to all.

Tariff: 16 € in canoeing and 18 € in kayak.

Duration: one hour.

Difficulty: .

The architectural heritage of the Périgord Noir is easily discovered on foot, but it is even more impressive since the water! That's why Périgord Colors offers you to visit the Valley of Castles in canoe kayak. Several routes (from 5 to 22 km) will allow you to descend the river by passing through the castles of Montfort, Castelnaud and Beynac, and in front of the fort of Roque-Gajeac. A mini bus takes you to the starting point, so you don't have to go back to your steps. The simplest route is the one linking Vézac and La Roque in an hour. However, the rental takes place at half-day; So you can take the time to stop on the way, where you look!

Tariff: from 12 € canoe or kayak of 2/3/4 seats, 13 € kayak of 1 square.

Duration: an hour.

Difficulty: easy.

There is no reason to stay home during the summer when Canoës Butterfly offers you the opportunity to discover the region so playfully! Several routes are possible to explore the surroundings of Castelnaud by voicing on the Dordogne; the easiest of them links Castelnaud to Beynac. This 5 km itinerary can be traveled within an hour. Accessible to beginners, this «mini-descent of Castles» will allow you to admire Castles Castelnaud, Frayrac and Beynac, as well as the Pech Bridge.

Tariff: 10 € in canoe, 13 € in kayak.

Duration: from an hour.

Difficulty: easy.

At Canoes Roquegeoffre, everything is done for you to spend a good time. On reservation, you can choose the course that is most tempting for you: Enveaux-Vézac (7 km), Enveaux-Les Pendoilles (14 km) or Enveaux-Carsac (28 km). So you can leave your vehicle at the port of Enveaux, where the base is located, so that a mini bus takes you to the desired place. Then you only have to go down the river to join the base. Easy!

Tariff: from 10 € for a single kayak; from 8,50 € for double kayak or canoe (two to three places).

Duration: from one hour.

Difficulty: .