Water sports and leisure activities Midi-Pyrénées

Beginners and families will find their happiness in Villefranche thanks to the kayaks of the Sports and Nature Association. Those who try water sports for the first time will be able to rent a boat on time to train on the water, with or without a monitor. Next, the association offers a tour of the city known as "Hike des Moulins". A monitor will accompany you for two hours to guide you and present you the sights of the city from water. In addition, you will learn to cross the dams through playful slides designed specifically for canoes.

Tariff: 3 € for the rental of a kayak for 1 h.

Difficulty: .

Canyoning, via ferrata, climbing, caving: Esprit Nature Canoe is the specialist in the discovery of the Gorges of the Tarn in all its forms. However, the most accessible activity remains kayaking: river runs can be organized in formula kayaks or tandem canoes. The choice of course depends on your level: two family courses of 7 km and 14 km connecting Lights to Peyrelade or Rose, while three sports courses of 11 km, 17 km and 24 km depart from Vineyards. Rental rates include a shuttle journey to the chosen location.

Tariff: from 15 € per person in the canoe.

Duration: from one hour.

Difficulty: .

Located on the banks of the Lot, Bouillac's nautical base offers you the opportunity to discover rowing and canoeing. Up to three people can ride on the same boat, ideal for a sport moment with family or friends. Several different pathways of intensities are accessible from the base. The shortest, 2 h, is a round-trip between the base and La Roque-Bouillac. The other courses are in a sense only, the longest way to reach Grand-Vabre in 27 km.

Tariff: 15 € for the rental of a canoe (two or three people) on the small course.

Duration: 2 h.

Difficulty: .

This aquatic area in Palavas has everything: a 25-metre sports pool for free or in-course swimming, aquagym, aquabike, a play pool, slides, paddling pools, as well as outdoor games? Open every day, even on public holidays, you can rent a water line to swim at your own pace, or do an introduction to rescue and first aid from 13 years old. It's a relaxing and enjoyable rendezvous with the pretty and sporty Palavas. It's perfect, especially if you want to avoid crowded beaches and have games.

Looking for thrills? The base of Antignac awaits you. On the program, four activities are proposed: Archery game and Laser tag, water game and bouncy castle in summer only. The latest addition is the water gun. Equipped with technological water guns SPYRABLAST with a full tank, you can shoot 22 SpyraBlasts! Your tactical display shows tank volume and battery status at all times. Your feet are dry but you still come out wet if your opponent is a good shot! You have the choice to fill up with unique memories!

The base offers tourists the opportunity to relive the course of the gabares, these flat-bottomed boats which transport fertilizers, cereals, wines and armagnacs at the beginning of the last century. It is an opportunity to discover old buildings, mills, forges, mills and many animal species: cendrés herons, black, crested, wild ducks, poules, martins, ragondins, etc. A trail is signposted from 5 to 8,5 km for those who do not have the foot of the sea, a beautiful discovery of the river along its banks. Since 2007, new: discovery classes on topics related to the environment and days for works councils with full course over a day, picnic and tasting of regional products.

Usually on Orb, the canal du midi or the lakes of the béziers hinterland, the rowing machines of the club of Béziers like to practice their sport among the most beautiful aquatic landscapes of the region. On the basis of water, Sérignan place of usual training, the club setup a welcome to help the setting with the water of the boats. Men, women and children, this activity are open to all from the age of 11. You can even row in a specific way for a modest contribution starting from March regarding water béziers.

The young people and beginners are guided by qualified instructors of the federation. A single or a crew, this very complete sport is practised in leisure or competition.

The sailing section of the ASPTT does not organize regular offshore outings during the year. However, cruises can be made on request. Costa Brava, Balearic Islands, Marseille coves, a day of relaxation, a week-end, a week or more, it is possible to navigate through the most beautiful sites on the Mediterranean coast. During the summer, young people can take advantage of the introductory courses of the sailing school.

The Etang de Thau offers a variety of sites with favorable, safe and ideal conditions for learning to glide. The team, led by François Rouquette, offers discovery, initiation and improvement sessions and courses. Kithau offers a supervised efoil rental service, a wakeboard school with a wakepark, babyski and babywake from 3 years old, canoe and Stand Up Paddle rentals, but also a restaurant, a beach, games, a skate park... Everything is gathered to spend a delightful day.

Esprit Nature offers a wide range of sporting activities, from free activities (such as canoe and kayak hire for half-day, full-day or multi-day trips) to supervised activities (a qualified instructor accompanies you on an outdoor sports course such as caving, via ferrata, climbing, canyoning, canoeing and kayaking). Esprit Nature's teams have years of experience in outdoor activities. Adapted practice sites, qualified instructors and up-to-date equipment are your guarantee of quality.

Ideally situated at the entrance to the Tarn Gorges, this club offers canoe and kayak hire on 3 different routes to choose from depending on your level. The 7 km course is ideal for families with small children or for people who are afraid of falling into the water. Those who are more experienced will choose the 11 km course starting from Les Vignes. You can discover, in turn, the fauna and flora, the perched and troglodyte villages, without forgetting to negotiate the numerous "rapids". By combining the two courses, the endurance course will take you over 18 km.

Aqua'Causs is located on the river bank in a 15th century mill at the foot of the pretty village of Cazals. We are in the heart of the gorges. Upstream, Saint-Antonin and Feynerols; downstream, Penne and Bruniquel. Here, the river is descended by canoe. An ideal and original way to discover this exceptional region. Different departures are possible, from Saint-Antonin or from Cazals. On arrival, don't forget to have a drink at the guinguette in Cazals (if it's open!) and to stroll through the old stones of the village.

Located in a wooded setting, this artificial lake of about ten kilometres long is sometimes difficult to access but it is worth the effort. Although swimming is not allowed, it attracts fishermen and windsurfers. It is also dotted with numerous hiking trails and offers the possibility of picnicking in peace. From the lake, a 53-kilometre hiking trail, inaugurated in 2002, leads to the Banquet Gorge. Vertiginous, wedged between the rock and the thick forest, it is an astonishing spectacle that never disappoints.

In this leisure center, water activities will delight lovers of aquatic sensations but also artists of strolling! Skilifts, water games, water jumps, inflatable games, slides, and stand up paddle rentals create this "new generation" space. In this setting where it is as pleasant to move as to stop, deckchairs and a restaurant area are available for a relaxing break. An open-air space where each member of the family will find something to do among the many activities.

Copeyre canoeing is 120 km of descent on the Dordogne to discover its treasures. From Argentat to Beynac, you will navigate through 3 departments with varied landscapes: Corrèze, Lot and Dordogne. Day trips, or hikes over several days, create your own route. Paddle or Giant Paddle (8 people max) available in Copeyre and Gluges. Free bus ride up. Only condition: to be able to swim alone 25m. Also hire of mountain bikes, mountain bikes and electric bikes. For all rentals, access to the Quercyland water park is offered the same day.

Notice to sailing, kitesurfing and paddleboarding enthusiasts and professionals... L'école de la mer, a huge white vessel inaugurated in 2018 to best meet the needs of trainees. For over 25 years, the association has been providing all apprentice sailors, riders and experts with adapted equipment. The sports village adjoins the nautical base. It faces the catamaran and optimist slipway, the UCPA pontoon for boat access to kitesurfing spots, and is located 200 meters from Plage-Nord and close to the shops.

In the heart of the Louron valley, the 32-hectare Lac de Loudenvielle, managed by APPMA du Louron, offers a wide range of activities. Fish for fario trout and brook salmon, stroll along the paths around the lake, enjoy the children's play areas or sail on the lake. You can also relax at the Balnéa spa center, which uses sulfur hot springs. With easy access by car and located at the foot of the Val Louron and Peyragudes resorts, it's an ideal destination in summer and winter alike.

Nani and Vivien, passionate about board sports and former professional snowboarders, warmly welcome you to the Duck Wake Park for a session of wakeboarding pulled by a water ski cable, paddle or towed buoy. They are committed to offering family-friendly, sporty, inclusive and ethical activities by sharing their good mood and dynamism. It is the ideal place for all the amateurs of new experiences and strong sensations! On the spot, you will also find a refreshment bar and a snack for a break between two sessions.

For those who love new sensations and exceptional panoramas, water skydiving combines these pleasures. We embark on a boat, put on our harness and fly away solo, in pairs or even in threes under the same parachute to enjoy a breathtaking view. To accompany us, qualified instructors are very attentive: advice, smile and good atmosphere are there. Unforgettable landscapes guaranteed!

10 minutes from Thermal and close to Monestiés, this recreation base is dedicated to outdoor activities: sailing, quad, horse riding, rowing… Many hiking paths are also available. And for contemplative, the activities of discovery of the fauna and flora, and aquatic activities around the lake, remain. Swimming is permitted and monitored on the bank of Almayrac in July and August.

Toulouse has twelve municipal swimming pools. Some of them are open to the public and are only accessible on sunny days. They all follow the same rules: unified rates, compulsory underwear and bathing cap, automatic deposit with a one euro coin. It is possible to learn to swim, to improve swimming skills up to rescue level, to learn to dive or to swim with fins, to overcome aquaphobia or even to do aquagym. Visit the website of the city of Toulouse to find the pool nearest you.

Nice leisure center hidden in the middle of oak trees in a hilly environment. The fine sandy beach is safe for the little ones. There is plenty to keep you busy (flyboard, pedal boats, archery, beach soccer, children's games...) and plenty to refresh and eat at the brewery. Swimming is supervised in the afternoon, on weekends in June and September from 12:00 to 18:00, and every day in July and August from 12:00 to 19:00. Throughout the year, the lake is freely accessible to walkers and fishermen.

Each season has its own activity at Oxygen Aventure. The range of activities is vast and the team of qualified instructors offers a multitude of activities on land, underground and on the water. The company has been in existence for some time and the instructors are well versed in the sport and will be able to guide you according to your level. Whatever the activity you choose, the equipment is of course provided because you don't go into a canyon in flip-flops! Oxygen Aventure also supervises outside the department (canyoning and potholing in Ariège) and adapts to the needs of groups (schools, sports clubs, companies...).

JetXtreme is the specialist of jet-ski and towed devices such as buoys, canapés and other bananas in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales departments. The jet-ski offer goes from the baptism to the excursion, while passing by the initiation where, well framed by a graduate monitor, you will appreciate your session in full safety.

Nick and Marie's little electric boats are a big hit! Whether you're with family or friends, hop aboard these comfortable, quiet 5- to 7-seater boats, and let the adventure begin in Gruissan's vast outer harbor. Drop anchor for a picnic or a swim... unless you fancy a spot of fishing. You'll discover Gruissan from a different angle, with magnificent scenery and a "wow" effect guaranteed! Tip: remember to book in advance.

The La Prade leisure park in Lunas is an excellent idea for a day out, ideal for spending time with family and friends in summer. Equipped with fun pools and waterslides, you'll enjoy playing in the water and lounging on the lakeshore to soak up the sun. Children can also have fun on the playgrounds or take part in sports activities. This leisure park is smaller than other establishments of the same type, but more pleasant thanks to its family atmosphere and friendly management.

Although in general we like to know the history of a city through its old stones, why not discover the history of Béziers along the water? This is what Smile Kayak proposes. In paddle, canoe or pedal boat, the regulars will be able to start the adventure without any problem while the beginners will be able to benefit from an initiation. The only conditions to be able to get into the water: to have sneakers and to know how to swim! For an even more pleasant trip, opt for the canoe and picnic on the banks of the Orb.

Are you more of a leisurely stroll or a thrill? No matter, at Leucate Jetski we adapt to your level and your desires. The company offers a wide range of activities, from a 15-minute initiation to a 1-hour ride. The latter will make you discover the most beautiful places of the Leucatan coast: the cliffs at the foot of the semaphore, La Franqui and its famous beach which hosts the Mondial du vent every year. You can even take a break to swim in the Big Blue! For a good laugh, opt for the towed buoys!

If you spend your vacations, a weekend or if you live in Port-Leucate, the desire to take the wind on a sailing machine must have already titillated you... Windsurfing, catamaran, sand yacht, optimist, pirogue, canoe paddle, there is something for all desires, all levels and all ages (from 8 years). A preparation to competition (regattas, races) is also proposed, with the material at disposal. We tested the 5-day windsurfing initiation course (more than 7 hours of sailing). Clément, our state-qualified instructor, was very patient even if our group was particularly alert on this board mounted with a 4 meters sail and a wind force close to zero. This is where it gets complicated for the coach. But Clément, as a good teacher and a very good technician, was able to tackle different exercises such as sailing with a crosswind, gybing, tacking, starting to sail upwind... Note that the navigation takes place on the XXL pond of Port Leucate, a particularly beautiful site, with a unique panorama on the Mediterranean. At the end of the course, we received a booklet from the federation with our first level validated. The latest equipment is very well maintained and adapted to all levels. In spite of the light wind, which is very rare here, we had a great time without any headaches and we definitely wanted to pass the second level!

The Direct Wind club is based in La Franqui, on the Coussoules beach (7 km), which enjoys wind more than 320 days a year between sand, lagoon and sea. As a surfshop, rental base and surf school, you can practice kitesurfing, windsurfing, wing-foil and stand-up paddle with equipment from Cabrinha, Eleveight, Neil pryde, Dakine, Sooruz... Lessons and rentals on site for beginners and advanced with F400 SCHOOL. The DW club offers a lounge bar and restaurant. The surfshop offers brands such as Seafolly, Ripcurl, Oneill, Bana Moon..

The surroundings of Carbonne are rich in water bodies developed in former gravel pits. It is on one of them that La Source Wake Park is installed, a complex which offers a small water ski lift course, an aqua park with inflatables, paddleboat rental, playgrounds and finally a restaurant. Please note that swimming is not allowed outside the areas that have been secured for underwater activities, nor is it possible to have a picnic. Book a refreshing session on the facilities offered.

Remember Point Break? Buddy is not dead, he retired to TSJ, and he's got it all figured out: a large, semi-covered wooden terrace just a stone's throw from the water, a tasteful decoration that combines rustic and modern, Buddha Bar-style lounge music and a nice team. And when the day falls, it's theme night all summer long. Forget about lazing around, the TSJ water park offers several activities from 4 to 77 years old: ski lift, water jump... A unique site in France thanks to the layout of the jumping modules.

From Saint-Amans, you take the D999 towards Ribennes and after a few kilometers, you reach the Colagne valley, on which an artificial dam has created a small lake. On its beach, a refreshment stand installs its tables and parasols, rents canoes, pedal boats and mountain bikes. Games (swings and slides) keep the children busy while the parents relax. The experienced fisherman will look for some quiet spots to catch trout. In season, the beach is supervised by a lifeguard.

PRA 66 cultivates the family spirit, and customers love it. Try canyoning from beginners to experienced sportsmen with high quality equipment and video of your exploits offered. For quad biking, an A or B licence is required and you can go for an adventure on paths with a view of the Canigó and the Salses ponds. The children will discover the games of skill on target and the older ones will let off steam at the paint ball. Only on reservation.

Copeyre canoeing is 120 km of descent on the Dordogne to discover its treasures. From Argentat to Beynac, you will navigate through 3 departments with varied landscapes: Corrèze, Lot and Dordogne. Day trips, or hikes over several days, create your own route. Paddles or Giant Paddles (8 people max) available in Copeyre and Gluges. Free bus ride up. Only condition: to be able to swim alone 25 m. Also hire of mountain bikes, mountain bikes and electric bikes. For all rentals, access to the Quercyland water park is offered the same day.

Club Nautique de Collioure is a sailing club located on the Saint-Vincent beach in Collioure. It offers sailing courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced. Courses generally take place on RS Féva, 3m70 boats ideal for learning the basics of double-handed sailing. The club welcomes people from 12 to 77 years of age and offers the possibility of sailing with mainsail, jib and asymmetric spinnaker on downwind points of sail. The Club Nautique de Collioure aims to develop sailing, particularly among young people. It works with the Fédération Française de Voile, the Collioure town council and the Occitanie region to achieve this goal.

This canoeing base, run by seasoned sportsmen and women, is located in Comprégnac, on the grounds of Le Katalpa campsite. A privileged spot to offer their customers real adventures in nature. Between the swift waters of the river and the fiery green of the Raspes du Tarn, the possibilities are endless - or almost: canoeing - and not just any canoe! All activities, whether independent or accompanied, are an opportunity to discover exceptional flora and fauna, breathtaking landscapes, villages and remarkable structures.

After exploring Narbonne, how about a boat trip on the Canal? It's a fun way to discover the city from a different angle. Children love it, especially when they're at the helm! After a short tour of the Pont des marchands (starting point) and the "Entre deux villes" footbridge, you're off in the direction of the sea! Another plus: the boats are electric, so your outing will be eco-friendly!

In Douelle, the Nautinéa nautical base offers an introduction to canoeing or paddling, electric-assist bike hire or an 11.5 km descent of the river Lot to the Caïx nautical base. The return journey can be made by shuttle bus or by renting electric bikes at the Caïx base and returning to your starting point via the Voie Verte: the 2 bases are linked so that you can benefit from the best sporting and nautical plans. What better way to spend a superb day enjoying the river and its many activities!

This sailing club is a specialist in multi-activities. Wingsurf, kayak, stand up paddle, catamaran, dinghy, pedal boat, efoil, optimist... There is something for everyone with Bouzigliss! The team of instructors offers a discovery of sailing and the pleasures of gliding on the Thau lagoon, around Bouzigues. Whether you want to learn or practice your favorite sport, this is a good place to have fun with friends or family.

Set alongside a pretty pine forest, this is the ideal place to learn or improve your sailing skills. Courses and private lessons are supervised by qualified, experienced instructors. Sea garden for the little ones, optimist from age 7, funboat or catamaran for teenagers: there's something for everyone! We also love our trips on Le Baroulaïre, a sailboat that allows families and friends to discover the marine environment and try their hand at maneuvering and steering.

A river trip? Rent a boat for 2 to 12 people. From the rental base in Douelle, sail west towards Luzech, the last Gallic village that resisted Julius Caesar. Towards the east, you can moor your boat without a licence at the foot of the Château de Mercuès, the historic town of Cahors or the village of Larnagol before returning to the base by crossing the cliffs of Bouzies and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. A quick initiation on the spot is enough to make you a captain. Closed parking for your car during the navigation.

Although it has several bodies of water, the lake of La Ramée is the only supervised swimming area in the area. In summer, you can relax on its 2,000^m2 beach and dive into its sandy swimming area, which is up to three meters deep! In addition to its tree-lined lawn, it is equipped with a first aid station, toilets and showers. Agents and lifeguards ensure the safety of all. A very nice place where you feel like you are on vacation even if you spend the summer in the city, as well as a pleasant place to walk in the off-season.

Nestled between the Corbières massif, the Grande Bleue and the pond that bears its name, the commune of Sigean boasts a choice setting that will appeal to nature lovers and sports enthusiasts alike. In ancient times, Sigean was a gulf open to the sea, but today its waters join the sea via the grau de Port-La Nouvelle. Today, its 5,500 hectares are home to sailors and sports enthusiasts at the nautical base, hikers venturing into the garrigue and families enjoying country picnics.

The Aloha Jet team is the partner of your nautical holidays! Located in Leucate, the company offers trips and rentals of jet-ski and towed buoy. Everything to have fun in the sun! From the nautical base, the instructors organize and supervise initiations and jet-ski rides for holidaymakers (from 16 years old). An activity that promises great sensations! To have fun in group or family, you can also try the towed buoy and try to keep yourself on the machine despite the laughter. Activities accessible from 6 years old.

This 127-hectare lake, with a capacity of 35.6 million cubic meters, is the result of an artificial water reservoir at the Villefort dam, which is used primarily for electricity production - the hydroelectric plant is located at Pied-de-Borne - which explains the variations in water level throughout the year. But it is also a superb natural space, surrounded by the mountain, a formidable ground for many leisure activities: hiking, with 7 km of marked path around the lake, swimming, supervised on a beautiful sandy beach, in the summer afternoons, water sports, with the Grandeur Nature water sports base, a via ferrata, without forgetting fishing of course with Accueil Pêche et Nature which sells cards, equipment, rents boats and can also supervise novice fishermen, or even give introductory courses! The fario trout, the rainbow trout, the minnow and the chub indeed swim in number in the waters of the lake. Canoeing, pedal boating and windsurfing are also practiced on this site, where each corner is dedicated to a particular activity. Be careful, however, the navigation of boats is regulated, all information will be provided at the tourist office. When the waters of this dam, whose construction lasted from 1957 to 1965, are at their lowest, one can also see vestiges of the life of the past, in particular under the bridge of the XIXth century which resisted during the watering of the site. About twenty families, living in the valley, had been forced to leave.

Ghislain and Malika propose in the Terrados campsite a hundred of canoes-kayaks to go down the Tarn, along four courses from 8 to 22 km from Sainte-Enimie to Le Rozier. Perfect to discover the Détroits, the Cirque des Beaumes, the Pas du Soucy, the sablière... As well as all the remarkable villages that inhabit the banks of the Tarn: Sainte-Enimie, Saint-Chély-du-Tarn, La Malène, Les Vignes, Le Rozier... On the river, among the hundreds of boats that navigate every day, you can recognize the CTM canoes by their white or blue color.

It is one of the oldest (since 1976!) and best known boat hire companies in the gorge. From May to October, they offer routes and formulas with canoe hire and the accessories (vests, canister, paddles) necessary for a safe descent. Descents of 3, 10 or 23 km are possible. So much for the "classic" offer. More unusual formulas are proposed alongside the canoe, with bungee jumping, or the dromabox which doubles the course on the Tarn with a camel ride. There is also canoeing and mountain biking, canoeing and via ferrata...

Tramontana windsurf is a mobile windsurfing school. Thierry and Pierre, the mobile instructors, move around according to the wind and weather. In summer, these two enthusiasts set up on the banks of the Etang d'Ingril to pass on their windsurfing knowledge to holidaymakers. In French or English, beginner or advanced, you can join them for windsurfing, windsurf foiling and stand-up paddling lessons, individual or group, or even a training course.

Want to discover paddleboarding? Bérénice and her team are here to guide you. Whether you're a couple, a family or a group of friends, enjoy an unforgettable experience. Paddle through the waters of the Orb and discover the surrounding nature. Whether it's a simple initiation, a "big paddle" for up to 10 people or a descent to the sea and the Orpellières, you'll be hooked! There's also a special initiation for the very young (aged 6 and over). The club also offers electric paddles for unique and unprecedented gliding sensations.