Kayaking & Canoeing

Where should I go?

The Ardeche River in south-central France is a world-famous favourite for kayaking holidays, with dramatic scenery and crystal waters. For sea kayaking with an edge, head to Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, where the waters are so clear you can see the ruins of the sunken city of Kekova beneath the waves. In Vietnam, there are few better ways to enjoy the limestone karst scenery of Halong Bay than by kayak. 

Canoes are larger and more stable than kayaks. The tops are open, and you’ll sit on a raised seat rather than in the cockpit of the boat. The River Sella in northwest Spain has been popular for canoeing trips since the 1930s and hosts an annual festival to celebrate all things canoe, including a huge race. Travelling by canoe is one of the least intrusive and most gentle ways to see wildlife. You’re able to move along in near silence, almost ignored by the creatures who come to the water to drink. Along the Zambezi River in Africa you’ll see majestic elephants, sunbathing crocodiles and hippos wallowing in the shallows, all from your canoe.