When embarking on a canoe trip, the first question that comes to mind is: where are we going to sleep?
A relevant question! From the adventure option with nights spent bivouacking, to the slightly more comfortable version with nights camping, and finally to the comfort version with nights in mobile homes or hotels, everyone can find what they're looking for and create a stay that suits them.
The natural and peaceful solution: camping
When you go kayaking or canoeing for the first time, the camping version is particularly suitable : a clever mix between comfort and nature, combining the pleasure of the night in a tent but with water, electricity and a good hot shower!
For families, camping is always a memorable experience: the joy of pitching the tent with the children, setting up the sleeping bags, preparing the barbecue, and all the other pleasures shared after a day of river rafting. Sometimes even a quick dip in the campsite pool to unwind after an "active" day.
And it also ensures you know where you'll be spending the night, the reassuring framework of a stay organized by your rental company, and potentially the booking of camping pitches before your arrival, the transport of your luggage from campsite to campsite…
Rivers offering camping:
Rivers with a paid, designated bivouac area:
Wild camping while canoeing: freedom!
Bivouacking is undoubtedly the most adventurous version of canoeing. For canoeists who love freedom, for those who dream of nights under the stars, for those who want to experience the wild in nature by hanging a hammock between two trees by the river, bivouacking is for you.
Autonomy, freedom, the great outdoors… it's priceless. But be warned, sleeping under the stars means respecting the river and nature in general : campfires are prohibited in many spots, you must carry all your camping gear in your canoe (opt for a Canadian-style canoe like the Old Town or Nova Craft), you must also be self-sufficient in food and water, and you must secure and clean everything before leaving your campsite and getting back in your kayak or canoe. That being said, we know from experience that people who practice wild camping are those who love and respect nature…
Rivers with wild camping:
The hotel, for a comfortable canoe trip
And finally, for adventurers looking for a comfortable canoe trip, some rivers offer the possibility of overnight stays in hotels, guesthouses or bungalows.
This is of course the assurance of spending a comfortable night in a good bed, and why not spend an evening as a couple with dinner at the hotel's gourmet restaurant or at the guest table to taste all the local culinary specialties.
Contact your Canoë France; they will help you put together a turnkey stay for a multi-day trip on one of our rivers.
Once again, experiencing "100% pleasure" is priceless.
Be aware, however, that most campsites do not rent mobile homes by the night in high season and hotels and guest houses are not always right on the riverbank, so a little more planning is needed in advance.