Kayaking on the River Charente

There are plenty of ways to explore the Charente, but we think one of the best involves a paddle, a kayak, and a few hours drifting along one of France’s loveliest rivers.

Kayaking on the Charente River has become one of the activities we recommend most often to guests staying with us at La Cour de Husson. In fact, when people tell us their favourite parts of their holiday, kayaking regularly comes near the top of the list.

And we completely understand why.

The Charente is a wonderfully peaceful river. Rather than white-water rapids and adrenaline, think tree-lined banks, little beaches, old stone bridges, wildlife, and long stretches where there seems to be nobody else around.

Best of all, you don’t need to be an experienced kayaker to enjoy it.

One of our favourite stretches of the river is just a short drive from La Cour de Husson, making it an easy morning or afternoon trip before heading back for a swim in the pool.

Here’s everything you need to know about kayaking on the Charente.

Why kayak on the Charente River?

The Charente rises in Haute-Vienne before winding its way through the Charente and Charente-Maritime and eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean near Rochefort.

Along the way, it passes through some of the prettiest countryside in southwest France. Around us in northern Charente, the river is particularly lovely. It twists between meadows and woodland, passing small villages, mills and some rather impressive châteaux. It’s also relatively calm.

If the words “kayaking holiday” conjure up images of helmets, rapids, and immediately capsizing, this is something quite different. The sections around Ruffec, Condac, and Verteuil-sur-Charente are much more about taking your time and enjoying the scenery.

You can paddle for a while, stop somewhere pretty, trail your feet in the water and carry on when you feel like it. That’s exactly our sort of afternoon!

Where can you go kayaking near La Cour de Husson?

Our closest main canoe and kayak base is at Réjallant, near Condac and Ruffec.

From La Cour de Husson, the River Charente is only around 10–15 minutes away, so kayaking is one of the easiest activities to fit into a stay with us.

The Réjallant watersports base offers various routes, ranging from short trips of around an hour, to longer excursions.

Canoes and kayaks are available, as well as stand-up paddleboards and pedalos, so it’s also a good option if not everyone in your group wants to kayak.

For us, though, there’s one particular route that stands out.

Kayaking from Condac towards Verteuil-sur-Charente

If you’re only going to kayak once during your holiday in the Charente, we’d make it this trip.

Verteuil-sur-Charente is already one of our favourite villages in the area. It’s a beautiful little place built around the river, with old stone houses, a watermill, and the enormous Château de Verteuil rising above it all.

Arriving from the water gives you a completely different view of it.

The river meanders through the countryside towards Verteuil, with plenty of greenery and wildlife along the way. As you approach the village, the château gradually comes into view above the trees. It’s one of those moments when you’ll probably stop paddling for a minute.

The official Charentes tourism board recommends the half-day route from the Ruffec-Réjallant base towards Verteuil, and we can see why. It’s a brilliant combination of countryside, river, and one of the most picturesque villages in the region.

Take your time rather than treating it as a race. That’s really the point.

Is kayaking on the Charente suitable for beginners?

For the routes around Réjallant and Verteuil, you certainly don’t need to arrive with years of kayaking experience. The water here is generally calm and the local hire companies will explain the route and equipment before you set off.

That makes kayaking on the Charente a particularly good activity for families, couples and groups of friends looking for something active without dedicating an entire day to it.

There are still a few practical requirements to bear in mind. You need to be able to swim, and the Réjallant base requires closed shoes for canoeing and kayaking. You’ll be supplied with the essential equipment, including a buoyancy aid, paddle and waterproof container for your belongings.

And yes, we’d still put your phone in the waterproof container rather than testing just how waterproof the latest iPhone actually is!

Kayaking with children on the Charente

We’ve had plenty of families staying at La Cour de Husson who have kayaked on the Charente, and it’s often one of the children’s favourite days of the holiday.

The calm nature of the river makes this part of the Charente particularly well suited to a family outing, although you’ll obviously need to check the operator’s current age requirements when booking.

Réjallant is also useful if you’re travelling as a family because there’s more there than simply the kayak base.

The leisure area beside the river has picnic facilities, a playground, food and drinks in summer, and a supervised swimming area during July and August. The swimming area has a pontoon which is fun to swim to, and it means you can easily turn a couple of hours on the water into most of a day by the river.

What should you take kayaking?

You don’t need very much, but there are a few things we’d suggest taking with you:

• – Swimwear or clothes you don’t mind getting wet
• – Closed shoes that can get wet
• – Sun cream
• – Sunglasses
• – A hat
• – Water
• – A towel left in the car
• – A change of clothes
• – Your phone or camera in a waterproof bag or container
• – A little cash/card for drinks or an ice cream afterwards

On a hot day, we’d also recommend going earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon rather than choosing the hottest part of the day. There’s shade along parts of the river, but there’s also plenty of open water.

What else can you do at Réjallant?

If kayaking isn’t your thing, you don’t have to sit on the riverbank waiting for everyone else.

The Réjallant leisure and nature area offers a number of other activities, including stand-up paddleboarding and pedalos, while the wider site has picnic areas, children’s facilities and seasonal swimming.

Stand-up paddleboarding is another favourite with our guests and works particularly well if you’ve kayaked before and fancy trying something different. Or you could do both. A paddleboard is also an excellent way of discovering muscles you didn’t previously know you had!

Combine kayaking with a visit to Verteuil-sur-Charente

We wouldn’t recommend getting back into the car immediately afterwards.

Verteuil-sur-Charente deserves a bit of time of its own.

The village sits directly on the River Charente and is dominated by the Château de Verteuil, whose towers rise dramatically above the rooftops. Wander along the river, explore the little streets and stop for something to eat or drink before heading home.

It’s particularly lovely towards the end of the afternoon when the light hits the château and river.

If you’re staying with us, Verteuil is only around 15 minutes from La Cour de Husson, so it’s also somewhere you can easily return to another day.

We’ve written a separate guide to [Verteuil-sur-Charente] with more ideas for what to see while you’re there.

The best time of year for kayaking on the Charente

Summer is the obvious choice, particularly if you’re hoping to combine kayaking with swimming.

July and August are when the Réjallant leisure area is at its busiest and when the seasonal facilities are operating. It’s worth booking ahead during the main summer holidays rather than simply turning up, particularly if you’re a larger group.

But don’t automatically discount the edges of summer. Late spring and early autumn can be beautiful on the Charente. The river tends to be quieter, the countryside is incredibly green, and you avoid some of the heat of July and August.

Opening periods and river conditions can change, though, so always check directly with the kayak operator before setting off.

Can you swim in the Charente River?

Yes, there are designated places where you can swim in the Charente, including a supervised summer bathing area at Réjallant during July and August.

It’s one of the things we love about summers here. There are few things nicer on a hot afternoon than spending a few hours kayaking before getting into the river for a swim.

As with any natural river, conditions can change, so we’d always recommend using designated bathing areas and following the current local guidance rather than simply jumping in wherever you happen to stop.

How long should you allow?

We’d allow at least half a day if you want to enjoy the experience properly.

There are shorter kayaking options available, but rushing seems to defeat the purpose somewhat.

A typical plan might be to head out after breakfast, spend the morning kayaking and then have lunch or a picnic beside the river. Alternatively, have a lazy morning by the pool at La Cour de Husson, kayak later in the afternoon and stop in Verteuil on the way home.

One of the advantages of staying so close to the Charente is that you don’t have to build an entire day’s itinerary around it.

Why this is one of our favourite things to do in the Charente

There are some holiday activities that sound great when you book them but involve quite a lot of organisation when the day actually arrives.

This isn’t one of them.

You can leave La Cour de Husson and be beside the river in around 10–15 minutes. A little later, you’re paddling through the French countryside with almost nothing around you apart from trees, water, and the occasional château. Then you can be back at La Cour de Husson for a swim, a cold drink and an evening in the garden.

It manages to feel like a proper adventure without requiring very much effort at all. Perhaps that’s why so many of our guests come back talking about it, and then book to go again before the end of their trip!

Staying near the Charente River

If you’re planning a holiday in the Charente and want somewhere that combines countryside, villages, and outdoor activities, La Cour de Husson is ideally placed for exploring this part of southwest France.

We’re just outside the historic village of Tusson, surrounded by sunflower fields and Cognac vineyards, with the River Charente around 10–15 minutes away.

Our two newly renovated gîtes sleep up to ten people in total, set over an acre of gardens, with a large swimming pool. We’re close enough to places such as Verteuil-sur-Charente, Angoulême, and Cognac for days out, but sufficiently tucked away that coming home generally means little more than deciding between the pool, a hammock, or a glass of something cold under the walnut trees.

And if you’d like to go kayaking while you’re here, just ask us. We’ll happily point you in the right direction.

FAQs