Arriving without a car? No problem. Several Canoë France are just a few minutes' walk or bus ride from a train station or bus stop. You can easily organize a wonderful half-day or full-day canoe or kayak trip, with round-trip transportation available, without needing a driver.
Here, river by river, is how to reach the base on your own.
- Ardèche – Vallon-Pont-d'Arc on foot from the bus station
- The Chassezac – Les Vans, terminus of the line
- The Tarn – La Malène, served by summer bus
- The Vienne and Gartempe – Châtellerault by TGV, then bus to Bellefonds
- Ariège – The train station by the water
- Dordogne – Saint-Denis-lès-Martel by TER train from Brive
- The Vézère – Les Eyzies or Thenon, depending on your route
- Allier – Langeac or Brioude, connecting service to be arranged
- Things to remember before you leave
- I calculate the CO2 impact of my journey
Ardèche – Vallon-Pont-d'Arc on foot from the bus station
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How to get here by train + bus?
This is probably the simplest situation on the network: the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc bus station is the terminus of the X76 line, a regional express bus that departs from Valence TGV station and passes through Montélimar. From the bus station, the base is within walking distance. No taxis, no shuttles – you get off the bus and you've arrived.
Timetable for line X76: laregionvoustransporte.fr – approximately €3 per journey.
The Chassezac – Les Vans, terminus of the line
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How to get here by train + bus?
The same logic applies as for theArdèche : Les Vans is the terminus of the X74 line (Valence TGV → Montélimar → Aubenas → Les Vans). The base is located in the same town, a few minutes' walk from the stop.
Another option: arrive via Villefort station (SNCF line Nîmes – Clermont-Ferrand), from which connecting buses allow you to reach Les Vans.
Timetable for line X74: laregionvoustransporte.fr – operated by Ginhoux coaches: ginhoux-autocars.com.
The Tarn – La Malène, served by summer bus
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How to get here by train and bus?
La Malène is in the heart of the TarnGorges. Getting there without a car requires planning ahead, but it's quite possible in summer thanks to the liO bus lines:
- Line 258 (Florac → Sainte-Énimie → La Malène → Le Rozier): this is the direct line to reach the base from Banassac – La Canourgue station (~25 km) or from Florac (north side).
- In July and August, summer shuttle buses supplement the network and connect the villages of the Gorges. The Sainte-Énimie – La Malène route is at 2 €.
The nearest train stations to join the bus network are Banassac – La Canourgue, Mende (~40 km) and Millau (~45 km).
Timetable and access: cevennes-gorges-du-tarn.com/acces-transporttarn– liO network lio-occitanie.fr.
The Vienne and Gartempe – Châtellerault by TGV, then bus to Bellefonds
The base: La Fourmy Canoë (Bellefonds, Vienne)
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How to get here by train + bus?
Get off at Châtellerault train station, served by TGV and TER trains from Paris, Poitiers and Tours. From the station, bus line 13 goes to Bellefonds, a 13-minute walk from the rental base.
La Fourmy Canoë offers half-day or full-day trips on the Vienne,Anglin , and Gartempe rivers. For the return trip, inquire with the rental company about shuttle options to bus stops or the train station.
Train schedules and fares mobilite-vienne.frvienneare available at thetrainline.com . Bus schedule for line 13
Ariège – The train station by the water
How to get here by train?
The SNCF train station in Tarascon-surAriège is directly served by the TER Toulouse – Latour-de-Carol line, which runs up theAriège alongside the river. The base is accessible on foot (1 hour) or by bicycle (20 minutes) from the station – one of the most convenient locations on the network.
From Toulouse, allow approximately 1 hour by train. From Foix, 15 minutes. From Ax-les-Thermes, 30 minutes in the other direction.
TER timetables: sncf-connect.com or thetrainline.com – Toulouse – Latour-de-Carol line.
Dordogne – Saint-Denis-lès-Martel by TER train from Brive
The base: Safaraid Dordogne (Vayrac, Lot)
How to get here by train?
Take an Intercités train from Paris or Toulouse to Brive-la-Gaillarde, then a TER train to Saint-Denis-lès-Martel, 4 km from the Vayrac airbase. The last few kilometers can be covered on foot (1 hour) or by taxi (book in advance).
Also by bus
During the summer (June to September), the liO Occitanie network also offers useful bus routes in the area:
- Line 877 : Souillac – Saint-Sozy – Rocamadour – Biars-sur-Cère
- Line 888 : Souillac – Martel – Saint-Denis-Près-Martel
liO timetables: lio-occitanie.fr – timetables vary depending on the season.
The Vézère – Les Eyzies or Thenon, depending on your route
How to get here by train?
There is no train station in Saint-Léon-surVézère, but two options depending on the direction you are coming from:
- Eyzies train station (15 km, TER line Périgueux – Sarlat): ideal if you are arriving from Périgueux or Sarlat.
- Thenon station (20 km, TER line Périgueux – Brive): convenient from Brive or Périgueux.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional buses also serve the Montignac-Lascaux area from Périgueux.
Train schedules and fares: thetrainline.com. Nouvelle-Aquitaine bus network: transports.nouvelle-aquitaine.fr.
Allier – Langeac or Brioude, connecting service to be arranged
How to get here by train?
Lavoûte-Chilhac does not have a train station, but the Clermont-Ferrand – Le Puy-en-Velay TER line serves Langeac (approximately 12 km). From this station, a taxi or an on-demand transport service can take you to the base – remember to inquire and book before departure.
TER timetables: sncf-connect.com or thetrainline.com – Clermont-Ferrand / Brioude / Langeac line.
Things to remember before you leave
Whether you're aiming for an hour of kayaking or a full-day trip, the principle is the same: check the return bus schedules before heading out on the water. Regional bus lines often have limited service per day, especially outside of July and August. Note the time of the last bus and plan your departure from the water accordingly.
Also remember to book your boat in advance, especially in high season: the bases best served by public transport are often the most frequented.
Discover all our day trips on our rivers → canoe-france.com
