Kayak the Alps - Beginners (tailor made)

The Southern Alps is a great place to learn to kayak. Not only are there beautiful flat water lakes where you will learn the ropes, we also have a variety of rivers between grade 2 to grade 6, (have a look at our White Water Kayaking page for more information on river grades) so you are really spoilt for choice!

This is a progressive week course where you will learn how to control your kayak, practice your strokes and learn how to roll, all in the security of a flat water lake. Our instructors will teach you all the basic kayak techniques you'll need to control your kayak on moving water. Then, before kayaking the rapids, you will get a taste of the white stuff in one of several inflatable crafts!

The next stage is to try and join your new-found skills and knowledge together and take your kayak onto the river for a full day white water kayaking expedition! To start with the guides will take you down gentle rapids and onto a slalom course to practice ferry gliding, breaking in and out, surfing and maybe mastering a few other tricks! Once you are all feeling confident you will do a full river descent!

All our kayak instructors are fully qualified to French and European standards. They are all well travelled and experienced kayakers with heaps of local knowledge and will have a keen eye on your safety.

For your kayak free day you have three activity points that you can exchange for a range of activities to give you a break from kayaking and an opportunity to try one of the many other fabulous activities on offer in the Alps like canyoning, via ferrata, mountain biking...  there are a multitude of things to choose from!

Have a look at our kayaking kit list for advice on what to bring!

This trip is aimed at small groups of four or more people booking together. If you are fewer people, you may wish to join a ready made beginner to intermediate kayaking trip where you can join other like minded paddlers.

You may also be interested in our Intermediate Kayaking Trip or you could combine some kayaking with a Summer Multi Activity Holiday.

Itinerary

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The nearest train station is Gap. Gap is on the SNCF train service which has links from Paris (overnight sleeper), Valence, Grenoble or Marseille.

The nearest airports are Grenoble, Lyon and Marseille, both approximately 2.5hrs drive from us here in the Alps. 

Please note, for river shuttles you may need to use your car in addition to the instructor's transport. This will be the case where you only have 1 instructor for your group. You would only have 1 instructor for your group if your group is 4 or less people for grade 3+ rivers or 6 or less on grade 2 or lower rivers. 

As such you may need to hire a car or drive down in your own vehicle. Check out our partner's hire car rates.

For larger groups, we can arrange transfers from Gap train station to your accommodation for 50€ per transfer (up to 8 people per transfer).