Watersports Guide for Provence
Discover the top Provence watersports
Provence is a great place for watersports with its warm summers, lakes, gorges and interesting coastline.
There are plenty of watersports centres where you can learn to sail or enjoy thrilling white water rafting, and everything in between. To find companies offering lessons and equipment hire for watersports, take a look at our Watersports Centres page.
The most popular areas for watersports are along the Gorge du Verdon where you can kayak or canoe at a slow pace, or take on the rapids and white waters for more of a thrill.
The region also includes many lakes which are thriving with jet skis, wind surfs, cable wakeboarding and sailing. And of course if scuba diving and splashing around in the sea are more your thing then the French Riviera is right on your doorstop for some fantastic Mediterranean action.
Canoeing / Kayaking / Rafting
There are hundred of options for canoeing and kayaking in Provence, stretching from the Ardeche gorge all the way down into central Provence along the Durance river and across to the Gorges du Verdon. Whether you're looking to spend a few hours with the family on the river, or a multi-day trip with overnight stays on the river banks, there are plenty of companies offering all kinds of packages.
Diving & Snorkelling
There is some lovely snorkelling to be had around the coast of the French Riviera. There are plenty of the dive schools in St Tropez, Cannes and Antibes can sort you out with equipment if you don't have your own. The same areas used for diving are also suitable for snorkelling if you feel like trying that before you commit to diving.
Sailing & yachting in Provence
Again the ports and marinas of the French Riviera are the perfect place to go sailing or charter a yacht for a day, a week...or even a month.
You can moor up between the rich and famous during the Cannes film festival or the Monte Carlo rally. And what better way to experience the coastal towns than to sail along and stop in at each one.
Waterskiing & Wakeboarding
An alternative for wakeboarders is the cable-ski which is available in a lot of the big lakes across Provence. They have a slow and gentle pull for beginners, and kickers and sliders for those who know what they're doing.
Jetski rental can be found at most sailing centres. You don't need a license for this activity but you must follow some straightforward rules: Stay 250m away from beaches and 50m from cliffs, 100m from other jetskis and 50m from diving buoys. It's a legal requirement to wear a life-jacket.
Windsurfing & Kiteboarding
There are wind surfing and kite surfing schools at several of the large lakes and it's also possible to hire equipment without tuition.
Cruising on the River Rhone
Afternoon on a boat? Yes please! There are lots of awesome cruising options if you feel like exploring the Rhone during your stay in Avignon. Taking a tour or even a dinner cruise on one of the Grand Boats of Provence is a great way to see the region....
Kayaking with Goud-Canoe
With the many rivers around Avignon there are plenty of opportunities to kayak in gorgeous natural surroundings. We headed just 50 kilometres north-west to the village of Goudargues, near La Roque sur Ceze, to try Goud' Canoe’s...
Summertime swimming spots in Provence
Cooling off during the hot summer months in Provence tends to involve heading to the nearest swimming spot to take a dip, whether that's at a swimming pool, a waterpark or somewhere in a more natural setting.
