Canoe trip on the Semois

During this canoe trip on the Semois the enchanting valley with its steep rocky slopes is our guide. We’ll paddle through dense forests and green meadows but also charming villages and towns. The famous castles of Herbeumont, Bouillon and Monthermé tell us the history of this region, which has been traversed by the most powerful world armies. Majestic bridges or narrow passerelles across the river lead to sometimes surprising places.

The Semois Valley, in the southwest of Belgium near the French border, is a gem between Gaume and Ardennes. Canoeing through the splendid scenery of the beautiful meanders of the Semois makes you appreciate this region to the fullest. It is the only Belgian river where you can paddle for hours through nature and get a real sense of wilderness travel.

Trip highlights

  • Paddle through one of the most untouched valleys of the Ardennes
  • Develop your canoe skills under the guidance of your expert guides
  • Learn how to cook on an open fire and enjoy great meals
  • Visit beautiful villages and formidable castles along the way
  • Experience being outdoors and sleep under the stars

Trip details

Region: Ardennes
Trip type: Canoe camping
Comfort: Campsites and wilderness camping
Duration: 3 days
Length/day: 12 km – 17 km – 17 km
Group size: 8 maximum
Confirmed: When 2 travellers book
Difficulty: For all paddlers with advanced canoeing skills and some previous experience with canoe trips and canoeing on white water

Saturday October 28, 2023 to Monday October 30, 2023 // €395 pp

Practical

€ 395 per person

Reservation Request

Trip dates

Saturday October 28, 2023 to Monday October 30, 2023

The fine print

Minimum age to participate is 14 years with an adult or 18 years without. We reserve the right to cancel any program with less than 24 hours notice due to changing weather conditions such as strong winds or thunderstorms. Please check your email for cancellation notices before arriving. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but your safety and well-being is our top priority.

Canoe trip on the Semois prerequisites

This canoe trip on the Semois is accessible for experienced paddlers with advanced canoeing skills, experience on white water and a good level of fitness. We will mostly be paddling unclassified and class I water but will have to negotiate some small but exciting rapids. Competence steering the canoe and good boat controle are advisable skills. You can expect up to 5-7 hours of paddling a day plus breaks. Level: Advanced canoeing

What's included?

  • Paddle
  • Lifejacket
  • Canoe
  • Dry bag of 50L for your personal affairs
  • Tent
  • Water
  • Lunch and dinner on Saturday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Sunday, breakfast and lunch on Monday

What to bring?

  • Matress & sleeping bag
  • Active clothing and personal stuff
  • Personal medication
  • Sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses with floater string.
  • Snacks & drinks if desired
  • Download our extensive packing list here

Arrival and departure

We make a start in Chiny. You are expected saturday at 10:00am. We will back on monday afternoon at approximately 04:00pm thus giving you the time to get back home by nightfall. Cars will be parked safely.

Accommodation

On this canoe trip on the Semois, we will camp on the river bank and stay on a small nature camping. We provide tents and also carry a base camp shelter, which means that we can all gather together for dinner and a hot drink even if the weather is inclement. If you require a single tent we are happy to provide this, but otherwise, we do ask that those who are happy to share a tent with other travellers do so. This helps to keep our camp size small, giving us more options of where to pitch and reducing our environmental impact on these precious places.

Meals

Great food is essential to all our trips and canoe trekkings. While the guide will co-ordinate the cooking and help out, everyone is asked to lend a hand as this ensures the best meals in a reasonable time after what are often long days. We will carry plenty of fresh food to cater a varied and satisfying menu throughout the trip, all of these will be prepared on an open fire. We will also carry fresh water. Dietary requirements can still be catered for but please ensure we know at the time of booking.

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