Paddle the Thouet among kingfishers and herons, stop on a small beach for a picnic, and come back when you are ready.
★★★★★5(23 reviews)
&ThouetKayaks
€15 per person
Up to 5 hours. You pay per person, not per boat
You choose how long you are on the river
Stay out as long as you like - just let us know when you will be back
Start from the watermill "Moulin de La Motte"
Parking is available on site or public parking at 100m
Flotation aid & paddles are provided
With a short safety and what to expect briefing before departure
What you will find on the Thouet
Kingfishers, herons, bitterns and others
There's more than 80 types of bird here!
Find a small beach
Pull in for a picnic, sunbathe, sleep!
Easy-going paddling
Single kayaks and double or triple canoes, on calm water that suits families.
Had the whole river to ourselves.
GrandTour10980712598
What clients say
Louise Collenette
★★★★★
We had a lovely Kayak on the Thouet. It was very relaxing and peaceful, we saw lots of Kingfishers, herons and we think Bittens. Tim was helpful and replied to our enquires very quickly.
Visited in September 2026
Seabiscuit75
★★★★★
Book it - you won’t be disappointed
A lovely experience with our two children. The owner, Tim, really knows his stuff and it was so fantastic not to have to stop and check if we’d be back by a certain time. He just lets…
Visited in August 2026
jennykj2914DF
★★★★★
Bird lovers paradise
Superb experience. We were told we would see lots of birds and we were not disappointed. Lots of kingfishers, and we also saw a purple heron, night heron and little bittern. Great places to stop for…
Visited in August 2026
Kellie Warne
★★★★★
A wonderful Kayaking experience with Thouet Kayaks. A peaceful and very pretty stretch of river which was perfect for our family. Great chatting with Tim the owner too about the local wildlife and impressive renovations…
Visited in August 2026
séverine m
★★★★★
A great outing with friends—birdwatching, little beaches to relax on, picnicking, and a spot where the kids can safely splash around in the water. Definitely worth doing again—I highly recommend it.
Translated from FR
Visited in August 2026
Sohail K
★★★★★
Lovely family morning on the river
Highly recommend. Great few hours with our two young children (all in one boat) - perfect for families.
Visited in July 2026
GrandTour10980712598
★★★★★
A beautifully tranquil experience.
A wonderful trip down the river, saw plenty of wildlife. You launch from a fantastic watermill, and theybsend you off with a map and bottles of water. Had the whole river to ourselves,…
Visited in July 2026
Pete Wilcox
★★★★★
My wife & I had a wonderful couple of hours this morning thanks to Tim & his team. We saw kingfishers gallore, grey & purple herons and night heron. Worth every penny.
Visited in July 2026
Andrew Garrett
★★★★★
Beautiful stretch of lovely quiet river. Lots of wonderful wildlife to see. Especially kingfishers and herons. Wonderful hosts will send you off with a map and bottles of water. A waterproof tub for mobiles and car…
Visited in July 2026
Marine LY
★★★★★
A true slice of paradise, the Thouet is an unspoiled, wild place where you can enjoy the peace and quiet and watch dozens of birds—it’s incredible.
The hospitality and the kayak rental experience were amazing; I was…
Translated from FR
Visited in April 2026
TJN74
★★★★★
dyllic tranquility. Immerse yourself in nature
Idyllic tranquility on the Thouet.
Highly recommended immersing yourself in peace and natural beauty.
Fantastic experience provided by Tim and his team.
Merci bien
Visited in August 2025
E Atkinson
★★★★★
Booked for my mum sister myself and 2 kids. Comms were very good. And they accommodated our last minute change to put my 15year old in a single kayak and 2 double canoes. The river is quite still and the journey is a…
Visited in August 2025
Raoul Sonnenberg
★★★★★
A wonderful place! The launch site is a highlight in itself, and the river is wild and romantic, with kingfishers, herons, cormorants, frogs and dragonflies everywhere. The owners – father and son – are absolutely…
Translated from DE
Visited in August 2025
Wendy Shaw
★★★★★
We spent a lovely day here canoeing with our family. Lovely setting, really helpful staff. Very family friendly.
Visited in August 2025
Meneer van R
★★★★★
A very friendly owner (an Englishman) and easy to communicate with. You can hire a canoe or kayak here for €15 per person, so you don’t pay per canoe or kayak!
You’re also allowed to use a canoe all day long with no…
Translated from NL
Visited in August 2025
Véronique Doreau
★★★★★
A day-long canoe trip in the heart of nature, teeming with birds if you keep quiet. A warm welcome. Reasonable price.
Translated from FR
Visited in August 2025
sarah mcguire
★★★★★
Easy paddling upstream for a couple of hours and back again, surrounded by herons, kingfishers and egrets. We saw very few other people, it was so peaceful. Found a couple of small beaches where we stopped for a picnic…
Visited in August 2025
Solenn Vaillant
★★★★★
A lovely place and a warm welcome, thank you! We had a wonderful day, all on our own, seeing more birds than we’ve ever seen in a single day. Very competitive rates, no electricity, no tourists – a peaceful and…
Translated from FR
Visited in August 2025
Samantha G
★★★★★
Great day out
Brilliant day out. Contacted a few places and these were first to reply being able to accommodate 21 of us. We used a mixture of single, 2 and 3 man canoes/kayaks. We weren’t given a time frame so we’re…
Visited in July 2025
Serena B
★★★★★
Kayaking definitely worth your time
What an amazing day. Part of a large group €15 and nothing was too much trouble. A tranquil meander up and down the river surrounded by beautiful scenery. No time limits for our…
Visited in July 2025
Scott Gringo
★★★★★
Wow, what an amazing day.
3 mile kayak adventure in the tranquil wildness. We were a party of 21 and they could not be more accommdating. No rush or time limit placed on us to return all equipment supplied for a very…
Visited in July 2025
257alid
★★★★★
Stunning location, excellent service, connection with nature, a chance to unwind and a lot of fun!
Excellent, very personable, efficient service. Stunning location. We hired a 2 person canoe. No restriction on timing…
Visited in June 2025
Bobba1
★★★★★
Perfect place for a quiet kayak trip away from the crowds.
Had a couple of hours kayaking on this lovely serene stretch of river. Conditions ideal for my relatively novice partner. Owner very helpful and friendly.
Visited in August 2023
Where to find
About ThouetKayaks
Offering canoe and kayak hire, ThouetKayaks provides an enjoyable and accessible way to get out on the water, with equipment suitable for individuals, couples, families and groups.
A strong reputation for friendly, personal service is a key part of the experience. Customer reviews regularly highlight the helpful and welcoming approach, good-quality equipment, straightforward organisation and excellent value for money.
Canoes and kayaks are available in different configurations, making it easy for customers to choose equipment suited to their group and experience. The calm, unhurried nature of the activity also makes it suitable for families and those looking for a relaxed outdoor experience.
The service is designed to be simple and flexible, allowing customers to enjoy their time on the water at their own pace. Equipment is provided as part of the hire, with clear guidance to help customers get started and make the most of their experience.
Customers frequently praise the combination of quality equipment, friendly service and relaxed atmosphere, with many describing their experience as enjoyable, peaceful and well organised.
For anyone searching for canoe hire or kayak hire, the service combines practical equipment, flexible options and a strong reputation for customer care, making it an appealing choice for a day on the water.
Open almost all year round, with hours that follow the daylight. ThouetKayaks does close now and then, for a holiday or when circumstances require, so a reservation in advance avoids potential disappointment by just turning up. For a regular booking there is nothing to pay in advance. Groups pay a deposit.
Canoe rental in Artannes-sur-Thouet, with ThouetKayaks
