Watersports

Among the many and varied things to do in the Aude, it may surprise some, that Watersports ranks quite high as a popular pastime in the Aude region.

Access to the Mediterranean Sea provides an outlet for enthusiasts of watersports, but it doesn’t end there, along the River Aude you can go canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, or you can also just float along on an inner tube if that’s more your pace.

The River Aude begins high in the Pyrenees, it is formed from melt waters from the glaciers and the snow that covers the mountains during winter, it runs North through Limoux and on to Carcassonne where it turns East and heads for Narbonne and the Mediterranean.

Some stretches of the River Aude can be quite rapid, making it perfect for white water canoeing/rafting/kayaking; the French national championships of these sports are often held on the River Aude.

The majority of the River is made up of nice and serene sections which are perfectly suited to families looking to have slightly safer fun on the River. The River Aude is 224km (139 mi) long, so there is plenty to do in between the rapids of Quillan and the estuary near Narbonne, in fact over 170km of the river can be used for canoeing. There are guided canoe tours  along the river which can last up to four days

Once you’ve finished your canoe tour along the river and you’re now in Narbonne there is no shortage of watersports that you get involved in. Parasailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, paddleboarding, and sailing/catamarans are all possible activities to get involved in along the Aude coastline between Narbonne and Leucate.

It is also possible to charter a boat large or small, with an engine or with sails, with or without a captain.

One unique sport that is almost a watersport is Sand yachting, which you can participate in from Narbonne down to Gruissan, though the best time to go sand yachting is in the autumn when the winds are at their strongest. Utilizing the perfectly flat sand along the coast Sand Yachting is like windsurfing but on land, you are strapped into what looks almost like a canoe with wheels that has a sail on the top similar to a windsurfer. Sand yachts have a steering wheel, so you do have some control, you aren’t just strapped in and then left at the mercy of the wind. Sand Yachting is a growing sport with many clubs competing against each other springing up all over the planet. It looks like fun and knowing how strong the winds can get outside of summer I expect you can go pretty fast on the smooth flat sand.