Kayaking & Canoeing in Belgium 2025
Discover Wallonia from the water. The whole region is crisscrossed by smaller rivers
Best time: April–October
The rivers of the Ardennes are perfect for canoeing and kayaking. The main destinations to consider are the rivers of Ourthe, Lesse, Meuse or Maas, and Semois. They wind across some densely wooded areas and picturesque valleys.
Depending on the river and the route you choose, you may pass from 4-5 km to over 20 km. Some routes require having the basic skills and knowledge of navigating kayaks while the others are suitable for complete newbies. The experience you get depends not only on the route but also on the weather: your trip could be calm and relaxing or it could turn into a rafting adventure.
In general, it is possible to go canoeing and kayaking all year round. However, the weather conditions such as the water flow, the water level, and temperature should be considered. Sometimes, a river gets too low or too high or its stream gets too fast. It would make your trip more tiring, demanding, and even a bit dangerous. To avoid such inconvenience it is better to go canoeing and kayaking from April to October.
There's an option to rent a kayak online. Smeermaas is a popular departing point—the start of a scenic 21-km route along the Maas river, right on the Belgian-Dutch border.
