The Dordogne tour itinerary

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7

Day 1

The Manoir de Hautegente, Coly

Transfers are from Brive la Gaillard. Our hotel in Coly is nestled against the limestone cliffs of the valley of the River Coly and here we make sure everybody is fitted with their bikes; a limbering up ride will take us to the to the ancient Abbey of St-Amand de Coly where we can take a coffee or a beer before heading back downhill to the hotel. Dinner is at the hotel where we will look forward to the week ahead.

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Day 2

The Château de Losse overlooking
the Vézère

We climb up above the River Vézère for a spectacular vista before descending to the celebrated caves of Lascaux II, where cave art representing the prehistoric civilisation of 15,000–20,000 years ago is hauntingly displayed.

We rejoin the river as it meanders downstream towards its confluence with the Dordogne. This is a gentle introduction to France at its most idyllic. We then climb out of the valley before descending to the village of les Eyzies, where there is a wealth of prehistoric attractions. The Grotte de Font-de-Gaume is set high in the cliffs overlooking the town, and with both Cro-Magnon cave art and natural rock formations it is well worth a visit. After visiting the Grotte we will have lunch in les Eyzies, before hitting the road again to our stop for the night, the market town of St-Cyprien. After arriving at our hotel, we can wander among the narrow lanes of the medieval old town, or just relax by the pool with a cold beer!

Total distance: 47km

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Day 3

The view from Domme

Today is a busy day! Crossing the Dordogne, we stay on the south side of the river, following tiny roads with a panorama at every turn to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle with its 12th century castle, and then cross back to visit Beynac. The chateau of Beynac, also from the 12th century, stands on a cliff overlooking the town — the castle is protected by the 150 metre sheer drop to the river below. After visiting the castle we follow the River upstream to La Roque Gageac, a perfect village of ochre coloured stone nestling against the river.

In the afternoon we cross back to the south to visit the bastide town of Domme. The hill-top bastides were built during the 100 Years War as fortified strongholds, built in a grid pattern around a central square. Many of them changed hands several times from English to French control and back again. We then cross the river and head to our hotel in Sarlat-le-Canada, with one of the best-preserved medieval centres in France. We wander into the vieux ville for an aperitif before dinner.

Total distance: 37km (but very hilly!)

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Day 4

Rocamadour

Heading back to the Dordogne, we reach it at the Cingle de Montfort, where a tight loop or cingle in the river creates a stunning vista. Crossing the river to pick up some un-trafficked riverside roads, we head upstream to the market town of Souillac for lunch by the Romanesque Abbey-Church. The remarkable carvings on the tympanum of the ruined church are well worth a closer look.

Dramatic limestone cave formations at Lacave

A few km after Souillac we reach Lacave, where an underground train takes us to a guided tour of a series of caverns resplendent with stalactites and stalagmites, reflected in still pools of water. At Lacave we leave the river and head south, climbing through dramatic countryside to our overnight stop at Rocamadour. This spectacular village on the River Alzou has been a place of pilgrimage since the 10th Century, and above the town in the hillside is the Cité Réligeuse, where there are seven chapels.

Total distance: 54km

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Day 5

a ‘Borie’—shepherd’s hut on
the Causse de Gramat

Today we briefly leave the valley of the Dordogne and turn East onto the uplands of the Causse de Gramat, a sparsely populated limestone plateau where the only sounds are the chirruping of the cicadas and the ringing of sheep bells - the landscape a sharp contrast to the lush greens of the river valleys. Our first stop is the Gouffre de Padirac, a 75m chasm leading to a river flowing 103m underground. The underground journey is taken by boat and on foot.

After filling our waterbottles, the second leg of today's ride brings us to Autoire, another contender for the 'most beautiful villages of France' award. This perfect lunch spot also benefits from a spectacular 100ft waterfall.

A relaxed lunch stop

After lunch, it’s a short ride to the Chateau de Castelnau Bretenoux, another medieval masterpiece. We then take an easy ride alongside the Dordogne to our hotel in the charming riverside town of Beaulieu-Sur-Dordogne.

Total distance: 52km

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Day 6

Canoeing on the Dordogne

In the morning we have the option of canoe trip downstream on the Lot under the limestone cliffs and hilltop houses and castles. Those not wishing to canoe can take a gentle ride along the same cliffs and through peaceful countryside.

Both the canoe trip and the bike ride take us to the charming village of Carennac, officially one of the most beautiful villages in France, with a beautiful 12th C Abbey and a maze of higgledy-piggledy lanes to explore. The cycle ride goes though the beautiful hilltop village of Curemonte, often used as a location for French period dramas.

The short return ride from Carennac goes through the village of Queyssac which has an orientation table from where you can get your bearings of the whole valley.

We return to Beaulieu for the last of our dinners which will hopefully be a memorable one!

Total distance: 50km max, 20km min (can do canoe trip instead)

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Day 7

Breakfast at the hotel is a hearty affair, and there is a chance to check out the colourful morning market in the town's central covered halles before we make our way home.

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Dordogne Tour Overview

Overview Of Our Tours