Time travel and witness fortified villages, castles and the sleepy Dordogne valley.
Marvel at 14000 year-old paintings & carvings in the “Font de Caume” cave.
Enjoy a sweet Montbasiac, savour truffles, foie gras and a crisp Bergerac.
Relax in our selected "logis de France" hotels.

A Walking Holiday in Dordogne, France. Known to the French as “Périgord”, the Dordogne “department”, is named after the most important of the region's seven rivers. The area is a celebration of colour and diversity of landscape. It is also called the "Land of the 1001 Castles". To walk here is to travel through time.

This trip will bring you through the "Périgord Noir", known for its dark forests, medieval chateaux and great food.

Dordogne supplies almost half of France's fine food produce: wine, cèpes, truffles, duck and goose, which yield many specialties from foie gras to the "Demoiselle" (the whole bird grilled over a wood fire).

During 7 Days, we will pass through some of the most beautiful villages, hamlets, and oak forests. As Périgord is one of the cradles of human civilization, you will also have the chance to visit some of the most well-preserved cave paintings - created more than ten thousand years ago!

Our team has specially selected our hotels for their location, character, comfort, facilities and for the quality of their food. While dinner is included, we decided not to include the “picnic lunch” (Optional) in the trip, this way you can choose stop at one of the many great restaurants along your route.

"Good food and wine, this is paradise on earth," said France's much loved king, Henri IV.

Enjoy!

DAY 1 – Coming to Sarlat
After your flight to Bergerac, you will be pre-booked in a charming 2* hotel "logis de France" in the heart of town. The facilities include a large garden and a swimming pool and all the rooms are en-suite. Daniel, your host, is a very jovial gastronome!
SARLAT is a city of art. Stroll around the old medieval town and soak up the atmosphere. NOTE: market on Saturdays

Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Hotel: 2* "Logis de France" hotel, former family residence, situated just 10min from the historic centre. Also features large garden, swimming pool and open fire. En-suite.

DAY 2 – Sarlat to Vitrac [5h30, 19km, +50m -50m].
At first we follow the "piste cyclable" - an old railway track converted into a scenic path - through woodlands. After an hour or so, we leave the path behind and take a marked trail through organic vegetable fields to the cliffside castle of Montfort, overlooking the luxuriant Dordogne valley. It’s also a perfect stop for lunch! Later, we will arrive in our beautiful 2* “Logis de France” hotel. Jean-Claude, our chef, creates local dishes with passion while maintaining the grand gastronomic tradition of the Périgord Region. Enjoy!

Hotel: 2* "Logis de France" hotel with swimming pool. Rooms en-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

DAY 3 – Vitrac to Beynac [3h30, 12km, +70m -80m]
Probably the most beautiful walking day. From Vitrac, we cross the Dordogne valley and follow the left banks through cornfields. As we ascend to Domme, the views of the white cliffs on the other side of the river are stunning. After one hour we come to Domme, a very well-preserved medieval village and noted as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Going down, we pass walnut trees, fields and forests. You will soon catch a glimpse of the chateau of Castleneau; a superb example of a fortified medieval castle. Efforts have been made to make a visit there interactive, so don't miss it! Crossing the Dordogne river again, we follow the right bank through a large poplar forest. On the way into Beynec you can see the 900 hundred year-old fortified castle, sitting majestically atop the limestone cliffs.

Town: ATM, shops, all facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel with a large garden. Rooms en-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 4 – Beynac to Les Eyzies [3h30, 12km, +70m -80m]
To save you an unpleasant walk along the road, we have organised a 15minute transfer to the picturesque village of St Cyprien. The walk today starts with a steep - but short - walk to the plateau above. As we cross vineyards and cornfields, you can see numerous mansions and small castles. After passing through a forest, you will find a great picnic spot, with super views of the valley below. Continuing down, we arrive in Les Eyzies, the European capital of prehistory. The town is nestled between limestone cliffs. We arrive at our hotel early in the afternoon. Here, a large garden awaits you, and of course - an excellent meal.

If you wish, it is possible to stay an additional day here. Les Eyzies is known for its archaeological wealth and its cliffs with numerous underground caves. The village offers a variety of sites & monuments that will interest both adults & children. We recommend a visit to the Museum of Prehistory. Also of interest - The “Cave du Grand Roc”; a cave inhabited by Cro-Magnon people some 14,000 years ago. The cave is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cave “Font de Gaume”, famous for its well-preserved Cro-Magnon paintings is also worth a visit.

Town: ATM, shops, all facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel with a swimming pool and garden. En-suite. Meal: Breakfast, dinner

DAY 5 – Les Eyzies to Marquay [5h, 19km, +150m -20m].
Today is a very easy walk in a shaded wooded valley. From Les Eyzies we follow the GR6 through typical villages & hamlets. En-route you will have the chance to visit the “Abri du Cap Blanc” to witness some more unique prehistoric art. Tonight we stay in Marquay, a fortified village dating from the 12th century. Michel, our host and chef, is waiting for you in the Hotel La Condamine. Facilities include a swimming pool and a large garden.

Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel "Logis de France". En-suite. Large garden and very quiet surroundings. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 6 – Marquay to Sarlat [4h, 15km, +70m -150m]. Our last day’s walk takes us back to Sarlat through shaded woodland and up into the hills for views of the surrounding countryside. We recommend stopping in Campagnac for lunch. The castle is also worth visiting. Then it's back to medieval Sarlat to the hotel we stayed at on Day 1.

Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Hotel: 2* "Logis de France" hotel, former family residence, situated just 10min from the historic centre. Also features large garden, swimming pool and open fire. En-suite. Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7 – Sarlat. End of the Adventure
After breakfast we bid you farewell.

Meal: Breakfast

• Flights
• Insurance
• Drinks
• Transfer from/to airport (included in Guided trips departure)

Night 1&6

Night 3