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Cycle Europe - serving bicycle travellers since 1972

Bicycle Tours — France

Heart of the Dordogne By Bicycle

The Dordogne River valley in Western France is one of the country's longest and most scenic. For 500 km, the Dordogne cuts through layers of limestone plateau and meanders from the woody hills of the Massif Central through the heartland of prehistoric human settlements in Europe. Our bike tour of the Dordogne takes you on some of the nicest cycling routes in Europe, with breathtaking views of medieval castles topping the hills at every bend in the river. This is one of our all-time favorite bicycle tours.

For more information download the Tour Factsheet

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  • Day 1

    Arrive in Tremolat

    Highlights: Charming hotel, Orientation and bike fitting.

    Arrive in Bergerac, we'll transfer you to the beginning of the tour. Settle in your charming hotel. You can either relax by the pool or walk around the park before your orientation.
    Our local guide will meet you at your hotel in the evening of your arrival day for briefing & bike fitting.
    Enjoy dinner at your hotel (included).

  • Day 2

    Bicycle to Les Eyzies

    Highlights: Proumeyssac Cave, Les Eyzies.

    Your ride today will take you to Les Eyzies, capital of prehistory, where Cro Magnon was discovered. Starting out easy you come to Audrix a small village by small roads, then down to Le Bugue.
    Continue on to Gouffre de Proumeyssac, also known as the "Cathedral of Crystal", currently the largest developed cave in the Perigord.
    Arrive to Les Eyzies and take time to visit this town and its sites and museums.

    Daily distance: 45 Km (28 miles)

  • Day 3

    Loop ride into the Vezère Valley

    Highlights: Prehistoric cave paintings Font de Gaume, Lascaux II

    Les Eyzies is surrounded by pre-historic caves, paintings and other remnants from this fascinating era. Here is an opportunity to visit either the famous Caves of Font de Gaume or Lascaux II. To get a good visit in, in both cases you should depart early. Pass through St Leon sur Vezere, guarded by its two chateaux and La Roque St Christophe, a majestic refuge made up of approximately 100 shelters.

    Daily distance: 53 km (33 miles)

  • Day 4

    Bicycle to Sarlat

    Highlights: Sarlat, Chateau of Commarque.

    Since it's a short ride today, you'll have a second chance to visit Font de Gaume or get early to your destination Sarlat. This town with its cobbled streets, old roofs, and warm stone walls give an exceptional heritage. Sarlat is a medieval town that developed around a large Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin.
    The medieval Sarlat Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos. Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and one of the towns most representative of 14th century France. A bustling market in Sarlat takes place on Saturday and Wednesday.
    You can decide to ride a longer distance (with more elevation) with a longer option that goes by the Chateau of Commarque.

    Daily distance: 23-29 km (14-18 miles)

  • Day 5

    Bicycle to Rocamadour

    Highlights: Lacave, The medieval village of Rocamadour.

    You'll ride today by the Dordogne river to reach Souillac, a nice village for a lunch break. Then continue your ride, passing by Lacave and then reach the breathtaking village of Rocamadour, which clings to a cliff face overlooking the Ouysse valley. This important pilgrimage site laid dormant until the preserved remains of St. Amadour were discovered in the village chapel. Now it has become an emblem of the Dordogne region as people enjoy its rich architecture and medieval atmosphere.

    Daily distance: 56 km (35 miles)

  • Day 6

    Bicycle to Carsac Aillac

    Highlights: Chateau de Montfort, Carsac Aillac

    Take your time today to ride along the Dordogne River for a quiet countryside ride. Your destination is Vitrac or Carsac, small villages in the Black Perigord.
    Vitrac is known for its Chateau and water sports. In Carsac you can visit "Les Jardins d'Eau" a 2ha garden dedicated to exotic plants, especially waterlilies and lotus.

    Daily distance: 46 km (29 miles)

  • Day 7

    Ride to Belves

    Highlights: La Roque Gageac, Belves

    You will ride through some very scenic villages such as la Roque Gageac and Castelnaud la Chapelle. La Roque Gageac has the title of being 'one of the most beautiful villages of France'! Built at the foot of a cliff, right along the river, do not miss its Exotic gardens and the troglodyte fort. The cliff dwellings that tower above the houses served as protection during the Wars of Religion. Several famous castles are on your itinerary as well, such as the Chateau des Milandes, former home of Josephine Baker, and the Chateau de Castelnaud la Chapelle, an impressive fortified castle overlooking the Dordogne valley.
    Reach Belves, your last destination. This medieval town boasts seven belltowers.

    Daily distance: 38 km (24 miles)

  • Day 8

    Your bicycle tour ends in Belves

    Highlights: Belves

    Today is departure day, take some time getting started in the morning, have breakfast and depart at your leisure from Belves.

Includes Included
8 days
7 nights accommodation
7 breakfasts
1 dinner (drinks not included)
Use of a quality hybrid bicycle (road bike available for an additional fee)
Detailed route descriptions with cultural information
Access to app for navigation (to be downloaded and used on your own smartphone)
Luggage transfers
Transfer at the beginning of tour

Not included
Entrance to museums or other activities not indicated as included
City hotel tax (2 to 5 euro per night per person, to be paid locally by traveler)
Any meals or beverages not indicated as included
________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included.

Tour code: frbs3557
Countries France
Begin/End Tremolat / Belves
Arrive/Depart Paris: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Orly Airport (ORY) / Bordeaux-Méringnac Airport (BOD)
Total Distance 267 km
Daily Distance 23-56 km
Rating 201
Notes This tour is part of our Partner Tours Collective program: operated by select local partners that we know and trust, the tour is similar in quality to those we operate directly in many ways. Please click here for more details.
Terms Terms & Conditions
Dates Prices Single Supplement
Dates Tour departs every day.
Hotel upgrade possible (ask for details).
SOLO TRAVELER please ask for price.
ROAD BIKE or ELECTRIC BIKE RENTAL ADDITIONAL FEE: 175€
Prices €2050 per person (€80 discount for March, April and October departures) Single Supplement €565 single room supplement (€455 for March, April and October departures)
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  • Overall it was outstanding, no complaints. Highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves cycling. The first hotel in Tremolat had one of the best meals we have ever had. The hotels overall were superb. Exactly what we had expected. Our favorite aspect of the trip was being on our own and deciding what we wanted to do each day. A few times ended up on busy roads but overall the route was awesome. Touring the chateaus and castles was amazing. Perfect amount of cycling and site seeing. We loved the tour and plan to book another next year

    Peter D.
    Maine, USA
    Aug 2017

  • The whole trip was a joy. I think our favourite days were the 2 days at Les Eyzies. The weather was fabulous and the chateaux and views were amazing. The ride into and out of Rocamadour was also stunning and we loved Hotel Les Esclagies and the amazing church. Loved Hotel de la Metairie and Hotel la Villa Romaine, especially the pool and the lovely staff. Stefania from the Cycle europe office was fabulous and kept us fully informed. She also went out of her way to help a friend try to join us at the last minute. We very much appreciated her kindness and efficiency.

    Christine S.
    Australia
    Aug 2017

  • We had the best time ever, local staff was amazing ,so helpful in every way.

    Lyn S.
    New Zealand
    September 2011