Heart of the Dordogne By Bicycle

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).

Accomodation: Hotel la Metairie or similar.

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: 51 Km (31 miles)
Elevation gain: + 570 m (1870 ft)
Terrain type: hilly terrain

Accomodation: Hostellerie du Passeur or similar.

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.

Short option: Daily distance: 24 km (15 miles) - Elevation gain: + 400 m (1312 ft) - Terrain type: rolling hills
Long option: Daily distance: 31 km (19 miles) - Elevation gain: + 637 m (2090 ft) - Terrain type: rolling hills

Accomodation: Hostellerie du Passeur or similar.

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: 40 km (25 miles)
Elevation gain: + 287 m (942 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat

Accomodation: Hotel la Couleuvrine or similar.

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: 51 km (32 miles)
Elevation gain: + 747 (2450 ft)
Terrain type: very hilly

Accomodation: Hotel les Esclargies or similar.

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: 47 km (29 miles)
Elevation gain: + 522 (1712 ft)
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accomodation: Hotel la Villa Romaine or similar.

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: 37 km (23 miles)
Elevation gain: +462 (1515 ft)
Terrain type: hilly

Accomodation: Hotel Clement V or similar.

Highlights: Belves

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

PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. 

We recommend flying into Paris: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Orly Airport (ORY) / Bordeaux-Méringnac Airport (BOD)

From CDG to Trémolat

• Take a TGV train from CDG Terminal 2 to Bordeaux St-Jean (around 2h30), then transfer to a TER train to Le Buisson (1h30) and take a taxi to Trémolat (10 min)

From ORY to Trémolat

• Take the Orlyval train to Antony, then the RER B to Paris Montparnasse, where you can board a TGV to Bordeaux St-Jean (2h15), followed by a TER train to Le Buisson and a short taxi ride.
   

From BOD to Trémolat

• The fastest option is a TER train from Bordeaux St-Jean to Le Buisson (1h30), then a taxi to Trémolat.

We recommend flying out of Paris: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Orly Airport (ORY) / Bordeaux-Méringnac Airport (BOD)

From Belvès to CDG

• Take a TER train from Belvès to Bordeaux St-Jean (2h), then a TGV to CDG Terminal 2 (2h30).
• Alternatively, take a TER train to Bordeaux and a domestic flight to CDG.

From Belvès to ORY

• Take a TER train from Belvès to Bordeaux St-Jean, then a TGV to Paris Montparnasse (2h15). From there, take the Orlybus or RER B + Orlyval (total journey around 4h30).

From Belvès to BOD

• Take a TER train from Belvès to Bordeaux St-Jean (2h), then a shuttle or taxi to Bordeaux Airport (30 min).