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A river walk through the Dordogne: exploring the valleys of the Périgord Noir
    • France - Dordogne
    • 9 days
    • Walking
    • Self-guided
      • From March to November
    • 2 - 10 travellers
      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior
      • Trip code : D1106
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About the A river walk through the Dordogne: exploring the valleys of the Périgord Noir trip

This beautiful walking holiday through the Dordogne begins and ends in the pretty town of Sarlat-la-Canéda, the capital of the Périgord Noir, with its cobbled streets, picturesque squares, architectural treasures, and the lively all-day market on Saturdays. You spend the first part of the trip in the Dordogne Valley exploring the fairytale castles along the banks of the Dordogne River: Chateaux de Commarque, Beynac and Milandes, the former home of Josephine Baker. We also invite you to discover the most iconic villages of Beynac and La Roque Gageac and the magnificent bastide village of Domme where you spend 2 nights. From there, you head over to the Vézère valley where the chateaux give way to troglodyte villages, prehistoric caves and UNESCO listed sites. At the end of the trip, you have time to visit the Lascaux IV caves, a wonderful replica of the oldest paintings in human history.  

Highlights of the trip

  • A great overview of the beautiful Dordogne
  • Pretty villages and bastide towns
  • Walking along the riverbanks of the Périgord Noir
  • Longer walk options on neraly every day ! 
  • Discovery of gardens, castles, troglodyte villages and prehistoric caves
  • Les Eyzies, the prehistoric capital 
  • The famous market in Sarlat
  • Swimming in the rivers and optional kayaking 

    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From the blog

A river walk through the Dordogne: exploring the valleys of the Périgord Noir - Day by Day 

Day 1 - Arrival in Sarlat: a village of art & history

  • walking holiday in the Dordogne Your trip begins in Sarlat-la-Canéda, capital of the Périgord Noir. This pretty medieval town is a great starting place with its labyrinth of narrow,  cobbled streets, picturesque and shaded squares and traditional slate roof houses.
  • Night in Sarlat

  • We recommend:
    Starting your trip on a Friday or Saturday to enjoy the market in Sarlat, one of the busiest and most colourful of the region. Takes place every Wednesday morning and all day Saturday. 

  • Access :
    . From Paris : High speed Paris/Bordeaux and then Bordeaux/Sarlat
    Direct train also from Paris / Sarlat
    . From Bordeaux airport : train Bordeaux / Sarlat
     

Day 2 - Walking in the Beune Valley & Commarque Castle

  • self-guided walking holiday france Marquay > Château Commarque > Marquay
    3h15 -12km / 7.4 miles - Ascent: 330m / Descent: 330m
  • Transfer to Marquay (15mn). Your loop walk begins in Marquay : a Perigordian village full of charm with its typical houses and their lauze roofs and its fortified church from the 12th and 13th centuries. You will cross forests of oak and chestnut trees, small hills dotted with hamlets &  rock shelters dug by the river Beune before arriving at the Château de Commarque which stands on a rocky outcrop, on site, there are troglodyte houses and a prehistoric cave (visit included).  Transfer back to Sarlat (15mn)
  • Night in Sarlat
  • MEALS included : Breakfast

Day 3 - Hiking through the most beautiful villages of the Dordogne Valley

  • walking trip in France + easy walks France 2 walk options:
    . Shorter option : La Roque Gageac > Vitrac > Domme
    2h30 - 11km / 6.8 miles - Ascent: 390m / Descent:280m
    . Longer option : Beynac > Vitrac > Domme
    5h - 18km / 11 miles - Ascent: 650m / Descent: 500m
  • Transfer to Beynac or La Roque Gageac, both troglodyte villages nestled in the cliff, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Your walk will take you through the Perigord countryside with its green valleys, oak forests and picturesque hamlets. You will pass by a goose and duck farm and you can take the opportunity to fill up on regional delicacies! You continue along the Dordogne to Domme, a magnificent bastide village perfectly combining the architectural, natural and gastronomic heritage of the Périgord Noir.
    Optional: a boat cruise along the Dordogne river on board a barge.  From this traditional wooden boat, you can admire the majestic castles of Beynac & Castelnaud (not included).
  • Night in Domme
  • MEALS included : Breakfast
  • We recommend  - Optional activities: 
    . Canoeing down the river
    . The hanging gardens of Marqueyssac
    . The bamboo plantation 

  • Market on Friday mornings in La Roque Gageac

Day 4 - The Château des Milandes & The Château de Castelnaud

  • self-guided hiking holiday Dordogne + hiking in the Dordogne 2 walk options : 
    . Shorter option : Chateau des Milandes > Château de Castelnaud > Domme 
    3h20 - 13km / 8 miles - Ascent: 430m / Descent: 390m
    . Longer walk : Allas les Mines > Château des Milandes > Château de Castelnaud > Domme
    5h30 - 20km / 12.4 miles - Ascent: 640m / Descent: 560m
  • Transfer to Allas les Mines or the Château des Milandes:  world famous thanks to Josephine Baker, admire its elegant turrets. Follow the left bank of the Dordogne to Castelnaud, a listed village with a fortified castle that played an important role in the Hundred Year War. You continue along the Dordogne River before climbing to Domme perched on a vertiginous cliff with buildings of gold coloured stone, offering a breathtaking view over the Dordogne Valley.
  • Night in Domme
  • MEALS included : Breakfast 
  • We recommend: optional visits  
    . Château des Milandes
    . Château de Castelnaud

Day 5 - In the valley of man

  • hiking in France 2 walk options:
    . Shorter option : Le Bugue > Les Eyzies
    3h45 - 13,5km / 8.1 miles - Ascent: 190m / Descent: 180m
    . Longer option : Limueil > Le Bugue > Les Eyzies
    6h15 - 23km / 14.3 miles - Ascent: 440m / Descent: 430m
  • From either Limueil or Le Bugue, nestled downstream of the Vézère valley, known as the "Valley of Man", you pass through picturesque landscapes and numerous shady woods, farms and hamlets, passing through St Cirq and the famous Grotte du Sorcier (Sorcerer's Cave), before arriving at the prehistoric capital Les Eyzies.
  • Night in Les Eyzies
  • MEALS included : Breakfast 

  • We recommend: optional visits   
    . Fonte de Gaume & de Combarelles caves
    . Abri Pataud, Cro Magnon & du Poisson

  • Market on Monday mornings in Les Eyzies & Tuesday mornings in Le Bugue

Day 6 - Hiking from Saint Cyprien or Meyrals

  • self-guided hiking holiday Dordogne Saint Cyprien > Meyrals > Les Eyzies
    . Shorter option : Meyrals> Les Eyzies
    2h40 - 10km  - Ascent: 170m / Descent: 270m
    . Longer option : Saint Cyprien > Les Eyzies
    4h10 - 15 km - Ascent: 320m / Descent: 320m
  • After breakfast you have a transfer to either St Cyprien (longer hike) or to Meyrals (shorter hike). Saint Cyprien where the longer hikes begins is worth a small detour especially on a Sunday as it’s market day in the morning. Walk down old streets and past the 12th century abbey church and bell tower before you had into the rolling countryside, pass farmyards, walk through forest and along trails and quiet country lanes and pass Chateau Fages. Just before entering Les Eyzies you will also pass the Font de Gaume - Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 -  : this prehistoric cave is one of the most incredible Palaeolithic sites in the world.
  • Night in Les Eyzies
  • MEALS included : Breakfast 

  • We recommend: 
    . Visiting the Musée Nationale de la Préhistoire

  • Market on Sunday mornings in Saint Cyprien
  • Market on Monday mornings in Les Eyzies

Day 7 - In the Vézère valley

  • walking in the Dordogne + kayak and walking holiday 2 walk options: 
    . Shorter option : St Leon > Montignac
    3h15 - 14 km / 8 miles - Ascent: 300m / Descent: 290m
    . Longer option : Peyzac Le Moustier > Saint Leon sur Vézère > Montignac
    5h - 20km / 12.4 miles - Ascent: 510m / Descent: 510m
  • Transfer to Peyzac Le Mousiter or St Léon sur Vézère. From Saint Léon sur Vézère, a listed village peacefully installed in a bend of the Vézère river and dominated by the Côte de Jor, you hike through oak forests, and cross typical farms and hamlets towards the charming village of Montignac located at the foot of the famous Lascaux hill.
  • Night in Montignac
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

  • We recommend 
    . Kayaking or Canoeing in St Leon
    . Parc du Thot

Day 8 - The famous Lascaux cave

  • lascaux caves + dordogne walking trip Montignac > Lascaux > Montignac
    2h - 7 km / 4.3 miles - Ascent: 150 / Descent: 150m
  • A short loop walk allows you to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors and visit the LASCAUX IV cave (not included, visit to be booked in advance): a complete and original replica which houses the oldest paintings of humanity and retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave.
  • Night in Montignac
  • MEALS included: Breakfast 

  • We recommend: 
    . Prolonging your trip and spending an extra night in Montignac, possibility of kayaking in the afternoon! 
    . The Regourdou site: discovering Neanderthal man

Day 9 - End of the trip

  • walking in france + dordogne walking stay Transfer after breakfast to Sarlat-la-Canéda. End of your trip
    Bye bye la Dordogne.... 
  • MEALS included: Breakfast 

  • Market on Wednesday mornings and all day Saturday in Sarlat 

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    Trip details
    A river walk through the Dordogne: exploring the valleys of the Périgord Noir
        • France - Dordogne
        • 2 adults (2x1150€)
        • 0 children (0x1150€)
      • 9 days
      • Simple
    Total 2300€
    Deposit 740€
    Book now !