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

Highlights of the trip

  • Pretty villages and bastide towns
  • Walking along the riverbanks of the Périgord Noir
  • Longer walk options almost every day 
  • Exploring gardens, castles, troglodyte villages and prehistoric caves 


    Customize your holiday here 

  • From 910€ /pers
    • Self-guided Walking
    • Easy
      • 9 days
      • From March to November
      • Simple -
      • Comfort -
      • Charming -
      • Superior
      • Ref : D1106

Itinerary

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. We recommend starting your trip on a Friday or Saturday to enjoy the all-day market on Saturday in Sarlat.

Meals included : none
Night : Sarlat

 

Day 2 - Walking in the Beune Valley & Commarque Castle

self-guided walking holiday france Short transfer to Marquay. 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.

Walk : Marquay > Chateau Commarque > Marquay | 3h15 |  12 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +330m/-330m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Sarlat

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

walking trip in France + easy walks France 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).
We recommend  as optional activities: canoeing down the river, the hanging gardens of Marqueyssac & the bamboo plantation. 

2 Walk options :
. Short option : La Roque Gageac > Vitrac > Domme | 2h30 |  11 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +390m/-280m
. Longer option : Beynac > La Roque Gageac > Vitrac > Domme | 5h | 18 km - 11 miles | Elevation : +650m/ - 500m

Meals included : breakfast
Night : Domme

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

self-guided hiking holiday Dordogne + hiking in the Dordogne 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. We recommend visiting both the Château des Milandes and Castelnaud.   

2 Walk options :
. Short option : Château des Milandes > Château de Castelnaud > Domme | 3h20 |  13 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +430m/-390m
. Longer option : Allas les Mines > Château des Milandes > Château de Castelnaud > Domme | 5h30 | 20 km - 12 miles | Elevation : +640m/ - 560m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Domme

Day 5 - In the valley of man

hiking in France 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. 
We recommend visiting the Fonte de Gaume & de Combarelles caves, Abri Pataud, Cro Magnon & du Poisson.

2 Walk options :
. Short option : Le Bugue > Les Eyzies | 3h45 |  13 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +190m/-180m
. Longer option : Limueil > Le Bugue > Les Eyzies | 6h15 | 23 km - 14 miles | Elevation : +440m/ - 430m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Les Eyzies

Day 6 - Hiking from Saint Cyprien or Meyrals

self-guided hiking holiday Dordogne 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.
We recommend visiting the Musée Nationale de la Préhistoire.

2 Walk options :
. Short option : Meyrals> Les Eyzies | 2h40 |  10 km - 6 miles | Elevation: +170m/-270m
. Longer option : Saint Cyprien > Les Eyzies | 4h10 | 15 km - 9 miles | Elevation : +320m/ - 320m

Meals included : breakfast
Night : Les Eyzies

Day 7 - In the Vézère valley

walking in the Dordogne + kayak and walking holiday 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. We recommend kayaking or canoeing in St Leon and the Parc du Thot.

2 Walk options :
. Short option : St Leon > Montignac | 3h15 |  14 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +300m/-290m
. Longer option : Peyzac Le Moustier > Saint Leon > Montignac | 5h | 20 km - 12 miles | Elevation : +510m/ - 510m

Meals included : breakfast
Night : Montignac

Day 8 - The famous Lascaux cave

lascaux caves + dordogne walking trip 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.
We recommend prolonging your trip and spending an extra night in Montignac with the possibility of kayaking in the afternoon! Or visiting the Regourdou site and discovering Neanderthal man.

Loop Walk : Lascaux cave | 2h |  7 km - 4 miles | Elevation: +150m/-150m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Montignac 

Day 9 - End of the trip

walking in france + dordogne walking stay Transfer after breakfast to Sarlat-la-Canéda. End of your trip. 

MEALS included: Breakfast

Market on Wednesday mornings and all day Saturday in Sarlat.

    • From 910€ /pers
      • Self-guided Walking
      • Easy
        • 9 days
        • From March to November
        • Simple -
        • Comfort -
        • Charming -
        • Superior
        • Ref : D1106
    YOUR TRIP

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    From the blog

    More walking holidays in the Dordogne 

      • 3 days
      • Easy
      • Self-guided Walking
        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
        • Simple
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        • Comfort
        • /
        • Charming
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        • Superior

    Highlights of the trip

    • Les Eyzies village : the prehistoric capital of Dordogne
    • Short & long walking options
    • Exploring medieval and troglodyte villages 
    • Local markets and sampling local delicacies

      Customize your holiday here 

      • 4 days
      • Easy
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        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
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        • /
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    Highlights of the trip

    • The best walks around Sarlat & Domme 
    • The  famous Dordogne gardens & castles
    • Visit of the Château de Commarque included 
    • The colourful market in Sarlat

      Customize your holiday here 

      • 6 days
      • Easy
      • Self-guided Walking
        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
        • Simple
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        • Comfort
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        • Charming
        • /
        • Superior

    Highlights of the trip

    • A  fascinating journey through time 
    • Easy walks with more moderate options on days 3 & 4
    • Les Eyzies, the prehistoric capital 
    • Exploring medieval and troglodyte villages  


      Customize your holiday here 

      • 8 days
      • Easy
      • Self-guided Walking
        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
        • Simple
        • /
        • Comfort
        • /
        • Charming
        • /
        • Superior

    Highlights of the trip

    • A  joyful mix of walks, relaxation & heritage 
    • Discovery of gardens, castles, troglodyte villages and prehistoric caves
    • Visit of the Château de Commarque included 
    • Les Eyzies, the prehistoric capital  


      Customize your holiday here 

      • 9 days
      • Easy
      • Self-guided Walking
        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
        • Simple
        • /
        • Comfort
        • /
        • Charming
        • /
        • Superior

    Highlights of the trip

    • Pretty villages and bastide towns
    • Walking along the riverbanks of the Périgord Noir
    • Longer walk options almost every day 
    • Exploring gardens, castles, troglodyte villages and prehistoric caves 


      Customize your holiday here