Walking in the Dordogne 

The Dordogne is located in the southwest of France, just east of Bordeaux. It owes its name to the river of the same name that flows through this part of France. An agricultural region, 40% of the territory is forest.  The local wealth is dependent on 3 main factors: wood (for furniture & paper making, and heating), wine (the famous Bergerac and Montbazillac), and tourism.

Enjoy the experience of travelling on foot in the Southwest of France. Admire the fairytale castles dominating the river, meander through the cobbled streets of the medieval villages, take a walk through history exploring troglodyte villages and prehistoric caves. Sample rich and delicious local cuisine. Enjoy walking in the Dordogne

Dordogne walking tours: a hiker’s paradise 

Our tours of the Dordogne in France begin in either the town of Sarlat-la-Canéda or Les Eyzies. The former is the capital of the Périgord Noir region, a pretty and bustling town, known for its yellow stone houses and narrow, cobbled streets and the Saturday morning market. The latter is the prehistoric capital of the Périgord Noir, with caves and museums offering an insight into a way of life of the prehistoric man. From your starting block, the hiking trails follow the curve of the Dordogne River and/or the Vézère River as they weave their way through medieval villages and past majestic castles. The elevation gain is nothing to worry about, no real steep climbs, just gentle green undulating hills. You enjoy the shade of the oak forests and the cool of the undergrowth along the walk. You pass by hamlets and farms and grazing cattle, immersing yourself in the rural French countryside. Walking in the Dordogne is to make your way from one pretty village to the next, the mirror image of the golden stone houses and their lauze roofs reflecting back at you in the glistening water.      

 

Walking in the Dordogne: the highlights. 

The highlights of the Dordogne valley include exploring some of the most beautiful villages in France: Beynac, with its imposing castle that was once under siege by Richard the Lion Heart, La Roque-Gageac, with its typical lauze roof houses and breathtaking views, and Domme, a perched village with an exceptional heritage where you can admire the hanging gardens and wide sweeping view of the Dordogne River which flows at its feet.

Another highlight is admiring the many castles on route, some of which you can visit, all of which are rich in history and heritage and are, quite simply, majestic.

When your walking in the Dordogne trip takes you to the Vézère valley, you are in the prehistoric capital of Europe! How wonderful to be able to walk in the footsteps of Cro Magnon man! Visit the troglodyte villages and see how they lived, delve deep into the grottos and caves of the Dordogne Périgord. Explore the listed villages of Saint Leon sur Vézère and Limeuil that invite you to rest and picnic with baguette, wine and cheese on the banks of the Vézère River

No tours of the Dordogne France would be complete without a trip to the market, an authentic experience and a real highlight! Stroll through the streets of the towns and villages and taste the local specialities: black truffles, mushrooms, Bergerac wine, walnuts and foie gras of course! Hiking Dordogne is a fascinating tour through history, with unspoilt scenery, excellent cuisine, friendly locals, great accommodation, and the Dordogne & Vézère Rivers running through.

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      • 3 days
      • From March to November
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • 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

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

Dordogne walking from Sarlat to Domme - Short & sweet
      • France - Dordogne
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 4 days
      • From March to November
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior

Highlights of the trip

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

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

      • 6 days
      • From March to November
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • 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 
  • Local markets and sampling local delicacies
  • Swimming in the river and optional kayaking 



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

      • 8 days
      • 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
  • Longer walk options on days 3, 4, 5 & 7
  • A cultural break in the most beautiful villages
  • Visit of the Château de Commarque included 
  • 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 

      • 9 days
      • From March to November
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior

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 

Why choose our tours of Dordogne, France

As with all of our tours, we have created our walking tours of the Dordogne, France. Our track finders have been out on the trails, hiking Dordogne and hand picking the hotels and guest houses. We take into consideration every factor: distance from the hotel to the town/village centre, budget, comfort, friendliness of the owners and sometimes even quirkiness of the accommodations!

We have partnered up with local taxi companies to ensure that your transfers go smoothly. We transfer you to the start of the walks and your bags are safely delivered to your next accommodation and will be waiting for you when you arrive on foot later in the day.

We handle all the booking process for you. You will enjoy a self-guided walking in the Dordogne trip with all the assistance required to make it as easy as possible: detailed written route notes with estimate walking times, points of interest and tips and recommendations as well as the GPX files for all the walks. You download the files onto an app before you leave and then you can follow the GPX route as you walk, no wifi connection required!

Our expertise does not stop there. We can also offer other activities such as canoeing, high ropes course, a boat cruise and biking for a multiactivity Dordogne walking tour!

 

Difficulty level

We list our walking in the Dordogne trips as easy. You walk between 2h to 4h on even and maintained paths and the waymarkings are good. We are pleased to be able to offer a short and long option on most of the walks. If you are happy to take your time, linger over a long lunch, enjoy a local market, or to simply relax by the river and enjoy the view, then the shorter option is the way to go.  On the other hand, if you prefer to make a full day of it, opt for the longer hikes, adding a good couple of hours walking time to your day and a few more miles under your belt. And there is no need to make the decision regarding the walking options at the time of booking, you can decide on the day. Just inform your taxi driver in the morning where you would like to be dropped off for the start of the walk.

 

How best to plan your walking in the Dordogne trip

When to go?

Our tours of the Dordogne, France are available from March through to November. The Dordogne gets quite a bit of rain in the winter, so early and late season could be a little wet but with mild temperatures. Summer tends to be hot, but thunderstorms help cool the temperature a little. September and October are very pleasant months. Mainly warm and dry during the day and stunning autumn colours everywhere!

 

What to pack

There are some essential items to include in your suitcase for your Dordogne walking tour. We recommend good quality walking boots with good ankle support. It is also worth investing in some decent socks! Hiking poles are not compulsory but if you are not used to walking long distances over many days, then they may come in handy. With regards to clothing, layers are the way to go! The temperature can change throughout the day, and the more you walk, the warmer you will be. Take off the layers as you go, folding them into your backpack. Sunglasses and sunscreen (even in March and October/November) are a definite must. We also recommend bringing a small first aid kit. The hiking trails, whilst well signposted, can be off the beaten track and far from amenities. Band aids, disinfectant and paracetamol could prove very useful. 

 

How to get there

The Périgord Noir is a rural part of France with very few main cities and large towns. Our walking in the Dordogne trips have been well thought out with regards to access. The main towns with train stations are Sarlat-la-Canéda, Les Eyzies and Montignac with connecting trains from either Brive la Gaillarde or Périgueux to the rest of France. The closest airports are Bergerac and Bordeaux. Despite our best efforts, does take a good part of a day to reach your destination in the Dordogne, but once you arrive, you will find it hard to leave.