The Dordogne, as the French say, is a land with ‘un peu de tout’, a little of everything; a gently meandering river, lush pastures, wine, walnuts, geese, the warm southern sun and of course a web of trails and paths making it ideal for a walking or cycling holiday.

This area of France is rich in scenery, architecture, history - and of course has a famous gastronomic reputation, as this is the home of the truffle!

Many of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France are in the Dordogne region and our routes are crafted to take in some of the best of them.

Explore Souillac in the valley of the Dordogne River as you cycle on tiny lanes and byroads. Souillac is known as Perigord Noir because of the way the oak and chestnut foliage turns dark as the sun sets. Follow the river and wind your way through a landscape of steep green wooded hills, patchwork fields and terraced slopes.

Head to Les Eyzies, the Mecca of prehistoric man, where a visit to the world famous Font de Gaume is a must. These caves are a showpiece of engravings and paintings from around 14.000 BC. The artefacts found during excavations testify to a continual occupation since the age of the Neandertals.

On foot, follow the GR480 long distance trail across rolling farmland and along woodland paths to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne and an area of the Dordogne valley of outstanding natural beauty. Another stunning section for walkers is the trail from Carennac along the picturesque route of the ‘Cirque de Montvalent’ to the delightful village of Creysse. Spend time in Turenne, with its hilltop castle, and Collonges, an exquisite medieval village in warm, red sandstone, enclosing a priory church.

Don’t be surprised to hear English voices, either on vacation or in residence, as the English have long been associated with this fertile green valley. They built many of the castles and fortified villages.

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Find your Dordogne trip

Dordogne highlights

 

Why travel with us

Local Connections in the Dordogne

We place great emphasis on researching, planning and crafting innovative itineraries to ensure you get the very best experience out of your trip in the Dordogne. We believe relationships are important and have been working with many of our hoteliers and local suppliers for years. This means that they know exactly what our travellers expect.

Great Value & Quality Holidays in the Dordogne

Our active holidays in the Dordogne are well priced offering great value for money. Included in your package are comprehensive route notes, maps & guide books along with bag transfers and locally run accommodation. When you book, your trip will be fully organised by a dedicated member of our in-house team, so you will always know who you are dealing with. We take the stress out of organising your trip in the Dordogne.

Personal Experience in the Dordogne

Our team have been walking and cycling in the Dordogne for over 4 decades. We are passionate about France, active holidays and delivering exceptional service. Combined, we’ve travelled to virtually every corner of the UK & Europe and bring a multi-disciplined, multicultural and whole-hearted love of all things travel.

Accommodation

Charming local hotels

In the Dordogne we use a range of characterful 2-3 star Logis hotels, often family run. These charming establishments provide access to local living thanks to your hosts. The hospitality is generous and their local knowledge is invaluable. Where possible, we choose hotel locations that add to your experience.

Bed & Breakfasts

Simple yet rich in local character, the B&B’s chosen are clean, comfortable and run by hosts that help add to your experience.

Guesthouse

Similar to Bed & Breakfasts, these family-owned accommodations are clean and comfortable. Rooms with en-suites generally have a shower but no bath due to space. There may be a separate room with a bath tub.

Trip reviews

Essential information

Currency

Euro

International Dialing Code

+33

Electricity
Type C plug

Electricity in France is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Visas

Visas not required for citizens of Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days for all Schengen countries (see www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/ for countries part of the Schengen). Please ensure your passport is stamped on arrival in the Schengen area. For all other nationalities and for longer stays in countries covered by the Schengen Agreement (Australian New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders), please contact the relevant embassy. Stays of longer than 90 days in the Schengen area require a long stay visa for the country you are spending most time in. However long stay visas are unlikely to be issued unless there is a valid reason (eg. studying in country). Unfortunately we cannot assist in obtaining visas for long stays due to individual country visa requirements.

Safety

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.