Walking in the Dordogne In Style
- Relaxed walking through the idyllic landscapes of the Dordogne
- Towering cliffs of La Roque-Gageac, one of ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’
- Rich rolling hills of apple and walnut orchards in the Périgord Noir
- Unwind in fabulously located hand-picked hotels
- Indulge in delicious French food and local wines
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Sarlat-la-CanedaSarlat-la-Caneda is a marvellous medieval town and capital of the Périgord Noir. After settling into your centrally located accommodation begin exploring the warren of old lanes and charming courtyards with their fine 15th and 16th century pale-ochre buildings.
This 4* hotel is located in the heart of Sarlat just steps away from the main sights. With premium rooms, a wellness room (with heated pool, sauna, hammam, steam room, etc) and free Wifi you will be sure to enjoy your stay here.
After a short transfer (10 mins) to the village of St Vincent le Paluel, begin today’s walk by heading into the peaceful countryside. At times you pass through farmland and little communities with stone houses and also take wooded trails with glimpses of a chateau, small rivers and streams.
When you arrive back in Sarlat and you are lucky enough to be here on a Saturday, you can saunter through the fabulous local market.
Ascent/Descent: 188m/159m
This 4* hotel is located in the heart of Sarlat just steps away from the main sights. With premium rooms, a wellness room (with heated pool, sauna, hammam, steam room, etc) and free Wifi you will be sure to enjoy your stay here.
After a delicious breakfast in your delightful accommodation, a transfer (20 mins) brings you to Carsac and the beginning of today’s tranquil walk. Begin by heading out of Carsac on a bike trail and cross over the Dordogne River into the charming countryside, past farms and apple orchards.
This region is famous for its walnut production (in medieval times walnuts were so valuable they were often used as a form of currency) and evidence of this is present all around you with a multitude of walnut orchards.
Arrive in the pretty fortified small town of Domme with its amazing position overlooking a wide sweep of the Dordogne Valley.
Ascent/Descent: 263m/148m
Dinner: Domme
The views from this hotel overlooking the Dordogne River are second to none. The restaurant has a wonderful reputation in Domme, the rooms have traditional décor and your hosts will welcome you warmly.
Today’s wonderful day of walking takes you out of Domme and next to the Dordogne River along a quiet track. See the fortifications of Castelnaud in the distance, before crossing the river and strolling into the incredible towering stronghold of Beynac, once besieged by Richard the Lionheart. A break here is highly recommended and you can follow the narrow (and steep!) lanes up to the chateau and perhaps enjoy lunch in a café terrace with stunning views over the river.
Continue through the serene countryside to dramatic La Roque Gageac and its overhanging cliffs and ochre-coloured stone houses sheltering underneath.
Ascent/Descent: 325m/470m
Dinner: La Roque Gageac
Located directly next to the river and right in the centre of town, this lovely hotel offers spacious, comfortable rooms, lovely friendly staff, a terrace on which to sip a cocktail at sunset and dinners to die for!
Located in the heart of the golden triangle of the Black Perigord on the banks of the Dordogne, the castles of Marqueyssac, Castelnaud and Beynac are nearby. The Manoir de la Malartrie offers a magnificent view of one of the most beautiful villages of France: La Roque-Gageac. Full of style and charm, this is a memorable place right on the “River Hope”, the poetic name given to the Dordogne.
Leave La Roque Gageac via its quaint cobbled lanes and head into the adjacent rolling hills and woodlands between here and Vitrac. Pause en route at an auberge for a delightful lunch of local produce (and a delicious glass of Bergerac) before arriving in tiny Vitrac with its pretty church, which you may explore before heading north through peaceful farms and woodland.
Pass stone bories (drystone huts), small country hamlets and experience incredible views, as you walk back into La Roque Gageac.
Ascent/Descent: 426m/426m
Located directly next to the river and right in the centre of town, this lovely hotel offers spacious, comfortable rooms, lovely friendly staff, a terrace on which to sip a cocktail at sunset and dinners to die for!
Located in the heart of the golden triangle of the Black Perigord on the banks of the Dordogne, the castles of Marqueyssac, Castelnaud and Beynac are nearby. The Manoir de la Malartrie offers a magnificent view of one of the most beautiful villages of France: La Roque-Gageac. Full of style and charm, this is a memorable place right on the “River Hope”, the poetic name given to the Dordogne.
A transfer (25mins) brings you to St Cyprien and the beginning of your walk north to Les Eyzies, with its towering cliffs and home to the Museé National de la Préhistoire.
The outset of today’s walk takes you close to the village of Meyrals and through farmyards, cornfields (in season) and scenic countryside, before following trails through numerous shady woodlands. Pass the Font du Gaume as you stroll into Les Eyzies, located on the Vézère River.
Ascent/Descent: 220m/212m
This beautiful hotel is located within a former 19th century post house and situated close to the Vezère River with a unique panorama of the surrounding cliffs. Relax by the pool, in the bar lounge or on the large terrace.
Cross the tranquil Vézère River and take a trail alongside it before passing through a wooded area and the small hamlet of Les Plagnes. Pass the turning for the Grotte du Cirq (also named the Cave of the Witches and worth a short detour for a visit) and continue on into the village of St Cirq.
Walk for a while with views of dramatic cliffs on the other side of the river as Les Eyzies itself comes into view.
Ascent/Descent: 199m/223m
This beautiful hotel is located within a former 19th century post house and situated close to the Vezère River with a unique panorama of the surrounding cliffs. Relax by the pool, in the bar lounge or on the large terrace.
An included transfer brings you to Sarlat (or Le Buisson if you are travelling on an alternate train line. From Sarlat or Le Buisson you can take a train to major gateways for your onward journeys.
This trip has a carbon score of 8kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 8kg is equivalent to 12 pints of local beer at a bar. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Each day explore these delightful and typically French landscapes on foot, stopping for picnic lunches and a spot of sightseeing en route. In the evenings relish this region’s distinctive gastronomy and the terrific local wine. Overnight in hand-picked hotels that offer the very best in comfort and relaxation.
In Style | After a day of exciting adventures and soaking up unbeatable scenery, retreat to stylish accommodations and unwind with fine food and wine. This trip type is for those who like sophisticated places to stay and are looking for active routes but still want the holiday to feel special.
Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This tour is graded easy to moderate. The trails are a combination of dirt trails, gravel tracks and tarmac country roads. The walking routes are a mix of surfaces, but please note that there will be tarmac walking at times as it is unavoidable. This tour is suitable for walkers with a reasonable physical fitness. There are rolling hills in this area, and it will also be necessary to walk up some short but fairly steep stretches.
The accommodations provided on this tour are a mix of hand-picked 3* and 4* hotels. In Domme and La Roque Gageac we are using 3* hotels, but reserving upgraded rooms for you. In Sarlat and Les Eyzies we are using excellent 4* hotels.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.
We also welcome solo walkers on this tour, again a supplement is payable.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning. Lunch is not included. On some of the walking days it will be essential to take a packed lunch as there are no cafes or restaurants en route (your route notes will give you these details). However it will be very easy to buy a baguette, fruit, drinks, etc from a local bakery, sandwich shop or the local market (depending on the day of the week) before you depart. Two dinners are included, one in Domme and one in La Roque Gageac. The restaurants in these hotels are well-renowned as having excellent cuisine. For all the other dinners you can also eat at your accommodation or there are plenty of local restaurants to choose from.
The route is generally way marked (when on a GR trail) with red and white GR signs or wooden posts with yellow or green markers. Some sections in the woods can be a little trickier to navigate. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:
- IGN 2036 ET Sarlat-Souillac
- IGN 2037 OT La Roque-Gageac Domme-Gourdon
- IGN 1936 ET Les Eyzies
- 7 Nights accommodation in 3* and 4* hotels
- 7 Breakfasts
- 2 Dinners
- Luggage transfers
- Transfers to walks where mentioned
- Transfer from Souillac Train Station to Sarlat
- Transfer from Les Eyzies to Sarlat or Le Buisson
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- 24/7 telephone support from our office
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Souillac
- Travel from Sarlat or Le Buisson
- Lunches
- 5 Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
- Personal equipment
- Private transfers
- Additional nights before, during and after the walk
The best times to travel in the region are spring, early summer, and later in the year in autumn when the temperatures are pleasant for walking.
The summer months of July and August can be very hot, please bear this in mind when booking. The area is also occasionally prone to thunderstorms. Always check the weather the day before; you can ask your accommodation to check for you.
The weekly town markets are listed below so that if there is one you don't want to miss you can time your trip right.
- Beynac: Monday
- Carsac: Sunday (Not always weekly so best to check with your local tourist office just to be sure.)
- Domme: Thursday
- La Roque Gageac: Friday (Not always weekly so best to check with your local tourist office just to be sure.)
- Les Eyzies: Monday (and Friday evening)
- Sarlat: Wednesday and Saturday mornings for the traditional market, from mid-April to October the indoor market is held daily from 8am to 1pm (full days on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from mid-July to the end of August)
- St Cyprien: Sunday
In Summer, some villages also have night-time markets with local products, crafts, and souvenirs. These often have a great atmosphere, with live music and food and drinks to sample.
There are a number of different options available when getting to and from Sarlat. You can fly into and out of Brive, Toulouse, Limoges, Bergerac, Bordeaux, or even Paris! Sarlat is close to Souillac, which is on a main train line. From Brive (approx 30 mins), Toulouse (approx 2H), Limoges (approx 1.5H), or Paris (approx approx4.5H) you can take trains to Souillac. From here you can either take a bus or a taxi (approx €40) to or from Sarlat. Please find information about the bus schedules here. If you are flying into or out of Bordeaux or Bergerac you can take trains directly into and out of Sarlat itself as it does have a small ain station. To and from Bordeaux the journey takes approx 3-4H, depending on if it is direct and to and from Bergerac the journey takes approx 1.5H. Please check the SNCF website for more details on schedules and prices.
Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac is also on a train line. It is therefore possible to fly from Limoges or Bergerac (via Le Buisson) as they are both accessible from Les Eyzies. Bordeaux is also accessible via Bergerac or Perigueux. Paris is also accessible via Limoges. If you wish to return to Sarlat, the best way to get there is by taxi. If you wish to drive it’s best to park your car in Les Eyzies as there is free parking in the town centre and then you can retrieve your car easily at the end. Macs Adventure can provide private transfers to and from all the train stations and airports. We can also provide taxi transfers from Souillac to Sarlat and Les Eyzies to Sarlat/Souillac and Les Eyzies to Le Buisson. Please ask your Destination & Adventure Specialist for details.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.
On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the Dordogne is extremely popular during May/June/August/September. You will find up to date availability on our website.
This tour is graded easy to moderate. The trails are a combination of dirt trails, gravel tracks and tarmac country roads. The walking routes are a mix of surfaces, but please note that there will be tarmac walking at times as it is unavoidable. This tour is suitable for walkers with reasonable physical fitness. There are rolling hills in this area, and it will also be necessary to walk up some short but fairly steep stretches.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Your detailed information pack will be sent to you after you book. This has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.
The best months for walking are in the summer months between June and September when the weather is fair. Spring and autumn are also very good times for walking as the air is a little cooler for walking and the wild flowers are in bloom.
You can use public transport or a local taxi to continue to your next overnight stop.
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