Dordogne, Perigord & Quercy
Cycling in one of France’s most beautiful and picturesque regions.
- Cycle through wonderful scenery and beautiful towns and villages
- Included canoe trip on the Dordogne
- Stay in the superb villages of Souillac, Sarlat and Rocamadour
- Famous caves of Lascaux and Padirac
- 7 nights’ bed & breakfast plus all evening meals
This superb region conjures up images of what most people would consider to be France’s finest attributes: timeless landscapes, beautifully preserved ancient towns and villages and a rich cultural history. The Dordogne is a ‘lazy river’ at this stage with many broad loops close to the tour start point of Souillac.
Scenic routes take you north into the region of Périgord, one of France’s gastronomic jewels. Cycling distances are kept low to allow you to appreciate the interesting sights en route – Salignac with its medieval castle, Lascaux where the grotto and its prehistoric paintings were discovered only in 1940. Sarlat with its large mediaeval centre is sure to impress during your two night stay.
An included canoe trip on the Dordogne allows you to paddle past the lovely villages of Beynac and La Roque-Gageac. The route from Sarlat to Rocamadour takes you into Quercy. There is no doubting the dramatic situation of Rocamadour, perched on top of an imposing rock face. You spend the final two nights here. Options on the last day include a 4 hour walk to the scenic Alzou gorges, or a short cycle ride to the famous underground caves at Padirac.
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Terrain
Mainly on the flat with occasional short hilly stretches.
Climate
Summer daytime temperatures are in the range 25-35°C (76-95°F) with Spring and Autumn lower at 22-28°C (70-83°F) . Rainfall is low with showers more likely outside the Summer months. Evening thunderstorms can occur in high Summer.
