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 Day 1
Arrival in the ancient pilgrimage site of Rocamadour, a near-vertical village overlooking the isolated Ouysse ravine.
Day 2
The route to Lacave traverses the causse, a wild limestone plateau with stone walls and black-eyed sheep. You’ll walk through remote river canyons, along the same paths followed by pilgrims a thousand years ago.
Day 3
Leave the Ouysse River Valley for the larger Dordogne. Pass the Belcastel and the Chateau la Treyne and through delightful villages. Arrive in Souillac, a bustling town with a delightful Romanesque abbey church. Soak in the atmosphere of the Café de Paris, where refugee poets and artists congregated during the war.
Day 4
Today you’ll see the Dordogne from a whole new angle as you canoe to your next destination. From the water you’ll see castles and charming villages, as well as the cliffs and woods that surround them. Arrive at Carsac-Aillac, a picturesque village with houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Carsac also has a small Romanesque church from the 11th-century.
Day 5
More canoeing is on the agenda today. Pass the spectacular castle of Montfort, plus lots more of the well known scenery of the Dordogne: walnut groves, cliff faces, quaint villages. Pause for a walk to spectacular Domme, then continue to La Roque Gageac, your base for two nights.
Day 6
Enjoy a full day to explore the region. Wander through Sarlat, with its charming winding streets and magnificent buildings. Visit Beynac, then Castelnaud castle with its medieval warfare museum. Feast your eyes on the unforgettable view from the golden hilltop village of Domme.
Day 7
Enjoy spectacular views of the Dordogne valley as you follow winding roads through the forests and villages of the Périgord Noir. Pause at St-Cyprien, dominated by its massive Romanesque church, then head to Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, sometimes referred to as “The World Capital of Prehistory”.
Day 8
On a day ride from Les Eyzies you’ll explore the Vézère River valley. This is the land of the most famous prehistoric sites, including caves and troglodyte dwellings. Visit Font de Gaume, Abri du Cap Blanc, and the lovely village of St-Léon. Go as far as Lascaux.
Day 9
Savour the beauty and tranquility of this charming landscape as you follow gentle river valleys through the green hills of the Bouriane to Gourdon, a beautiful town with a charming nedieval quarter of narrow streets and golden limestone houses.
Day 10
Take a final stroll through Gourdon before heading off on your next adventure.
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"We were blown away by the natural beauty of the area, the chateaus, the castles, the caves and rock formations, and the staggering amount of pre-history. Each fortified town seemed more amazing than the next. Our trip took us through rural towns and hillsides where we ate apples and figs from wild trees and blackberries from hedges. We also got to taste the bountiful harvest of walnuts just lying on the grounds. And the meals were incredible. They are serious gastronomes in the southwest France!"
- M. Bradby
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