Beginning in Sarlat, a town of art & history, you embark on the discovery of the Périogord Noir with our easy walks that lead you through the most iconic of villages : Domme, La Roque Gageac, Les Eyzies, Saint Léon sur Vézère & Montignac-Lascaux. Explore the Dordogne & the Vézère valleys, home to a rich history and heritage, and a unique South-Western terroir.
You will walk between 2 to 4 hours a day through picture-postcard scenery of rivers, forests, caves and fairytale castles. Stroll through the squares of the villages listed among the most beautiful in France and taste the specialities of the region: foie gras, confits, truffles and mushrooms. In the Périgord Noir, you can "disconnect", recharge your batteries and travel back in time.
A self-guided walking holiday in France full of pleasure and discovery in an exceptional natural setting.
Your trip begins in Sarlat-la-Canéda, capital of the Périgord Noir region with its pretty cobbled streets, picturesque squares and numerous architectural treasures.
Meals included : none
Night : Sarlat
Market on Wednesday morning and all day Saturday in Sarlat
Tansfer to Marquay. Your loop walk begins in Marquay : a Perigordian village full of charm with its typical houses and their lauze roofs and its fortified church from the 12th and 13th centuries. You will cross forests of oak and chestnut trees, small hills dotted with hamlets & rock shelters dug by the river Beune before arriving at the Château de Commarque which stands on a rocky outcrop, on site, there are troglodyte houses and a prehistoric cave. Transfer back to Sarlat
Walk : Marquay > Château Commarque > Marquay | 3h15 | 12 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +330m/-330m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Sarlat
Today you have 2 walk options. Transfer to Beynac or La Roque Gageac, both troglodyte villages nestled in the cliff, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Your walk will take you through the Perigord countryside with its green valleys, oak forests and picturesque hamlets. You will pass by a goose and duck farm and you can take the opportunity to fill up on regional delicacies! You continue along the Dordogne to Domme, a magnificent bastide village perfectly combining the architectural, natural and gastronomic heritage of the Périgord Noir.
2 Walk options :
. Short option : La Roque Gageac > Vitrac > Domme | 2h30 | 11 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +390m/-280m
. Longer option : Beynac > Vitrac > Domme | 5h | 18 km - 11 miles | Elevation : +650m/ - 500m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Domme
Optional
. a boat cruise along the Dordogne river on board a barge, where you can admire the majestic castles of Beynac & Castelnaud.
. Canoeing down the river
. The hanging gardens of Marqueyssac
. The bamboo plantation
Today you have 2 walk options. Transfer to Allas les Mines or the Château des Milandes: world famous thanks to Josephine Baker, admire its elegant turrets. Follow the left bank of the Dordogne to Castelnaud, a listed village with a fortified castle that played an important role in the Hundred Year War. You continue along the Dordogne River before climbing to Domme perched on a vertiginous cliff with buildings of gold coloured stone, offering a breathtaking view over the Dordogne Valley.
2 Walk options :
. Short option : Chateau des Milandes > Château de Castelnaud > Domme | 3h20 | 13 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +430m/-390m
. Longer option : Allas les Mines > Château des Milandes - Castelnaud > Domme | 5h30 | 20 km - 12 miles | Elevation : +640m/ - 560m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Domme
From either Limueil or Le Bugue, nestled downstream of the Vézère valley, known as the "Valley of Man", you pass through picturesque landscapes and numerous shady woods, farms and hamlets, passing through St Cirq and the famous Grotte du Sorcier (Sorcerer's Cave), before arriving at the prehistoric capital Les Eyzies.
We recommend optional visits to the Fonte de Gaume & de Combarelles caves, Abri Pataud, Cro Magnon & du Poisson
2 Walk options :
. Short option : Le Bugue > Les Eyzies | 3h45 | 13 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +190m/-180m
. Longer option : Limueil > Le Bugue > Les Eyziese | 6h15 | 23 km - 14 miles | Elevation : +440m/ - 430m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Les Eyzies
After breakfast you have a transfer to either St Cyprien (longer hike) or to Meyrals (shorter hike). Saint Cyprien where the longer hikes begins is worth a small detour especially on a Sunday as it’s market day in the morning. Walk down old streets and past the 12th century abbey church and bell tower before you had into the rolling countryside, pass farmyards, walk through forest and along trails and quiet country lanes and pass Chateau Fages. Just before entering Les Eyzies you will also pass the Font de Gaume - Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 - : this prehistoric cave is one of the most incredible Palaeolithic sites in the world.
We recommend visiting the Musée Nationale de la Préhistoire
2 Walk options :
. Short option : Meyrals> Les Eyzies | 2h40 | 10 km - 6 miles | Elevation: +170m/-270m
. Longer option : Saint Cyprien > Les Eyzies | 4h10 | 15 km - 9 miles | Elevation : +320m/ - 320m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Les Eyzies
Transfer to Peyzac Le Mousiter or St Léon sur Vézère. From Saint Léon sur Vézère, a listed village peacefully installed in a bend of the Vézère river and dominated by the Côte de Jor, you hike through oak forests, and cross typical farms and hamlets towards the charming village of Montignac located at the foot of the famous Lascaux hill.
We recommend kayaking or Canoeing in St Leon.
2 Walk options :
. Short option : St Leon > Montignac | 3h15 | 14 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +300m/-290m
. Longer option : Peyzac Le Moustier > Saint Leon > Montignac | 5h | 20 km - 12 miles | Elevation : +510m/ - 510m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Montignac
A short loop walk allows you to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors and visit the LASCAUX IV cave (not included, visit to be booked in advance): a complete and original replica which houses the oldest paintings of humanity and retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave. End of your trip after your walking day.
We recommend prolonging your trip and spending an extra night in Montignac with the possibility of kayaking in the afternoon! Or visiting the Regourdou site and discovering Neanderthal man.
Loop Walk : 2h | 7 km - 4 miles | Elevation: +150m/-150m
Meals included : breakfast
