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Walking in the Dordogne: castles, caves and villages of the Périgord Noir
    • France - Dordogne
    • 8 days
    • Walking
    • Self-guided
      • From March to November
    • 2 - 10 travellers
      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior
      • Trip code : D1104
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About the Walking in the Dordogne: castles, caves and villages of the Périgord Noir trip

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.

Highlights of the trip

  • A  joyful mix of walks, relaxation & heritage 
  • Discovery of gardens, castles, troglodyte villages and prehistoric caves
  • Longer walk options on days 3, 4, 5 & 7
  • A cultural break in the most beautiful villages
  • Visit of the Château de Commarque included 
  • Les Eyzies, the prehistoric capital 
  • The famous market in Sarlat
  • Swimming in the rivers and optional kayaking 

    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From the blog

Walking in the Dordogne: castles, caves and villages of the Périgord Noir - Day by Day 

Day 1 - Arrival in Sarlat: a village of art & history

  • walking holiday in the Dordogne Your trip begins in Sarlat-la-Canéda, capital of the Périgord Noir region with its pretty cobbled streets, picturesque squares and numerous architectural treasures.
  • Night in Sarlat

  • We recommend:
    Starting your trip on a Friday or Saturday to enjoy the market in Sarlat, one of the busiest and most colourful of the region. Takes place every Wednesday morning and all day Saturday. 

  • Access :
    . From Paris : High speed Paris/Bordeaux and then Bordeaux/Sarlat
    Direct train also from Paris / Sarlat
    . From Bordeaux airport : train Bordeaux / Sarlat

     

Day 2 - Walking in the Beune Valley & Commarque Castle

  • self-guided walking holiday france Marquay > Château Commarque > Marquay
    3h15 -12km / 7.4 miles - Ascent: 330m / Descent: 330m
  • Transfer to Marquay (15mn). 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 (15mn)
  • Night in Sarlat
  • MEALS included : Breakfast

Day 3 - Hiking through the most beautiful villages of the Dordogne Valley

  • walking trip in France + easy walks France 2 walk options:
    . Shorter option : La Roque Gageac > Vitrac > Domme
    2h30 - 11km / 6.8 miles - Ascent: 390m / Descent:280m
    . Longer option : Beynac > Vitrac > Domme
    5h - 18km / 11 miles - Ascent: 650m / Descent: 500m
  • 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.
    Optional: a boat cruise along the Dordogne river on board a barge.  From this traditional wooden boat, you can admire the majestic castles of Beynac & Castelnaud (not included).
  • Night in Domme
  • MEALS included : Breakfast
  • We recommend  - Optional activities: 
    . Canoeing down the river
    . The hanging gardens of Marqueyssac
    . The bamboo plantation 

  • Market on Friday mornings in La Roque Gageac

Day 4 - The Château des Milandes & The Château de Castelnaud

  • self-guided hiking holiday Dordogne + hiking in the Dordogne 2 walk options : 
    . Shorter option : Chateau des Milandes > Château de Castelnaud > Domme 
    3h20 - 13km / 8 miles - Ascent: 430m / Descent: 390m
    . Longer walk : Allas les Mines > Château des Milandes > Château de Castelnaud > Domme
    5h30 - 20km / 12.4 miles - Ascent: 640m / Descent: 560m
  • 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.
  • Night in Domme
  • MEALS included : Breakfast 
  • We recommend: optional visits  
    . Château des Milandes
    . Château de Castelnaud

Day 5 - In the valley of man

  • hiking in France 2 walk options:
    . Shorter option : Le Bugue > Les Eyzies
    3h45 - 13,5km / 8.1 miles - Ascent: 190m / Descent: 180m
    . Longer option : Limueil > Le Bugue > Les Eyzies
    6h15 - 23km / 14.3 miles - Ascent: 440m / Descent: 430m
  • 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.
  • Night in Les Eyzies
  • MEALS included : Breakfast 

  • We recommend: optional visits   
    . Fonte de Gaume & de Combarelles caves
    . Abri Pataud, Cro Magnon & du Poisson

  • Market on Monday mornings in Les Eyzies & Tuesday mornings in Le Bugue

Day 6 - Hiking from Saint Cyprien or Meyrals

  • self-guided hiking holiday Dordogne Saint Cyprien > Meyrals > Les Eyzies
    . Shorter option : Meyrals> Les Eyzies
    2h40 - 10km  - Ascent: 170m / Descent: 270m
    . Longer option : Saint Cyprien > Les Eyzies
    4h10 - 15 km - Ascent: 320m / Descent: 320m
  • 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.
  • Night in Les Eyzies
  • MEALS included : Breakfast 

  • We recommend: 
    . Visiting the Musée Nationale de la Préhistoire

  • Market on Sunday mornings in Saint Cyprien
  • Market on Monday mornings in Les Eyzies

Day 7 - In the Vézère valley

  • kayaking Dordogne + walking and kayaking 2 walk options: 
    . Shorter option : St Leon > Montignac
    3h15 - 14 km / 8 miles - Ascent: 300m / Descent: 290m
    . Longer option : Peyzac Le Moustier > Saint Leon sur Vézère > Montignac
    5h - 20km / 12.4 miles - Ascent: 510m / Descent: 510m
  • 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.
  • Night in Montignac
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

  • We recommend 
    . Kayaking or Canoeing in St Leon
    . Parc du Thot

Day 8 - The famous Lascaux cave

  • lascaux caves + walking holiday Dordogne Montignac > Lascaux > Montignac
    2h - 7 km / 4.3 miles - Ascent: 150 / Descent: 150m
  • 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 
  • MEALS included: Breakfast 

  • We recommend: 
    . Prolonging your trip and spending an extra night in Montignac, possibility of kayaking in the afternoon! 
    . The Regourdou site: discovering Neanderthal man

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    Trip details
    Walking in the Dordogne: castles, caves and villages of the Périgord Noir
        • France - Dordogne
        • 2 adults (2x1010€)
        • 0 children (0x1010€)
      • 8 days
      • Simple
    Total 2020€
    Deposit 640€
    Book now !