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Voyage vélo Cycling holidays in France
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Dordogne / Périgord

The best of the Dordogne by bike

A cycling trip in the heart of the Dordogne to discover the different gems of the region between bastides, medieval towns, castles and prehistoric caves. A cycling holiday week in the heart of the South West!

Reviews (7) :
4.86 / 5
Reference DP0801
  • Loop trip
  • 8 days
  • Challenging
  • From April to October
  • Minimum age 14 years
GPSGPS-app available
From
Prices
1085€ / pers.
Book here
  • Itinerary
    • Our self guided cycling holiday in the Dordogne will totally immerse you in the heart of a region marked by history. Discover the exceptional prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley called the Man’s Valley such as the Cro-Magnon shelter, La Roque Saint-Christophe and the famous Lascaux cave. Then, you reach the medieval town of Sarlat and its renowned market where you will have the opportunity to taste delicious regional products (truffles, foie gras, nuts, mushrooms ...). Enjoy a second day in Sarlat to cycle to the valley of castles where you can exchange your bicycle for a canoe to explore the Dordogne river. You will be charmed by La Roque-Gageac, listed among the most beautiful villages of France, and the majestic châteaux de Beynac and Castelnaud, strategic places during the Hundred Years War. You change banks and cross the charming bastides of Belves and Beaumont-du-Périgord on your way, as well as the châteaux de Bannes and Lanquais or the Cadouin abbey listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Finally, you cycle back to Bergerac, its harbour and its historic center where you enjoy a sweet and last evening.

    Day 1
     
     

    Arrival in Bergerac

    You arrive in Bergerac, city of Art and History where you can meet the statue of Cyrano, famous hero of the play by French author Edmond de Rostand. Take the time to stroll through the heart of the Renaissance town with its charming alleys and half-timbered houses. Be sure to stop by the covered market to taste some delicious local products: foie gras, mushrooms, walnuts, duck confit, truffles ... Welcome to Dordogne!

    Day 2
     
     

    Bergerac - Le Bugue

    Altitude
    ±297m
    Bike
    52km
    You take a beautiful greenway along the Dordogne river to leave Bergerac. The peaceful shores of the river are only disturbed by the majestic gabarres (traditional boats) sailing there. From the charming town of Lalinde, small winding roads lead you to the top of the cingles de Limeuil et Trémolat from which you can admire the meanders of the river.

    Then, you cycle to the medieval village of Limeuil, listed among the most beautiful villages of France and located at the confluence of the Dordogne and the Vézère rivers. You are now following the Vézère valley, known as the "Vallée de l’Homme" (Man’s Valley) with its fifteen prehistoric sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your day ends at Le Bugue, a charming little town built like an amphitheater on the side of a hill.

    Day 3
     
     

    Le Bugue - Montignac

    Altitude
    ±285m
    Bike
    38km
    You leave Le Bugue to reach Les Eyzies, a troglodyte village considered as "the world capital of prehistory", it was here that the Cro-Magnon Man was discovered. You can take a short break to visit the beautiful National Prehistory Museum housed in the former castle. You keep cycling along the Vézère river where you will come across many architectural treasures: the Maison Forte de Reignac, the Roque Saint-Christophe and the Château de Losse.

    Then, you cross the medieval village of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, very typical village of the Black Périgord. You finally arrive in Montignac, a charming medieval town where you can visit one of the most precious gems of prehistory: the Lascaux Cave.

    Day 4
     
     

    Montignac - Sarlat

    Altitude
    ±708m
    Bike
    44km
    From Montignac you cycle on small country roads to the village of Saint-Genies, one of the most beautiful villages in the Black Périgord. You cross Salignac and its castle, then a few kilometers further, cycle by Eyrignac gardens where we advise you to stop for a visit. Listed as a Historic Monument, these gardens are a green masterpiece combining rose gardens, ponds, flowers, grass carpets, fountains and plant sculptures on an area of 200 hectares.

    You end your day cycling down to Sarlat, the capital of the Black Périgord. Labeled City of Art and History, the medieval city holds a large number of national heritage sites, a real open-air museum! Finally, do not miss the traditional market of Sarlat, one of the most famous in the region!

    Day 5
     
     

    Sarlat

    Altitude
    ±563m
    Bike
    43km
    Bike or canoe
    Today, discover the most prestigious castles of the Dordogne by bike or canoe!

    A beautiful loop tour takes you to the foot of the most beautiful castles of the region: the château de Monfort perched on its rocky spur, the château de Castelnaud and its museum of war in the Middle Ages and the château de Beynac, one of the best preserved in Dordogne. You also cycle through the villages of Domme and La Roque-Gageac, both listed among the most beautiful villages in France. On your way you will also have the opportunity to visit the majestic Marqueyssac Gardens overlooking the Dordogne valley.

    For those who wish to admire the castles from a different perspective, you can exchange your bike for a canoe! You cycle from Sarlat to Vitrac (12km) where you leave your bike to get a canoe. You explore the Dordogne river while admiring its castles until Beynac where you leave the canoe (16km-3h). Then, we will drive you back to Vitrac in a mini-van where you collect your bike to cycle back to Sarlat (12km).
       

    Canoe ride along the Dordogne 3h

    You must be able to swim.
    		 22,00 € / adult

    Day 6
     
     

    Sarlat - Belvès

    Altitude
    ±550m
    Bike
    36km
    You leave Sarlat cycling on small mountain roads to reach the banks of the Dordogne river for a few kilometers. You arrive at the foot of the very beautiful village of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. We advise you to stop to visit the heights of the village on foot as well as its imposing castle from which you will have a spectacular view over the Dordogne and the neighboring castles.

    Then, you continue your ride and reach the château des Milandes, home of the famous American-born French entertainer, Josephine Baker. The castle is a surprising combination of Renaissance and Art-Deco style and pays tribute to the extraordinary destiny of its owner. Finally, you cycle up to Belvès, a medieval city nestled on the top of a hill.

    Day 7
     
     

    Belvès - Bergerac

    Altitude
    ±334m
    Bike
    58/63km
    You start your day cycling to Cadouin and its Cistercian abbey, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, you continue your way to the bastide of Beaumont-du-Périgord where you can visit its impressive fortified church. On your way, you will also come across the magnificent château de Bannes perched proudly on its rocky spur.

    A few kilometers further, we recommend a small detour to visit the château de Lanquais, nicknamed the "Unachieved Louvre of Périgord". Then, you reach the banks of the Dordogne to take the greenway which leads you to Bergerac for your last evening.

    Day 8
     
     

    Departure from Bergerac

    After breakfast, enjoy a last stroll through the streets of Bergerac before leaving.
  • Accommodation

    • Category A

    You will enjoy staying in these clean and cozy 2-3 Star hotels that give you a pleasant rest after your day of biking. Breakfast is included zhen you spend the night in these friendly and family-run hotels.

    * Example of the type of accommodation

    Category B

    You will get a good night’s sleep when you stay in these 3-star hotels or charming Bed and Breakfasts. All properties have been selected for their cleanliness, style and friendliness of the staff. A hearty breakfast is included!
    * Example of the type of accommodation
  • Bikes, luggage and documents
    • Bikes

    On your arrival day, we provide you with:

    • a touring bike adjusted to your size
    • equipped : front rack pack with an integrated file compartment, saddlebag, helmet (on demand), reflective vest, repairing toolkit with patches etc.

    You will be asked for a deposit (imprint of bank card) when you collect the bikes.
    Electric bikes are also available for adults (+1m55).

    You can of course also bring your own bikes, in this case a reduction will be applied (see the Tarif tab)


    Luggage

    Our services include luggage transport in order to let you enjoy your trip comfortably and without stress :
    • We transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle.
    • Your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive.
    • We provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.

    Our word of advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip.
    If you expect to arrive at the next accommodation before 5 p.m., we recommend that you take an extra set of clothes with you in your bicycle bag.


    Travel documents

    A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

    Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests.

    We can provide you with travel documents in paper format (for a supplement of €15 for printing and postage), which include:
    • a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike
    • a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest

    Example of a map and of a step-by-step description


    Our GPS App

    For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee).

    You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way.

    -> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo Voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details concerning the downloading and the use of the application will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.
  • Practical information
    • To get to departure point:

    • By plane: To Bergerac airport, flights from Lyon, Nice, Brussels and many cities in England (London, Liverpool, Manchester...). Then take a taxi to the city center. Other nearby airport: Bordeaux. Then take a train to reach Bergerac.

    • By train: direct regional trains from Bordeaux to Bergerac (1h20). To plan your trip, www.sncf-connect.com


    Parking

    If you come by car to Bergerac, you can park in the secure car parks of Bellegarde, Gambetta ou République.


    Meeting time:

    The first day is an arrival day without cycling. You arrive whenever you want depending on from where you come. Please note that rooms are usually available in the middle of the afternoon depending on your accommodation. We advise you to plan half a day for visiting Bergerac, which is worth it. We thank you to advise us if you plan to arrive late.

    .
  • Reviews

    •   Memory of the trip  

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    7 bike travelers reviews 4.86 / 5

    “ Best of Dordogne and South Brittany cycle trips ”

    On the 2024-08-13 by Robyn
    We have just returned from 2 cycle trips with Vélo Voyageur and loved them both. These were the Best of Dordogne and Quiberon and South Brittany trips. Everything was so well organised from the itinerary, choice of accommodation, luggage transfers and navigation app information. We highly recommend Vélo Voyageur and everything worked seamlessly, and at a great price point. We will definitely return for another trip!

    “ Great Itinerary and Experience ”

    On the 2023-06-15 by fred, from Seattle USA
    Great Itinerary and experience.

    “ boucle Périgord ”

    On the 2022-11-29 by jean maurice
    boucle bien concue alliant découverte du pays ,paysage,sites culturelles .Itinéraire qui évite le plus souvent les routes avec beaucoup de circulation .Belle découverte de la campagne .

    “ Very scenic and great support ”

    On the 2022-09-28 by Tom & Becky
    Le Velo Voyager is a hidden gem. We've bicycle toured extensively in Germany, Austria, Holland, and Italy, but this was our first in France. The support and services we've received from Le Volo Voyager is by far the best. Their app is steps ahead of those offered by other companies and even lists bakeries, supermarkets, and attractions. When navigating, a picture of the junction pops up with a directional arrow! Their routing led us to at least two interesting sites along the way and the route was all on paved bike routes or country roads with very little traffic. We knew that Dordogne was very hilly and rented an electric bike for the first time. They aren't like scooters so can't go on their own. We only used the motor assistance on steep hills which was nice. But, it was still an effort. We did the "Best of Dordogne" and passed through many picturesque villages and towns. The canoe trip was relaxing and provided a good break. Lescaux cave paintings and Josephine Baker's chateau were some of the highlights. Lodging and food was great. Chloe provided great service in fluent English and even arranged for us to pick up bulky medical supplies from a local pharmacy upon arrival in France. If you want to see picturesque French villages and taste French cuisine while working up a sweat, this is the trip. We toured with five other friends, and we were unanimous in praise for this trip and the service provided by Le Velo Voyager.

    “ France’s Best Cycling Trip ”

    On the 2022-09-26 by Georges
    See our note above. We are still sorting through through our photos. We’d be happy to send some photos later.

    “ Sportif et déconnectant ”

    On the 2022-06-28 by Laurent
    Superbe parcours, difficile mais très joli. L'itinéraire est agréable, souvent sur de petites routes. L'occasion de s'arrêter visiter de nombreux petits villages pittoresques. Une plongée au cœur du Périgord qui nous permet de bien connaitre cette région. Le choix des hôtels de catégorie supérieure est parfait: beaucoup de charme pour chacun quoique tous très différents et une demi pension qui nous a donnée l'énergie de monter toutes ces belles côtes ! Attention toutefois à remplir sa besace du midi dès qu'une boutique le propose: on est en pleine campagne pendant 6 jours !!! Le guidage GPS de l'appli est au top: impossible de s'égarer. dès que l'on s'éloigne de 20 m, on est prévenus !

    “ un grand moment de vacances ”

    On the 2020-08-24 by Bernard
    le circuit proposé est une façon très riche de découvrir le Périgord tout en s'adonnant au plaisir du vélo.
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