France: Dordogne & Lot Bike Tour

DAY 1:

Rendez-vous and bike familiarization.

Meet your guides in Bordeaux for a two hour van transfer to Tremolat. Optional pickups are available in nearby St. Emilion – a charming golden cobble stoned town, famous for macaroons and exceptional wines. At Tremolat you will become familiar with your bike rental equipment before dinner.

Meal Inclusions: Dinner.

DAY 2:

Tremolat Loop: 3 options; ~24km, ~42km, or ~70km.

Begin with a lovely bike ride from Le Bugue to the ancient and beautiful town of Limeuil at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers, then on to Les Eyzies de Tayac, home of troglodytes and cliff dwellers, both ancient and modern. You may be able to visit the famous Grotte de Font-de-Gaume with its awe-inspiring prehistoric paintings (it is frequently closed for conservation, and reservations not accepted). Return to Tremolat or Mauzac by bike for an exquisite lodging experience. You can opt to dine at your hotel or your guides will transfer you to nearby Limeuil for independent dining.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 3:

Tremolat to Domme ~52km.

Cycle to pretty Vitrac and the clifftop village of Domme, via St. Cyprien and riverside Le Rocque Gageac, with its homes beneath and carved right into cliffs at the water’s edge. A visit to medieval Sarlat is optional. Rest in an exquisite hotel where every room has an eagle’s eye view of the river below, or a magnificent country estate.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 4:

Domme to Rocamadour ~68km.

Following the banks of the Dordogne River, you will bike to the fortified vertical town of Rocamadour. Stop at the magnificent Montfort Castle panoramically overlooking a bend in the river below. Stop in Souillac to see the amazing bas-relief carvings in the cathedral, and you may opt to visit Les Grottes de Lacave before finishing at your centrally located hotel where you’ll rest for the next two nights.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 5:

Rocamadour Loop Ride ~80km.

Embark on a loop ride which cycles past La Gouffre de Padirac, a magnificent cave system partially explored by boat (this is an optional 2-3 hour excursion; ask for details when booking). You will then continue along to Loubressac and Carrenac, two of the most beautiful villages in France. Return via St. Sozy and Meyronne.

These are all outstandingly charming villages surrounded by walnut estates, filled with beautiful old stone architecture steeped in historic charm, and an absolute joy to tour by bicycle. You can also join the pilgrims who come to the medieval village Rocamadour, where the Christian relic scholars believe is the body of Jesus’ friend Zacchaeus is housed.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast.

DAY 6:

Rocamadour to Pech Merle Caves: ~45km or ~67km.

Exceptionally quiet roads through rural countryside take you to the valleys of the Lot and Cele Rivers, where beautiful houses are perched on the sides of cliffs, and farmland abounds. Choose between a long or short riding option, both finishing at Pech Merle, a spectacular cave system showcasing prehistoric paintings which are over 29,000 years old. Finish with a transfer to the bridged city of Cahors.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 7:

Transfer to Montauban & Farewells.

Following your breakfast you will be transferred to the train station in Montauban, about 45 minutes away. From the train station in Montauban there are frequent trains to Paris and other European destinations.

Meal Inclusions: Breakfast.