Dordogne & Vezere – 10 Night Aggressive

The Dordogne is a well kept secret among the French and tour companies alike.  This stunning region is in the heart of some of the most wonderful cycling in the world.  This region’s beautiful countryside and 40,000 years of history to explore make it the perfect area for a cycling vacation. In this tour you explore the Vezere River Valley and it’s prehistory sites, the Dordogne River Valley and its amazing old fortresses hanging from the cliffs, and the Lot Department where you will visit Rocamadour, St. Cirq-Lapopie, Cahors wine region and Mercues.  The accommodations are small family hotels with delicious food throughout the tour. It includes 5 gourmet dinners and all breakfasts. We strongly suggest that you start on a Monday so that you can visit some of the local village markets on days that they are open. If you need a shorter yet similar tour check out our 7 day option. We offer the best Dordogne bike tours.

Day 1:  Les Eyzies arrival
You are met at the train station in the pre-history capital of France, Les Eyzies.  Your hotel is built into the side of the cliffs and is next to where the Cro-Magnon Man remains were discovered.  Settle in for 3 nights.  Depending on your time of arrival, you either assemble your bicycle or we will fit your rental, have a short orientation and then an afternoon warmup loop. A walk into the village and even a visit to one of the pre-history sites may be in order as well.

Day 2:  Le Bugue Market & Vezere Loop Ride
You depart early for a local street market in Le Bugue, 10km down the Vezere River from your hotel.  It is an excellent market and a great way to acclimate yourself to the local way of life.  After the market you have a beautiful loop ride that starts with a pedal down to the confluence of the Dordogne and Vezere Rivers.  From there you ride up into the hills for a great loop which returns you to Les Eyzies.  The mileage can range from 20 to 80km+, your choice.  Dinner is on your own in Les Eyzies tonight with many delicious options in town.

Day 3:  Montingnac Loop
Today is a beautiful and challenging ride up the Vezere River to as far as Montignac and Lascaux II.  The route includes medieval and pre-history sites. The loops range from 20 to 80km again today and include as many hills, valleys, and quiet roads as you could ever dream of.  With so many sites to see we will highlight some of the best sites to visit in your route sheets.  Dinner is again on your own tonight in Les Eyzies.

Day 4:  Les Eyzies to Meyronne
Today you have a big ride that will take you over the ridge from the Vezere river to the Dordogne and then up the Dordogne River Valley.  You will pedal past innumerable old chateauxs and through beautiful villlages such as La Roque Gageac, Carsac, St. Julien de Lampon, and Souillac.  You leave the Dordogne Department and into the Lot before you arrive in Meyronne.  Settle in for 2 nights.  Your hotel is on a bluff overlooking the river and has outstanding food.  About 70km with options for more.  Dinner tonight is at our hotel.

Day 5:  Rocamadour, Gouffre de Padirac, Carrenac Loop Ride
This is a beautiful sight seeing day with two very different destinations: Rocamadour and Gouffre de Padirac.  The Gouffre is a 100 meter deep hole in the ground which leads to caverns formed by the underground river navigable by boat.  The formations in the caverns are amazing.  Then on to Rocamadour, a famous stop along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy descending the path down to the sanctuaries and village below, Stations of the Cross, and the incredible view afforded by the ramparts of the chateau overlooking Rocamadour. Be prepared to do some climbing. A very full day of 30km if you just visit Rocamadour and an additional 24km if you go to the Gouffre as well.  There is a beautiful ride option to return to the hotel by the upper Dordogne Valley.  This will make it a 80+ km day, with a number of short climbs. If you choose this option, you will visit Rocamadour first, the the Gouffre, the the loop ride back to Meyronne.  You are on your own for dinner tonight in the village of St. Sozy across the river or again at your hotel.

Day 6:  Rocamadour to St. Cirq-Lapopie
We are moving to the Lot River Valley today with several exciting options.  There is a challenging and beautiful 70km route over remote countryside.  Or, using the train to Figeac, ride 10km up to the train, an amazing 50 km slightly downhill ride along the Cele River Valley to the Lot River. From there it is another 6km farther to St. Cirq-Lapopie, including a final 2km steep hill into town.  St. Cirq-Lapopie is another village on the cliffs and a pilgrimage stop on the Santaigo de Composteleroute.  It is extremely picturesque which partially explains why it is an artist colony.   Dinner is included at our small family run hotel in the heart of the village tonight.

Day 7:  St. Cirq-LaPopie to Mercues
You start your day with a visit to one of the most interesting pre-history sites anywhere: Grotte du PechMerle.  Then down the Lot River Valley to the wonderful wine town of Cahors.  After exploring and lunch, you pedal through the famous Cahors vineyards before heading to your hotel, a country Chambre d’Hote with excellent rooms and food.  A short day of as little as 50 km, another 14 if you do Pech Merle, and up to an additional 50 km if you explore more of the wine country along the Lot River before going to the Inn.  Dinner is included tonight.

Day 8: Mercues to La Roque-Gageac
It is a beautiful ride from the Lot Valley, over 2 ridges, along the Ceou River back to the Dordogne Valley.  You come into the Valley through the town of Domme high above the river with a magnificent view of the valley below.  Then down to the river and our lovely hotel right on the Dordogne.  65 km with several extra options available. Settle in for 2 nights.  Dinner is included tonight. La Roque-Gageac is an amazing town.

Day 9:  Castelnaud, Les Milandes & Beynac
If you want a completely flat riding day, today is it.  Today is intended as a rest day since there are 3 significant sites to visit, but several hilly options are available. You first visit the old fortress chateau of Castelnaud and explore its siege weapons collection.  Then onto Chateau Les Milandes and the former home of American entertainer Josephine Baker.  The chateau tour tells her life story as a black singer that took France by storm and her amazing life and times. Then on to Chateau Beynac, high on the cliffs overlooking the valley. You can also canoe on the Dordogne or take a tour boat across the street from the hotel.  This is the real heart of the Dordogne, so don’t miss seeing it all.  Dinner is on your own in the village tonight.

Day 10:  La Roque-Gageac to Les Eyzies via Sarlat Market
You depart early for Sarlat and the street market, the regions largest and finest.  Sarlat also has many fine shops, with better prices than Paris.  We suggest lunch at the Market, then a short (or long) ride to Les Eyzies.  It day can be as short as 33 km, or as long as you want, remembering you will need to pack up your bike this evening in preparation for tomorrows departure (if you brought your own bike).  Also, you may want to visit another site like Font de Gaume in Les Eyzies.  Dinner is on your own tonight.

Day 11:  Les Eyzies departure
We collect your bike if you rented, help you move your bags to the depot, and bid you farewell.

To find out more about how our Self Guided Tours operate, what is included, and what is not, click HERE.

Special thanks to our local guides, Roger & Em Boiling, for many of the wonderful pictures included on this page and our other Dordogne pages. All of these images capture the beauty and peace that the Dordogne is known for. Come and discover this hidden cycling destination for your next vacation.