Biking Tour from Bordeaux to Sarlat, along the Dordogne river. Option Lascaux cave and Rocamadour
Pricing informations
Tour description
Dordogne river biking tour from Bordeaux to Sarlat
The Dordogne river biking tour, across the Gironde and the Dordogne, two flagship departements of South-West France with well-marked identities by their prestigious vineyards : Saint-Emilion, Monbazillac and Bergerac. Their cultural patrimony with Bordeaux, « city listed as Unesco World Heritage » and the Perigord rich of a thousand vestiges. Their famous and tasty gastronomy will delight you !
After the biking tour between vineyards and chateaux of Bordeaux you will come in the Purple Perigord. This area owes its name to the colour of the vine leaves in autumn. Through the river valley of the Dordogne. You’ll see some people canoeing. Next step will be the Black Perigord’s Discovery at the border of Limousin, cradle of prehistory, and heart of the hundred years war, the most emblematic of the region! Black Perigord offering a diversity of remarkable landscape between Dordogne river and the Vézère Valley. You will stay in Les Eyzies, and can decide to enjoy the Cave of Lascaux ( one of the most famous cave paintings). You will eventually end your tour in Sarlat, jewel of Perigord. A feature of the Dordogne is that the buildings are “olde-worlde” and tend to be stone-built. Whereas the richer, original occupants used stone shingled roofs (which require bigger timbers to support the weight), the less well off used thatch or clay tile roofing material, which has equal charm.
If you are not satieted yet, we advise you to extend your Dordogne river biking tour of 2 days in order to reach the site of Rocamadour. This is one of the greatest french area in Aquitaine.A particularly fascinating medieval village is the ancient pilgrim town of Rocamadour, which sits over the Dordogne border in the Lot. Built into a cliff, it is one of the most visited attractions in France for tourist. It’s also the perfect stop-over point, and at sunrise, early risers who make it across the valley in time are rewarded with amazing photo opportunities. An extra memory card is recommended just for this!
You will be welcome every night in 3 or 4-stars hotels. To be more confortable during your cycling tours, we can Bike hire or an E-bike as you prefer!
- The vineyard and the medieval city of Saint-Emilion
- The greenways on the banks of the Dordogne river
- An immersion in prehistoric times in the Vézère valley (Les Eyzies de Tayac, Lascaux, etc.)
- Sarlat La Canéda, jewel of Périgord and Rocamadour, sacred city of Lot
Program
Arrive at your 3 or 4 stars hotel in Bordeaux, where you will find the road book and bikes.
« Bordeaux », named before “Burdigala”, is a Roman city, inseparable from its vineyards and prestigious stones architecture.. The river Garonne, heart of the city, welcomes walkers on the banks and offers boat trip. The quays suit everyone, hoping to witness the stop of a cruise ship, “amazing show” of a giant of the seas in the city centre Capital of wine, Bordeaux is endowed with a rich history and architecture. Overnight in a 3 stars hotel in Bed and Breakfast.
You leave Bordeaux going through the majectic Place de la Bourse, along the quays, then cross the Pont de Pierre before joining the cycle track Roger Lapébie.
This route allows you to discover the Entre-Deux-Mers region with track / greenway and lanes … Enchanting!
You will enjoy an ideal route for a bike ride in the heart of natural landscapes. You will follow this pleasant track which goes to Creon, typical bastide village in the region.
You will ride through a rich architectural heritage, medieval towns, country houses, fortified mills, abbeys, Roman churches.
Overnight in hotel or guesthouse Bed and Breakfast (equivalent 2+ or 3 stars).
On this new cycling day you will discover the prestigious vineyards of Saint Emilion and its 5000 hectars, first vineyards listed as Unesco World Heritage as « cultural landscape ».
You will then join Castillon-la-Bataille land of history, before going along the Dordogne until the bastide of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande.
At the gates of the Perigord, the oldest of the bastide of Gironde has been founded in 1255. Prosperous thanks to the wine trade, it still has its place surrounded by its cutlery, its old houses -stone of the thirteenth century, and sides of 16th century carved woods, particularly remarkable. Overnight in a 2 stars-hotel in Bed and Breakfast.
The little roads of the « Pays Foyen » will lead you until Monbazillac and its chateau, in the heart of the vineyard of the same name, Perched on a pretty hill, Monbazillac proudly dominates the Dordogne valley, it is a real “jewel” of wine village.
Your day will end in Bergerac, city of Art and History, situated on the edge of the Dordogne, you will stroll along the quays and the old town to admire its half-timbered houses of XV and XVI centuries before tasting the famous local products, integral part of the perigord patrimony.
Overnight in a 3 stars hotel in Bed and Breakfast.
NOTE : Option – From Saint-Emilion to Bergerac in 1 step – 70 km
Ascent:110 m Descent: 150m
From Bergerac, the itinerary runs along the Lalinde canal by a cycle track making you discover charming and typical little villages.
Lalinde’s first English bastide town in the Perigord was built on the banks of the Dordogne and has kept remnants of its medieval past.
You will continue this stage following the tributary of the Dordogne: the Vézère, which will immerse you in the Black Perigord and will lead you to the world capital of prehistory: Les Eyzies.
Here was discovered the Cro-Magnon man. Here you can discover the marvels of prehistoric cave art. You can also discover numerous prehistorically sites most of them on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Meet the Homo sapiens, remains of its habitat, common activities and its art. Overnight in a 3 stars hotel in Bed and Breakfast.
During this last stage, you will continue your journey through time through several prehistoric sites punctuating the Vézère Valley, before reaching the famous Lascaux Cave. Here Paleolithic men have produced a unique and accomplished work, made up of signs and animal representations. A masterpiece of prehistoric times, this priceless treasure is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
You can also go to Sarlat by a faster route to enjoy the gastronomic capital of Périgord Noir where you will savor regional cuisine: foie gras, truffles, duck…
Sarlat is one of the jewels of the Périgord Noir which has managed to keep and preserve the imprints of its history. Listed as a city of art and history, it owes its fame to the richness of its built heritage. The medieval city is also famous for having the highest density of historical monuments classified or registered in the world. Night in Bed and Breakfast in a charming hotel *** in Sarlat.
After breakfast.
Option Sarlat – Souillac – Rocamadour (2 days)
(Brive airport at 20km)
You will leave Sarlat gently by a cycle path traced on an old railway, along the Dordogne Valley, it will lead you to Cazoulès, a few kilometers from Souillac. This easy and secure course will offer you a varied landscape, in the shadow of cliffs, between forests, small villages of the Dordogne and countryside.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Bed and Breakfast
This loop day will take you to the small village of Lacave, on the edge of the Dordogne, before joining the inescapable sacred city of Rocamadour.
World famous, the medieval city clinging to the cliff in a superposition of houses and chapels, dominates the canyon of the Alziou over 120 meters!
High place of pilgrimage on the way to Saint Jacques de Compostela, Rocamadour is also famous for its Basilica Saint-Sauveur and the crypt Saint-Amadour, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, and its chapel Notre-Dame sheltering the Black Virgin.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Bed and Breakfast.
After breakfast.
Practical details
Luggages
Documents
Bikes
Accomodations
Support
We take care of transporting your luggage at each change of accommodation so that you travel light and take full advantage of your daily hike.
You leave your luggage at the reception of your accommodation before your departure .
At the end of the afternoon, you will find them at the reception of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 piece of hand luggage.
We remind you that rental bicycles are equipped with saddlebags to be used to transport the things you deem useful for the day
Your travel record corresponds to the documents or files you receive before your trip (usually a month before) and upon arrival at the first accommodation.
It includes:
- A welcome letter with the main practical information:
- The time slot for baggage transport
- Details of the delivery and collection of bikes from rental if necessary
- Your local contact and telephone number (s) in case of emergency
- Any additional information
- The roadbook travel package including map with the route (to the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical indications
- The necessary voucher (s) to be given to the service provider (s) (only if necessary!)
On request and depending on the circuits:
- The “Evazio” application to download from smartphone for “GPS” navigation with visual guidance (reading of the track on the your smartphone) and / or oral.
- The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary
- The loan of a GPS device with the pre-recorded tracks
- Sends GPX tracks of each stage to be used with your own navigation support
On this circuit, we suggest that you provide you with the choice and by reservation:
- A hybrid bike suitable for hiking and for the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With its equipment:
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 set of repair
- 1 helmet (on request)
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for the electric bike)
For the youngest, we can offer depending on age and size
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follow-up bike
The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size.
At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We will take care of their recovery.
This tour is available in a “superior” version :
The type of accommodation is classified into 3 ranges:
Comfort : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 2 and 3 stars (or equivalent) and rooms of host.
Superior : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 3 and 4 stars (or equivalent) and charming guest rooms.
Luxury : The circuit mainly presents 4 and 5 star hotels or equivalent
Our support team remains available for the duration of your trip.
