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France

Dordogne Delights

Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday

Grade

1
2
3
4
5

Duration

8 days

Prices from

£855 P.P.
France

Dordogne Delights

Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday

Grade

1
2
3
4
5

Duration

8 days

Prices from

£855 P.P.
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11
A beautiful, self-guided cycling holiday in one of the most spectacular and fascinating parts of France, the Dordogne. Capital of prehistory with many of the best examples of cave art and early settlements. Along the way you will discover great castles, fortified towns, and lovely villages.
Your circular cycling holiday starts and finishes in the beautiful medieval town of Souillac, heading through Salignac you'll make your way to Les Eyzies de Tayac. Famous for its grottos you can make time to visit these as well as the chateaux village of Beynac, perched high on a nearby cliff-top. From Les Eyzies you will cycle through Montignac and Sarlat prior to arriving at Vitrac, where you are able to visit the grottos of Cougnac and the fortified village of Domme that overlooks the Dordogne river. Your final day's cycling sees you following the river, passing by the chateaux of Verrignac as you return to Souillac.
Our French cycling holidays are all about good food, comfortable accommodation and beautiful cycling routes which create a memorable cycling holiday experience. Whether travelling to France by plane, driving or taking the train, a warm welcome will greet you at your first night's accommodation. 
This self-guided holiday is available for daily departures for a minimum of two people. We book all your accommodation, transfer your luggage and then provide you with routes and maps for you to do the trails unguided.
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Holiday Highlights

  • Starting and ending the trip in Souillac, with its stunning 12th century Benedictine monastery
  • Cycling to the beautiful Gardens of Eyrignac
  • Riding to the Valley of the Vézère River and seeing its remarkable prehistoric sites
  • Wonderful views of La Roque St. Christophe
  • Cycling through the chateaux village of Beynac
  • Visiting various grottos of Cougnac, Montignac and Les Eyzies

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The explanation for the self-guided tour was excellent, the route was well explained and all days were great. A really well balanced route! The local representatives were great.

Sylvie, Canada

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival into Souillac
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After making your way to your first night’s hotel, you will be provided with your bikes (should you be hiring), as well as route notes and maps for your trip. You will be welcomed by a local representative who will brief you on the week to come. This gives you the opportunity to ask any last minute questions. Depending on flight times, you may have time to explore Souillac, and visit its stunning 12th century Benedictine monastery. This remarkable monastery is really impressive with its fine carvings including a statue of the prophet Isaiah, a masterpiece of Romanesque art.

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Day 2
Souillac to Tamniès
24 Miles / 38 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast

Today, you will cycle through the authentic Perigord, away from the crowds and tourists. This is a gentle start that allows plenty of time to visit the Gardens of the Manor of Eyrignac and their superb landscapes. The gardens are some of the most beautiful in France because they were designed in a specific style and now they are the last remaining in the country. You’ll then continue your ride through Salignac, a typical village of Perigord with a stunning, medieval castle, on towards your home for the evening, Tamniès.

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Day 3
Tamniès to Les Eyzies
25 Miles / 40 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast

Today is a leisurely ride which will allows you to discover the quaint village of Saint Geniès, the Valley of the Vézère River and its remarkable prehistoric sites. On the way, you will have wonderful views of La Roque St. Christophe – make sure your camera is ready! Then you head off to Les Eyzies which is the world capital of Prehistoric times and no visit would be complete without discovering the magnificent paintings which adorn the walls of the grottos and caves.

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Day 4
Les Eyzies
20 - 28 Miles / 32 - 45 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast

If you fancy a longer ride today, we have lots of options available. Amongst the highlights today is the chateau-village of Beynac; the area of Beynac and its castle is one of the finest in France. The village has been built above the water’s edge, at the foot of a 150 metre cliff and it is topped by an impressive fort. With the changing colours of the sky and the water, Beynac is a paradise for painters and photographers in all seasons. In the middle Ages, the castle was so powerful and its barons so cruel that local vassals and small farmers nicknamed it as “Satan’s Ark“.

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Day 5
Les Eyzies to Sarlat to Vitrac
21 Miles / 34 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast

Leaving the valley of the River Beune, you will cycle through beautiful scenery via Montignac and its famous grottos to Sarlat, the capital of Perigord Noir. Here is a nice place to take a break and take a stroll through its medieval centre, considered one of Europe’s biggest. You’ll continue riding towards to Vitrac (just a few miles from Sarlat) and where you’ll spend the night.

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Day 6
Around Vitrac
22 Miles / 37 Kms Approx
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  • Meals: Breakfast

Vitrac is the perfect location as a base for a loop ride – the surrounding area is beautiful. First, you will ride to the grottos of Cougnac then continue onto the River Dordogne Valley, where you can explore many of the area’s castles. You will also have time to visit the fortified village of Domme, which overlooks the river. The village of La Roque-Gageac, an old river harbour located at the foot of a cliff, is worth a visit too.

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Day 7
Vitrac to Souillac
19 Miles / 32 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast

Today, you’ll make your way back to where your trip began in Souillac. You will follow the Dordogne River and along the way pass the castles of Veyrignac and Fenelon. It’s a really stunning end to a beautiful journey, in one of the most spectacular areas of France.

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Day 8
Departure from Souillac
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  • Meals: Breakfast

C’est la vie!! – Your cycling tour in Dordogne is finished and after breakfast, it’s time to say au revoir to this charming region of France.

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The Cycling

Terrain

You’ll spend 50% of your time riding on mixed use cycle paths and cycle lanes, and the other half of the week on small, quiet roads (shared with vehicle traffic). There will be some busier sections as you make your way to and from your accommodation. The route can be quite hilly in some sections, however, the majority of the route is relatively easy going. If your legs need a rest however, there is the option of shortening the distances on day 4 and 6. The route is suitable for both hybrid and road bikes.

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Leisure Cycling Grade

1
2
3
4
5
Grade 2-3: Gentle/Moderate

Aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays

Suitable for those looking for some cycle friendly routes

Features some modest climbs

Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).

Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!

For more information about our grading system click here.

Is this suitable for you?

Holidays that are graded as a 2-3, will have aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays. These tours are still suitable for those perhaps who have recently got into cycling, and offer an array of accessible, cycle friendly routes, cycle paths and quiet roads, however there will be some days / sections where you may have to tackle some ups and downs, the occasional steeper climb and perhaps some varying terrain (forest tracks, gravel paths etc). Suitable for those with a decent level of physical fitness, looking for some leisurely rides with occasional (achievable!) challenges along the way.

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Fabulous countryside, flowers, weather and peace! Hardly any traffic on the roads!

Kate, Oxfordshire

Dates & Prices

2021 Daily departures available from 01 Apr to 31 Oct.

The season prices below are applicable for all start dates between and inclusive of the stated dates.

Season 1 – £855 pp 01 Apr and 30 Apr and 01 Oct and 31 Oct:

Season 2 – £960 pp 01 May and 30 Sep

Whats Included Tick

A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in 3* and 4* hotels and chambres d‘hôtes

B) Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

C) Local representative (with welcome meeting)

D) Detailed route notes and maps

E) Luggage transfers

What's not Included Cross

A) Bike rental (available if required)

B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike

C) Travel to first hotel on arrival day

D) Travel from final hotel on departure day

E) Single room (available if required)

F) Travel insurance

G) Meals not stated in the itinerary

H) Personal clothing and equipment

I) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)

J) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route

K) City tax (payable locally) – between €0.80 and €1.50 per adult per day (where applicable)

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The Essentials

Travel Options

For this tour we ask that you make your own way to your hotel in Souillac on arrival and onwards at the end of the trip. Please aim to arrive before 17.30 if possible.

The Channel ferry services and Euro Tunnel make driving from the UK a straightforward option with Souillac a 500 mile, 8 hour drive from Calais. You can also catch the Eurostar from London, changing at Paris. There are good train connections via Paris Austerlitz station to Souillac, which take around 5 hours.

The most convenient airport for the tour is Toulouse (TLS), accessible from most regional airports in the UK, with either easyJet or Jet2. There is a 20-minute shuttle to the train station, Toulouse Matabiau, from where it’s around a 2 hour train journey to Souillac.

Limoges (LIG) is another option, serviced by Ryanair. From Limoges, it is around a 1.5 hour train journey to Souillac.

If you plan to arrive into Souillac train station we can offer a transfer to your first hotel. Please contact the office for more details.(Only available on scheduled arrival day)

Please check with Skedaddle before making any travel arrangements so that we can ensure they fit in with the holiday schedule.

Accommodation

Accommodation (shared twin or double rooms) will usually be en suite in 2 and 3 star hotels and chambre d‘hôtes. Triple rooms are available on request and subject to availability.

Bike Hire

If you don’t own a suitable bike or would prefer to avoid bringing your own we have bikes available to rent. These bikes are typically hybrid bikes with semi-slick tyres, 21 gears, and a relaxed riding position. If you do decide to rent we can include a helmet on request; please request helmets when making your booking. If you choose to rent an e-bike, there will be a 250 Euro deposit required on arrival, which can be paid using a credit card. This will be fully refunded when the bikes are returned undamaged. Rental bikes come with pannier racks and bags, emergency repair kit including spare inner tubes, bike pump and bike lock. GPX files are usually available on request (please contact our office for more details).

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News, Reviews & Stories

9 things about cycling in France...

Not only is it home to world-class cuisine and some of the most beautiful landscapes, it’s also the spiritual home of cycling...

Reviews

11

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