Cycling from Bordeaux to Sarlat along the Dordogne river
Price per person
From 885€
Type of stay
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Your stay
Cycling from Bordeaux to Sarlat along the Dordogne river
Over the course of a 4 or 5-day bike tour from Bordeaux to Sarlat, you’ll explore the Gironde and Dordogne, two leading departments in the South-West, each with its own distinct identity, thanks to their prestigious vineyards: Saint-Emilion, Monbazillac and Bergerac, and their cultural heritage, including Bordeaux and Sarlat, “UNESCO World Heritage Cities”. The Bordeaux and Périgord regions, both rich in vestiges and history, are also regions that cannot be mentioned without their renowned gourmet cuisines, which will delight your taste buds!
After travelling through the Bordeaux region on small country roads between vineyards and wine-growing châteaux, and along the Dordogne River, you’ll enter the Périgord Pourpre, the color of the wine, before discovering the Périgord Noir, the most emblematic of the region and the cradle of prehistory.
This bike tour from Bordeaux to Sarlat offers a remarkable diversity of landscapes, and a rare wealth of history between the Dordogne and Vézère valleys. Every evening, you’ll be able to stroll through remarkable towns and villages such as Saint-émilion, Bergerac, Les Eyzies and, of course, Sarlat.
For the final step, you can choose between two options: a short one, allowing you to arrive early in Sarlat and take full advantage of the undeniable charm of this medieval town; and a longer, slightly more hilly option, via the Lascaux caves (Lascaux II or Lascaux IV) after a half-day bike ride along the Vézère. A must for the end of your trip!
You'll enjoy :
- Bordeaux’s magnificent UNESCO-listed quayside… by bike
- The banks of the Dordogne, between villages and hillsides
- A foie gras and Monbazillac tasting on the terrace of a bar in Bergerac, Town of Art and History
- An interlude along the Vézère and its must-sees: Les Eyzies and Lascaux IV
- Saint-émilion and Sarlat, jewels of the Gironde and Périgord regions
Daily program
Day 1 - Arrival in Bordeaux
You’ll receive your bike, documentation on the region and a route booklet indicating your route.
Bordeaux, the ancient Roman “Burdigala”, indissociable from its vineyards… shines brightly in its stone finery to dispense with artifice. The Garonne River, the heart of the city, welcomes strollers on its banks or for boat trips. Everyone can make the quays their own, in the hope of witnessing the stopover of a cruise liner, the “astonishing spectacle” of a giant of the seas right in the heart of the city. Bed and Breakfast accommodation in 3-star hotels in the heart of Bordeaux.
Day 2 - Bordeaux to Saint-Emilion
- 50 km
- 260m
You’ll leave Bordeaux via the majestic Place de la Bourse, skirting the quays, then crossing the Pont de Pierre before joining the Roger Lapébie cycle path.
This itinerary allows you to discover the Entre-Deux-Mers region on 50 km of trails/greenways and small roads… A real treat!
You’ll enjoy an ideal route for a bike ride, in the heart of natural landscapes. You’ll follow this pleasant trail with its easy-to-ride surface, and discover Créon, the region’s typical fortified village.
An unspoilt natural heritage with varied, rolling landscapes accessible to all, and a rich architectural heritage of medieval towns, bastides, abbeys and Romanesque churches.
Overnight in a bed and breakfast hotel or B&B (3 or 4*-equivalent) in Saint-Emilion.
Day 3 - Saint-Emilion - Ste-Foy-la-Grande or Saint-émilion - Bergerac
- 41 or 70 km
- 70 or 110m
On this new cycling stage, you’ll discover the prestigious Saint Emilion vineyard and its 5,000 hectares of vines, the first vineyard to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a “cultural landscape”.
You’ll then reach Castillon-la-Bataille, a land of history, before continuing along the Dordogne to the bastide town of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande.
At the gateway of Périgord, the oldest bastide town in Gironde was founded in 1255. Prosperous thanks to the wine trade, it still boasts a square surrounded by covered marketplaces, and its old houses – stone-built in the 13th century, and timber-framed and carved in the 16th century – are particularly remarkable. Overnight in a bed and breakfast** hotel in Sainte-Foy la Grande.
NOTE: Option: Saint-Emilion to Bergerac in 1 stage – 70 km
Ascent: approx. 110 m Descent: approx. 150 m
Day 4 - Sainte-Foy-la-Grande - Bergerac
- 37 km
- 200m
The little roads of the Pays Foyen will take you to Monbazillac and its château, at the heart of the prestigious vineyard bearing its name. Perched on a pretty hill, Monbazillac proudly dominates the Dordogne valley, and is a real “jewel” of a wine village. You’ll end the day in Bergerac, a town of art and history on the banks of the Dordogne, where you can take a stroll along the quays and through the old town, admiring its half-timbered houses and 15th and 16th century mansions, before sampling the famous local produce, an integral part of the Périgord heritage.
Overnight in a Bed and Breakfast*** hotel in Bergerac.
Day 4 or 5 - Bergerac - Les Eyzies
- 63 km
- 380m
Leaving Bergerac, the itinerary follows the Lalinde canal on a dedicated track, taking you through charming little villages.
Lalinde, the first English bastide in Périgord, was built on the banks of the Dordogne and has preserved vestiges of its medieval past.
You’ll continue this stage by following the tributary of the Dordogne: the Vézère, which will immerse you in the Périgord Noir and lead you to the world capital of prehistory: Les Eyzies.
“Les Eyzies is the place where Cro-Magnon Man was discovered, and where you’ll find the world’s finest examples of cave art. Discover an exceptional concentration of prehistoric sites, most of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Overnight accommodation in a *** hotel in Les Eyzies.
Day 5 or 6 - Les Eyzies - Sarlat (direct or via the Lascaux caves)
- 25 à 47 km
- 400 à 650m
On this final step, you’ll continue your journey back in time through several prehistoric sites dotting the Vézère Valley, before reaching the famous Grotte de Lascaux. Here, Paleolithic man has created a unique and accomplished work of art, made up of signs and animal representations. A masterpiece of prehistory, this priceless treasure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can also take a quicker route to Sarlat, the gastronomic capital of the Périgord Noir, where you’ll enjoy regional cuisine including foie gras, truffles and duck…
Sarlat is one of the jewels in the crown of the Périgord Noir region, a town that has preserved the traces of its history. Classified as a Town of Art and History, it owes its renown to the richness of its built heritage. The medieval city is also renowned for having the highest density of listed or registered historic monuments in the world. Overnight stay in a charming *** bed and breakfast hotel in Sarlat.
Day 6 or 7 - Departure
After breakfast.
rates
Price per person
- 6 days – 5 nights: €885
- 7 days – 6 nights: €970
Price includes
- 5 or 6 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels with breakfasts (in double/twin rooms)
- Road book (with map and directions)
- 1 GPS smartphone application
- Luggage transfer at each stage
- 24/7 technical assistance
Supplement
- Touring bike rental: €155 to €170
- Electric bike rental: €280 to €310
- Gravel bike rental: €265 to €295
Further information
We take care of transporting your luggage every time you change accommodation, so you can travel light and enjoy your day’s hiking.
Leave your luggage at the reception desk of your accommodation before departure.
At the end of the afternoon, you’ll meet them at the reception desk of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (maximum 23 kg) + 1 carry-on.
We remind you that rental bicycles are equipped with panniers that you can use to carry any items you may need for the day.
Your travel file corresponds to the documents or files you receive prior to your trip (generally one month before) and/or on arrival at your first accommodation.
It includes :
A welcome letter with key practical information:
- Baggage transport times
- Details of delivery and collection of rental bikes if required
- Your local contact and emergency telephone number(s)
- Any additional information
Travel logbook including map with route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical information
Any necessary vouchers to be given to the service provider(s)
On request and depending on the tour:
- Download the “Evazio” application onto your smartphone for GPS navigation with visual (reading the route on your smartphone screen) and/or spoken guidance. The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required.
- Loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
- Send GPX tracks of each stage for use with your own navigation device
On this tour, we can provide you with a choice of the following, upon reservation:
- A VTC bike adapted to the ride and the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
- A gravel bike adapted to the course
With equipment :
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 repair kit
- 1 helmet (on request)
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for electric bike)
For younger children, depending on age and size, we can offer
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follower bike
The bike is adjusted to your size and delivered to the first accommodation.
At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We’ll take care of collecting them.
This tour is offered in the “superior” category
Hotel categories :
- Comfort: The tour features mainly 2 and 3-star hotels (or equivalent comfort level) and bed & breakfasts.
- Superior: The tour features mainly 3- and 4-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort) and charming bed & breakfasts.
- Luxury: The tour features mainly 4- and 5-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort).
For the duration of your stay, our telephone assistance service is available:
- 7 days a week
- from 07:30 to 20:30.
Itinerary
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