Tour Overview
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Route Map:
Click
here to see a close approximation of this itinerary's route. Note: This map is not intended for navigation purposes, but it will give you an excellent picture of the territory
covered by this tour's itinerary. You may use the Google Map controls to zoom in, zoom out, and examine the terrain.
Tour Dates:
You may begin this tour on any day. We ask that tour participants arrive at the
tour's starting point at least one day prior to Day 1 of their tour to avoid the
impact of possible travel delays. No activities are scheduled for this day. See Schedule
for blackout dates and additional tour scheduling considerations.
Location: The Périgord Region of France. Overnight destinations include
St. Emilion, Bergerac, Limeuil, Montignac, and Sarlat. The train trip from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport to Libourne requires about 4 hours. Because of
the time required to make the return trip to Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport from Sarlat (7+ hours), you should plan to layover at least 1 night in Paris on the back-end of your tour.
Tour Type: Circuit tour.
Terrain: Easy
to very challenging. Long, relatively flat and rolling stretches are the norm. Three
long, challenging climbs on Day 3. Of course, following
each climb, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking vista and an exhilarating descent.
Length: 7 days / 8 nights
Distance: Total: 157 miles / 254 km. Average per day: 31 miles / 50 km.
Highlights:
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St. Emilion, a 1200 year old stone village set amidst the world's most exclusive vineyards.
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Magnificent medieval castles (English guided tours available) set along the scenic shores of the Dordogne River.
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The Troglodytic cliff dwellings
and subtropical vegetation of La Roque St. Christophe.
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Phenomenal sites of prehistory
including the Grotte du Font de Gaume and Lascaux II caves, home of some of the world's finest prehistoric cave paintings;
and Les Eyzies with its much-renowned museum, cave, and cliff-dwellings.
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Visits to seven
villages officially classified as among the most beautiful in France.
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The unspoiled beauty of the Valley of the Vézère.
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Enjoy free wine tasting opportunities nearly everywhere along your route.
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Sarlat, perhaps the most extraordinarily restored medieval village in Europe.
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Delight over some of France's finest wines and tastiest cheeses and fois gras!
Pricing Details
Note: All prices are US dollars.
Adult Price - US $1095.00 per person
Children age 16 or younger traveling with 2 adults - $450.00 per child.
Discounts are available for parties of 5 or more adults.
The tour price includes:
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Tour Documentation: Route instructions, map, Pre-trip Preparation Guide, On-Road Quick Reference Guide, and Sights Guide.
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Bike Rental for 6 Days: Excellent quality 27-speed hybrid or mountain bike with handlebar bag,
map carrier, cyclometer, water bottle cage, rear rack, lock, repair kit, and helmet. Optional pedal cages. Road / racing
bikes are available for a supplemental charge.
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Delivery and Pick-up of your Rental Bike
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Daily Baggage Transfers
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English-Speaking Support Staff
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Reservation of your Accommodations
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Shipping and Handling Charges for US customers
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Basic SAG Support: If you choose not to cycle on one or more days due to weather, illness, etc., AND
you notify your Diverse Directions support representative in advance so that you and your bikes can be transported along with your luggage, no additional charges will apply.
The tour price does NOT include:
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Hotels: Because you are free to select from a wide range of hotels -- from charming and basic 2-star to
4-star luxury (where available) -- the cost of your hotel accommodations is not bundled into the tour package price. See our Accommodations Options page for
the price ranges of each category of hotel. A list of accommodations options for this tour, with website links, is available upon request.
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Meals: You are free to determine your own budget for meals. A wide variety of options are available --
from creating a picnic from provisions obtained at a boulangerie / patisserie, to dining at bistros and restaurants, or taking meals at your hotel (where
available.) Please note that breakfasts are NOT included in France hotel rates. However, hotels with restaurants often offer a demi-pension option, which
includes the cost of your room, breakfast, and dinner at a reasonable price.
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Transportation from your home to
Saint Emilion and from Sarlat to your home.
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Personal expenses
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Insurance
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Shipping and Handling Charges for non-US customers: A shipping & handling charge of US $15.00 will be added to tour orders made from outside the US.
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Expedited Shipping (all nations): If the shipment of tour materials must be expedited, the express mail charges will be added to the tour package price.
For Diverse Directions' payment terms, cancellation policy, and all terms & conditions, please see Terms
& Conditions.
When you are ready to book your tour, please complete
and submit our secure Tour Order Form.
Daily Itinerary
Arrive in St. Emilion. Spend 2 nights.
Arrive in St. Emilion at the time of your choosing. No activities are scheduled for this day.
Day
1: Free Day in St. Emilion.
You have the entire day to explore this gem of a town, to savor its rich ambiance, and to recover from jet lag. You are sure to be awestruck by the beauty of this medieval village's unique
setting, which is rather like a sunken amphitheater surrounded by some of the world's most exclusive vineyards. The narrow streets descend steeply
past medieval stone buildings that change color with the time of day and the weather. As beautiful as this ancient stone is on a cloud-smattered day,
against the clear deep blue southern France sky the light on these stones is breathtaking. For more information
about St. Emilion, click
here.
Day 2: Bike from St. Emilion to Bergerac -
67 km / 42 miles. Spend 1 night.
Your rental bikes
will be delivered following breakfast. Your first day of cycling begins in the
vineyards. In fact, your entire gorgeous day of cycling alternates between
wooded stretches along the Dordogne River and miles and miles of vineyards. Enjoy
peaceful traffic-free cycling through small villages until you arrive at Bergerac. Bergerac is a sizeable town with a beautifully restored medieval
section where you will be staying amidst the half-timbered 14th century houses. Following your ride, enjoy the afternoon
exploring this extremely friendly city on foot. You also have the option to visit the castle at nearby Monbazillac. For more information
about Bergerac, click
here.
Day 3: Bike from Bergerac to Limeuil - 46 km / 29 miles. Spend 1 night.
If
you thought yesterday's ride was just too indescribably beautiful,
you're in for a surprise today. The riverside cycling just gets better and
better. And then there's almost 10 kilometers of cycling on the paved towpath of
the old Dordogne Canal where you're cycling between the river and canal until
you reach the lovely bastide (fortified medieval village) of
Lalinde.
You'll want to stop here, both to enjoy the village and to rest up
before tackling the cingles.
The cingles, French for buckles, are loops in the river which you will view from two tremendous vantage points along today's route:
the Cingle de Trémolat and the Cingle de Limeuil. The climbs
are long, but definitely manageable; and you'll feel most accomplished as you're
admiring the stunning vistas. After your first climb you can stop for a snack in the lovely village of
Trémolat
before beginning your next climbs. After you complete the third (and
shortest) climb, you'll descend dramatically into
Limeuil.
Located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers, this gorgeous village rises high above the valley with outstanding views of the two rivers. This evening is all about kicking back and enjoying the joie-de-vivre that is France. You'll not want to leave this
peaceful paradise. For more information about Limeuil, click to
here.
Day 4: Limeuil to Montignac- 40 km / 25 miles. Spend 2 nights.
From Limeuil you'll leave the banks of the Dordogne and begin following the Vézère River. We've kept this day's mileage fairly low to ensure
you'll have plenty of time and energy to enjoy the many sights on your way to Montignac. If you're interested in things prehistoric, you'll want to spend some time in
Les Ezyies, where you can visit the Museum of Prehistory, a prehistoric cave shelter, and the
Grotte de Font-de-Gaume,
site of some of France's most famous prehistoric cave
paintings.
After leaving
Les Ezyies, you'll enjoy particularly dramatic scenery along the cliff-studded banks of the Vézère River. These cliffs are full of caves
that have been used as homes for millennia; many of these cave dwellings are open to the public. La-Roque-St-Christophe
is particularly magnificent and is set in truly one of the most beautiful spots in all of nature. Just beyond
La-Roque-St-Christophe you'll pass through yet
another of France's most beautiful villages,
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère. Here you'll want to enjoy a wine and cheese break along the pristine riverfront.
Your cycling day ends in
Montignac, home of Lascaux II, the painstakingly created reproduction of France's most important source of cave art.
Lascaux II was created when it was discovered that the breath of humans was damaging the paintings of the original. Today, it is open only to scientists, but to continue
sharing this awesome human treasure with the public, the French created a world-renowned replica. Montignac is a charming town, beautifully set, and with a wealth of services.
For more information about Montignac, click here.
Day 5: Free Day in Montignac.
Day 6: Montignac to Sarlat - 45 km / 28 miles. Spend 2 nights.
From Montignac you make a challenging climb out of the river valley to visit a series of
medieval villages -- St.-Armand-de-Coly, Coly, and St. Genies -- which can be
explored at your leisure. Beyond St. Genies, you’ll enjoy pastoral riding that becomes more wooded as you near Sarlat.
Sarlat's entire
medieval core has been designated protected status. Wander the medieval streets
of this living museum and consider taking one of the published walks on the
hillsides surrounding Sarlat. The Tourist Information Office will provide you
materials needed to do a self-guided walking tour of the old town as well as
hillside walks, in English. For more information, click
here.
Day 7: Free Day in Sarlat. Explore, shop, or cycle the Dordogne Castle Circuit.
The castles are numerous in this area and there is no better way to see them than to do this 53 km / 33 mile circuit on bike. Your circuit includes visits to the following castles:
Château la Malartrie, Castelnaud,
Château des Milandes,
Château Feyrac,
Château de Beynac, and
Château de Marqueyssac. Don't worry about touring all the castles you'll pass. Some are
closed to the public altogether and thus can be
only appreciated from afar; others only open their extraordinary gardens to the public. However, the interiors of at least three of castles are open to the public.
Along your route you will also pass through the riverside village of la Roque-Gageac which, due to its unique setting, enjoys a
subtropical microclimate. If you need to rest awhile, you can hire a boat in la Roque-Gageac for more relaxed touring along the river. Finally, you'll visit the bastide of
Domme, one of France's most formidably positioned, fortified medieval towns. We'll take you up the back way to avoid
an even more severe climb, but the views from the top are definitely worth the effort.
Rental bikes will be picked up at your hotel in the late afternoon.
When you are ready to book your tour, please complete
and submit our secure Tour Order Form.
