Cycling in the Dordogne

Cycling in the Dordogne is an eight-day, self-guided, inn-to-inn loop from Souillac through the classic Dordogne and Vézère valleys. Riverside cycle paths lead past the Château de Fénelon and Carsac to medieval Sarlat, where a free day lets you ride out to hilltop Domme and cliff-hugging La Roque-Gageac.

From Sarlat the route rolls past Beynac, Castelnaud and the Château des Milandes to St Cyprien and the prehistoric heart of Les Eyzies, with a second free day for an optional ride to Commarque and the Abri du Cap Blanc. You then pass the cliff dwellings of La Roque Saint-Christophe on the way to Montignac and Lascaux IV, before returning to Souillac via St Geniès, Salignac and the Eyrignac gardens.

Bike hire, five dinners and luggage transfers are included, with characterful, family-run hotels personally known to owner Cassie, detailed route notes, GPX files and phone support throughout.

Highlights

• Four Plus Beaux Villages de France: Beynac, Castelnaud, Domme and La Roque-Gageac
• Mostly flat riverside cycle path along the Dordogne from Souillac
• Château des Milandes, once the home of Josephine Baker
• Cliff dwellings of La Roque Saint-Christophe, lived in from prehistoric times to the 18th century
• Lascaux IV, the remarkable replica of the famous cave paintings
• Formal 18th-century gardens of Eyrignac near Salignac

Surface and terrain
Quiet sealed country lanes and cycle paths, including a mostly flat riverside path along the Dordogne. Elsewhere rolling hills with moderate climbs of up to about 530 m a day and long downhills on the final day. Some sections are waymarked; otherwise route notes and GPX guide you.

Weather
Season runs April to October. Spring is mild with wildflowers but can be showery, with cool April mornings. June and September are warm and settled. July and August are hot, often 30°C or more, with occasional heavy thunderstorms. October is golden, cooler and slightly wetter.

Suitable for
Moderately fit, independent cyclists comfortable riding 30 to 47 km a day on rolling terrain and able to fix a puncture. Suits couples, friends and solo riders wanting history, villages and food at a relaxed pace. The e-bike upgrade makes the hillier options easy for less confident riders.