The Historic Dordogne
Introduction
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Discover 15,000 years of French history as we walk the Dordogne, one of France's most beautiful and unspoilt regions.
Setting off from Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, where 'Cro-Magnon man', one of the earliest modern humans, was first discovered, we explore an ancient world of caves, historic castles, lush farmland and elegant châteaux. We take a boat along the Dordogne River, visit cliff-side villages, dine in majestic surroundings and wonder at the fascinating prehistoric history around us.
We also visit Les Milandes, former home of 1930s music-hall queen, Josephine Baker, where we enjoy lunch and a display of falconry.
Walk Summary
| Dates | |
| Trip | 6 nights |
| Terrain |  Walk Rating: Moderate. Paths and lanes through forest and along the river, hills each day. 8-10 miles walking per day. |
| Price |
US$3995.00 per person double occupancy |
Walk begins in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, with arrival at Souillac Rail Station and ends in Sarlat, with departure from Souillac Rail Station.
Walk Itinerary
Sunday
Rendezvous at the rail-station at Souillac for the drive to Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, where Cro-Magnon Man was discovered in 1868. An aperitif in the hotel garden precedes an Introductory Talk and Welcome Dinner in the hotel's restaurant, renowned for its excellent cuisine.
Monday
Our walk today is centered on Les Eyzies, often called the world capital of pre-history. Walking in the shadow of its impressive rock formation, we will discover evidence of 350,000 years of human occupation of this river valley. At the end of the afternoon, we return to our hotel with time for a swim before we enjoy another culinary treat from Chef Pascal.
Tuesday
Our journey this morning begins by the Dordogne River and leads us to Les Milandes, former home of the late, legendary American performer Josephine Baker, Queen of Parisian music-halls during the 1930s. Here we enjoy lunch and a display of falconry. In the afternoon we continue our walk along forest paths to rendezvous with our transport to our second hotel in Saint Vincent de Cosse in the heart of the Périgord Noir. We have dinner in a restaurant widely-renowned for its cuisine in the nearby, spectacular cliff-side village of Roque Gageac.
Wednesday
We walk through tiny villages and forest paths to Beynac, dominated by a 12th-century castle, and on to Castelnaud for lunch after which we visit the excellent museum housed in the 13th-century château. We continue with a glimpse of the fairy-tale château of Fayrac and on to Domme, famous for its panoramic view over the Dordogne valley. We dine in the hotel's excellent restaurant.
Thursday
We walk by the banks of the river, visiting pretty villages, to board a river-boat for a guided cruise on the Dordogne River. We walk on to the Château de Marqueyssac, whose beautiful box gardens have become nationally famous and from which there are breathtaking views over the whole area. We return to Domme for dinner and overnight.
Friday
We descend from Domme to the river and walk cross-country to our country-inn venue for lunch. In the afternoon we visit a very pretty floral garden and stroll the streets of Sarlat, a meticulously restored 16th century gem, with an expert local guide. We will have time to shop, relax or further explore this lovely Renaissance town, before our Farewell Dinner in the hotel.
Saturday
In the morning we have time to experience Sarlat's outstanding local market and, after this, The Wayfarers will transfer you to Souillac station.
This itinerary represents a typical Walk. We prepare itineraries well in advance of the trip and therefore we reserve the right to make changes due to weather, local events or other circumstances - but always to improve the experience of our guests.
Hotels
To see the complete list of hotels, please login or register.
Hôtel Les Glycines - Sunday & Monday
24620 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac
T: +33 (0)5 53 06 97 07
F: +33 (0)5 53 06 92 19
E: glycines.dordogne@wanadoo.fr
W: www.les-glycines-dordogne.com
The hotel restaurant Les Glycines, formerly a coaching inn and a hostelry from 1862 onwards, is a picturesque house in the heart of Périgord Noir, the most historic region of the Dordogne. Situated in Les Eyzies, the hotel has a swimming pool within its magnificent grounds planted with trees a hundred years ago.
All bedrooms have been renovated, each with its own individual warmth and comfort and all have direct dial telephone, modem socket, satellite TV, bathroom and hairdryer. Pascal Lombard, the chef, works tirelessly to produce a refined menu which varies with the seasons and makes use of local produce and vegetables from the kitchen garden.
This hotel list is a provided as an example. We may use different hotels of the same quality and style on specific trips. The Wayfarers will notify confirmed travelers of any changes to the hotels.
Photo Gallery
Travel Information
Before & After Your Walk:
- Visit the wine-growing region of Bordeaux, famous for its claret
- Consider including Carcassonne or Toulouse in your itinerary
- Gently paddle down the Dordogne in a canoe, listening to the beautiful birdsong and absorbing the stunning surroundings; there are several companies offering this relaxing activity
- Explore the treasure trove of art galleries and museums throughout the area
Weather:
The Dordogne enjoys a temperate climate all year round. From May through to September temperatures range between 60 and 86°F (15 and 30°C) with warm weather and sunny days (averaging at least 7 hours of sunshine). You may need a jacket or light sweater in the evenings. In October the days are still sunny but temperatures cool a little to between 55 and 68°F (13 and 20°C). Throughout the summer long spells of good weather are punctuated by some dramatic thunderstorms so we recommend you bring good quality, lightweight rain gear.
To see more Travel Information and a list of our recommended tips please register or sign in. Once you confirm a booking for this walk, as a registered website member, you will be able to access detailed Joining Instructions including exact arrival and departure points and times as part of the Travel Information.
FAQs
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Are there any hidden costs?
Our Vacations do not include the cost of air or rail fares to and from the destination or tips for your walk leader and manager. -
How large are the Groups?
Our maximum group size is 16, but groups average between 8-12 people. -
Will I feel welcome as a single traveler?
Yes! Our walks are the perfect environment of comfortable camaraderie for the single traveler. -
Can you accommodate special diets?
Yes! -
How physically fit do I have to be to do a Wayfarers Walk?
If you are in good health and reasonably fit you will be comfortable participating in a walk.
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Scrapbook
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What's Next?
At this point we would like to thank you for looking at our website, we hope you will have seen a little of the places we walk to, hotels we stay in and that we have answered some of your questions.
For more information contact our team who are waiting for your questions. Alternatively we suggest you choose one of the following:
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