The Historic Dordogne - September 27 - October 3, 2009
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, where âCro-Magnon manâ, one of the earliest modern humans, was first discovered, we explore an ancient world of underground 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 perfectly preserved prehistoric cave paintings of Grottes de Font-de-Gaume.
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
| Date | 27-SEP-09 - 03-OCT-09 |
| Trip | 7 days, 6 nights |
| Terrain |  Paths and lanes through forest and along the river, hills each day. 8-12 miles walking per day. Moderate to Energetic. |
| Price |
US$3795.00 per person double occupancy |
Walk begins in Les Eyzies, 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, where Cro-Magnon Man was discovered in 1868. An aperitif in the hotel garden precedes an Introductory Talk and Welcome Dinner prepared by renowned chef, Pascal Lombard.
Monday
A short walk through the village takes us to the famous Grottes de Font-de-Gaume, where we wonder at the cave-paintings. Dating from the Magdalénien period, their age is estimated at around 17,000 years and feature depictions of animals (bison, mammoths and horses) painted in browns, blacks and earth colours, of compounds made from rock and pastes. After lunch we continue to walk in the area, keeping our sights on the impressive rock formations. 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, weaving through tiny villages and forest paths to Beynac, inhabited since the Bronze Age and dominated by a 13th- century castle. We stop here for lunch, then continue our walk along the sandy river bank to Castelnaud, from where we are transferred to our second hotel nestled in the spectacular cliff-side village of La Roque Gageac.
Wednesday
We set off from la Roque Gageac, using the winding village paths which take us into the delightful hinterland of unspoiled hamlets, farms and forest. We meander along by the river until we come to Domme, one of the best examples of a medieval 'Bastide' town in France, famous for its panoramic view over the Dordogne valley. After lunch we rejoin the river and are ferried in a traditional river boat to our hotel in La Roque Gageac.
Thursday
We explore La Roque Gageac and then climb up to majestic Castelnaud, the largest and best restored of the region's castles. We visit Les Milandes, former home of the late, legendary American performer Josephine Baker, Queen of Parisian music-halls during the 1930s, where we enjoy lunch and a display of falconry. We drive back to our hotel in Sarlat.
Friday
We spend the morning in the medieval town of Sarlat with time to enjoy an expert guided tour. We then have time to make our own discoveries in the town, to shop or simply to relax and marvel at the Renaissance architecture of this meticulously restored 16th Century gem. We lunch by the Chateau of Marquayssac, where the extraordinary box gardens have become nationally famous. These gardens provide a fascinating last leg of our walk and a final opportunity to take in the rich view from the chateau's terrace before returning to our hotel to enjoy our farewell dinner.
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)5-5306-9707
F: +33 (0)5-5306-9219
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, toilet 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.
Le Relais de Moussidiere - Thursday & Friday
24200 Sarlat
T: +33 (0)5-5328-2874
F: +33 (0)5-5328-2511
W: www.hotel-moussidiere.com
This superb 18th century former monastery has been beautifully restored with love and affection and is ideally located only 2km from the medieval town centre of Sarlat. Guests can stroll through the surrounding 17 acre landscaped park and lake, laze on the loungers by the pool, or relax with a drink in front of the fire in one of the cozy lounges.
The rooms at the Relais de Moussidière are welcoming and tastefully decorated with a great deal of character. Each bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, TV, telephone, A/C, safe, hairdryer and both Wi-Fi and wired internet connection.
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
- Visit the wine-growing region of Bordeaux, famous for its claret.
- Consider including Carcassonne or Toulouse in your itinerary.
Weather:
The Dordogne enjoys a temperate climate all year round. From April through to September have temperatures 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 light 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 accomodate 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.
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