Dordogne Bike Tour

Meet our guides at your hotel in Soulliac and transfer to Château de la Treyne, our breathtaking hotel perched over the Dordogne river, just in time for a light lunch. After a bike fitting and safety talk, we’ll start today’s loop ride in the surrounding countryside, plunging into the forests and gorges that are the hallmarks of Dordogne’s natural beauty. Stop for a coffee in the 12th-century town of Martel and meander the streets, admiring the quaint storybook architecture. Tonight, toast to a wonderful week ahead: we’ll kick off our first evening at a Michelin-star restaurant near our hotel.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Pinsac, Baladou, Martel, Lacave
Accomplished: 23 miles / 37 km, elevation gain: 1,738 feet / 530 meters
Accommodations:  Château de la Treyne

Begin the day with a visit to Rocamadour’s historic monuments and Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our ride follows the footsteps of pilgrims from every country—among them kings, bishops, and nobles—who have made the trek to this site over hundreds of years. Rocamadour is a place unlike any other, set in a gorge above the river and chiseled right into the rocks and forested hillside. At lunch, it’s imperative to order the goat cheese that shares this town’s name—best enjoyed on a slice of bread studded with local walnuts or atop a salad. We’ll leave Rocamadour behind and continue our winding ride through the scenic countryside with one more stop to taste some additional local specialties. Back at our riverside retreat, relax at the hotel pool before we dine in luxury at the hotel’s own Michelin-starred restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Lacave, Rocamadour, Calès
Accomplished: 25 miles / 41 km, elevation gain: 2,467 feet / 752 meters
Accommodations: Château de la Treyne

This morning starts with a rolling ride through the Dordogne’s hillside villages and cool, fresh forests. We’ll arrive in the chiseled village of Vitrac for a picnic on the banks of the Dordogne river. Switch gears after lunch and trade our pedals for paddles as we canoe down the river—the region’s original highway. The Dordogne’s gentle current will carry us alongside castles built into towering cliffs overhead and a world of flora growing in limestone shelters at eye level. Hop out in Castlenaud and perk up with a glass of wine in the shadow of the Château, a castle that figured prominently in the Hundred Years’ War. Transfer to Sarlat-la-Canéda, a town famous in France for medieval art and history, and settle into our hotel in the heart of town. This evening, explore the pretty medieval streets in search of a dinner spot that speaks to you, or ask our guides for a recommendation.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Vitrac, Castelnaud, Sarlat-la-Canéda
Accomplished: 28 miles / 45 km, elevation gain: 2,512 feet / 766 meters
Accommodations: Plaza Madeleine

Today, take part in a local ritual—a morning at the town market. Once we’ve shopped for tempting truffles, fresh strawberries to snack on, and walnut oil to take home, we’ll delve into Dordogne’s rich history with a ride through the Forêt Domainale Barade. Our next stop is Lascaux, a complex that houses world-famous cave paintings first discovered in 1940. We’ll take our time admiring the engrossing reproductions of these Cro-Magnon creations, which are over 17,000 years old. Emerge back into the daylight and continue to pedal beside the river to one of the most picture-perfect villages in France: Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère. For lunch, we’ll try the foie gras this region is famed for. After, choose to keep riding or hop in the van to our next stylish accommodation. Tonight, we’ll regroup and walk to the tiny town of Trémolat for an excellent bistro-style meal.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Sarlat-la-Canéda, Montignac, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Trémolat
Accomplished: 24 miles / 38 km, elevation gain: 1,715 feet / 523 meters
Longer Option: 45 miles / 73 km, elevation gain: 3,464 feet / 1,056 meters
Accommodations: Le Vieux Logis

After a tasty breakfast we’ll head west towards Monbazillac, a region well-known for its production of sweet wine. This may be the most challenging ride of the week, but trust that the hills at the beginning of the day will give way to the lilting vineyards of Les Landes. Visit the pristine Château de Monbazillac where we’ll discover its glorious past and taste the sweet wines that give Bordeaux’s Sauternes a run for their money. After an energizing lunch, challenge yourself to finish the week in the saddle or reward yourself with a massage back at the hotel. We’re in for a memorable final night: a savory feast awaits us in the hotel’s elegant Michelin restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Lalinde, Saint-Capraise-de-Lalinde, Monbazillac, Saint-Nexans, Lanquais, Badefols-sur-Dordogne, Trémolat
Accomplished: 26 miles / 42 km, elevation gain: 2,230 feet / 680 meters
Longer Option: 50 miles / 81 km, elevation gain: 2,696 feet / 822 meters
Accommodations: Le Vieux Logis

Bid farewell to this stunning region with a quick optional loop ride or a late, lingering morning at the hotel. Your guides will then transfer you to Bergerac and see you off at the train station.

Meals: Breakfast
Optional Ride: 17 miles / 28 km, elevation gain: 1,279 feet / 390 meters