Tour Highlights
- See the best of two distinct regions in Southwest France as you ride through the changing landscape from Dordogne into Bordeaux
- Canoe down the Dordogne river to admire humbling forests, hilltop châteaux, and camouflaged cliff dwellings
- Visit the Lascaux cave complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site with remarkable Cro-Magnon cave paintings
- At top vineyards and in subterranean cellars, compare wines from AOC appellations in Monbazillac, Dordogne and Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
Eat
Foie gras, Périgord truffles, walnuts, Rocamadour cheese, duck, and lamb
Drink
Dark, full-bodied reds and fruity, dry whites of the Bergerac region; sweet dessert wines from Monbazillac; well-rounded and fruity Merlot blends in Saint-Émilion
Itinerary
Print Itinerary- Day 1
Welcome to the Dordogne
Meet your guides at the Souillac train station and begin with a bike fitting and safety briefing before our first ride. We’ll warm up along the Dordogne river and follow undulating roads through this densely forested and serene region. Get to know one another at our first lunch, a family-style meal of simply prepared seasonal dishes. Choose to continue riding through ancient Périgord country or transfer directly to our historic hotel in the center of Sarlat. There’s time to explore this storybook town before dinner at a charming restaurant nearby.
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Le Roc, Saint-Julien-de-Lampon, Veyrignac, Groléjac, Sarlat
Accomplished: 15 miles / 25 km, elevation gain: 1,247 feet/ 380 meters
Longer Option: 25 miles / 40 km, elevation gain: 2,000 feet / 610 meters
Accommodations: Plaza Madeleine - Day 2
Canoeing and Castles
After an easy morning spin, we’ll switch gears to see the Dordogne from a different angle: paddle a canoe down the Dordogne river with your gaze lifted to catch the castles and cliff dwellings that line its banks. The middle of the day is spent castle-hopping, beginning with lunch at the 12th-century Castelnaud Castle and followed by a visit to Château des Millandes, known for its meticulous gardens and famous former resident Josephine Baker. After, get back on the bike and ride the rest of the way to Sarlat or let the van bring you there sooner. We may visit a walnut producer to learn about one of the Dordogne’s most prolific products before a romantic farm-to-table meal.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Vitrac, La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud-Fayrac, Sarlat
Accomplished: 11 miles/ 18 km, elevation gain: 918 feet / 280 meters
Longer Option: 25 miles / 41 km, elevation gain: 2,427 feet / 740 meters
Accommodations: Plaza Madeleine - Day 3
Lascaux Cave
Find your zen on our morning ride into the Domainale Barade forest, a peaceful stretch of shade-giving walnut trees and poetic countryside. You’ll arrive ready to contemplate Lascaux, the cave complex discovered in 1940 that exhibits Cro-Magnon paintings dating back over 17,000 years. Emerge back into the daylight and return to the bike, following the Vézère river to Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère—quite possibly the most idyllic town in all of France. Taste the region’s famed foie gras at lunch, then continue biking or take a lift in the van to our next hotel. Tonight, walk into the petite village of Trémolat for dinner at a typical bistro.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Sarlat-la-Canéda, Montignac, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Trémolat
Accomplished: 23 miles / 37 km, elevation gain: 1,715 feet / 523 meters
Longer Option: 46 miles / 75 km, elevation gain: 3,760 feet / 1,146 meters
Accommodations: Le Vieux Logis - Day 4
Wine Versus Wine
Monbazillac’s sweet white wines are the perfect bridge between the Dordogne and our foray into Bordeaux. We’ll get there via the week’s most challenging ride, which travels west through some hilly terrain but eventually gives way to the otherworldly vineyards of Les Landes. At the end of our rewarding descent, a first taste of wine awaits us at Château de Monbazillac—and trust us when we say it poses some serious competition to Bordeaux’s Sauternes. After lunch, ride to the town of Bergerac—our last destination in the Dordogne—then take an hourlong transfer into the heart of Bordeaux. We waste no time in this essential winegrowing region and head straight for Saint-Émilion to meet our friend and wine merchant Benoit. In his underground caveau, we’ll sip the wine that has earned Bordeaux its world renown before dinner on your own in this quaint cobblestone town.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Lalinde, Saint-Capraise-de-Lalinde, Monbazillac, Bergerac
Accomplished: 30 miles / 49 km, elevation gain: 1,377 feet / 420 meters
Accommodations: Château du Palanquey - Day 5
Pomerol and Saint-Émilion
Today is all about the world-famous vineyards of Bordeaux. Begin cycling past some of the most prestigious estates in Pomerol and Saint-Émilion: Cheval Blanc, Beau-Séjour Bécot, Pressac, Petrus, and Angélus to name a few. During a wine tasting and lunch at Château de la Dominique, we’ll dip our toe into some right-bank reds from the Saint-Émilion appellation, then hop back in the saddle for the last push to our hotel. A special table is set to celebrate our final evening, and dinner is lovingly prepared using only garden-fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients. The cherry on top is the domaine’s own wine, produced in partnership with Château Angelus—known for their Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Crus.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Pomerol, Bertin, Montagne, Saint-Émilion, Sainte-Colombe
Accomplished: 31 miles / 50 km, elevation gain: 176 feet / 537 meters
Accommodations: Château du Palanquey - Day 6
One Last Loop
Take the morning to enjoy a late breakfast, wake at sunrise to swim laps, or seize the opportunity for a final spin through Bordeaux’s sleepy villages and swaying sea of vines. However you choose to spend the last precious moments of your trip, we’ll bring you to the Libourne train station and see you off to your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Sainte-Colombe, Libourne
Accomplished: 14 miles / 22 km, elevation gain: 525 feet / 116 meters
DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.
Arrival Details
Airport City: Paris or Brive-Souillac, France Pick-Up Location: Souillac train station Pick-Up Time: 11:00 am
Departure Details
Airport City: Paris or Bordeaux, France Drop-Off Location: Libourne train station Drop-Off Time: 12:00 pm
Please note that Arrival + Departure Details for 2025 tours could be subject to change.
Dates + Availability
- DatesPriceSpecial Events
- May 12 – 17$5,695
Departing soon. To reserve call +1 888 396 5383
- May 26 – 31$5,695
Departing soon. To reserve call +1 888 396 5383
- Jul 2 – 7$5,695
- Aug 25 – 30$5,695
- Sep 1 – 6$5,695
- Sep 8 – 13$5,695
Inclusions + Details
Accommodations
- Thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region
- Luggage transfers
Meals
- Daily breakfasts, all lunches, nutritious snacks, and après velo cocktails
- 4 gourmet dinners at our favorite local restaurants and renowned culinary establishments
- Carefully selected local wine, beer, or spirits with every meal
Activities
- Wine tastings and activities as outlined in the tour itinerary
- Entrance fees to historic sites, museums, parks, and all other exclusive events
- Gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service
Gear
- Top-of-the-line bicycle selection
- Bike helmet
- Complimentary DuVine gear including a custom cycling jersey, DuVine t-shirt, water bottle, and drawstring bag
- GPS in most destinations
Support
- Expert bilingual guides with extensive local knowledge
- Support vehicle that follows the day’s route, distributes refreshments, and offers lifts
- Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
- Daily bike maintenance to ensure optimal performance
