0  
+44 (0)1653 617001
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
 

Dordogne Valley with Sarlat

Glorious scenery & idyllic villages
 
No fewer than five of France’s most beautiful villages, including famous Rocamadour, dot the route followed by this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel cycling holiday (with luggage transfers) that finishes on a high in the medieval town of Sarlat. The region’s rich cuisine is a just reward for your efforts. 
Price from
£1650pp
Dordogne Valley with Sarlat. 9 nights
Price from
£1650pp
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Price from
£1650pp
Dordogne Valley with Sarlat. 9 nights
Price from
£1650pp
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday from Souillac to Sarlat

In an area as bewitching as the Dordogne Valley, it should come as no surprise that so many of its villages have been awarded the much-coveted epithet l’un des plus beaux villages de France (‘one of the most beautiful villages in France’). Like a dot-to-dot puzzle, our cycling holiday links these villages, which are characterised by winding, cobbled streets, and limestone houses with steep tiled roofs and cylindrical towers.

There are five in total: Rocamadour, the famous ‘hanging’ village that has drawn pilgrims for centuries; Autoire, whose cluster of timber-framed houses is located near a series of waterfalls; Loubressac, a fortified hill-top village commanding far-reaching views; immaculately restored Carennac on a cliff next to the river; and Martel, known as ‘the town of the seven towers’, although only three remain. The market towns of Souillac and Sarlat, your starting and finishing points, though larger, are no less charming, with handsome medieval buildings and a rich history which you can delve into on your final day.
These towns and villages are, of course, set against a backdrop of ravishing countryside that is a delight to discover on two wheels. The routes are undulating and, in places, demanding, but there is still time to linger in the villages along the way, and in the evenings you can reward yourself with a delicious dinner – the area’s great gastronomic traditions are well represented at our comfortable inns, particularly at the Michelin-starred Hotel le Pont de l'Ouysse where you spend two nights.
 
Gallery

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on almost any day, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 9 11 13 16 20 23 26 26 23 19 13 9
    mm 87 79 70 71 80 68 50 67 77 74 89 94
  • Arrival in Souillac
    Night 1: at La Vieille Auberge (where you spend one night).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Choice of routes from Souillac to Hospitalet: 22km or 30km

    Souillac to Hospitalet: 30km
    Take time to explore medieval Souillac, which boasts a 12th-century abbey church and a curious museum of automata. When you are ready to leave, you head south alongside the Dordogne and cross the river, passing the fine châteaux of Treyne and Belcastel. You rise steadily through the beautiful Ouysse Valley past a good viewpoint, with a chance to visit an old working flour mill, Le Moulin de Caugnaguet on your way.

    Souillac to Hospitalet via Lacave: 22km
    A shorter option climbs through pretty countryside to reach Lacave, before continuing to the causse (limestone plateau) to reach Hospitalet, perhaps stopping en route to visit a fromagerie – a goat's cheese farm. Your destination is the Hotel Le Troubadour in Hospitalet where you spend two nights.
    Souillac to Hospitalet: 30km
    Souillac to Hospitalet via Lacave: 22km
  • Circular route from Hospitalet: 30km
    You will probably want to spend your day exploring the nearby village of Rocamadour, justifiably one of the most famous sights in France. Crowned by a castle, this dramatic 'hanging village' has been a centre of pilgrimage for centuries. However, if you want to venture further afield, a most enjoyable circular route leads to the town of Gramat – a perfect place to stop for lunch – before finishing with an exhilarating descent offering magnificent views over Rocamadour.
    Circular route from Hospitalet: 30km
    Rocamadour
  • Hospitalet to Loubressac: 29km; shorter option: 25km
    This delightful route takes you to the Gouffre de Padirac, a spectacular 'must-see' cave 100 metres underground that is visited by boat and on foot (pay locally). From here, you cycle to the Cirque d'Autoire, a natural amphitheatre with a series of waterfalls. It is worth visiting the idyllic village of the same name before climbing steadily to the fortified hill-top town of Loubressac and your hotel, the Relais de Castelnau. An easier option, missing out Autoire, is also available.
    Hospitalet to Loubressac: 29km
    Autoire
  • Loubressac to Lacave: 37km
    From Loubressac you descend into the Dordogne Valley and follow the great river westwards to the superbly preserved medieval village of Carennac. Take time to admire the turreted and brown-tiled houses, ruined priory and Romanesque church before continuing along a picturesque stretch of the valley (first on the south bank, then on the north bank), passing many superb viewpoints. Your destination is Lacave and the stylish Hotel Le Pont de l'Ouysse, set on the riverside beneath the Château de Belcastel.
    Loubressac to Lacave: 37km
    Carennac
  • Circular route from Lacave: 34km
    Cycle along picturesque lanes north of the Dordogne to the medieval town of Martel, a delightful place to visit and enjoy a leisurely lunch.

    Alternatively, you may wish to visit Lacave's caves, which are full of astonishing stalactites and stalagmites, or to cycle to nearby Meyronne for a self-guided canoe trip – an excellent way to explore the Dordogne. (Pay locally in both cases.)
    Circular route from Lacave: 34km
    Martel
  • Lacave to Souillac: 27km
    Today's route crosses the Dordogne to St Sozy, after which you have a steep, but short, uphill section to reach the plateau, from where there are far-reaching views across the valley. Your efforts are rewarded with easy cycling for the rest of the day as you pass through rural farming communities before a final magnificent descent through a quiet valley to reach Souillac, where you once again spend a night in La Vieille Auberge.
    Lacave to Souillac: 27km
    Souillac
  • Souillac to Sarlat: 32km
    You cycle to Sarlat almost entirely along a cycle path converted from a disused railway line, following the north side of the Dordogne gently uphill.

    Once you reach Sarlat, you no longer require your bike – instead you’re free to explore the Old Town and its beautiful, winding cobbled streets on foot (both of our featured hotels are 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from the centre). Wandering through this interesting historic town (particularly in the evening when the day trippers have gone) feels like stepping back in time. There is no shortage of places to eat and a wide selection of wines to enjoy, from Bergerac, Cahors and the Bordeaux vineyards.
    Souillac to Sarlat: 32km
    Sarlat cathedral
  • Explore historic Sarlat
    Today is yours to explore. Sarlat is the capital of Périgord Noir and the cultural and gastronomic centre of this region. On Saturdays, the town boasts a colourful, bustling market. A slightly smaller one is held on Wednesday mornings.

    Besides the market, there are plenty of good craft shops, as well as speciality food shops. You may like to wander through the ancient abbey cemetery, or perhaps climb up the bell tower above the covered market (formerly a church) to enjoy panoramic views over the medieval rooftops.
    Central Sarlat
    Sarlat's roofline
 

Accommodation

The highlight of the week is Hotel le Pont de l'Ouysse. It is very popular, so it is advisable to book well in advance.

In Sarlat we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. Both are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation. Wherever you stay in Sarlat, we recommend adding extra nights to give yourselves more time to explore this handsome town.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Currency is required
NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 9 nights: 16 April 2025 - 07 October 2025

    Start Friday to Tuesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    16 Apr - 19 May 2025 £1650 £485
    20 May - 10 Jun 2025 £1750 £505
    11 Jun - 4 Jul 2025 £1810 £510
    5 Jul - 8 Sep 2025 £1875 £545
    9 - 28 Sep 2025 £1750 £505
    3rd & 4th person discount -£11
    Single traveller supplement £52

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £125pp

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    9 nights: 16 April 2025 - 07 October 2025

    Start Friday to Tuesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    16 Apr - 19 May 2025 £1925 £485
    20 May - 10 Jun 2025 £2015 £505
    11 Jun - 4 Jul 2025 £2075 £510
    5 Jul - 8 Sep 2025 £2150 £545
    9 - 28 Sep 2025 £2015 £505
    3rd & 4th person discount -£41
    Single traveller supplement £80

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to either Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, or Lille, with onward travel as described below.

    Electric bikes available: add £125pp

    Included travel: UK–Paris (Eurostar), Paris–Souillac (Intercité), approx duration 9h out/10h20 home & taxi transfer (0h05 out/0h50 home).
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

    9 nights: 16 April 2025 - 07 October 2025

    Start Friday to Tuesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    16 Apr - 19 May 2025 £1880 £485
    20 May - 10 Jun 2025 £1975 £505
    11 Jun - 4 Jul 2025 £2045 £510
    5 Jul - 8 Sep 2025 £2105 £545
    9 - 28 Sep 2025 £1975 £505
    3rd & 4th person discount -£175
    Single traveller supplement £220

    Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus a return Channel crossing between Folkestone and Calais with LeShuttle for your party and one car.

    > More information about travelling self-drive

    Electric bikes available: add £125pp

    A supplement of approximately £65 per car per single journey applies for travel at key dates over Easter, while from May onwards a supplement of approximately £42 per car per single journey applies for travel over public holidays and at weekends during school holidays. See the self-drive page or contact us for more details.

  • Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £35pp per day.
    Hotel le Troubadour, Hospitalet de Rocamadour (B&B) Double room Single room
    16 Apr - 07 Oct 2025 £73 £120
    Hotel le Pont de l'Ouysse, Lacave (with dinner) Double room Single room
    16 Apr - 15 Jun 2025 £230 £266
    16 Jun - 15 Sep 2025 £255 £291
    16 Sep - 07 Oct 2025 £230 £266
    Hotel le Renoir, Sarlat (B&B) Double room Single room
    16 Apr - 12 Jul 2025 £95 £163
    13 Jul - 15 Sep 2025 £114 £192
    16 Sep - 30 Sep 2025 £95 £163
    01 Oct - 07 Oct 2025 £88 £148
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Toulouse, Brive Vallée de la Dordogne, Limoges or Paris CDG
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Aberdeen - Toulouse (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Birmingham - Toulouse (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Limoges Ryanair 
    Bristol - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Bristol - Toulouse easyJet 
    Bristol - Toulouse (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Limoges Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Toulouse Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Toulouse (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Edinburgh - Toulouse (via Amsterdam) Air France 
    Edinburgh - Toulouse (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Limoges Ryanair 
    Leeds Bradford - Paris CDG jet2 
    Leeds Bradford - Toulouse (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Liverpool - Toulouse easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Gatwick - Toulouse easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Paris CDG British Airways 
    Heathrow - Toulouse British Airways 
    Heathrow - Toulouse (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Heathrow - Toulouse (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Toulouse easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Brive Vallée de la Dordogne Ryanair 
    Stansted - Limoges Ryanair 
    Stansted - Toulouse Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Limoges Ryanair 
    Manchester - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Manchester - Toulouse (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Newcastle - Toulouse (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Toulouse (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Toulouse (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Teesside International - Toulouse (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Brive Vallée de la Dordogne

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Brive airport to hotel (0h25) £31-£32 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Brive airport (1h) £57-£59 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Paris CDG

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    RER from CDG airport to Paris Austerlitz (0h45), rail Paris Austerlitz to Brive (4h20), taxi Brive to hotel (0h45) £117-£122 1045
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Souillac (0h50), rail Souillac to Paris Austerlitz (5h), RER from Paris Austerlitz to CDG airport (0h45) £99-£103 1545

    Connecting travel options - flying via Limoges

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Limoges Benedictins to Brive (1h-1h20), taxi Brive to hotel (0h45) £73-£76 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Brive station (1h15), rail Brive to Limoges Benedictins (1h15) £98-£102 1430

    Connecting travel options - flying via Toulouse

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Toulouse-Matabiau to Souillac (2h), taxi Souillac to hotel (0h05) £37-£38 1500 (1400 Sat)
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Souillac station (0h50), rail Souillac to Toulouse-Matabiau (2h) £35-£36 1400
What is included
  • 9 nights
  • 5 dinners
    9 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
 
Reviews

There are currently no reviews for this holiday. If you have experienced it, why not be the first to write a review?

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a hybrid bike with 24 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our cycling holidays in Europe page.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 12/22/2024 8:59:57 AM

currency iplookup:

cookie value: null

querystring value: null