The Dordogne Valley

We had an amazing cycling holiday in the outstandingly beautiful Dordogne region. All of the hotels en route were excellent and the standard of the cuisine could not be faulted. We particularly enjoyed the opportunity of being able to socialize and eat with our hosts at Domaine de la Vaysse. We would certainly recommend this holiday and will definitely be returning again in the future.

Inntravel’s preparation and planning for our bike ride in the Dordogne Valley, showed they were aware of the range of needs and interests their clients might have. We found the possible trips had some flexibility for both the weather and our varying physical abilities throughout the trip. We were provided sufficient time to explore very interesting sites. The only problem was that we ended up eating too much as most of the food provided at our places of stay was of such a high quality.

We thought we would be near to the River more often but also loved the forests, trees and views. Surprised there were so few animals to see. Loved the Moulin de Cougnanuet and the guided tour. Enjoyed the camaraderie of Domaine de la Vaysse and meeting other travellers. The food is excellent though you have to like French cuisine (doh!) as very few vegetables and lots of duck in one shape or form. Some great desserts. Only spent about 15 mins on Rocamadour - too touristy - but the view of it was great. Surprised that a lot of things seemed to be closing down early even though it wasn't even mid-September. But it meant few people about. Might want to add in that if the Gluges hotel/restaurant is closed, the camp site had a really handy cafe and good places to sit by the river. We used our extra day to go to Figeac on the train and that was interesting. The Gouffre de Padirac were worth doing and we only waited about half an hour to go in.

The Dordogne is a beautiful area to cycle in although there were a few more challenging (more from length than incline) hills than expected. We also didn't see as much of the Dordogne river as we had hoped. However, the routes were sufficiently long to enjoy the cycling but left a good amount of time on completion to enjoy some relaxation. We enjoyed the swimming pools at the end of each day. We found it better and much easier to use the GPS route finder than the written maps. We booked an e-bike for my wife which she enjoyed and without which, as a purely social cyclist, she would have struggled in the hot weather. The food in the hotels was generally very good. Overall, the whole experience was most enjoyable and we would do something similar again but perhaps at a cooler time of year and on a flatter route.

Looking out from the pool at Relais de Castelnau after an enjoyable day's ride; looking at the stars through the telescope at Hotel Troubadour; enjoying home made food in Vaysse and its welcoming hosts.

We had a wonderful time in the Dordogne area. Our accommodation and meals were excellent. The cycling exposed us to many small villages and oak forests providing a means to reduce the impact of all those great meals! Thank you Inntravel!

Cycling around the Dordogne - what a perfect way to see the outstanding beauty of the Dordogne. Cycling along very quiet country lanes and through picturesque hamlets was just ideal. The bikes were perfect for the hills and our luggage was always at the next hotel on arrival. The cycling notes were great with little notes on telling us where to shop for lunch and stop for drinks or icecreams or places of interest. Everything worked perfectly from transfers to cycling and would highly recommend it.

The complimentary bottle of wine left at out first hotel for our 30th wedding anniversary was a thoughful and appreciated touch (many thanks for this Inntravel team). The GPX files are fab and a lot easier than using a paper map. On the route from La Vieille Auberge to Sarlat [the optional add-on] there are water gardens (300m from cycle path to Sarlat we were following). They are not mentioned in your documents but they are very lovely.

Another lovely holiday with Inntravel which was a tailored mix of cycling and walking over ten days with stays at La Vieille Auberge, Le Troubadour, Relais de Castelnau and Relais Sainte Anne at Martel. Hotels and hotel food was all good. We appreciated having three days at Le Troubadour and four at Ste Anne which allowed us to settle and relax a bit. Pools were open but too cold to use sadly. The weather was a bit chilly for May - one day there was frost on the lawn at 8.30am. The villages and towns of the Dordogne are wonderful as are the river and its bridges, with little chateaux and manoirs everywhere, a very medieval feel and pleasing roof shapes. Many of the dwellings were shuttered and the depopulation which characterises parts of rural France was evident. Despite this - and it being early in the tourist season - most places could support a small cafe or bar! Wonderful forests of oak trees, nut trees, full of birds and beautiful flowers. We didn't have ebikes, are fit 60 year olds (who nevertheless don't cycle normally) and we found the shortish distances with the hilly bits absolutely fine - we returned tired on some days (having pushed bikes up some hills) but fine. We found open cash points at Souillac, Hospitalet, and Martel.

Our highlights and observations in no particular order: Automata museum at Souillac; having tea and coffee making facilities in our rooms at La Vieille Auberge; food everywhere (although the absence of vegetables or even salads makes us wonder how the French are getting their 'five a day'); having picnics; visit to the mill on day one from Souillac to Rocamadour; walk down the gorge to Rocamadour (nb - there are picnic spots with views just past the mill on the other side of the valley); Rignac (cafe there was closed sadly); we had a good value meal at Les Coeurs Gourmands (yummy cassoulet) at Gramat (the convent gardens aren't really there anymore); the insect museum at Padirac was closed; Martel - it is less sleepy and obviously has a vibrant local population and we visited a brocante market, saw a VE Day procession and appreciated the range of different shops there); steam train journey at Martel; the walk via the Apothecary Path to Gluges (we had coffee at the otherwise very sleepy Hotel Les Falaises); circular walk along the Rocs de Monge near St Sozy to Blazinguet and back which is not an Inntravel route but you can follow it on the map (beware - the start of the path out of St Sozy/La Curade climbs up the hillside along a very steep and narrow path which involves scrambling with steep but wooded drop to one side and one of our party really did not like this and would not do again); seeing deer; hearing what sounded like wolves in the forest; having tea at the fish farm outside Souillac. 

One of the best holidays we have had. The routes were excellent with the attention to detail second to none. Wonderful accommodation which we would never have found ourselves, highly recommended.

Each of the hotels had a different style, which was interesting. The Domaine de la Vaysse was like the early Inntravel style stopovers....eating with the family....enjoyable for two nights. The E-bikes make the hills less challenging, and open up a new range of holidays, which we thought we were becoming too old to enjoy. If we are fit to do a holiday next year, we could increase the daily mileage easily, if this is an available option. I cannot think of any way you can improve a most enjoyable holiday, it included interesting locations, had good food, pleasant and helpful hosts.

We had a wonderful week. We opted for e-bikes which was a good decision as the weather was very hot and the hills were significant up onto the limestone plateau. It was the first time we had used them and there will be no going back! We are all fairly fit 60 somethings but they really made the cycling a pleasure and were so easy to use. 

The area is beautiful and was quiet in September. We enjoyed our visit to the mill on the first day and the caves at Padirac were stunning. Rocamadour is a splendid sight and the old medieval towns like Martel were lovely. Your route plans and information pages were perfect. 

Accommodation wise we were probably spoiled by last year’s trip to the Loire. The start and finish hotel at Souillac was fine but not as nice as the wonderful Hotel de Biencourt in Azay-Le-Rideau which we loved. They were however very helpful in organising us a few hours in Sarlat on our last day as we had a late flight home from Bergerac and in explaining our bikes to us and setting us on our way. The Hotel Le Troubadour was excellent, again with wonderful staff and delicious food. We were glad to have two nights there and wished we could have had two at the next hotel, the Relais de Castelnau, with its stunning views and superb pool and restaurant terrace. Again, delicious food. We didn’t really enjoy the two nights at the Chambre d’hote at la Vaysse. One night would have been fine; and it was nice to speak a bit of French, but the evening meals were a bit awkward and we felt rather under pressure not to offend our hosts. They made a lot of effort and meant well but the food wasn’t great and the set up just didn’t suit us. In retrospect we should have upgraded to the Lacave hotel but we didn‘t necessarily want Michelin starred cuisine, just somewhere simple but good. Maybe a small hotel in Martel would be better? We had a stand out lunch there the next day at Le Petit Moulin and we enjoyed the train ride along the disused line at the top of the plateau. 

Overall it was a great week and we absolutely loved the cycling. We were reluctant to hand our bikes back at the end of the holiday!

We all thoroughly enjoyed the holiday the quality of the food far outweighed our expectations. I would recommend the extension to Sarlat a wonderful medieval town. 

The weather was extremely hot when we were in the Dordogne air conditioning at some of the hotels was a bonus and enabled us too have a good nights sleep because of the extreme heat 38c we didn’t cycle on the last day. Having a swimming pool at all of the hotels was a refreshing welcome.

We all enjoyed cycling through the small picturesque French villages and the opportunity to swim in the Dordogne not as cold as I expected. If you plan to visit the caves at Padirac I advise getting an e ticket as the queues are very long to get a timed ticket during the the high season.

I would recommend this holiday and we are planning to take another cycling holiday with Inntravel next year.

This was our 4th cycling holiday booked through Inntravel & once again everything went like clockwork from the first friendly greeting at the station in Souillac to the welcome back to them at the end. This was my first grade 2 cycle so I was prepared for a few more hills but to be fair with the excellent quality of the bikes I found the hills ok especially a couple of extra ones thrown in when we took a couple of wrong turnings! It was very hot so the welcome sight of the pools in all the hotels was a pleasing sight. The food was probably the best we had experienced on all our holidays, excellent choices & quality. We had a great visit as suggested to the Caves in Padirac, but didn't do the ones in Lacave choosing for a more leisurely day cycling to the market in Martel followed by a steam train ride & a visit to Reptileland which made for a great day before returning to the pool at Domaine De La Vaysse where Thierry & Pascale were the most wonderful lovely hosts along with their cute dog Memphis. Staying with them in their beautiful home for two nights was definitely one of our highlights.

An excellent holiday. Very well organised with excellent hotels. There are some big climbs and in high temperature, they are hard work, so do some training beforehand!  

A challenging holiday with some beautiful views and fabulous countryside. The Domaine de la Vaysse was a lovely place to stay but not totally relaxing as after a hard days ride having dinner with hosts felt like you were staying with distant family where you needed to make polite conversation. Nice but by the second night we wished we had upgraded.

The Dordogne cycle exceeded expectations at every turn. This was our second bike trip with Inntravel, the first being to Alsace.  As always, Inntravel route, lodging, bikes, and meals were first rate. The meandering lanes of Sarlat, delicious meals at Souillac, picnic on the river at the ancient mill, steep bike route to Rocamadour, routes along the plateau, and paddle on the Dordogne were all relaxing and beautiful. The ebikes made the hilly route enjoyable. Beautiful properties, pools, and meals at Hotel Le Troubadour and Relais de Castelnau were highlights. Cave at Gouffre de Padirac was a fascinating and cool break. Villages of Autoire, Carennac, and Martel were favorites, including the market at Martel. We did not want the journey to end, our following days driving in Provence did not compare with the rhythm of this biking adventure. We are already looking forward to our next Inntravel biking holiday. 

This was out third self-guided cycle tour in Europe, but our first with Inntravel, and our best by a long chalk! The accommodation and food were superb, the routes easy to follow, and just challenging enough to justify all the cheese and wine. And we literally ran out of superlatives to describe the beautiful towns, villages and countryside we passed through. We'll be doing another Inntravel cycle tour next year I think!

Had a great time, hotels and food were fantastic and the cycling in the French countryside is a joy

The highlights were the caves at Padirac and the insect museum next door. The mechanical museum (at Souillac) was excellent. The proximity of Brive airport was a plus for us. Hate long transfers.

This was a really enjoyable holiday for us and, apart from the last day, we were very lucky with the weather (late May).The routes enable you to see some wonderful scenery - panoramic vistas and beautiful villages, made all the better by the scents of roses and honeysuckle. We are quite fit 60 somethings and chose the more challenging route options but some of the hills are pretty tough so be prepared. It's worth it though for , for instance, the lovely downhills into Autoire and Rocamadour.The hotels were pretty good and we were able to dry our wet gear on the towel rail at the Vieille Auberge, but we were disappointed with the upgrade hotel at Lacave. The food was excellent but we had to change our room as the bathroom was very overlooked from the terrace next door. The room was also small and needed updating.In contrast, the room at Loubressac was large with wonderful panoramic views.I took a change of clothes in the pannier as someone else had commented that they arrived at the next destination ahead of their luggage, but we had no problems with this.Overall we would recommend this holiday. You need the weather though.

We enjoyed the holiday and the lovely quiet roads through this spectular part of France. My wife rode an e-bike which made the holiday much more enjoyable for her. The accommodation was good to excellent and the service provided by Inntravel was excellent. I would highly recommend this holiday.

It is a wonderful slow travel trip. A great introduction to southern France, its sights, sounds and wonderful foods!

We enjoyed the visit to the Grottes de Lacave with the guide who also spoke in English. The marrionette museum in Souillac was interesting and amusing. The detour to the Table d'Orientation was well worth the effort for the views along the Dordogne river.