Cycling on the banks of the Dordogne River with the Beynac castle in the background
This is a 10-day circular cycling route for intermediate cyclists, ideal for getting to know the Dordogne in depth.
We cycle through its vast river valleys, spectacular rock formations, mysterious stalactite caves, thousands of castles and some of the "most beautiful villages in France". The highlight is a visit to Montignac de Lascaux and its International Centre for Cave Art.
Since 1979, the Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley are World Heritage Sites.
Saint-Jean-de-Côle, Monpazier, Belvès, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, La Roque-Gageac, Domme, y Saint-Léon-sur Vézère are part of the network of the most beautiful villages in France.
Since 2023, the Vézère Valley is part of the Network of Major Sites of France.
Since 2012, the Dordogne River Basin is a Biosphere Reserve.
This route runs through the Upper Dronne Hydrographic Network, the Dronne Valley from Brantôme to its confluence with the Isle, the Double Valleys, the Isle valley of Périgueux to its confluence with the Dordogne, La Dordogne, the limestone slopes of the Dordogne valley, and La Vézère, all areas listed as SCI (Site of Community Importance) within the Natura 2000 network.
Day 1.- Transportation to Périgueux. Lodging.
Day 2.- Ride from Périgueux to Hautefort (51 km), along the greenway of the Vallée de l’Isle. Visits to the Tourtoirac grotto, the castle or the Museum of the History of Medicine of Hautefort. Lodging.
Day 3.- Ride from Hautefort to Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière (59 km), along the greenway from Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière to Thiviers. Visit to Saint-Jean-de-Côle. Lodging.
Day 4.- Ride from Saint-Pardoux to Ribérac (65 km), through the Dronne valley from Brantôme to its confluence with the Isle. Visits to the abbey, Le Bimbillou Parc, or Les Jardins Tranquilles of Brantôme, or the castle of Bourdeilles. Lodging.
Day 5.- Ride from Ribérac to Mussidan (41 km), through the Double valleys. Visit to Le Grand Etang de La Jemaye. Lodging.
Day 6.- Ride from Mussidan to Bergerac (43 km), through La Dordogne and its V91 greenway. Visit to the Dordonha museum in Bergerac. Lodging.
Day 7.- Rest day in Bergerac. Lodging.
Day 8.- Ride from Bergerac to Belvès (68 km). Visits to the castle and the Wine House of Monbazillac, the Bastideum of Monpazier, or the Belvès wool factory. Lodging.
Day 9.- Ride from Belvès to Sarlat (49 km), along the limestone slopes of the Dordogne valley and its Sarlat-Cazoules greenway. Visits to the Josephine Baker Park of Les Milandes, the castle of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, the fort of La Roque-Gageac, the fortress, the grotto or the mysterious graffiti of Domme, and the medieval city, or the manor of Gisson of Sarlat. Lodging.
Day 10.- Ride from Sarlat to Montignac (33 km). Visit to the Lascaux cave in Montignac. Lodging.
Day 11.- Ride from Montignac to Rouffignac (42 km), through La Vézère. Visits to Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, the troglodyte city La Roque Saint-Cristophe, the strong house of Reignac, the National Museum of Prehistory, or the Cro-Magnon shelter in Les Eyzies. Lodging.
Day 12.- Ride from Rouffignac to Périgueux (38 km). Lodging.
Day 13.- Transportation back home.
The famous vineyards of the Château de Monbazillac 
Greenway along the Isle River 
The fortress of Monpazier 
Guided tours
Self-guided tours
Customized routesA fantastic comic: Les Fables de L’Humpur, adapted from the novel by Pierre Bordage, is partly inspired by this region.
For reservation you should either call previously by phone to Josetxu (+34 644299532) or send us an email to info@bicicletos.org, to verify that there are still free places. We will send you a booking form and instructions for payment at that time.
Prices
(Final price may vary depending on the availability of accommodation and the update of rates of the different providers.)
Different route types are explained in General conditions.