Country Walks, Prehistoric Caves, and Magnificent Chateaux
Medieval France: The Lot Valley
Overview
There's a little gem tucked away in a tiny corner of southwest France—the Lot Valley, a secluded world of medieval cliff-top hamlets, Romanesque abbeys, open-air markets, ancient chateaux, and a savory cuisine flavored with truffles and wild mushrooms. In this deeply French realm, we hike along the tranquil Lot River and across pilgrim paths between spectacular hilltop villages. We also explore the prehistoric Pech Merle cave, filled with extraordinary rock paintings, and sample the delicious wares of local wineries and small farms. Overnights are in hand-selected historic hotels, including the majestic 13th century Château de Mercuès overlooking the Lot River.
Arrive: Rodez, France
Depart: Toulouse, France
Highlights
- Hike on pilgrim trails and secret paths between villages perched on cliffs above the Lot River
- Discover the remarkable prehistoric cave paintings of Pech Merle
- Hotels of character, from a restored mill to a 13th century château
- Delicious regional cuisine, from chestnuts to foie gras, tasty Cahors wines
Itinerary
Our trails lead through picturesque stone-built hamlets north of Rodez, to the hilltop village of Conques, whose 9th century abbey is a spectacular example of Romanesque architecture, and along a pilgrim path to medieval Estaing, officially listed as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
After exploring Figeac, a charming 15th century town with a perfectly preserved medieval center, we hike on an ancient path along the Célé River, then across the dramatic gorge of the Alzou River for spectacular views of cliff-perched Rocamadour, a pilgrim destination since 1166.
At Pech Merle, one of the few prehistoric caves where the original 25,000-year-old paintings are on view, we take in a treasury of vivid rock art as mammoths, bison, and dappled horses gallop across the cave walls. Later, we'll hike a riverside trail to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, with its steep, cobbled streets and terraced gardens. Our hotel for the next three nights is the majestic 13th century Château de Mercuès near Cahors.
From the rock-perched village of Calvignac, we hike a forested path to the 13th century Château de Cénevières, where the lord of the château welcomes us for a visit. In sunny Cahors, we explore the lively open-air market and enjoy scenes of French country life. A sumptuous wine tasting in our hotel's vaulted cellar is followed by our Farewell Dinner in its Michelin-starred restaurant. Depart on Day 9 via Toulouse.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 5 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 5 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 4 miles
- 3 hours
- 400 feet gain/loss
- Day 5: 5 miles, 4 hours, 650 feet gain, and 250 feet loss
We enjoy day walks and hikes over variable terrains, including rolling countryside walks, riverside trails, clifftop paths, and country roads. The trails are generally shaded by trees, and there are some stony sections, but most are well-maintained and easy to navigate.
Temperatures are mild, typically reaching the high 60s°F to the low 70s°F during the day and cooling to the 40s°F or 50s°F at night. While weather conditions are usually stable, it is necessary to be prepared for a variety of conditions, as it can unexpectedly shift from warm and pleasant to damp and chilly with rainy conditions. Raingear and warm layers are necessary to bring on every hike.
In an effort to capture the spirit of old Europe, the hotels that we use are often family-run converted chateaux or inns, full of ambiance and colorful local history. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
We will have a variety of delicious regional cuisine including many of the local products that the region is known for. Lunches are either picnic-style during our hikes or taken at a restaurant in town. Dinners will be at our hotel or at a local restaurant, and all menus are preset. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"This is a trip we will long remember. It immersed us in the atmosphere of old France, from quaint medieval hilltop villages to prehistoric caves to nights in a romantic chateau. And we spent days hiking through the stunning landscape surrounding the Lot River."
Bruce B.
Ventura, CA
"I would highly recommend this trip and your company to others. Everything was highly professional and FUN."
Carol C.
Paradise Valley, AZ
"This is a great trip to see rural France, to taste local wines and eat wonderful meals, while hiking through beautiful countryside."
Charles S.
Larkspur, CA
"This trip was incredible. I felt like I had never seen the ‘real’ France until this trip. The itinerary was perfect and I felt like we were transported into a different time. It was amazing!"
Chereen L.
Steamboat Springs, CO
"This was our 4th WT trip, and we will continue to look to WT for travel."
Cynthia S.
San Diego, CA
"This trip had everything: fantastic food, wonderful accommodations, a great attention to history woven into our daily hikes, and a lot of behind-the-scene touches I really appreciated: the lively meeting with Jean Luc Matha, a master winemaker, where we tasted several of his excellent wines; lunch at the home of a sheep farmer (leg of lamb, of course); sampled goat cheeses at a local farm; heard a rousing organ recital in a 12th century cathedral; met with the lord of a chateau and had a delightful “picnic” in one of the castle's cozy rooms with a roaring fire; attended the bustling Saturday market in Conques; and, above all, the absolutely best Trip Leaders."
Dena B.
Albany, CA
"The tour provided a nice mix of varied hiking trails, cultural outings, picturesque villages, good food and wine, and even some special events like the procession in Conques."
Dorothy D.
Denver, CO
"A big plus for this trip was being in an area not ‘discovered’ by tourists."
Edmond D.
Claymont, DE
"A great trip at a perfect time of year. The hotels were excellent, in keeping with the theme of old France. The meals were a delight, and the hikes took us through beautiful riverine landscapes and quaint medieval villages. This is the ultimate trip to France."
Elizabeth B.
Ventura, CA
"Annie's 'eating, drinking and exploring old France' trip was just as wonderful as we expected!"
Jack H.
Cockeysville, MD
"This was a wonderful trip. It flowed seamlessly and gave us an opportunity to visit a truly magical area of France."
Janet A.
Bethesda, MD
"This was one of the best walks/trips in my life. The pace was great, with time for sightseeing, and the best places to eat and stay."
Jude R.
Salt Lake City, UT
"This trip was perfect: exquisite itinerary, stunning scenery, charming hotels, incredible food, and outstanding trip leaders. I didn't want it to end!"
Judith K.
South Portland, ME
"We expected this would be a great trip and we were not disappointed. We saw beautiful villages, lovely valleys, stayed at great hotels, had interesting tours, picturesque hikes, and interesting excursions. It was a section of France we would never have explored on our own."
Marie Jose D.
Lovingston, VA
"The trip was a fascinating journey through the long history of this region, from the cave at Peche Merle to the modern stained glass windows at Conques by Pierre Soulage."
Martha F.
Denver, CO
"An exceptional overview of the unspoiled Lot Valley!"
Robert H.
Houston, TX
"We were hoping to experience the relaxed pace of village France and were not disappointed. Everything was perfect—the towns, the food, the walks, the wine, and all the ‘extra’ experiences."
Suzanne & Brady M.
Friendswood, TX
"It was an exceptional trip. A wonderful itinerary, with beautiful areas for hiking as well as sightseeing."
Suzanne T.
Santa Rosa, CA
"A glory of a trip with glorious guides, Romanesque buildings, chapels and abbeys and churches with carvings so fresh and humorous you feel as if you were walking through mid-12th century villages and secret paths. Great people, gutsy reds, endless confit du canard, superb cheeses, and gentle walks in endless beauty."
Suzy M.
Pittsburgh, PA
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Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.