Exploring the South of France from Bordeaux to Provence
Prehistoric Caves & Great Cuisine of France
Overview
Trace an arc across rural southern France from the green Dordogne Valley to the wild uplands of the Massif Central, known as La France Profonde (“deep France”), a world of small villages, family farms, river gorges, and local cuisine. In the Dordogne, we’ll be joined by an expert in Paleolithic art as we view cathedral-like galleries of mystical paintings (and see some special caves few travelers discover). We’ll enjoy some of the world’s most revered cuisine, take great walks that bring us to hilltop villages, and spend a market day in medieval Sarlat. One overnight in the Massif Central will be at the inn of Michel Bras, one of France’s most famous chefs.
Arrive: Bordeaux, France
Depart: Avignon, France
Highlights
- Explore southern France’s lush and historic landscape
- Visit fantastic galleries of Paleolithic cave art, both famous and little known, with expert local guides
- Enjoy lovely walks between villages and dinners at two Michelin-starred restaurants
- Experience market day in medieval Sarlat, with its Old Town of honey-colored 16th century buildings
Itinerary
Meeting in Bordeaux, we hike through vineyards to the ancient wine town of Saint-Émilion. In Les Eyzies, a world capital of prehistory, we’ll be joined by a gifted expert to explore the twists and turns of magnificent galleries of Paleolithic art at Lascaux II.
We explore the bustling central market in Sarlat, hike along the Dordogne River, visit the clifftop castle of Château de Beynac, and discover Grottes de Cougnac, with its stalactites and 25,000-year-old frieze. We’ll also hike the pilgrim trail to the dramatic “perched” village of Rocamadour.
After a visit to Laguiole, where renowned knives are made, we walk the Chemin de St. Jacques, a stretch of the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail, then dine at Le Suquet, a temple of French cuisine created by Michel and Sebastien Bras.
In the bucolic Massif Central, we walk along the Lot River to picturesque Saint-Julien-de-Tournel, explore the dramatic Ardèche Gorge, see the Paleolithic paintings at Caverne du Pont-d’Arc, and savor our hotel’s setting among lavender fields. Depart on Day 12 via Avignon.
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. While there are a few short hikes, this trip is more focused on cultural exploration. You will need to be comfortable being on your feet for up to 3 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
- 2 miles
- 2-3 hours
- 150 feet gain/loss
Challenge Day
- Day 9: 4.5 miles, 2 hours, 250 feet gain/loss
We enjoy day walks over variable terrain, including country roads, riverside trails, and clifftop paths. The trails are generally shaded, and there are some stony sections with uneven surfaces, including a few with loose scree. The chateaus have narrow and steep staircases, and some of the cave walks include uneven surfaces and dark spaces.
Temperatures are mild, reaching the high 70s°F or low 80s°F during the day. You can expect cooler weather in the massif central, so be sure to be prepared for cooler conditions. The weather can be variable, so bring warm layers and rain gear.
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 enjoy a number of exquisite meals on this trip, including a few at Michelin-starred restaurants. Most lunches will be at local restaurants and dinners will be at our hotel. For our finer dining at the Michelin-starred restaurants, suits and dresses are not necessary, but we recommend bringing casual-smart dinner attire. 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 van will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need during the day (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 trip was beautifully designed and provided us with the very best of everything—food, accommodations, and the ability to see the most amazing places."
Amy J.
New York, CA
"This was a great trip. The opportunity to see the caves with the advantage of great guides was invaluable. The countryside was lovely and the food and wine exceptional."
Beth W.
San Francisco, CA
"Of the 38 trips we've taken this one is near or at the top. The itinerary, accommodations, and cuisine was way beyond excellent--superb!"
Bill B.
Washougal, WA
"This was a wonderfully and thoughtfully organized itinerary. Attention to every detail from the high quality of the hotels and restaurants, transportation, beautiful walks and, of course, the amazing caves we were privileged to visit, was excellent. Every day was carefully arranged and carried out. "
Jann V.
San Francisco, CA
"The quality of the itinerary, food, and lodging all far exceeded our expectations. We loved all our experiences and recognized a lot of thought went into putting together a world class experience."
Melinda (Mindy) H.
Granada Hills, CA
"From departure to farewell, an extraordinary trip — hiking paths lined with wild orchids and other wildflowers to see prehistoric cave art (at multiple locations) dating back 17,000-31,000 years; nights in centuries-old chateaux; Michelin-starred meals. This trip was brilliantly designed and executed to enrich every sense!"
Niles B.
Madison,WI
"This trip far exceeded my expectations! Just superb. The selection of activities—caves, walks, wine tasting, old medieval towns and castles, and the archaeology guides—were great."
Teri H.
Montrose, CO
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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.