Classic Dordogne

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided with each itinerary. This is a temperate climate: fresh in the Spring, warm to hot from May to August, and then crisp Autumn days. There is the possibility of the odd rain storm at any time.

What sort of walking can I expect?

The fitness level of this tour is Grade 2-2+.  The walking is through woods and farmland, across river valleys and over low hills, and along quiet, grassy and tarmacked lanes.

8-day: Walks are offered on 6 days (or 7 with the optional extension). 5-day: Walks are offered on 3 days. The walk lengths vary from 3.5 hours to a maximum of 9 hours walking, with most days averaging 4-5 hours of walking.

Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing or rests.

What if I don't want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

How do I get to the start of the route?

Travel to France

The recommended destination airports for this route are Bergerac, Brive-la-Vallée and Bordeaux.

With the Channel Tunnel and high-speed trains, it is now also possible to travel from London St Pancras to Sarlat in 9.5 hours.  You will need to pre-book this journey.

Travel to the First Hotel by Public Transport

Public transport options off the main lines are infrequent, therefore we recommend taking a taxi from the airport or main line station.

From Bergerac airport: Take a taxi from the airport to the train station – we recommend you book this via ATG in advance. From the train station there are 5 trains daily to Sarlat (3 on Sundays), duration 1 hour, cost around €14.50. See www.thetrainline.com for timetable. 

Alternatively, a taxi to Sarlat from Bergerac airport will cost from €140(more on Sundays or after 7pm/pre 7am).

From Bordeaux airport: From, outside terminal B, there is a shuttle bus to the train station (every 45 minutes, duration 30-45 minutes, €8). From Bordeaux-St-Jean station there are 3 daily trains to Sarlat (2 hours 20 minutes, cost around €32). See www.thetrainline.com for timetables. Alternatively, a taxi to Sarlat from Bordeaux airport will cost approx €355.

From Brive airport: We recommend taking a taxi from the airport, which has no public transport links, direct to Sarlat (40 km; approximate cost €125).

From London/Paris by train: There are several daily trains from London St. Pancras to Sarlat, via Paris Montparnasse; then onward via Bordeaux or Libourne. From London the shortest journey, leaving in the morning is 9.5 hrs: from Paris 5-7 hours. Alternatively, there are TGV trains from Paris Austerlitz to Souillac (6 per day, journey time 4.5 hours), from where you can catch a SNCF bus to Sarlat (2-3 per day, journey time 40 minutes). 

A taxi from Souillac to Sarlat costs €60.

For information on train timetables see  www.bahn.com/en ; www.en.oui.sncf/en  or www.raileurope.co.uk; bus timetables see  www.ter-sncf.com 

5-day route: An onward taxi from Sarlat to Domme takes 20 minutes, €30.

FIRST HOTEL

8-day route: From the train station in Sarlat it is a 15-minute walk to the town centre and the Hotel Le Renoir (1.1km). For the Plaza Madeleine you continue through the town for a further 10 minutes (total 1.8 km). It is a pleasant, level walk to both hotels, however if you have heavy bags you may prefer to take a taxi. Walking instructions can be found in the route book under ‘Hotels’.

5-day route: Unless driving to the route, your journey will involve a taxi for at least the last part. 

Taxi bookings

Please place your booking with the ATG office at least two weeks before departure. The cost of the taxi will be confirmed to you once the booking is secured. Payment of the taxi fare should be made locally, not to ATG. The driver will have your flight details and will be waiting in Arrivals with a sign showing your name or ATG.

• If you change your flight please notify us  so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule the taxi for you.

• If, on the day of departure, your flight is cancelled or you miss or change it, please immediately contact the ATG emergency number (number is provided in trip documentation) so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule or cancel the taxi for you.

• If your flight is delayed and you have arranged for the taxi to meet you at the destination airport, your taxi driver will wait for you.

• If you are delayed and you have arranged for a taxi to meet you at a non airport location (e.g. train station) it is essential that you contact your Route Manager or call the ATG emergency
line to notify us at the earliest possible moment, so we can contact the taxi company to re-schedule or cancel the taxi for you.

• Please note that failure to advise ATG that you cannot meet the taxi booked for you, may result in the taxi costs being passed back to you.

Important: Taxi prices quoted apply to the local firm used regularly by ATG – and are guaranteed only if you book through the office in advance. If you get a taxi off a taxi rank please ask the driver to confirm the price for the journey before departing.

Where can I leave my car if I drive to the route?

In Sarlat there is no parking available at the Le Renoir hotel but there is a public parking lot opposite the Hotel St. Albert (€8 per day), or a free parking lot approximately 200 metres from the hotel. In Les Eyzies there is free parking at or near both hotels. The Plaza Madeleine offers a private locked garage which costs €15 per day.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Some trips include quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’ in the evening, however on Independent trips you have more flexibility in determining how casual you wish to be. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here: what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

The region has a reputation for extremely fine food and produces some gastronomic specialities, which rank high on the list of France’s culinary accolades. It has a strong association with confits (poultry preserved in fat) which are the traditional bases of Dordogne cooking and every kind of stuffed poultry – stuffings garnished with succulent livers, chestnuts and truffles.  Since the 15th century, Dordogne  restaurateurs and their pâtés have been renowned – their most famous dish is of course the delicious (but controversial) goose liver - foie gras. Dishes tend  to be rich, using mainly local products. Delicious sauces are made with truffles (Périgueux sauce), cêpes (wild mushroom: Boletus edulis, or the Italian porcino) and walnuts. 

Wine

You can try a selection of the local wines, notably the red and white wines of the Bergerac vineyards, famous in Gallo-Roman times, particularly the fragrant white wine, Montbazillac. You can
also try a selection of the Bordeaux wines and some full-bodied reds from the Cahors region.

Several of our independent routes pass through well-known wine producing regions, with opportunities for wine tasting along the route. If you are particularly interested in wine you may like to consider...

• Classic Alsace

• Provence: Vaucluse & the Lubéron

• Siena to Florence

• Southern Tuscany

• Barolo & the Langhe Hills 

• Ancient Volcanic Landscapes

• Tuscany & Siena

• Tuscan Hills

• Roman Roads to Orvieto

• Etruscan Lanes to Orvieto

• Umbria & Assisi

• Sintra & the Portuguese Coast

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘contenental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry
in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other
restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is
included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are...

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

...and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

There is no need to dress up for most restaurants, but if you decide to treat yourself to a smart, expensive one (plenty on this route) , men may want to wear a jacket and  ladies, a skirt, dress or smart trousers.

Do the hotels have WIFI, hairdryers, laundry service?

All have hairdryers; all have WIFI however two hotels on the standard route have it only in Reception and public areas. Some offer laundry service.

How much should I budget for items not included?

You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of
the trip page. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included (see ‘what’s included’). For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here