Dordogne Uncovered - 10 Days
The Dordogne region is renowned for its cobbled streets, handsome squares, architectural treasures and magnificent castles, including Chateaux de Commarque, Beynac and Milandes, which straddle the banks of the Dordogne River. The route passes through the iconic villages of Beynac, La Roque Gageac and the magnificent bastide village of Domme.
This walk continues into the Vézère valley, where the chateaux give way to prehistoric caves and UNESCO-listed sites, including the Lascaux IV caves, home to some of the oldest paintings in human history.
Highlights
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Guest House (7 nights), 3-star Hotel (2 nights)
9 breakfasts
Auswalk Walking Grade
Moderate
Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.
Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.
View Fitness Guide8
Days on the trail
7-24 km
Daily distance range
147-622 m
Daily ascent range
2/10
Trail difficulty
This tour puts you in three-star properties that range from elegant guesthouses and charming hotels to 19th century family homes, each one telling you something about the region you are walking through. All are well equipped to make your stay comfortable at the end of a day on the trail.
If you would prefer a four-star experience, an upgrade is available on request.Where any property cannot be secured, an alternative of equivalent quality will always be arranged in place of those pictured.
Nine breakfasts are included throughout the trip, one each morning before the day's walking begins. Lunch and dinner are yours to explore, and the Dordogne is one of France's finest food regions in which to do so. Foie gras, black truffles, duck confit and Périgord walnuts feature heavily on local menus, and good local wine is never hard to find alongside them. Your walk notes will include insider tips on where to find the freshest baguettes, where to taste local oil and wine, and recommendations for restaurants worth seeking out.
Note: Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source along the way.
The walk both starts and finishes in Sarlat, in the Dordogne region of southwest France. The most convenient airport is Bordeaux (BOD), with good international connections, from where trains reach Sarlat in around 2 hours. Paris is also a practical entry point, with high-speed TGV services connecting to Sarlat either directly or via Bordeaux. Book French rail tickets in advance through SNCF.
As the walk returns to Sarlat, the same rail connections apply for departure. Trains to Bordeaux run regularly, with onward flights and rail connections available from there.
This walk is available from 20 March to 5 November, with no fixed start days. Spring and autumn are the finest seasons. Spring brings mild temperatures, crisp blue skies and the countryside coming back into leaf, with the odd showery day. Conditions improve steadily through April and May. Summer is warm and sunny, though temperatures can climb above 30°C and early starts are advisable. Autumn is long and generous here, with warm days drifting through September and into October, the walnut harvest under way and the countryside turning gold. Pack a waterproof in spring and sun protection for the summer stages.
The terrain is hilly rather than mountainous, with well-maintained paths through chestnut and oak forests and open farmland. Walking days run to around five to six hours. On longer days, shorter options are available for those who prefer a less demanding alternative.
A regular training routine of three to four times per week, with some longer walks incorporated as departure approaches, is recommended in preparation. Daily walk notes, maps, and GPX tracks are provided.
You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.
A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.
Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.
A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.
Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule
Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.
The departure point process was super easy. We had all the contact numbers in the kit provided. We absolutely loved our walk. Every day was a little different from the other and the scenery during the spring season was beautiful. We loved that we could choose shorter or longer walks each day depending on how we were feeling. We will definitely reach out Auswalk for our next walking adventure.
Scenic walk varying each day from farmland to Chateaus and villages in the beautiful Dordogne Valley
The walking choices were great - lots of variety, taking us through different landscapes and areas of historical interest. The accommodation was also great, really lovely choices. Friendly and welcoming hosts.
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