Dordogne & West Coast
Tour dates: May 30th - June 7th, 2025
Duration: 9 days, 8 nights
Distance: 367km
Grading: Intermediate (see below)
What’s included:
Fully guided trip with experienced guide
Bike supplied - fitted with rack, panniers and repair kit. Electric Bike also available.
8 night’s accommodation
Breakfast and snacks each day
Local Transfers
Canoe Hire
Detailed information pack with maps
Overview
The Dordogne and West Coast tour comes close to offering everything that travellers head to France for: traditional French cuisine, a spectacular landscape of vineyards, gorgeous Atlantic Coastline, dense forests, beautiful chateaux, winding rivers and picturesque fortified villages such as Beynac and La Roque Gageac. The tour starts in the charming city of Bordeaux and then heads west exploring the Aquitaine region of France taking in the vast beaches of the Atlantic Coast and famous vineyards of this region. Charming towns such as Bergerac, Sarlat and Domme are also a must see and what better way to visit this amazing part of the world than by bike! We'll wind our way through the world renowned and beautiful villages of this region, hugging the banks of the Dordogne river along the journey. You will get the opportunity to spend a leisurely day canoeing down with the tide of this magical river and sampling the finest food and drink of this magnificent hidden gem of France. This is a very diverse and beautiful tour that really allows you to immerse yourself in all the cultural goodies that France has to offer. If you've forgotten what the outside world is like and are itching to get out, then this one's for you!
Day 1 - Bordeaux
You will arrive before the first day of riding on May 30th. You can check in to the hotel from 3pm on the day. We will then all meet later in the afternoon/evening (around 5pm) at the cycle store for your bike fit out. After getting your bike we will later head to a 'Meet and Greet' drinks & dinner in the evening. All the specific details will be provided in your information pack after you book.
Day 2 - Bordeaux to Lacanau Océan
After a night in the picturesque city of Bordeaux, we take a morning train to the town of Biganos. From Biganos we venture north up through the myriad of various trails that crisscross this area thorough a mixture of forest and ocean view trails. We end the day in the lovely oceanside town of Lacanau Océan for a taste of some real local seafood, caught fresh that day, whilst sitting back and watching the sunset!
Day 3 - Lacanau Océan to Soulac-sur-Mer
We start off the day following the stunning Atlantic Coast, taking in the vast and expansive west coast beaches. This is a relatively flat day along the coastline. There are opportunities to take small breaks at various stages throughout the day and we will make the most of the beaches stopping for lunch on the beach where you can take a swim if you wish. When we hit our beautiful destination for the evening there will be a chance to grab a surfboard and give that a go and enjoy the relaxing beach bar before a well earned dinner.
Day 4 - Soulac-sur-Mer to Civrac-en-Médoc
After a few km’s riding north along coast, we then hit the very tip of this peninsula, where the ocean meets with main inlet into Bordeaux. Traversing the inlet south we then venture inland into the heart of the beautiful wine country of this diverse region. This is a real mix of a day experiencing seaside towns and the inland wineries of the region. The day will be topped off by sampling some of the local food and world famous Bordeaux wine with a wine tasting and meal at the tranquil Château Pierre de Montignac!
Day 5 - Bergerac to Limeuil
The day starts by taking the train to Bordeaux and then the direct train to the renaissance town of Bergerac, with it’s charming alleys and half-timbered houses. Here we will stop for lunch and enjoy this town of immense Art and History. After which we take a beautiful greenway, which gives us our first glimpse of the stunning Dordogne River. The journey starts to drift into the very picturesque sections of the river…here you really get to experience some of the beautiful and tranquil riverside villages that make the Dordogne so famous. We wind along the river taking in the sights and sounds and continue along the Vézère Valley known as the “Vallée de l’Homme (Man’s Valley), with its many prehistoric sites listed as UNESECO World Heritage Sites. Eventually settling in the medieval village of Limeuil, listed among the most beautiful villages of France, with its stone houses and brown tile roofs typical of the Périgord Noir. Its a charming and refreshing stop for the night.
Day 6 - Limeuil to Vitrac
Joining the river again on this very scenic day we ride through villages such as La Roque Gageac - arguably one of France's most beautiful and quaint villages. It’s in a stunning position with little to suggest that much has changed there in the last 300 years. La Roque-Gageac is truly the perfect picture postcard village and definite highlight of the day. We visit Chateau des Milandes, a grand century Chateau, and the stunning Marqueyssac gardens.
Day 7 - Canoe + Return ride up to Domme
Today starts off with a relaxing canoe down the Dordogne River and is no doubt one of the highlights of the trip, gaining a different perspective on the water as opposed to from on the banks. In the afternoon following the canoe, we then send off the day atop the magical town of Domme. There are lovely views here as it occupies a splendid position high above the Dordogne river. The village is idyllic and the views are a bonus as is the cave system that sits right underneath the main square. It’s a beautiful place to relax whilst watching the sun set. After which it’s a short decent back to Vitrac for our second night there.
Day 8 - Vitrac to Sarlat-la-Canéda
We follow the beautiful Voie Verte (french for greenway route) today! - this is a lovely, protected route, with the path often cutting through the valley below ground level along a mossy stone walls. For lunch it’s a stop in the lovely little town of Carlux, which also has some old ruins you can wander around. After Carlux it’s off to the quaint and stunning town of Sarlat, labelled as the city of Art and History. This is where we bed down for the night and sample a meal in one of the renowned local restaurants.
Day 9 - Sarlat-la-Canéda to Bordeaux
After breakfast in Sarlat we board the train back to Bordeaux where you can relax and reflect on the 2 and a half hour journey. Once in Bordeaux we will explore the city by bike, riding along the quayside, which is well-known as one of the most magnificent waterfronts in the world. Bordeaux was awarded UNESECO World Heritage status in 2007 for its 18th century facades and buildings. We will peruse the streets for the day and enjoy the scrumptious local treats the city has to offer.
| Day | Route | Distance (Km) |
| Day 1 | Bordeaux | 0 |
| Day 2 | Bordeaux-Lacanau Océan | 61 |
| Day 3 | Lacanau Océan-Soulac-sur-Mer | 67 |
| Day 4 | Soulac-sur-Mer-Civrac-en-Médoc | 60 |
| Day 5 | Bergerac-Limeuil | 50 |
| Day 6 | Limeuil-Vitrac | 51 |
| Day 7 | Vitrac-Domme + Canoe and Relax | 15 |
| Day 8 | Vitrac-Sarlat | 43 |
| Day 9 | Sarlat-Bordeaux | 20 |
| Total | 367 | |
Grading
Moderate Adventure (3/5). Overall the cycling is very manageable with an average of around 50km per day for five of the seven days and only around 20km’s for the other two days. The first two days are flat terrain along the coast. Days 3, 4 and 6 are the most challenging with some undulating terrain and some decent hills thrown in. Days 5 and 7 are short days in term of distance as we are using Vitrac as a base on day 5 - exploring the local sights and we will make sure to challenge those who would like it as there are some hilly terrain that will challenge all. Day 7 is easy riding as we explore the streets of Sarlat and Bordeaux before setting off home either that evening or the following morning, depending on individual travel arrangements. Riders should have a good level of fitness and experience riding a bicycle, as well as be competent with trail and loose gravel riding on both a mountain and hybrid bike.
Logistics
You can check in to the hotel from 3pm the day of May 30th. We will then all meet later in the afternoon/evening at the cycle store for your bike fit out. You will be provided with two panniers (totaling 25litres) to be fitted to your bike to carry all your belongings for all days except day 7. The panniers provide ample space, but please pack light and make sure you bring a soft foldable bag. After getting your bike we will later head to a 'Meet and Greet' drinks & dinner in the evening. The riding commences at a designated hotel in Bordeaux the following morning.
On the morning of day two we will be catching a train to the seaside town of Biganos and then spend three days riding up the coastal and inland areas of the Medoc region west of Bordeaux. On day five we travel 2hrs by train to the renaissance town of Bergerac and commence our ride winding along the Dordogne River into the heart of this region, staying that night in the medieval town of Limeuil. We will use Vitrac as a base for the next two nights to explore the area and it’s surrounds by bike, explore the river by canoe and experience local culture. On the last day we return to Bordeaux from Sarlat and explore the streets of this historic city. You then have two options for going home; fly out late that evening, after a short taxi ride from our accommodation; or, fly out the following day. Participants should be aware that the tour involves multiple train trips to allow for the best experience possible.
What to bring?
Travel as light as possible! Personal luggage will need to be carried for all but 2 of the 9 days in the panniers provided. Weather is usually very good in this region in May-June with an average temperature of 22ºC, so generally pack for good weather. A full list of items to bring will be provided after you book.
What to budget for?
FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED. You will need to arrange a flight to arrive in Bordeaux on the day of May 30th.
Other meals are not included - Budget for around 40 euros per day.
Traveller’s Insurance (compulsory)