Five nights from £649 per person
Selected departures from May to October 2012
You'll love this tour if you like:
- Gorgeous river scenery
- Medieval villages that cling to the cliffsides
- Free time for personal culinary exploration
- Spectacular monasteries - Rocamadour is awe-inspiring
- Prehistory - cave paintings and dwellings
Probably the most beautiful river in France, the Dordogne winds majestically through a magnificent tableau of medieval hill villages, craggy hillsides, vineyards and towns full of character. Part of our extensive Europe by train portfolio of holidays, this tour has been revamped for 2012 with a lovely new hotel and a slightly revised itinerary.
On this wonderful tour you will visit some of the highlights of this delightful region including Sarlat, Domme, Beynac, the replica Lascaux II prehistoric caves, and the spectacular Rocamadour.
New for 2012 - in response to feedback from many customers - we have now added an option for a 6 night/7day option on selected dates, which provides a free day in the middle of the itinerary to explore the local area at your own leisure.
Also new for 2012 is the Les Roches Hotel based in Les Eyzies located in the heart of the Perigord Noir. This hotel provides an excellent base to explore the Dordogne and cuts down significantly (from previous years) on transfer times between sights visited.
5-night itinerary
Day 1: Travel by Eurostar from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Paris and onwards to Souillac by SNCF. On arrival transfer by coach under tour manager's direction to hotel for check in for 5-night stay. Welcome dinner.
Day 2: Full day tour to Beynac, La Roque-Gageac and Domme
Day 3: Our theme today is prehistoric man, we visit Les Eyzies, Lascaux II and Rouffignac
Day 4: Full day to Perigueux, Bergerac and Monbazillac
Day 5: Full day tour Sarlat and Rocamadour. Farewell dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Brive station for return SNCF fast train to Paris and onwards to St Pancras or Ebbsfleet.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.
6-night itinerary
Day 1: Travel by Eurostar from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Paris and onwards to Souillac by SNCF fast train. On arrival transfer by coach under tour manager's direction to hotel for check in for 6-night stay. Welcome dinner.
Day 2: Full day tour to Beynac La Roque-Gageac and Domme
Day 3: Our theme today is prehistoric man we visit Les Eyzies, Lascaux II and Rouffignac
Day 4: Free day in Les Eyzies to explore at your own leisure
Day 5: Full day tour to Perigueux, Bergerac and Monbazillac
Day 6: Full day tour to Sarlat and Rocamadour. Farewell dinner.
Day 7: Transfer to Brive station for return SNCF fast train to Paris and onwards to St Pancras or Ebbsfleet.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
INCLUDED
- Return Eurostar and SNCF fast train from St Pancras/Ebbsfleet to Souillac/Brive via Paris including transfer in Paris
- 5 or 6 nights' accommodation on bed and breakfast basis at 3-star Les Roches Hotel, Les Eyzies, based on shared occupancy of a twin room
- Dinner (set menu) at local restaurant on first and last night
- Transfers and full coach touring itinerary including entrance fees as detailed above conducted by tour manager
- Tour manager throughout
NOT INCLUDED
- Single room supplement
- Holiday insurance
- Standard Premier/1st Class upgrade on Eurostar/TGV. On the Eurostar this constitutes upgraded seating and light meal with complimentary drink with upgraded seating only on the French railway leg
- Meals other than those stated
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls.
- Porterage and gratuities.
PLEASE NOTE: As with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages.Trollies are available at St Pancras and Paris, but bags do need to be carried on to the platform.
Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery service called Carry My Luggage, where your suitcase can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore removing the worry about carrying your cases onto and off the trains. Please click here for more information and a 20% discount exclusive to Travel Editions clients off the Carry My Luggage service.
PLEASE NOTE 2: Eurostar have changed their upgraded service from September 2010 from "Leisure Select" to a new service that they are branding as "Standard Premier." This service includes the upgraded seating on the train but now includes only a cold, light meal and a drink.
PLACES OF INTEREST VISITED ON THE TOUR
Beynac, La Roque-Gageac & Domme
Probably the most spectacular and memorable of the fortresses along the Dordogne, Beynac’s 14th Century fortress towers above a village that clings to a sheer cliff overlooking a beautiful stretch of the Dordogne. This lovely day exploring the Dordogne also takes us to the gorgeous riverside village of La Roque-Gageac and the beautiful medieval fortified town of Domme that offers a wonderful panorama of the Dordogne river.
Prehistoric Man - Les Eyzies, Lascaux II & Rouffignac
The Dordogne area boasts a wealth of sites occupied thousands of years ago by our distant ancestors. The most famous site of all are the paintings at Lascaux (now closed), which are now beautifully replicated at Lascaux II. Other highlights include the cave system at Rouffignac and our base, the town of Les Eyzies, which has a fascinating museum devoted to the subject.
Sarlat and Rocamadour
The beautiful town of Sarlat-la-Caneda boasts a wealth of medieval, Renaissance and 17th Century buildings almost without equal in the whole of France and has been protected by law since 1962. Highlights include the Cathedral St. Sacerdos, Chapelle des Penitents Bleus, and Bishop’s Palace, but the real attraction here is to wander the immaculate streets at leisure. One of the most important centres of pilgrimage after the discovery in 1166 of an ancient cave containing the undecayed body of St Amadour, the spectacular situation of Rocamadour on a rock above the Alzou Valley commanding wonderful views has ensured its continued popularity with tourists. Highlights of this iconic and impressive site include the picturesque pedestrianised town leading up to the compex of religious buildings including the Basilica of St-Sauveur, the Stations of the Cross, the Chapel of Notre-Dame (Miracles) and the tomb of St Amadour.
Bergerac, Monbazillac & Périgueux
The lively and attractive market town of Bergerac is a delightful place to explore with excellent shops, restaurants, and fascinating tobacco museum. Nearby is Chateau Monbazillac that produces some of the area’s best wine, including a famous dessert wine of the same name. The ancient and gastronomic city of Périgueux is well worth exploring, particularly on market day when the stalls in the lively medieval core offer regional specialities such as truffles, charcutierie and succulent pies called “patés de Périgord.” There is lots to see, too, including the Cathedral St Front, the cathedral quarter of medieval streets and the Musée de Périgord that houses a comprehensive collection of prehistoric artefacts.
PRICES & AVAILABILITY
|
Departure Date |
Duration |
Status |
Per Person |
Single Supplement |
Board Basis |
| 02-May-2012 | 5 | Available | £699 | £145 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 09-May-2012 | 6 | Available | £749 | £174 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 06-Jun-2012 | 5 | Available | £699 | £145 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 24-Jun-2012 | 6 | Available | £749 | £174 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 04-Jul-2012 | 5 | Available | £699 | £145 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 26-Aug-2012 | 6 | Available | £749 | £174 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 05-Sep-2012 | 6 | Available | £749 | £174 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 18-Sep-2012 | 6 | Available | £749 | £174 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 26-Sep-2012 | 5 | Available | £699 | £145 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 03-Oct-2012 | 5 | Available | £649 | £145 | Bed and Breakfast |
