 2006
Dordogne Family Adventure
Biking, Walking and Canoeing
for ages 10 and up
June 28 - July 4
July 26 - Aug 1
7 days/6 nights
Price Per Person: $2,500.00 (per
person)
Level: A/B
Book a tour online now
Overview: Southwestern France
has it all! Medieval castles conceal centuries-old mysteries.
Colorful cave paintings remind us of our prehistoric ancestors,
and vast expanses of rolling hills feature countless nooks
and crannies ideal for picnics, dips in the river, and games
galore. Here, in the gorgeous Dordogne Valley, parents and
children can walk along forested trails connecting red-roofed
hamlets, bike peacefully down quiet country lanes where the
occasional farmer offers a friendly and encouraging “bonjour,”
and canoe the sleepy Dordogne River, slipping past cliff-perched
fortresses and gaggles of plucky ducks. Delightfully comfortable
hotels feature a friendly staff, spacious swimming pools and
delicious meals that are sure to please one and all. The pace
is lively yet civilized on this carefully crafted tour that
combines a variety of exciting activities designed to emphasize
fun and allow families an abundance of wholesome, magical
moments together.
• There are 5 full days of
activity
• The tour price is based on double occupancy. If
you prefer a private room there is a single supplement
of $700. There is no extra charge if you are traveling
alone yet willing to share a room.
Inclusions
• Use of a 24-speed hybrid
bicycle equipped with a removable rear trunk, a lock,
and a new water bottle for you to use and keep
• All lodgings, all breakfasts (6) and all dinners
but one (5)
• Entry fees for selected visits
• Full van support (2 vans) and the services of
3 experienced trip leaders
Exclusions
• Beverages at dinner (e.g.
wine, beer, mineral water, soft drinks)
• One dinner
• Lunches |
DAY 1:
Welcome to the Dordogne Valley! Your Europeds
guides will meet you in front of the train station in
the village of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac to escort you across
the street to our lovely home for three nights, Les
Glycines (please contact the Europeds office for specific
rendezvous information). Once we’ve had a chance
to settle into our rooms, we’ll meet next to the
hotel for a bike fitting/safety talk before heading
out on a short warm-up ride into the surrounding countryside.
Tonight’s dinner, our first taste of the region’s
spectacular cuisine, will be in our hotel’s great
restaurant. |
DAY 2: Walking
the Path of Prehistory. After a delicious breakfast
of croissants and chocolat chaud, we’ll head out
on foot as we begin our discovery of the region’s
many wonders. Within minutes of leaving our hotel, we’ll
come across one of the most significant prehistoric
sites in the world, L’Abri de Cro-Magnon. From
here, we’ll head into the lush forest that characterizes
the “Valley of Mankind.” Lost in the woods
(hopefully we’ll have some good navigators in
the crowd!), we’ll eventually find our way to
the tiny village of Tursac, where we’ll have the
opportunity to visit a traditional goose farm and sample
some of the region’s best known delicacy, foie
gras. After that it’s back into the dense woods
once again as we wind our way to the hamlet of Le Moustier.
Here we’ll stop to visit a famous prehistoric
shelter whose discovery led to the naming of an entire
culture in the Middle Paleolithic Age.
Moving along once again, our next stop is the amazing
site of La
Roque St. Christophe, a huge cleft in the limestone
cliff that towers above the tranquil Vézère
River below. This network of roughly one hundred caves,
hollowed out of the cliff, served as a dwelling in prehistoric
time, and more recently was used as a fortress and lookout
point during the Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religion.
Aside from a fascinating tour of the perched shelter,
we’ll have other important matters to attend to
here – namely lunch! We’ll have a fabulous
picnic comprised of lots of fresh local produce and
regional specialties, and there will be plenty of time
and space afterwards for fun and games along the river’s
edge. Once we’ve tired out the adults, we’ll
drive back to Les Eyzies, where we can enjoy a dip in
our hotel’s pool, relax in the gardens, or take
a stroll through town. Dinner will again be in our hotel’s
restaurant. |
DAY 3: Carmensac Loop
Ride. We’re in for a proverbial and literal change
of gears today, as we hop on our bikes after breakfast
for another great day of fun and discovery. We’ll
begin the day with a visit to the remarkable Font de Gaume
cave in Les Eyzies, situated several hundred yards from
our hotel. We’ll walk in the footsteps of our Paleolithic
ancestors here, as we stand in amazement before 14,000-year-old
multicolored paintings of bison, horses, and deer. Once
we reemerge into the sunlight, we’ll take a snack
break to fuel up for the day’s ride. Around the
corner from Font de Gaume, we’ll begin the gradual
climb to the tiny hamlet of Carmensac. Here we will visit
the studio of our friend Mi Desmedt, a Belgian artist
who has lived in the region for years and brilliantly
captures its landscapes in her paintings and engravings.
Kids will be able to try their hand at Mi’s craft,
as they’ll have the opportunity to make their own
“prehistoric” engravings, perfect souvenirs
of this extraordinary place.
Once these masterpieces are complete, we’ll enjoy
a wonderful picnic lunch featuring more of the region’s
incredible produce and culinary specialties (rumor has
it that the French know a thing or two about cookies,
too!) After lunch, kids young and old can join in a round
of frisbee or a makeshift soccer game in the vast green
fields surrounding Mi’s house and studio. Moving
along the day’s program, we’ll pedal down
a beautiful country road to the village of Campagne, taking
time to explore its majestic 15th Century castle. The
afternoon’s ride brings us back into Les Eyzies
along the sleepy Vézère. At this point,
we will have pedaled roughly 20 miles – if anyone
would like to do some more cycling, there is plenty of
great extra mileage in the vicinity. For the rest of us,
a dip in the hotel’s pool or an exploration of Les
Eyzies by foot will round out the afternoon. Dinner tonight
is “on your own” in one of the many restaurants
in Les Eyzies. |
DAY 4: Castles by
Canoe. We’ll get off to an early start today, as
we have another action-packed day in store for us. Any
visit to the Dordogne Valley would be incomplete without
spending some time on one of the beautiful rivers that
meander through the region, so who are we to break from
tradition?! We’ll plan on being packed up, full
from breakfast, and on the road by 9:00 a.m. for a quick
lift to our put-in point in the village of Vitrac. Upon
pushing off from its banks, we’ll immediately realize
just how pleasurable a lazy
ccanoe ride down the Dordogne River can be, with castles
beginning to dot the landscape on both sides of the river.
With the gentle current as our guide, we’ll work
our way downstream at a relaxed pace, stopping for a refreshing
dip or an impromptu splash battle (not that we condone
that type of thing, though!) from time to time. We’ll
pull our canoes over at the village of Castelnaud where
we’ll indulge in another wonderful riverside picnic
before following a hidden footpath up to the imposing
château that overlooks the valley from a perch high
above the village. While this medieval fortress is not
lacking in architectural significance, the highlight of
our visit is sure to be Le Musée de la Guerre au
Moyen Age (The Middle Ages Siege Warfare Museum), housed
in the central part of the castle. While castles and weaponry
may be a hard sell on this tour (OK, maybe not!), this
amazing collection is sure to thrill anyone with even
the slightest interest in swords, spears, armor, cannons,
catapults, and such. From the terrace we’ll have
a great view of the valley, including the formidable Château
de Beynac (Castelnaud’s historical rival), perched
precariously on a cliff across the tranquil Dordogne.
We’ll stay on solid ground upon leaving Castelnaud
as we follow another great forest path to the Château
les Milandes. Built in the 15th Century, this castle eventually
came under the ownership of the late, great entertainer
Josephine Baker. It was here that she endeavored to create
a “world village” by adopting and bringing
together children from a wide variety of races, nationalities,
and backgrounds. Of primary importance to us, however,
will be an awesome display that takes place outside, on
the château’s grounds. The château is
home to a collection of birds of prey, and we’ll
have the opportunity to see a captivating falconry demonstration.
After the show we’ll pile into our trusty van for
a short ride to our next hotel, the beautiful Domaine
de Rochebois outside of Vitrac. Such a full day of activity
is sure to leave us with healthy appetites, and tonight’s
dinner in our hotel’s excellent restaurant is sure
to be a feast. |
DAY 5: Sarlat Loop.
We’re on our bikes once again today, as we’ll
start off on a network of great country roads that will
lead us northward to the magnificent town of Sarlat. One
gets the impression that time has been standing still
in Sarlat, as its narrow alleyways and beautiful medieval
architecture make it seem more like a pre-Revolution market
tow n
than a modern regional center. We’ll have several
hours to spend exploring this medieval gem, and history
buffs and shopaholics alike are sure to discover an abundance
of treasures. The Europeds guides will be happy to lead
a casual walking tour of the historic section of town,
or you may choose to go off on your own. More great backcountry
cycling is the afternoon’s agenda, so we’ll
mount up and move ‘em out after lunch (there are
countless options in Sarlat, from snack stands to sit-down
restaurants). Before long, we’ll come across the
tiny village of Ste. Nathalène, a virtual crossroads
in this network of tiny hamlets and tertiary roads. We’ll
pedal about a mile out of town to the Moulin de la Tour,
a traditional water mill on the Néa River. Walnuts,
hazelnuts and associated products have always accounted
for a significant portion of the region’s economy,
and here we will learn about the various stages in the
production process. After our visit we’ll follow
quiet farm roads back to the Dordogne, at which point
we’ll parallel the river’s course back to
our hotel for a serene finish to another great day. Dinner
will again be in our hotel’s wonderful restaurant.
|
| DAY 6: Malevergne
to Domme Walk. After yet another delicious breakfast at
our hotel, we’ll hop in the van for a short transfer
to the hamlet of Malevergne. From here we’ll set
out on foot along a series of country lanes and footpaths,
weaving our way past one charming village after another
before eventually crossing over the Dordogne and making
a vertical assault on the incredible village of Domme.
This incredible bastide (fortified hill town), founded
in 1283, played a pivotal role in the Hundred Years War
due to its ideal location overlooking the Dordogne and
the surrounding valley floor. Aside from strolling the
fairytale village’s narrow alleyways lined with
quaint houses and tidy gardens, we’ll be sure to
take the time to marvel at one of the best panoramic views
that we have ever encountered. Once we’ve exhausted
our supply of “oohs,” “aahs,”
and film, we’ll enjoy the downhill portion of our
walk from Domme before rejoining the Dordogne for the
short, yet beautiful trek back to our hotel. Tonight’s
dinner, our farewell celebration, will be in our hotel’s
restaurant. |
| DAY 7: Au Revoir!
After breakfast at our hotel, your EUROPEDS guides will
provide a morning transfer to the train station in Souillac
to catch a train bound for Paris via Brive-la-Gaillarde. |
Of Special Note:
Any train times listed in this itinerary are based on
the best information available at the time of publication
and are thus subject to change. Definitive schedules will
become available as the trip’s start date nears.
We suggest that you check with your travel agent approximately
one month prior to your trip’s start date to purchase
your train tickets and make any necessary reservations.
Europeds reserves the right to modify published routes
due to any unforeseen circumstances. In the event that
one or another hotel is unable to accept our reservation
for a given date (rare that this may be), we assure you
that EUROPEDS will endeavor to book another hotel of comparable
class and charm. |
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