Discover the Dordogne E-Bike tour
France Bike Tours
Bike through history by day & enjoy the cuisine by night in the Dordogne region of France
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length7 days
- Prices from€1459 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Dordogne, even the name is intriguing, and is also sometimes known as Périgord. This electric bike tour showcases this region in southwest France. Its history is fascinating and multi-layered, the remnants of which you will find in the numerous castles, fortresses, villages, and caves.
This is a tour to simply enjoy, to linger a bit, and soak in the unsurpassed natural beauty, infused with the richness of cuisine, culture, and heritage. The region is divided into four color-coded areas and your tour will feature Périgord Noir (black), aptly named for the dark oak forests around the Vézère Valley and Sarlat-la-Canéda. Featured are several of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful villages of France).
In Sarlat, you even have the opportunity to rent a canoe to drift a bit on the Dordogne River, providing a stunning and unique viewpoint of sheer cliffs, rugged outcroppings, perched chateaux, and lush valleys.
Highlights
- Culinary delights
- Route des Bastides
- Fortified towns, castles, and charming villages
- Visiting towns with Most Beautiful Villages in France classification
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Agen
Day 2: Agen - Villeneuve sur Lot, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Villeneuve - Monpazier, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Montpazier - Siorac ou Lecoux (bastides of Périgord), 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Siorac ou Lecoux - Sarlat, châteaux and the most beautiful villages of France, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Loop in the heart of prehistory, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: DepartureAll distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, therefore the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork, In this case, please follow the directions posted on site.
Day 1: Arrival in Agen
Arrival in Agen and check-in to your 3* hotel. Agen is located halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse in southwest France and is probably best known for its prunes, dried from local plums and steeped in brandy. You will receive the tour package with instructions and the essentials to have a successful tour such as a road boak with route descriptions, maps, and helpful tourist information.Preferred hotel: Hotel Les Jacobins, 3 star
Day 2: Agen - Penne d'Agenais - Villeneuve sur Lot, 28 mi. (45 km)
Leaving Agen, you will cycle on beautiful country roads to the medieval bastide, or fortified town, of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. En route, take the time to visit the Foie Gras museum, if you are into that, if not, be sure, though to be open to the incredible gastronomic experience that is possible in this region featuring robust red wines and a savory cuisine flavored with truffles and wild mushrooms! You pass through Penne d' Agenais, one of the most beautiful villages of France.
Difference in elevation: + 670 m / - 670 mPreferred hotel: Hôtel Moulin de Madame, 4 star
Dinner includedDay 3: Penne d'Agenais - Monpazier, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today, the itinerary will take you to the bastide of Monflaniquin, another classified "most beautiful village of France" destination. You will then cycle through the woods and forest to reach the fortress of Gavaudun, the borderline between the Perigord and the Lot Valley area, after which, you then pedal to Biron, and its fortified castle. As you finish your cycling today, you will pedal through a typical Perigord landscape, through forests of chestnut and oak, bordered by stone walls, to reach the beautiful medieval bastide of Monpazier.
Difference in elevation: + 830 m / - 700 mPreferred hotel: Hôtel Edward 1er, 3 star
Dinner includedDay 4: Montpazier – Siorac ou Lecoux (bastides towns of Périgord), 28 mi. (45 km)
Today's itinerary is the Route des Bastides, featuring these 13th century English fortifications and remarkable religious monuments. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the Cloister of Cadouin, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The day ends in the Black Périgord, or Périgord Noir. The name originates from the black soil, truffles and dark oak forests that once covered this cliff pocked land. Even the name is mystical.
Difference in elevation: + 570 m / - 700 m
Preferred hotel: Hôtel Relais Perigord Noir, 3 star
Dinner included
Day 5: Siorac ou Lecoux - Sarlat, châteaux and the most beautiful villages of France, 31 mi. (50 km)
Immerse yourself in the heart of black Périgord and discover the most beautiful castles of the valley. Les Milandes, Castelnaud, or Beynac await. You will cycle along the Dordogne through some beautiful medieval villages of France. Roque Gageac will enchant you. Located on the north bank of the river, it is backed by a steep hill of cliffs. You overnight in the gastronomic capital of the Black Perigord, Sarlat, where you can enjoy the regional cuisine!
Difference in elevation: + 520 m / - 430 mPreferred hotel: Hôtel le Compostelle, 3-star
Day 6: Sarlat - Les Eyzies – Sarlat, loop in the heart of prehistory, 28 mi. (45 km)
You have a few options today! You can cycle through the heart of the Vezere Valley, land of prehistory. Depending on your preferences, you can discover numerous treasures through caves, deposits or rock shelters. If you want some time off the bike, you can stroll through the town at your leisure or canoe on the Dordogne river for a supplement of €30. Departure is directly from the hotel! Difference in elevation: + 940 m / - 940 mPreferred hotel: Hôtel le Compostelle, 3-star
Day 7: Departure
Departure at check-out time or extend your stay!Be sure to check out all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.
Map
Hotels & Bikes
Accommodations
You will be accommodated in hotels or charming guest houses of the 3 and 4-star category. On the day to day itinerary, you will find the preferred hotels used for this tour. If the preferred hotel is not possible, a hotel of equal standard will be offered.
Bicycles
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 6 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels and guest houses
- Breakfasts
- Dinner on days 2, 3, and 4
- Tourist information
- Cube Touring Pro electric bike
- Maps & roadbook
- Daily luggage transfer
- Emergency assistance
What’s Not Included
- Lunches & 3 dinners
- Alcoholic beverages
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Daily departures from April 1 to October 31, 2023
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2023
Twin/double $ 2287 £ 1310 $ 2,175 € 1459 ₪ 5492 NZ$ 2507 NOK 16081 kr 16574 $ 1,625 Single supplement $ 509 £ 292 $ 484 € 325 ₪ 1223 NZ$ 559 NOK 3582 kr 3692 $ 362 Extra Options
Bicycle options
Discount for 24-speed hybrid bike $ 188 £ 108 $ 179 € 120 ₪ 452 NZ$ 206 NOK 1323 kr 1363 $ 134 Excursions
Canoe trip down the Dordogne (approx. 3-4 hours) $ 66 £ 38 $ 63 € 42 ₪ 158 NZ$ 72 NOK 463 kr 477 $ 47 Extra nights
Sarlat (3-star) Agen (3 -star) Twin/double $ 132 £ 75 $ 125 € 84 ₪ 316 NZ$ 144 NOK 926 kr 954 $ 94 $ 116 £ 66 $ 110 € 74 ₪ 279 NZ$ 127 NOK 816 kr 841 $ 82 Single $ 182 £ 104 $ 173 € 116 ₪ 437 NZ$ 199 NOK 1279 kr 1318 $ 129 $ 182 £ 104 $ 173 € 116 ₪ 437 NZ$ 199 NOK 1279 kr 1318 $ 129 Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
Because of the difficult terrain, we have decided to offer this tour as an electric bike tour for which we are giving it a tour rating of easy to moderate depending on what level of assistance you decide to use. The region is hilly and climbing cannot be avoided. Of course, you can opt to participate on a regular hybrid bike which would incur a moderate to difficult rating. Regardless, this is not a tour for somebody who is new to bike touring. Distances range between 35 and 60 km per day. Do not let the hills stop you from seeing this stunning area of France! Book your Dordogne E-bike tour now!
Airport Info
Closest international airport to your tour start in Agen is Bordeaux (BOD).
Local Travel
From the airport, from Aéroport Terminus, you will take a bus, line 1, to Bordeaux St-Jean train station. Busses depart approximately every 15 minutes. From Bordeaux St. Jean you can take a train to Agen. Travel time is approximately 1 1/2 hour with departures every hour. From the train station in Agen, your hotel is about a 6-minute walk.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The best weather in this region, as in many areas, is during the summer months of July and August, but keep in mind that these months are also peak tourist season. May, June, and September are also beautiful times to visit!
Remarks
If you think you would like to reserve the canoe in Sarlat, please let us know at time of booking to insure availability. If you are not sure, you can also call the hotel once your arrive. Details will be provided.
Important to know
A few things to consider before you book your E-bike tour
- Pedal-assist e-bikes give you a constant nudge on your ride and conform to your pedal cadence and torque – up to 25 km per hours, they are a solid help on the climbs and they increase your average speed
- Electric bikes are heavier than a regular bike so they handle differently
- Bikes come with 700×38 Schwalbe Range Cruiser tires that feature an anti-puncture layer, good grip, and minimal rolling resistance.
- Though the bikes are very quiet the electric engine does produce a light but constant noise.
- The bikes can be ridden without assist though as mentioned above they are much heavier than a regular bike.
- The operating range depends on many factors such as the assistance level, gear switching behavior, route profile, headwind, temperatures but in general the average range of the battery packs is 110km (68 miles).
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by ActiveTours.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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