In the Dordoge department bordering Midi-Pyrenees and Aquitaine near Rocamadour, is the Quercy, which is a large limestone plateau cut by the valleys of the Dordogne, Lot and Aveyron rivers. Haut Quercy leans against the Massif Central and is formed by the Causses de Martel and the Causses de Gramat. This tour mainly crosses over the Dordogne river, from Souillac to Saint-Cere, and sometimes the Causse de Gramat, to discover magnificent sites such as the valley of Ouysse, the hillside town of Rocamadour, Castelnau, and the Autoire Cirque. You will be thrilled by the underground rivers where you find a strange and marvellous underworld. This region is also one of the main centres of gourmet cuisine, where the rural setting will find you welcomed into charming inns each night.		"Just wanted to write and tell you what a wonderful time we had hiking in the Dordogne. Hotels Le Centenaire and Domaine de Rochebois were fabulous and the food --- mmmmm - we adored it !!!!!" - V. McLean, Prehistory

DAY 1: Arrival at Souillac.

A nice town along the Dordogne river in a rich area built around a Benedictine abbey. See the remarkable abbey-church with fine carvings, and a statue of the prophet Isaiah, a masterpiece of the Romanesque art. Stroll in the old historic city near the abbey. Dinner and night in a three-star hotel. (D)

DAY 2: Souillac-Cales - 19 km

Today in the morning you have time to visit Souillac and then in the afternoon a taxi will transfer you to Belveder de Lanzac and go to a viewpoint from where there is a panoramic view of the Dordogne valley. Then you’ll walk through forests to reach La Bastit, small village along the Dordogne with a strange castle overlooking the river. Continue through the forest to Cales. Night in 2 star hotel with pool. (B,D)

DAY 3: Cales - Rocamadour - 18 km

You’ll leave Cales and walk the l’Ouysse valley (one of the remarkable sites in the Lot department), a very natural place and where you pass the old fortified watermill of Cougnaguet (13th century) where everything works as it used to !! Continue walking the Alzou valley to get to Rocamadour. Night in 3 star hotel. (B,D)

DAY 4: Rocamadour - Meyronne - 15km

Start by a visit of Rocamadour early in the morning. This is the second most-visited place in France after le Mont St Michel. Once a revered Christian site, Rocamadour is still a holy place for many pilgrims notably those on the Way of Santiago de Compostella. Clinging to the cliffs of the Alzou canyon, the medieval village has many interesting facets : vestiges of a former castle and an hospital for pilgrims, Basilica of St Sauveur, pilgrimage chapel of the Black Virgin, small old streets with several beautiful gates and Middle-Ages houses. Through the forest, you’ll reach Meyronne dominated by an old fortified chateau where you stay for the night. Night in 3 star chateau hotel with pool. (B,D)

DAY 5: Meyronne - Carrenac - 23 km

Walk down towards the Dordogne banks and go up to the beautiful village of Montvalent. You will walk to the hamlet of Veyssou and continue to the brink of the cliff at the cirque de Montvalent where is an impressive view on the Dordogne valley. Through the forest, you’ll head to the typical villages of Floirac and Mezels before reaching Carennac. Night in 3 star hotel with pool. (B,D)

DAY 6: Carrenac-Loubressac- 19 km

The beautiful village of Carennac has developed from the 11th century onward after a priory was founded by the abbey of Cluny. The village has a number of houses from the Middle-Ages. At the Padirac cliff bottom you begin a boat trip 103 m below ground along 500 m of river. Next comes a guided walking tour to see the vast galleries, including the 94 m high Grand Dome. You’ll go back open air and continue your walk to Loubressac, beautiful village face the feudal castle of Castelnau, very imposing 12th to 15th centuries fortress, one the finest examples of the military architecture in the Middle-Ages. Night in 3 star hotel with pool. (B,D)

DAY 7: Loubressac to St Cere- 18 km

In the morning you visit this charming village with its flowered narrow streets, very old houses and its castle. After, you walk to a beautiful site : the Cirque d’Autoire. From the top of the cliffs, is a spectacular view of the Bave valley, where you descend to the village below the impressive cliffs. In the slope, you’ll admire the “chateau des Anglais”, fortress clinging to the rockface. Autoire, very beautiful village with manors and Romanesque church ! Continuing you visit the chateau de Montal (a genuine Renaissance gem !), and finally reach Bretoneux where you meet a taxi to go to St Cere, pleasant town overlooked by the towers of St Laurent. Night in 2 star hotel with pool. (B,D)

DAY 8: Departure after breakfast - transfer by taxi to Biars rail station.

The trip includes: Lodging in 2/3 Star Hotels, all dinners included-except on Day 8, all breakfast included- except on Day 1, luggage transfers from hotels to hotels, road book: maps, directions, and tourist sites information, technical assistance: During all your tour in case of emergency. Transfer on Day 8. We also provide travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more.

Additional Nights : please inquire

Optional Services:
Travel insurance, Paris museum & metro passes, Paris day tours, Lido shows, and other services. Cell phone rental and luggage storage services.

Note: prices subject to change based upon currency fluctuations. See Booking Terms and Conditions.