Tastes and Trails of Southern France

Our tour starts today in Bordeaux, a lively riverside city known for its elegant architecture, busy food markets and centuries-old relationship with wine. Our tour leader plans to meet everyone at the hotel reception at 6.30pm for the welcome meeting. Afterwards, we’ll set out on a 3-kilometre introductory walk through old Bordeaux, using the city’s tram network where required. It’s a chance to get our bearings and begin exploring the lanes, squares and grand façades of the historic centre. There are no other activities planned today. If you’d like an airport transfer, you’ll need to arrive into Bordeaux-Merignac Airport (BOD) which is around 45 minutes from the hotel depending on traffic. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will share any essential information when you catch up.

We’ll make an early start and take the tram to Bordeaux’s Marché des Capucins. This bustling covered market is packed with seasonal produce, cheeses, charcuterie and seafood from France’s Atlantic coast. Here, we’ll stop to taste oysters before continuing our journey. We plan to take the public train to Saint-Émilion shortly before noon, a journey of approximately 30 minutes. Surrounded by vineyards, this medieval village has grown around one of Bordeaux’s best-known wine-producing areas. We’ll explore the village and surrounding vineyard landscape on foot. The route takes us through gently rolling vineyard country, with time to appreciate the stone lanes, church towers and wine estates that frame the village. Later, we’ll continue by private minivan to Sarlat, approximately 175 kilometres (109 miles) away. This evening we’ll sit down to an included duck-based dinner, a local specialty with vegetarian options available. It’s our first introduction to the hearty cuisine of the Dordogne. Today’s 7-kilometre/ 4mile walk is expected to take approximately 2.5 hours, with around 100 metres/328 feet of ascent and descent.

Today is the first of two full days based in Sarlat. We’ll visit a local truffle producer to learn how these prized fungi are cultivated and found. After the demonstration, we’ll set out on a walk around the truffle farm and its surrounding countryside. The route covers quiet backroads and countryside trails on gently undulating terrain, giving us a closer look at the rural landscapes around Sarlat. The afternoon is free to explore Sarlat. The town’s honey-coloured stone buildings, narrow lanes and small squares make it an inviting place to wander. Today’s 8-kilometre/5 mile walk is expected to take approximately three hours, with around 140 metres/459 feet of ascent and 60 metres/196 feet of descent.

Today's walk showcases some of the Dordogne Valley's most iconic scenery and medieval heritage. We begin in Domme, a beautifully preserved hilltop bastide founded in the 13th century, where stone streets and panoramic viewpoints overlook the winding Dordogne River. From here, we'll descend towards the valley floor and follow quiet trails through the countryside to La Roque-Gageac, one of France's most picturesque villages, nestled between the river and towering limestone cliffs. Continuing on to Beynac, we'll arrive beneath the imposing fortress that once guarded a strategic frontier during the Hundred Years War. Today’s 11-kilometre/6.8 mile walk is expected to take approximately four hours, with around 20 metres/65 feet of ascent and 145 metres/475 feet of descent.

This morning we’ll visit Sarlat’s market and see the full range of produce from the Dordogne, from cheeses and walnuts to preserves, bread and duck specialities. We’ll have time to choose food for our included picnic lunch before finding a spot to enjoy our market discoveries together. After lunch, we’ll leave Sarlat and travel approximately 80 kilometres/48 miles to Rocamadour. The journey is expected to take around 90 minutes. Built into a limestone cliff above the Alzou Valley, Rocamadour has drawn pilgrims for centuries. On arrival, we’ll set out on an walk to explore the town and its dramatic setting. An included dinner in the old town rounds off the day. Today’s 4-kilometre/2.5-mile walk is expected to take approximately two hours, with around 110 metres/360 feet of ascent and 110 metres/360 feet of descent.

Today is free to explore Rocamadour. Choose from a visit to the religious sanctuary, a stroll through the medieval streets or simply take in the views across the Alzou Valley. There will also be the option to join a moderate-grade walk through the Canyon de l’Alzou. The planned route is approximately 12 kilometres/7.5 miles and is expected to take around four-and-a-half hours. The optional walk has around 280 metres/918 feet of ascent and 280 metres/918 feet of descent.

For our final walk, we plan to follow an easy route from Rocamadour known as La Pierre et l’Eau – ‘stone and water’. The trail explores the limestone landscape surrounding the town and offers another perspective on the Alzou Valley. The route combines quiet tracks, woodland sections and open views of the countryside around Rocamadour. It’s a fitting final walk, bringing together the stone villages, water-shaped valleys and rural paths that give this part of southern France its character. The remainder of the day is free for a final look around Rocamadour. Today’s 6-kilometre/3.7 mile walk is expected to take approximately three hours, with around 200 metres/656 feet of ascent and 200 metres/656 feet of descent.

Our trip ends this morning at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). We have planned one group transfer from Rocamadour, arriving at the airport at 10am. The drive is approximately two-and-a-half hours. The earliest your flight can depart is 12pm.