From Gironde to Dordogne by bike, from Bordeaux to Sarlat

From Bordeaux to Sarlat between Gironde, Périgord and Dordogne by bike

The cycling adventure begins in Bordeaux, the Gironde capital. Stroll through its historic center, taste local wines on cozy terraces, before cycling towards the rolling countryside of Entre-Deux-Mers. Discover the charming medieval village of Saint-Émilion and its vineyard listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue the route to the Dordogne Valley, dotted with fortified towns and vineyard panoramas. Stop off in Bergerac, then follow the Lalinde Canal to the Vézère to enter the Périgord Noir. End this epic in Sarlat-la-Canéda, between culinary delights and medieval heritage. An unforgettable week awaits you, mixing history and gourmet pleasures.

Points of interest during your stay:

• Bordeaux, a city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Saint-Émilion, its medieval village and renowned vineyards
• Sarlat la Canéda, a medieval jewel
• Les Eyzies, the capital of prehistory
• Vézère Valley
• The Lascaux Caves

Day 1: Arrival in Bordeaux
Put down your suitcases in the capital of Gironde. The historic center is home to magnificent monuments (such as the Porte Cailhau, which once guarded the city), charming squares and welcoming terraces where you can taste local wines and gourmet specialties. On the Garonne side, the banks are designed to invite you to stroll and wander. A little away from the city, the Cité du Vin and the Bassins des Lumières are worth a visit.

Day 2: from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion (50 km / + 260 m)
You start this first day by bike at the magnificent Place de la Bourse and along the quays. After crossing the Pont de Pierre, you join the Roger Lapébie cycle path. Cycle in complete serenity in the Entre-Deux-Mers and discover preserved and slightly hilly landscapes. Before arriving in the charming medieval village of Saint-Émilion, you visit the typical fortified town of Créon.

Day 3: from Saint-Émilion to Ste-Foy-la-Grande (41 km / + 70 m)
Today, you discover the prestigious Saint-Émilion vineyard and its 5,000 hectares of vines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You then cycle to Castillon-la-Bataille before reaching Ste-Foy-la-Grande, in the Dordogne. Castillon-la-Bataille is the oldest fortified town in Gironde. The town prospered thanks to the wine trade and its stone houses dating from the 13th century and wooden houses dating from the 16th century are remarkably preserved.

Day 4: from Ste-Foy-la-Grande to Bergerac (37 km / + 200 m)
Drive to Monbazillac, its castle and its renowned vineyards. The wine village, perched on a hill, is magnificent and will delight lovers of sweet wine. The day ends in Bergerac, a town of Art and History. Take a tour of the pretty old town with its half-timbered houses or along the banks of the Dordogne. You can also taste the delicious Périgord gastronomy.

Day 5: from Bergerac to Les Eyzies (63 km / + 380 m)
The route takes you along the Lalinde canal and through charming villages. Lalinde, the first English bastide in the Périgord, marks the end of the canal. The route continues along the Vézère, a tributary of the Dordogne. You enter the Périogord Noir, and reach Les Eyzies, the world capital of prehistory. It is here that Cro-Magnon Man was discovered and the surrounding area is home to many archaeological sites. With its imposing limestone cliffs and medieval heritage, Les Eyzies is a unique and significant stopover.

Day 6: from Les Eyzies to Sarlat-la-Canéda (25 or 47 km / + 400 m or + 650 m)
Today you have two choices:

• A short option with 25 km and + 400 m of elevation
• A long option, a little more demanding but not out of reach, with 47 km and + 650 m which passes through the famous Lascaux Cave

In all cases, your route ends in Sarlat-la-Canéda where local gastronomy is promoted on every street corner. The truffle capital has many specialties in store for you, each one more delicious than the last. In terms of heritage, the city is not to be outdone with its medieval atmosphere, its charming alleys, its period buildings, fountains, churches...

Day 7: Sarlat-la-Canéda
End of the tour after breakfast. Possibility of additional night(s).

General information:

• 7 days and 6 nights
• Accommodation comfort level: 3 and 4* hotels and charming guest houses
• Children's rates: contact us

Dates 2025:
Available every day, from April to October

Included:

• Self-guided online tour
• 6 nights
• 6 breakfasts
• Assistance in the event of a breakdown (except puncture)
• Luggage transfer at each stage
• Access to our Respire Voyages hiking app
• A travel file (the road book in French or English with color maps and tourist documentation)

Not included:

• Transport to Bordeaux
• Return from Sarlat-la-Canéda
• Personal expenses
• Anything not specified in "included"

Options:

• VTC or VAE rental (supplement if only 1 rental bike)
• Canoe trip on the Dordogne (3 to 4 hours)
• Additional night(s) in Bordeaux and/or Sarlat-la-Canéda
• Theft guarantee for the rented bike
• Cancellation insurance

Levels:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain:
Itinerary on cycle paths, towpaths and secondary roads.

Climate:
Mild sun, little wind and pleasant temperatures.

Technicality:

• Bicycle: 25 to 63 km per day or 2 to 6 hours of cycling. A little elevation gain to be expected.
• Partly marked route, roadbook and map reading useful.

Bibliography:
Map of the Dordogne by bike

Meals:

• Breakfasts: copious (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice)
• Lunch: not included
• Dinner: not included

The Bike:

• Rental bike: If you rent a VTC or an Electrically Assisted Bike, it will be delivered directly to your first accommodation. At the end of the tour, we will take care of its return.
• Personal bike: We do not recommend bikes with small tires. VTCs and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to service your bike before leaving. At the end of the tour, you will have to take care of your own bike.

Assistance:

Breakdown assistance (except for punctures for which we do not intervene)
In case of bad weather or if you cannot cycle for a day, possibility of direct travel to the next stage (paid service).

Luggage:
They are transported by a courier or by our team and limited to one piece of luggage per person (max. 20 kg).

Travel diary:
You will receive travel documents with practical information before your departure by mail as well as access to our hiking application by email. The documents include vouchers for hotels and restaurants as well as labels for luggage.

Transport:

• By train: Bordeaux is an average of 2h30 by train from Paris
• By car: Bordeaux is 600 km from Paris, or about 7 hours of travel
• By plane: Bordeaux-Mérignac airport

  
Cancellation insurance :
In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.