Dordogne Day Tours

Explore the
Dordogne

Discover the amazing history and
stunning beauty of the Dordogne region
with fully customizable personal tours

We are no longer taking bookings for the 2024 season

Would you love to see the south west of France, but worry that language difficulties will limit your appreciation of the sites and scenery?

Do you have a 'must see' list, but don't know how to fit it all in to the time you have?

Welcome to Dordogne Day Tours.

We’ll help you design a tour to make the most of your visit to this beautiful area, using our vast historical knowledge and decades of local experience.And our outgoing, friendly guide (fluent in both English and French) will accompany you to make sure you discover all the hidden gems on the way!

"Jean brought history alive, yes, even history dating back 35,000 years"    - Dolores M, Pennsylvania

"We could not have had a better guide"    - GGNZ12, New Zealand

Very knowledgeable guide brings history to life
"Our four days with Jean were the highlight of our trip to France. Jean guided us to the most fascinating places in the Sarlat region and breathed life into the Middle Ages. Not only is she an excellent guide, but also she is a simply delightful travel companion. I wish we could do the whole trip again!"
- lizzie88Colorado

Fantastic Guide and Teacher
"She was incredibly helpful in narrowing down what we should see and adding some sights that we had not thought of. As a result of her deep knowledge and obvious love of the area and its history, she was able to explain everything we saw and put it into the broader perspective of history. So she was not just a great guide but a thoughtful teacher."
- Dobson W, Minnesota

Unforgettable Perigord Noir
"Perfect. She set up an itinerary for us which turned out to be the highlight of our trip. She is a kindred soul, easy going personality and an excellent history teller. We highly recommend Jean, she made our short stay an unforgettable one. We would not have seen so much of the Perigord Noir area if it wasn’t for Jean’s love for the place."
- Angela G.

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My name is Jean Laroche and I come from New Zealand. I have lived in this part of France with my French husband and family for more than 40 years.When I first arrived I was blown away by the beauty of the region. I loved the delicate red poppies which pushed their way out of the cracks in the stone walls at springtime and the stark silhouettes cut out by the medieval fortresses strategically placed high above the river valleys so many centuries ago. The luscious green countryside reminded me of my home in rural New Zealand but with the added marks of centuries of civilization.I learnt French and, being naturally curious, learnt about the people and explored the place they call the “Périgord Noir” (the south eastern part of the Dordogne). I discovered that prehistoric man had been equally attracted here, well before me, but probably more by the generous nature and safe shelter provided by the ledges and caves in the limestone valley walls than by poppies coming out of cracks.Come and let me share my knowledge and the insight I have acquired into the regional culture with you. I'll help you plan your tour to discover the historic sites, the natural beauty and the hidden treasures off the beaten path. I'll accompany you on one of my preplanned circuits, or through a circuit which we have tailor-made together according to your wishes.

The Dordogne Valley and the 100 Years War

  • Bastide of Domme: walking visit through the bastide village - the ramparts, the gates, Domme Vieille, the Barre (panorama of the river valley).

  • La Roque Gageac: walking visit through the village with its tropical gardens.

  • Beynac Castle: a medieval fortress, walk down through the village.

  • To complete the day, choose from:
    - the panoramic Marqueyssac Gardens overlooking the river valley
    - the Castelnaud Castle and Museum of Medieval Warfare
    - a Gabarre (flat-bottomed river boat) excursion on the Dordogne river from Beynac or
    La Roque Gageac.

Photo: Beynac castle by Michel Chanaud

The Vezere Valley and Prehistoric Man

  • Les Eyzies: guided visit to the French National Prehistory Museum and visit to the Fond de Gaume or the Combarelle Caves (these authentic caves are restricted to 40 people per day and tickets can be difficult to obtain).

  • St Leon sur Vezere: picnic lunch beside the river (in summer) and visit the imposing Norman church of the picturesque village of St Leon sur Vezere.

  • La Roque St Christophe: guided visit to a rock dwelling used in both prehistoric and medieval times.

  • Lascaux IV: visit to the new replica of the breathtaking prehistoric Lascaux Caves.

Photo: Les Eyzies by Vigouroux Gérald on Unsplash

The Treasures of the Lot

  • Visit the authentic prehistoric cave of Pech Merle, the spectacular cliffs above the Cele River to its confluence with the Lot River, then up as far as beautiful St Cirq Lapopie and back down the Lot to Cahors to wander through the Old Town (home town to the Pope Jean XXII), then back to your accommodation in Dordogne; or

  • Tread in the footsteps of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her son Richard the Lionheart and visit Rocamadour, one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the Middle Ages, and Martel, an active centre which developed in the Middles Ages as a trading centre and stopping place for pilgrims on their way to Rocamadour. Then a last visit to Padirac, a spectacular chasm and underground river carved out of the underlying limestone.

Photo: Rocamadour by Sixième Rêve on Unsplash

Discoveries off the beaten track

  • The 3 bastide villages of Domme, Monpazier and Beaumont du Perigord – fortified villages built during the 100 Years War along the friction lines between the English and the French. Stopover to visit the Abbey of Cadouin.

  • The territory and vestiges of one of the most powerful barons of the Perigord region through the Middle Ages and the 100 Years War – visit the village and the castle of Beynac, the surrounding villages of St Vincent de Cosse, Cazenac and Bezenac, and the ruins of the outpost castle of Commarque.

  • The gardens of the Manoir of Eyrignac, wandering through the picturesque villages and sights en route – St Crepin Carlucet (Chateau Lacypierre), Salignac, Saint Genies and Saint Amand de Coly.

Photo: Michel Chanaud

Customize your tour

Make it even more personal by adding further outings and activities like:

  • Visit the summer night markets in the region (July and August).

  • Experience summer theatre and music festivals (July and August).

  • Bike the extending network of local cycle tracks, or explore the local walking tracks.

  • Visit truffle growers, goose and duck farms.

  • Wine tasting in the Bergerac wine growing region.

Photo: Michel Chanaud

Discover

These are just some of the places we can visit together with Dordogne Day Tours.
These photos were all taken in winter - Dordogne is equally picturesque in winter too!

Photos: Jean Laroche and Michel Chanaud

Contact us

email: jean@dordognedaytours.com
telephone: +33 635 581 849

Get in touch to start planning your amazing trip, and for a quote.

Payment and cancellation information

I ask for an account of 30% to confirm a booking. I refund that 30% if you cancel 30 days or more before the booking date. If you cancel less than 30 days before the booking there is no refund. The balance is payable when we meet.

How to get to Sarlat

By Train:
Paris to Sarlat (via Limoges): catch the Paris/Toulouse intercity from the Gare d'Austerlitz (Paris) to Souillac, with bus link from Souillac to Sarlat.
Paris to Sarlat (via Libourne): catch the Paris/Bordeaux TGV from the Gare de Montparnasse (Paris) and then the TER (Regional train) from either Bordeaux or Libourne to Sarlat - a beautiful scenic trip.
Bordeaux to Sarlat: catch the TER regional train from the Gare Bordeaux St Jean to Sarlat.
Toulouse to Sarlat: catch the Toulouse/Paris intercity from the Gare Toulouse Matabiau to Souillac with bus link to Sarlat.By Plane:
Fly into the Brive-Vallee de la Dordogne Airport from Paris, Manchester, London or Nice, then rental car to Sarlat.
Fly into the Bergerac Airport from London, Liverpool, Dusseldorf, Charleroi, Southampton, Birmingham, Bristol or Amsterdam, then rental car to Sarlat.By Car:
From Paris: by the A20 motorway to Souillac, then departmental road to Sarlat.
From Bordeaux: by the A89 motorway to Thenon, then departmental road to Sarlat.
From Toulouse: by the A20 motorway to Gourdon, then departmental road to Sarlat.


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Thanks to Nabih El Boustani on Unsplash for the background photo of La Roque Gageac!