Tour Starts in Bordeaux

DAY 1   Start of the Tour: Bordeaux to Cadillac 49km/30mi

9:00 am - Central European Time: Bike Fitting

At this time we are going to set your bikes up in the hotels underground car park and go over safety and tour procedures so that everyone is set to roll out   

9:30 am – 10:00 am: Departure  

Meet at Hotel De Sèze
Be dressed and ready to ride.

Hôtel De Sèze
23 Allée de Tourny, Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 33000

Bid ‘Farewell’ to beautiful Bordeaux as we ride out of the city using it's wonderful and extensive network of cycle paths into the heart of ‘Entre-deux Mers’ vineyards (the area between-the-two-seas; Dordogne & Garonne Rivers) to Créon, a typical fortified village. In Créon we are going to have a picnic.  A short way down the road at 2:00pm we stop to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the beautiful ruins of the 12th century Sauve-Majeure Abbey.  From here we continue through the vineyards, to Cadillac, sitting on the Garonne River. In the afternoon we will transfer 40mins to our nights destination the lovely town of Saint Emillion.  This region is famous for its sauterne wines, Bordeaux’s sweet wine appellation located in the very south of the Bordeaux wine region. Bordeaux is famous for its red wine blends known round the world. But, actually, some of the most expensive wines in Bordeaux aren’t red at all? In fact, it’s a bottle from Bordeaux’s Sauternes appellation that holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive bottle of white wine ever sold: an 1811 bottle of Château d’Yquem that fetched $117,000 at an auction in London in 2011. Check in at Château de la Tour

Night’s Accommodations-2 nights
Château de la Tour                        
2 Avenue de la Libération, Beguey, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 33410

7:30 pm - Central European Time              Group Dinner     Welcome dinner at our lovely hotel.

DAY 2: Cadillac Loop, 50km / 31m - Excursion through the Sauterne’s Vineyards

We set off today riding between forest and vineyards, with plenty of opportunity for tastings along the way. From the deep cellars to the small routes between vineyards, we’ll be riding on soil renown throughout the entire world.  A short way into the ride, Château d'Yquem appears - a veritable icon of the Sauterne wines that come from here - a honey-flavored sweet white wine, highly appreciated by wine lovers!  We will arrive to the city of Langon, just on the riverbank of the La Garonne river. In a beautiful spot next to the river we will have a picnic with the Presbytère on sight.  And, then, if that wasn’t enough marvelous-ness, enroute you’ll have an opportunity to visit Château Malromé. The estate dates back to the 16th C and is most notable for having been the home to Toulouse-Lautrec's Mother and where he died.  Today, Malromé is a lively space, which celebrates Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s artwork. Living in the golden years of the Belle Epoque, Lautrec was a participant and chronicler of Parisian brothels and nightlife. He left behind a prolific body of artworks which we will have the opportunity to sample along with the wines!

Night’s Accommodation
Château de la Tour
2 Avenue de la Libération, Beguey, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 33410

Day 3: Cadillac to Saint-Émilion 62km / 39mi

Check out at Château de la Tour

Today we ride through the heart of ‘Entre-deux Mers’ vineyards, from the Garonne to the Dordogne river.  Our first stop will be in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, with amazing views over the Garonne valley. This little village shelters a geologic site unique in France with fossil oysters overhanging the Garonne river. 

After that, we will head to Verdelais where Toulousse-Lautrec is buried. This quick visit to the local cemetery complements very well all the information we got about this painter the day before.  We’ll stop at the 13thC medieval Chateau of Rauzan, where we can enjoy a picnic at the bottom of this imposing castle. We’ll continue to explore the Bordeaux vineyards before finally reaching the famous medieval village of Saint-Émilion, a World Heritage site founded by a monk in the 8th century, with fascinating Romanesque churches and ruins stretching up and down the steep narrow streets and even underneath them! Its historic monuments include an underground church, two cloisters, catacombs, ancient towers and gates.  Also, it is the world's #1 vineyard! If Saint-Emilion wines are world famous it’s thanks to the hard promotion work of the Jurade, a wine brotherhood that was created in 1199 by John, King of England who delegated his economic, political and legal powers to the village and the noblemen of the region and let them rule.

Accommodations-2 nights
Hôtel Au Logis des Remparts        Saint-Émilion, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 33330

DAY 4: Saint Emilion Loop ride 27km / 16mi - Château Siaurac

Today we can enjoy a leisurely morning before rolling out on our bikes for our private tour at Chateau Siaurac one of St-Émilion's Grand Cru wineries.  Château Siaurac the largest and most emblematic of all the estates in the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation and it's not surprising considering wine has been grown since the eighth century!  Our tour is booked for 11:30am followed by a picnic lunch in the gardens of the estate. After our visit and lunch it’s a gentle ride back to town.

Accommodations
Hôtel Au Logis des Remparts        Saint-Émilion, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 33330

DAY 5: Saint Émilion – Bergerac 66km / 41mi

Check out of Hôtel Au Logis des Remparts

Back on our bikes, for a leisurely ride through the famous Saint-Émilion vineyards before reaching the Dordogne river. We will pass through the hermit of Montcaret. It is a small traditional village of the region and would probably go unnoticed by visitors, except here at Montcaret there are two sites of interest: the Roman style church and the archaeological site based around the excavations of a Roman villa. The two sites are adjacent in the heart of the village.  There you’ll ride through the charming 18th-century village of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande with its half-timbered houses and sunny streets. In this town we are planning to stop to have lunch.  From here, we’ll follow a splendid route weaving our way around the Dordogne river into the town of Bergerac our home for the next two nights.

Night’s Accommodation  
Hôtel de France 18 Place Gambetta, Bergerac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 24100

DAY 6: Ride from Bergerac to Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, 65km/40mi

Check out at Hôtel de France

Leaving the town of Bergerac we follow the easy meandering Dordogne River up to Limeuil (market on Mon), classified as one of "the most beautiful villages of France”. At the confluence of the Dordogne and the Vézère rivers, this medieval village offers an ideal swimming spot, in an outstanding natural environment.  This day is full of interesting places and views, like Le Moulin de Rouzique, Lalinde, Mauzac, Trémolat and Limeul.  

Riding north from Limeuil, you will enjoy beautiful landscapes along the way to Les Eyzies de-Tayac-Sireuil and our hotel. Les Eyzies and the Vezere valley is the world capital of prehistory – billed as the “Vallee de l’homme” this area is home to the greatest concentration of prehistoric sites in Europe. They are by no means the oldest, but it is the sheer wealth and variety that’s so stunning.

Night’s Accommodations-2nights
Hôtel Le Cro Magnon, 54 av Prehistoire, Eyzies de tayac sireuil (les), Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 24620  

DAY 7: Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil Loop, 29km/18mi

A wonderfully atmospheric ride today past medieval manor houses carved out of rock faces, troglodyte villages, cave dwellings built into limestone cliffs and fantastic pre historic caves and of course just your every day Châteaus!

Night’s Accommodation

Hôtel Le Cro-Magnon     54 av Prehistoire, Eyzies de tayac sireuil (les), Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 24620

DAY 8: Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil to Sarlat-la-Caneda, 49km/30mi

Check out at Hôtel Le Cro-Magnon

Today we cycle through possibly the most beautiful area of the Dordogne.   We’ll ride through the beautiful ‘Sarladais’ countryside to the famous medieval town of Sarlat-la-Caneda. Towns and villages were built either on the hills for defense or alongside rivers to defend the crossing.   Along the way will have the opportunity to visit places like the Chateau Beynac a hulking medieval perched on a riverside cliff top with a frescoed chapel. Also it's very photogenic Le Roque du Gageac, an old river harbour pressed up against a cliff, with a fort carved out of the limestone.  If the above was not enough we will also have the opportunity to enjoy the market in the incredibly charming village of Domme, offering an amazing view over the valley and the river.  Riding on to the medieval town of Sarlat, which has fortifications that date from its time as a frontier outpost during the Norman Invasion and the Hundred Years’ War. This city with its cobbled streets, old roofs, and warm stone walls shows an exceptional heritage. Sarlat is also well known by gourmets for its delicious local products (such as ‘foie gras’ and truffles). Enjoy its market where you can smell, taste and discover all these treasures.

Domme, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 24250

Check in at Hotel Plaza Madeleine            One final night in this wonderful hotel located downtown.

DAY 9

Check out at Hotel Plaza Madeleine

Plaza Madeleine

1 Place de la Petite Rigaudie, Sarlat-la-Canéda, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR, 24200

Transfers to Sarlat Train station

The easiest way to leave Sarlat is to take the train either to Bordeaux (5 trains per day) or to Paris. 

Our staff will help you to book a shuttle from the hotel to the train station.