An 11 Night, 12 Day Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoe tour to the Perigord & Lot regions of the south of France with canoeing on three different rivers, visits to caves to see 25,000 year-old paintings, troglodyte dwellings along the river, huge castles and beautiful châteaux, as well as paddling through beautiful and dramatic nature and tasting the local cuisine & wines

The Vézère is a medium sized river that flows down the famous ‘Valley of Man’ into the Dordogne. On the way it passes through several small towns and picturesque villages such as Montignac, St. Leon and Les Eyzies.

Along this river man has lived for tens of thousands of years. The famous caves of Lascaux are close to Montignac and many other cave sites are spread down the valley. The valley also has the remains of medieval dwellings along its course: we can see them at La Roque Saint-Christophe and Madeleine. We will also pass several Châteaux dating from the 13th and 14th C as well as the remains of a lock gate system which controlled the flow in the river when it was a major transport link.

The river and trails along this Unesco Heritage site will give an easy opportunity to visit many of the places mentioned.

The Célé is a small winding stream that flows down a steep sided valley into the Lot. On the way it passes through several small and picturesque villages such as Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, Marcilhac, Sauliac and Cabrerets, which is the site of the famous Pech Merle cave which we visit.

Along the same valley a long-distance trail winds its way. Sometimes besides the river but mostly up high along the valley’s edge. This is the GR651 which is a small deviation off the famous GR65 more commonly known as the ‘Way of St. James’ or the ‘Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle’.

In an adjacent valley flows the Lot river with the famous cliff-hanging village of St. Cirq Lapopie.

The Dordogne is a large river that flows down to the Gironde before it reaches the Atlantic Ocean just north of Bordeaux. On the way it passes many large castles before the valley widens out into the famous vineyards of Bergerac and Bordeaux itself.

The castles along the stretch of the Dordogne we paddle are those that were built to defend the borders of England and France during 300 years of struggle which ended after the 100 years war.

• Fully guided whilst on the river & trail
• Full minibus support throughout
• Includes all accommodations
• Includes breakfasts, lunches and evening meals
• Canoe the Valley of Man on the Vézère river
• Visit cave sites at Castel Merle, Lascaux & Pech Merle
• Vist Castles and Châteaux: Beynac, Castelnaud & Milandes
• Hike along the route of the Way of St. James
• See the beauties of Rocamadour, Sarlat and St. Cirq Lapopie

For the first two nights we are at the Relais de la Côte de Jor just outside the village of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère. Sitting high above the valley of the Vézère with beautiful views from from the garden and balconies the small hotel is a short 10 minute drive from the village or an easy 30 minute walk down a trail.

The hotel has a pool in which we can relax after a busy day on the river

For those that wish to walk before breakfast we have a couple of ideas. Firstly along to the Côte de Jor itself which is a viewing point looking down on a bend in the Vézère river with the village of St. Leon and it’s château and church in the distance. A second possibility is to take the trails through the chestnut woods and down to a couple of small fishing ponds before returning past a private château with ornamental gardens.

The Relais does not do evening meals so we shall drive into the village and visit the Restaurant de la Poste on one night and choose from a selection of other nearby restaurants for our second night.

• High on the valley side above the village
• Relaxing garden and swimming-pool overlooking the valley
• Access to hiking trails with fabulous views over the Vézère valley
• Easy walk down into the village takes about 20 minutes
• Friendly welcome by our host Roland
• In autumn watch the mist in the valley and hear the deer rutting in the forest

On the third night we are at the Hostellerie du Passeur in the small town of Les Eyzies. This charming and comfortable hotel is at the heart of the village off a small square opposite the National Pre-History Museum.

When in Les Eyzies we can choose our own restaurant for the evening. The hotel itself is available as are a number of restaurants in the town: they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

If you are in the mood for an early morning walk then we have a circular ramble that takes us across the river and up through some forests to the Causse past some remote farms.

• 10 minutes walk from the river-bank where we take-out
• Lovely welcome from Jérôme et Jérôme
• Opposite the treasure house which is the Nation Museum of Pre-History
• Lovely small town to wander around
• A delightful selection of restaurants for dinner/li>
• Beautiful location with fabulous riverside walks

For the 4th, 5th and 6th nights we are at the Métairie Basse which is situated high above the Célé valley on the Causse above the village of Sauliac. Our hosts Richard and Helen have converted a farmhouse from almost a complete ruin to provide fabulous accommodation in this quiet area.

In the grounds we can look at the market garden and chickens and also use the outdoor swimming-pool which nestles surprisingly in a converted barn.

Early morning walkers can enjoy some trails out onto the Causse and visit an ancient Dolmen: a Iron-Age burial site perhaps 8,000 years old. We can also walk the long, but downhill trail, to the village of Cabrerets on the Célé river to begin our third day with a visit to the cave at Peche Merle.

Richard and Helen will provide us with some delicious home-cooked meals featuring regional specialities and using ingredients from their own garden. They will also introduce us to some local Apéritifs such as Vin Noix, a Ratafia or perhaps a Fénelon.

• Big friendly welcome from our hosts Helen & Richard
• Family run Chambre D'hôte with swimming-pool
• Great hikes out onto the Cause - with a Dolmen to visit
• Fantasic evenings with home-cooking and local specialities
• Hosts of Orchids to see in the spring season
• Beautiful location with stunning views

On the 7 and 8th nights we stay at the l’Auberge du Sombral in the heart of Saint Cirq Lapopie. This picturesque village perches on the side of the cliff above the Lot river and is looked over by a ruined castle and abbey and surrounded by the remains of a fortified wall with entrance gates at the top and lower ends. The village has a single street from which vehicles are barred (excepting access for locals) and is riddled by a network of tiny cobbled pathways.

Our hotel sits in the main square almost at the top of the village within easy walking distance of the restaurants and small shops. On our first evening here we are able to choose our own restaurant but on our final evening we will all dine together again either in the village itself or close by.

For those that like to walk we have plenty of choices of all lengths and difficulties. The village is surrounded by woods and the top of the Causse can be easily reached to offer superb views over the valley. Other walks take the winding trails down to the river and we can follow the Chemin de Haulage which is the path previously used by the Bargemen and their horses to pull boats along the Lot.

• Stunningly beautiful village built into the valley side
• Lovely hotel in the village square
• Immediate access to hiking trails: to the Causse, the forest and the stations of the cross to a chapel above the village
• Walk up to the viewpoint, examine the ruined castle and the huge church/li>
• Village has several restaurants and cafes
• Really a classic location with views over the Lot river

On the 9th night we are at the Hotel Plaissance or La Trielle in the village of Vitrac itself and both are only a step away from the river.

An early morning walk visits the Château Montfort which can look spectacular in the early morning light when the mist is rising on the river.

• 2 minutes walk from the river-bank
• Large swimming-pool and garden
• Morning walk to the Château Montfort
• Classic French restaurant
• Relaxing terrace

For the final two nights we are at the Hôtel du Château in Beynac. The hotel sits at the heart of this small village directly underneath the Château Beynac which looms above us. It is directly on the river and no more than a two minute walk from where we take-out the canoes in the afternoon and put-in the next morning.

The early morning walk takes us up to the castle via a secret path with smugglers caves and out into the countryside beyond, past some farms and through a mysterious wood before looping back home.

The hotel’s restaurant has tables on a terrace beside the river, and also a small swimming pool.

Alternatively we can stay at the Domaine de Monrecour which is a château close to Beynac in the village of Saint Vincent-de-Cosse. We will still have time to visit the Castle and village in Beynac which is only a five minute drive away.

• 2 minutes walk from the river-bank
• Hotel at the heart of the village
• Walk up to the fantastic Château Beynac
• Watch the boats to and fro on the Dordogne
• Close to small village with shops and cafes
• Beautiful location with stunning views