easygoer

We are counting our days to our first trip to the Dordogne, Lot Valley and the Gorge du Tarn area. We have our itinerary and hotels all booked (except one day at the end). Thanks to everyone on the boards. Big thanks to Stu D. for starting us off with a great itinerary, with bases to stay, places to visit and answering my many questions. We've toured Europe over 15 years and know that what ever I plan will change and getting lost usually ends up being some of our better days. So other than the hotels, nothing is written in stone. I'm working on-line for day trips and restaurants. I have many trip reports from Fodorites.

Any tips on must see sights and restaurants would be great. We had originally planned two nights in Albi, then two nights in Rocamador before heading to Sarlat for five nights. Our apartment in Sarlat could only take us a day earlier, so we didn't want to spend only 1 night in Albi after an international flight. That was our only glitch. We're probably going to stay there before ending in Toulouse. Here's our plan so far.

Fly in and out of Toulouse - Car Rental with Auto Europe

Rocamadour - 3 nights (Hotel Les Esclargies - Booked)
Visit Rocamadour, Gouffre de Padirac, Autoire, Loubressac, Carennac, and Martel

Sarlat In Town- 5 nights (Villa des Consuls - Booked)
Villa des Consuls sent me 5 different maps for day trips. Any not to be missed sights would be appreciated.
Canoe Ride on the Dordogne
Wednesday Market Day

Figeac Area - 2 nights (Le Murier de Viels - Booked)
Visit Pech Merle next day 11:00 am reservations - Other sights to include with Pech Merle?

Tour Conques and Entraygues on the way to Estaing

Estaing/Lot River Area - 2 nights (Le Manoir de la Fabreques - Booked)
Visit Espalion, the Aubrec and Laguiole and Ste Eulalie

Ste Enimie/Gorges de Tarn - 2 nights (Auberge du Moulin - Booked)
Visit Gorge du Tarn
Boat Ride?

Carcassonne or Albi - 1 night??? Left this night open as we head from the Gorge du Tarn towards Toulouse

Toulouse - 2 nights - (Albert 1er - Booked)
Drop off car tour city

Thanks everyone!

StuDudley

All of my day-trip & restaurant suggestions are in my itineraries, that I believe you have.

Stu Dudley

easygoer

Hi Stu, yes I have your itineraries. Thank you. The restaurant and food descriptions were are favorite. Love your first page comment...
"The Dordogne is truly a treat to the senses, visually, intellectually and gastronomically".

maitaitom

We really enjoyed L’Instant Delice at 5 Rues des Council, especially since we were rather tired of duck by then, and they had some interesting...and tasty dishes. Very reasonable prices, too.

From my Trip report:

"This dinner at L’Instant Delice was to vault to #1 on the trip up to this point.

I had the 13.90€ dinner that started with a walnut salad. What made this place so special was the next dish, a selection of fresh raviolis (smoked salmon, gorgonzola, mushroom, truffle, goat cheese along with tomato and basil). They were scrumptious, and so was the chocolate cake for dessert.

Tracy went for the Walnut salad, Eggplant Parmesan and ice cream.

Kim was our “big spender” on this evening, opting for the 15.90€ dinner that included Confit de canard (they do have duck if you're not sick of it), while Mary had a delicious Cassoulet."

maitaitom

Oh yeah, L'Instant Delice is in Sarlat.

kja

I enjoyed the following restaurants:

Rocamadour -- Jehan de Valon (Beau Site)

Sarlat -- Le Grand Bleu and Rossignol

Domme -- L'Esplanade and Cabanoix & Chataigne

Albi -- Le Close Sainte Cecile

Enjoy!

easygoer

maitaitom, nice to here from you again. I know you're a fan of great food, but crazy value too? So great. I dream of walnuts from the Pico de Europa, so glad to hear they are a part of the regions treasures. Hope there is rabbit in the region too!

kja, you're may favorite Toulouse fan. We're almost leaning to three nights there at the end. We love touring by car, but also like the diversity of no car and walking a city, exploring sites and having time to check out the restaurants and menus too. TY for the suggestions.

sugarmaple

Following with great interest, as we're planning a very similar trip end of September.

We've booked the same hotel in Rocamadour, and am looking at the Figeac hotel.

Love the sarlat restaurant rec - there's nothing better than value for money!

easygoer

sugarmaple, I usually have a trip like this planned before March for September travel, but had family issues. That's why I am scrambling here on Fodors, my favorite travel site for interaction. I will post a trip report, promise.

Click on easygoer for other posts with the same topic. I started with...where to go in France, back on June 26th and got more detailed information regarding the itinerary on July 10th and July 28th. Everyone is so helpful here!

sugarmaple

I hope your family issues were resolved satisfactorily.

I have indeed been following your posts faithfully. Thank you for doing all the heavy lifting!

easygoer

Thanks sugarmaple. Love your name, are you from VT? Maple Sugar is the best! No problem with the heavy lifting. I sometimes feel guilty asking so many questions. I always share back with a trip report. I have posted many trip reports that are missing. Perhaps Fordor's has a time limit, not sure. Planning is so much fun for us.

Thanks for appreciating the posting and questions that I have ask. So many Fodorites have kindly answered with so much information. That will help us and many other travelers too. It's nice to share.

sssteve

I don't think I participated in your trip planning, so I would assume that you haven't seen my web page on our trip to the Dordogne. Our trip started in Bordeaux and finished in Toulouse. It includes lots of restaurant information. Check it out.

http://www.travel.stv77.com/bordeaux/bordeaux.htm

sugarmaple

Actually, from Toronto, where we have a wonderful sugar maple that shades our deck for morning coffee, and it provides a home for countless birds and a playground for the squirrels (or rats with tails depending on your viewpoint).

I will be reading your report, Steve, in fact I may well book into your Albi hotel.

easygoer

Hi sssteve, yes you were one of the first to help on my second planning post. I wrote back...

"Your trip report is amazing and written perfectly to help plan a trip. I'll be up all night reading it."

Great report and pictures. Thanks so much.

sssteve

Glad to hear that. I hunted for the post but couldn't find it.

ira

Hey easy,

We very much enjoyed our stay at http://www.aubergecascade.com/ in St-Chely du Tarn.

The town is worth a stop, even if you don't stay there.

Enjoy your visit.

easygoer

Thanks Ira. Just read the hotels reviews on Trip A. Looks wonderful. We'll make sure to visit St-Chely du Tarn. We already booked Auberge du Moulin in Ste Enimie, based again on Trip A reviews. We wanted to be in a town for restaurants since the two locations we are staying at before are B&B's outside of their towns.

I really wanted to stay at the Chateau De La Caze, but at 190 E plus 60 E pp for dining for a total of 310 E a night, it was a bit much with the exchange rate. So we went the exact opposite to a 65 E place instead. I'm sure it will be fine. The Gorge du Tarn looks amazing. Wish we had more time.

ira

Have fun, e.

Huggy

The Hotel Les Esclargies is wonderful, we stayed 3 nights.

If in Domme, I second dinner at L'Esplanade. The food was outstanding, we ate all 3 nights. We were just were not fond of the room, quaint, clean but old. Views were outstanding.

theotherside

Hello easygoer,
I haven't seen your previous posts so please excuse if my info is repetitive.
I spent 3 nights in Millau in 2011 for the purpose of visiting gorges du tarn. If you have time a visit to the Millau Viaduct lookout is well worth a look. Its only a bridge , but its immensity is quite amazing. I purchased the michelin green guide for the area which has multiple drive options for the area. One drive I really enjoyed involved crossing the bridge in Malene, winding up the hillside and continueing along the crest and hanging a right at the t junction. U end up parking near some farms and there are 2 lookouts, one not far from where u park, and the other is about a 400 yard walk. The second lookout looks back down on the village of Malene and the gorge.
I assume st cirq lapopie is already a part of your overall itinerary?

Ps great information in this older fodors post if u r yet read?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ge-du-tarn.cfm

Enjoy your travels