3 nights in the Dordogne
Aug 7th, 2011, 05:11 PM
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3 nights in the Dordogne
Hi. We are a group of 3 couples. We will be spending 3 nights in the Dordogne. I am looking for restaurants and especially a canoe rental company to see the prehistoric caves. We are staying Vezac. Also looking for a bike tour. If anyone knows of a private tour guide to do anything in this region, I am also interested in that.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Aug 7th, 2011, 08:20 PM
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We've vacationed for 10 weeks in the Dordogne. I don't know why you would need a "private tour guide", unless you have some mobility problems or have no interest in setting your own itinerary. There are scads & scads of trip reports, suggested itineraries, and "general" travel advice about things to do in the Dordogne on Fodors. I have a 20 page itinerary that I've sent to around 1,000 people on Fodors. Many people have found it useful. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach a copy to the reply e-mail.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
Aug 7th, 2011, 08:38 PM
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A canoe trip down the Dordogne will take half a day. You do not want to spend another day on a bike tour. Given the limited amount of time, stick to the caves and villages of the Périgord noir.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623164797649/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623164797649/
Aug 7th, 2011, 09:10 PM
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Maybe it's just the syntax, but it sounds like you expect to take a canoe rental down a river to get to the cave entrances???
Take Stu up on his offer( wonderful detailed info) and see Michael's photos,and get a good guidebook, and do an "advanced search" on Fodors Forums for "Dordogne" and "vezac" Happy planning!!
Take Stu up on his offer( wonderful detailed info) and see Michael's photos,and get a good guidebook, and do an "advanced search" on Fodors Forums for "Dordogne" and "vezac" Happy planning!!
Aug 7th, 2011, 09:20 PM
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BTW, Annette, Vezac is a great location for the area. Add "Sarlat" to your "advanced search" on Fodors Fourm. We stayed right in the old town (Stu--thank you!) and there are many restaurant discussions on this site.
One place that sounded wonderful, in Vezac, is Buffet de la Gare. I think it is a prix-fixe lunch and /or dinner, everyone sits at a long table and eats what the chef made that day!! We never made it there...but it should be very convenient for you.
Don't miss the castle at Beynac, preferably at a quiet time in the early morning or eve, when you'll likely be some of the few, if not the only, folks there!!
One place that sounded wonderful, in Vezac, is Buffet de la Gare. I think it is a prix-fixe lunch and /or dinner, everyone sits at a long table and eats what the chef made that day!! We never made it there...but it should be very convenient for you.
Don't miss the castle at Beynac, preferably at a quiet time in the early morning or eve, when you'll likely be some of the few, if not the only, folks there!!
Aug 8th, 2011, 08:21 AM
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You don't canoe to caves there. You might be thinking of the Gouffre de Padirac on the east side of the Dordogne near Rocamadour. Part of that cave tour involves an underground boat ride.
We stayed in Beynac and used Canoes Roquegeoffre at Port d’Eveaux in Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse and can certainly recommend them. There are a couple of different options - full day or half-day, basically. For the half-day, allow at least 2 ½ hrs. They’ll drive you upstream from Port d'Evaux to Les Pendoilles just south of La Roque Gageac and you then canoe back downstream. Their phone number is 05 53 29 54 20 if you want to reserve in advance. Website: http://canoe-roquegeoffre.com/en/
Three days is sure not enough for the Dordogne, but I suppose it's better than nothing at all. It'll be tough for you to narrow things down as you're spoiled for choice. Good luck and happy travels.
We stayed in Beynac and used Canoes Roquegeoffre at Port d’Eveaux in Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse and can certainly recommend them. There are a couple of different options - full day or half-day, basically. For the half-day, allow at least 2 ½ hrs. They’ll drive you upstream from Port d'Evaux to Les Pendoilles just south of La Roque Gageac and you then canoe back downstream. Their phone number is 05 53 29 54 20 if you want to reserve in advance. Website: http://canoe-roquegeoffre.com/en/
Three days is sure not enough for the Dordogne, but I suppose it's better than nothing at all. It'll be tough for you to narrow things down as you're spoiled for choice. Good luck and happy travels.
Aug 8th, 2011, 08:30 AM
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You don't canoe to caves. My favorite canoe rental outfit is in St-Vincent-de-Cosse. We like to do the 6-km run from just outside La Roque-Gageac.
There's no need for a private guide of any sort. It's extremely easy to navigate around to the sites. Your problem is going to be winnowing down the myriad choices and settling on how to occupy your 3 days...well, 2+ given that a canoe excursion with take at least half a day.
With only 3 days, which is really really deplorably short, I wouldn't bother with a bike tour.
There's no need for a private guide of any sort. It's extremely easy to navigate around to the sites. Your problem is going to be winnowing down the myriad choices and settling on how to occupy your 3 days...well, 2+ given that a canoe excursion with take at least half a day.
With only 3 days, which is really really deplorably short, I wouldn't bother with a bike tour.
Aug 9th, 2011, 07:04 AM
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I also don't understand your query about canoeing to visit prehistoric caves.
If you want a 'sportif' private guide, contact Beatrice at http://www.dordogne-fellow-traveller.com. She can organize and lead you on bike tours, hiking tours, and even canoe tours, all custom-tailored to your special interests.
Yes, I know some will say you can plan all this yourself, which of course you can...but if you can afford it, I don't see anything wrong with hiring the right person to take you on a private, guided visit to places and sites you might never discover on your own. Or just use the guide for one day, and spend the other two days independently.
Then start planning your next visit to the Dordogne, and give yourself a full week to explore more deeply.
If you want a 'sportif' private guide, contact Beatrice at http://www.dordogne-fellow-traveller.com. She can organize and lead you on bike tours, hiking tours, and even canoe tours, all custom-tailored to your special interests.
Yes, I know some will say you can plan all this yourself, which of course you can...but if you can afford it, I don't see anything wrong with hiring the right person to take you on a private, guided visit to places and sites you might never discover on your own. Or just use the guide for one day, and spend the other two days independently.
Then start planning your next visit to the Dordogne, and give yourself a full week to explore more deeply.
Aug 10th, 2011, 06:14 PM
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You dont say when you are going, Annette, but to see one of the most famous caves nr you, you should write NOW for tix to Font de Gaume. Search "google" or on this forum for adviec on how to pre-order. I was glad we had, after seeing the turned-asway faces!
And if you go there, I highly recommend la Roque St Christophe as a nearby do -not-miss!!!!! St Cirq recommended it to us via this forum, and i am passing it on to you. it was truly one of THE highlights of our trip to the Dordogne and will make the lives of its inhabitants--prehistoric to medieval-- very real. We loved this place!!
Also since you have limited times, i would NOT recommend some of the villaged East of there across the A20. as lovely as they are (eg Carennac, loubressac) as you will spend too much of your limited precious of time for round -trip car drives. There are lesser known villages closer to you, just north of Sarlat, eg St Genies, st Amand de Coly, which should be 30 or 45 min drives each way...instead of 1.5 hours each way.
http://www.francethisway.com/places/...c-dordogne.php
I like the above site because as you scroll down, you see how far assorted recommended places are from where you 'll be staying (personally, if you'rebort on time i 'd skip St Cyprien).
I hope this helps a little WHATEVER you do, dont try to cram in too much. Think quality over quantity for this trip, knowing you can return in future to see what you missed. That is my plan, anyway!!!
And if you go there, I highly recommend la Roque St Christophe as a nearby do -not-miss!!!!! St Cirq recommended it to us via this forum, and i am passing it on to you. it was truly one of THE highlights of our trip to the Dordogne and will make the lives of its inhabitants--prehistoric to medieval-- very real. We loved this place!!
Also since you have limited times, i would NOT recommend some of the villaged East of there across the A20. as lovely as they are (eg Carennac, loubressac) as you will spend too much of your limited precious of time for round -trip car drives. There are lesser known villages closer to you, just north of Sarlat, eg St Genies, st Amand de Coly, which should be 30 or 45 min drives each way...instead of 1.5 hours each way.
http://www.francethisway.com/places/...c-dordogne.php
I like the above site because as you scroll down, you see how far assorted recommended places are from where you 'll be staying (personally, if you'rebort on time i 'd skip St Cyprien).
I hope this helps a little WHATEVER you do, dont try to cram in too much. Think quality over quantity for this trip, knowing you can return in future to see what you missed. That is my plan, anyway!!!
Aug 10th, 2011, 08:32 PM
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Yes, Yes, CaliNurse. We REALLY liked La Roque St. Christophe, too. Next time, I want to see La Madeleine. There are months worth of stuff to see in the Dordogne. I can't imagine trying to narrow it down to three days. I think I will have to return again and again and again to cover my own wish list.
For more info re: the OP's question about restaurants, there are many Fodor's forum restaurant threads for the Dordogne. Here's a good one: http://tiny.cc/fxr2q
For more info re: the OP's question about restaurants, there are many Fodor's forum restaurant threads for the Dordogne. Here's a good one: http://tiny.cc/fxr2q
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