Is it possible to explore the following in 11-12 days?. We are getting a car in Marseilles and wanting to drive to Rocamadour via Carcassone then back to Avignon. We would like to spend 3 nites in the Dordogne area and 3 nites in Avignon area? We are getting into Marseille late,so 1st nite would need to be there. Leaves 4 nites to use. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi BB

well it sounds like quite a decent idea, until you get to the bit where you think you're going to see the whole of the dordogne in 3 days. oops, make that 2 days - you've got 3 nights.

forget the Dordogne, and expore provence. plenty around there including avignon to fill more than 11-12 days. pont du gard, nimes, arles, aix, the camargue, orange..the list goes on and on.

the Dordogne, etc. is a whole different trip. if not two.

regards, ann

Hi B,

It's only about 10 hr, by the sightseeing route from Marseille to Sarlat via Carcassone and Rocamadour.
www.viamichelin.com

I would
give 1 night to Carcassone.
make sure to visit Grotte du Pech-Merle
add 2 nights to the Dordogne
add 1 night to Provence.

Enjoy your visit.

Well, Rocamadour isn't in the Dordogne, but I like ira's suggestion.

Assuming you won't have much jet-lag:

Day 1 arrive

Day 2, Explore Marseille a little in the AM. Carcasonne, Rocamadour, & Mt St Michel are perhaps the sites with the most tourists per square meter in France (outside of Paris). I don't enjoy any of them around mid-day. The best stuff in Carcasonne can only ve visited on a tour. In June to Sept the Chateau is open till 7:30 (according to my Michelin Green Guide). Other months it is closed at 5 or 6 (verify - my guide is old). It is a 3 1/2 hr drive to Carcassonne, and I would plan to get there about 2 hrs before the Chateau closing to avoid the throngs of day-trippers. Visit the Chateau first and tour the remaining part of the city after the Chateau. Sleep in Carcassonne.

Day 3 Get up very early & head to Rocamadour. Get off the freeway at exit #56 and follow the lovely D32 to the city - you'll be rewarded with a lovely view. After Rocamadou,r go to Hospitalet for another lovely view. The view is best in the morning. Then visit the Gouffre de Padirac. Then head to Carennac, and follow the Dordogne River to the Sarlat area. Sleep in the Sarlat area.

Day 4,5,6,7 explore the Dordogne.

Day 8. Several weeks earlier, make a reservation for Peche Merle. Get to the region 1 1/2 hrs before the tour starts and visit St Cirq Lapopie (this will allow a little buffer in case you get held up). After Peche Merle, head back to Provence. Sleep in St Remy or in the Luberon near Gordes/Roussillon/Bonnieux/etc

Day 9,10,11,12 explore Provence.

Stu Dudley

Thanks to all for the great input! We will be spending a week in Spain before getting over to France,so jet lag won't be a problem. I'm so excited just in doing the planning. Always love the thrill of the unknown views around every bend in the road. Thanks to people like you, planning is a whole lot easier. We will be doing our trip in May. Can't get here too soon!!
Thanks again, BB