provence/languedoc/dordogne.Am I trying to do too much?
 

Well as I've stated, our trip details are being finalized, we are leaving in under two weeks and now I'm being haunted by last minute ideas that seem good but I don't have any objectivity anymore. Here is a rough itinerary:
Wed,June 15 arrive in Nice (from Florence) at 4pm spend night
June 16 Head to Gordes (going north of Nice and heading west) where we will be based until the 21st
June 17 Gordes, Menerbes, Bonnieux, Lacoste Roussillon, Goult
june 18 St Remy, Les Baux, Arles
june 19 Isle sur la Sorgue, Carpentras, Sault, Simeon la Rotunde
June 20 Cassis with a Calanque hike
June 21 Pont du Gard, Uzes then head directly to Collioure, spend night in Collioure
June 22 drive north to Beynac (maybe hitting St. Cirq and Rocamadour on the way?
June 23-25 I haven't specifically figured out those days but we are doing the "biggies" Sarlat, La Roque Gageac, Domme, Les Eyzies, Lascaux....all while based in Beynac
June 26 Bourdeilles, Perigeaux, Brantome, Angouleme...spend night in Angouleme (drop off car)
June 27 morning train to Paris
Now, it's not nearly as specific as some other itineraries that I've read but my main question is, should we do the passing Languedoc phase (Collioure then driving north) or should we just drive straight from Provence to Beynac? I'm really drawn to Collioure and the idea of breaking up the drive from Gordes to Beynac (although I'm going out of my way by going as south as Collioure). I'm also drawn to St. Cirq's and Stu's itinerary from Languedoc to the Dordogne!This was a last minute idea and I can't see the forest for the trees...HELP!!

Doesn't sound bad at all. We did a similar roadtrip two years ago. It is not difficult driving (although the trip from Provence to Languedoc for me was tiresome as we took the highway most of the way after seeing Pont du Gard one morning. After falling in love with Provence, we were entranced as well by the Dordogne. What a lovely country.

>>>should we do the passing Languedoc phase (Collioure then driving north) or should we just drive straight from Provence to Beynac? I'm really drawn to Collioure and the idea of breaking up the drive from Gordes to Beynac <<<

Save Collioure for another trip.

You probably won't finish with Uzes & the Pont du Gard till 2:00 or so at the earliest - don't rush through these wonderful places (see the museum at the Pont). Then you will have a very boring 3 hr drive to Collioure (Mappy says it's 3 - I think it's longer). That will get you there & checked into the hotel at 6 or later - not much time to enjoy the town. It's an all freeway, boring, 5 hr drive from Colloiure to Beynac the next day, so you will have to leave Collioure early. If the traffic is bad around Perpignan (probably rush hour for both going & coming) add 1/2 hr to the trip.

I think a much better plan is to stay overnight in Carcassone, and see the town the same day as Uzes. Next day, take my drive north & stop in St Cirq Lapopie & Peche Merle.

Collioure is OK, but not worth the drive if you are just going to be able to enjoy it for a few hours.

Stu Dudley

Hi H&C,

If you stay off the toll roads,
www.mappy.com says the drive from Collioure to Beynac is 6:20 hr.

www.viamichelin.com has a slightly different route that takes 6:16 hr.

That won't leave you any time to visit St. Cirq and Rocamadour.

Collioure to Rocamdour is 6+ hr.

I started last June planning my trip to the Dordogne. By February I had adjusted, adjusted and adjusted. I now have an itinerary with which I am satisfied.

I'm not going to change it, despite the fact that there are many things we would like to see, but won't

You can't see it all.

I suggest that if you have a plan you like, stick with it.

You will go back.

Have a great trip.

((I))

thank you all. It was just the editing advice needed. I also have to keep in mind that we will have just come from a month of traveling and slowing down is probably smart.
May 19-24 Istanbul
May24-29 Puglia (based in Lecce)
May 29-June 4 Amalfi Coast (based in Sorrento)
June 4-9 Rome
June 9-15 Florence (with day trip to Lucca and possible Ravenna if we have energy)
June 15-16 Nice
June 16-21 Provence (based in Gordes)
June 21-26 Dordogne (based in Beynac)
June 26-27 Charente-Angouleme
June 27-July2 Paris
July 2-6 Amsterdam
I think Colliere will have to wait...carcassone however...hm...that's a fun idea Stu...

Hi H&C,

Stopping in Carcassone is a good idea.

You could also drive Uzes to Conques via Figeac (4 hr), spend the night and go on to Beynac via Cahors (3 hr)

You could see the Grotte de Peche Merle near Cabrerets.

((I))

thanks Ira-
These are all really good ideas. I'm more inclined to do the Carsassone route because I'm also intrigued by Albi. I'm wondering how doable it is to start out early morning from Carcassone and see Albi, st Cirq and Peche Merle and end up at Beynac before dark...

>>I'm wondering how doable it is to start out early morning from Carcassone and see Albi, st Cirq and Peche Merle and end up at Beynac before dark...<<

That's doable. The only trick is to make sure you get to Albi before all the stores close at 1:00, and then plan things so you arrive at your reserved time for the Peche Merle tour. St Cirq LaPopie can be a 45 min visit or a 2 hr visit - depending if you are ahead or behind scheule. Don't take the freeway for any portion of this day's trip, except after St Cirq Lapopie, and just from Carcassone to Castelnaudry.

Stu Dudley

From the Provence I would take two days by going up the Gorges de l'Ardèche and down the Gorges du Tarn. That will get you to Albi.