HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Area: The area that is generally now known as the Dordogne includes the old departments of Perigord and Quercy - now called the Dordogne and Lot after the two main rivers that dissect the region. The Perigord region to the north is an outstandingly picturesque area of France, and probably represents many people’s idea of what ‘rural’ France should be like. Gentle rivers slowly meander through fields of maize and corn, and woods of walnut and oak, past tiny villages of golden limestone, and clifftop castles. To the south the dryer Quercy region is more sparsely populated. Here the River Lot has cut a deep valley through a vast, bare limestone plateau (the causses), and settlements are further apart. However between them the two regions have some outstanding examples of rural arcitecture. There is an official list of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’ and the area has the highest number of listed villages anywhere in the country. In addition caves in the limestone plateau were inhabited by early man, who left more evidence of their habitation, most notably in the form of cave paintings, than anywhere else in Europe.

The Holiday: This holiday is designed to show you the delights of the region, and the route is rather winding at times to include as many of the attractive villages and ‘sights’ as possible. Large parts of the route are along river valleys where the terrain is mostly gently undulating, although there are a few minor hills along the way. However there are some steeper climbs where the route takes you away from the river onto the surrounding plateau, or up to some of the villages on the side of the valleys, but again these are generally mostly short and not too demanding. Most of the Bike Adventures route follows minor roads, and traffic is generally light. However you do pass through several towns, including Cahors, Figeac and Sarlat-la-Canada, where traffic is heavier, and the route does take you through some very popular tourist villages, particularly in the Dordogne Valley, and roads around these can be a little busier for a while. You should ensure that the holiday is within your capabilities based on the information provided. You are responsible for ensuring that you reach the accommodation at the end of the day, and no refunds will be given should you fail to complete a day’s ride.

Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is in small hotels or B&B's (Chambre d'Hôtes). All the accommodation is privately owned and run, and as such does vary. Some are in the centre of towns or villages, others are in small hamlets with few local amenities. We have tried where possible to mix types of accommodation so that you will get to try various different styles on each trip. Note: If you are booking a trip by yourself, or are part of a group but have requested a single room each night, there is an additional supplement of £30.00 per night. In most establishments en-suite facilities are standard and we include these where possible, but this cannot be guaranteed. Breakfast is included at all the accommodation. You should note that breakfast in France is generally not as substantial as breakfast in the UK. No other meals or drinks are included in the cost of the trip. The accommodation has been chosen so that there will be somewhere nearby for a meal in the evening, (or if there is no nearby restaurant an evening meal will be available at the accommodation - 'Table d'Hôtes'). Further details are given in the route information that comes with the trip.

The Start and Finish: The holiday starts and finishes near Bergerac in the Dordogne Valley. Your route will start at either the airport at Bergerac or the pleasant nearby town of Lalinde. You can fly directly to Bergerac from the UK; flights are available from Liverpool, East Midlands and Stansted airports, or there are high speed trains from Paris (with a Eurostar connection from London) to Lalinde. You may book the flight/train yourself (or make your own alternative arrangements), or if you wish us to make the booking for you we can do so (an additional fee is payable). A separate form will be sent to you.

Documents: British Nationals require a full passport to visit France. If you are from the UK or another EU country, Canada, the USA, Norway or New Zealand a passport is all you need. Nationals of some other countries require a visa.

Bikes & Cycling: The type of bicycle that you bring for this tour is entirely up to you. Some people take mountain bikes, others touring machines. The most important thing is that you are used to the bike and are comfortable riding it. You should make sure that your bike has suitable gears for this sort of trip. There are few steep climbs along the way and do not forget that you will be carrying your luggage which may mean that you may need a lower gear than you would normally use.

Weather: The weather here is generally very pleasant, with warm sunny days and temperatures in the mid to high 20’s. The summer is usually mostly dry, but, as always, you should take a rainjacket in case you are unlucky.