
Dordogne Family Multisport
Come with your family and discover the Dordogne Valley, where our extraordinary adventure showcases ancient castles and fortresses, villages carved out of cliffs, easy-flowing rivers and forested hills. Canoe along the Dordogne River, stroll along the lush valley floor and bike through walnut groves and fields of wheat. Visit some of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the Most Beautiful Villages of France) and spend nights in the region's finest inns. Sample gourmet delicacies, among them crèpes, confit, foie gras and the wines of Bergerac and Bordeaux, and appreciate the local tradition of living well off the land.
Day 1 Tremolat
Meet in Bergerac
We explore the French farm country by foot today, crossing the Dordogne River twice on this beautiful warm-up route
Hike into the lush landscape that inspired many an artist, past quaint villages, vineyards and limestone cliffs and through wide fields and walnut groves.
Days 2-3 Vitrac
Bicycle alongside the Vézère River to Les Eyzies, the Capital of Prehistory
A guided tour of the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume introduces you to France's finest collection of polychrome cave paintings
Kids have the opportunity to create their own paintings using authentic tools
Put on your walking shoes and head to Domme, one of France's Most Beautiful Villages
Paddle down the Dordogne River in a canoe, enjoying a new perspective on the countryside
Explore Château de Castelnaud, one of the region's most impressive fortified castles, on a private guided tour.
Days 4-6 Lacave
Pedal into the hills en route to Sarlat, where the town's open-air market is in full swing
Visit the fortified 13th-century mill of Cougnaguet, nestled in a beautiful limestone canyon and turned by the waters of the Ouysse River
Here a local sheep farmer takes us on a private guided tour
Continue to the one-time pilgrimage destination of Rocamadour, perched on a cliff above the Alzou Canyon
The younger folks are off to explore the underground world of spelunking
Top off the adventure with a private tour of a local sheep farm and experience an artisan sheep sheering demonstration.
COUNTRYSIDE SPLENDOR : Premiere Inns
LE VIEUX LOGIS (1 night): A charming Relais & Châteaux member with a fine restaurant, beautiful gardens and a stellar swimming pool.
Domaine de Rochebois (2 nights): This member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World is acclaimed for its dazzling swimming pool, formal gardens, nine-hole golf course and unsurpassed valley views.
Château de la Treyne (2 nights): Relais & Châteaux elegance in a 14th-century castle above the Dordogne River, featuring Michelin-starred cuisine and a sparkling swimming pool.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1
3 Route Options Available
- Biking 6, 10, 12 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 4
3 Route Options Available
- Biking 14, 42, 52 miles
- 1000 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 1
1 Route Option Available
- Walking 5 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
- Canoe Float Trip 1.5 hours
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 3
3 Route Options Available
- Biking 11, 22, 37 miles
- 1000 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3
3 Route Options Available
- Biking 13, 28, 38 miles
- 500 - 4500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Conclusion of Trip
On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with rolling hills. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.
Trips For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Average Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biking | Walking & Hiking | ||
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2008 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
- 6/15-20Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1040 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/13-18Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1040 for sgl. occ.)
Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years
Minimum age restrictions:
- Ride own bike: 9 years
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:
- 12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities and route
- 9+ difficulty of activities and route
- 6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
- 3+ riding is on bike paths, making it great for young kids; Burley and Piccolos are available; there are few or no activity restrictions; and no long dinners (or we offer alternatives)
Trip praise
I had a terrific time on this trip and would recommend Backroads to friends. I especially enjoyed the canoe trip, the camaraderie of the group and our leaders, and the cultural and historical activities such as the flour mill tour. Our leaders were wonderfulthey felt like friends.Buda, TX