Lot Valley Cycling 9 Days

Active Adventure

Our tour to the Lot Valley takes you to La France Profonde, or “Deep France” — a hidden land of stunning beauty and a surprise at every turn. It is away from the tourist crowds, but an astonishing number of internationally acclaimed sites dot this quiet landscape in southwest France. In its January 2001 issue, Travel & Leisure declared the Lot Valley one of the 100 “fabulous places (and things)” of 2001!

Typical Day

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Gourdon, a lovely town with a charming medieval quarter of narrow streets, and a 14th century Gothic church. Cliff will give you the bikes and a briefing for the tour.

Day 2
Head through the Bouriane through Daglan, St-Pompont, and Besse. Your destination is Monpazier, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved bastides of the Perigord. Bastides were fortified towns built in a grid pattern and surrounded by ramparts.

Day 3
Pedal past mighty Biron castle, besieged by Simon de Montfort in 1211, then enter the department of Lot-et-Garonne. Ride into the Vallée de Gavaudun, where high cliffs pocked with caves loom over the river valley. Pause at the village of Gavaudun, perhaps climb to the old crenelated keep on its rocky spur. Soon you’ll arrive at Mauroux where you’ll stay two nights.

Day 4
Today’s highlight is Bonaguil castle, the majestic fortress on the border between the Périgord and Quercy and one of the best examples of 15th– and 16th-century military architecture in France. You can also ride to Villefranche-du-Périgord, a beautiful bastide town.

Day 5
Pedal through Puy L’Éveque, on one of the most picturesque sites on the Lot, and into the vineyards, famous for their dark red wines. Pass the feudal castle of La Coste and look for the carved doors in Douelle, then arrive in Cahors, an ancient city dating back to Gallo-Roman times. Be sure to visit the beautiful medieval bridge of Valentré.

Day 6
Today’s ride is short, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular views and explore St-Cirq-Lapopie, perched on 100-foot high cliffs. You’ll stay here for two nights.

Day 7
Visit the Grotte de Pech Merle, full of wonderful prehistoric paintings, then ride into the tranquil and green Célé Valley, dotted with beautiful old villages and the remains of châteaux. Return to St-Cirq-Lapopie.

Day 8
Leave the Lot Valley and the dry limestone causse to return to the green hills of the Bouriane. Watch for the ornate dormer windows, unique to the Bouriane. Today’s destination is Gourdon.

Day 9
Enjoy a final stroll around Gourdon before departing on a new adventure

Sleeping and meals

Accommodations
Our excellent family-owned hotels are the Hostellerie de la Bouriane in Gourdon, Hotel Eduard I in Monpazier, Hostellerie Le Vert in Mauroux, Hotel Terminus in Cahors, and Hotel de la pelissaria in St-Cirq-Lapopie.

Other Information

Price Includes
-eight nights’ accommodation in small family-run hotels of two and three stars
-all breakfasts and two dinners
-use of a top quality 21-speed Trek hybrid bike complete with handlebar bag, pump and all the necessary accessories for changing flats(We recommend you to bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons)
-detailed Route Descriptions and maps
-luggage transfers
-suggestions on where to eat and interesting side trips to take
-Area manager available during the duration of the tour.