Compare Canoeing on the Dordogne by Headwater Holidays vs Four days in Saint-Emilion, Margaux, Blaye & Cadillac by Memosine
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 9 days | 4 days |
| Price From | $ 1,665 | $ 1,655 |
| Price Per Day | $ 185 | $ 414 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Basic |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
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| Description |
This canoeing holiday offers a leisurely way to explore one of France's most interesting waterways. The Dordogne River runs alongside glorious golden-pink limestone cliffs and passes the walnut groves and truffle woods of the Perigord, an area rich in history and striking views. The canoeing is safe, not demanding, and we give you a lesson on handling your canoe before you set off. There are no major weirs to carry your canoe round, and the flow of the water does much of the work for you giving you plenty of opportunities for sightseeing as you travel downstream past both imposing and magnificent chateaux, mediaeval villages, and prehistoric sites including the Grotte de Lacave. There are plenty of diversions away from the river too; from Carennac visit the Gouffre de Padirac, or, from Meyronne, get to Rocamadour, a spectacular cliff-clinging town. The local gourmet markets at Sarlat are also a great way to experience Dordogne culture and taste amazing produce such as duck, walnuts, goose and cheeses. |
At the wheel of your storytelling convertible buggy, equipped with a GPS tablet-guide, you will explore Margaux’s famous great growth Châteaux, the UNESCO-listed citadel of Blaye, the medieval city of Saint-Emilion, the Sauternes and the Château of La Bère in the Graves. Always at your own pace! Drive along charming small roads that follow the banks of the Gironde Estuary lined with numerous Charterhouses, former holiday homes. Take the legendary “Route des Châteaux” all the way to Margaux. Open the door of an 1855 “Grand Cru” Château and a family property, discover the secrets of wine-making and taste their wine. |
Day 1 - Arrive at Sarlat
Accommodation: Hotel de Meysset
Our 3-star hotel is a lovely country house, set in three acres of private pine woods, overlooking the Sarlat valley.
Day 2 - Sarlat / Carennac 15km/9.5mi/4hr
Accommodation: Hostellerie Fénélon
After breakfast, we take you upstream to near the pretty riverside town of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne for the briefing and canoeing lesson. Then it's an easy paddle down to Carennac. This is one of the Dordogne's most picturesque villages, with lovely C16 houses. Our hotel, with outdoor pool, is right in the heart of the village, overlooking the river.
Day 3 - At Carennac
Accommodation: Hostellerie Fénélon
A fairytale village with a jumble of cottages and C16 turreted manor houses along with the remains of the ramparts and the once-magnificent priory. Fenelon, still celebrated as the village's most famous son, was the very popular bishop here in 1681, and a local aperitif is named after him! It's fun exploring the narrow streets and alleyways and walks around the village, and on the causse provide some of the very best views of the Dordogne. To explore further afield, you might like to hire a bike and visit the Gouffre de Padirac (9km away), one of the region's important spectacles where you'll find amazing caverns, huge galleries, and a boat trip on the underwater lake.
Day 4 - Carennac / Meyronne 20km/12.5mi/4hr
Accommodation: Hotel La Terrasse
On the first part of the journey you pass below massive cliffs, paddling past four impressive riverside chateaux before arriving at Meyronne and our spectacular C11 chateau hotel.
Day 5 - At Meyronne
Accommodation: Hotel La Terrasse
Why not relax at the hotel's pool, or take a pleasant walk to the south of the river, by the Rochers Ste Marie and the Grotte de Lacave? Rocamadour (only a 15km taxi ride away), together with the Mont St Michel, is France's most venerated religious site. Kings once climbed the steps to the basilica on their knees, sailors prayed to the Black Madonna when in peril and the bell of her chapel rang each time she rescued another ship. The chapel is full of little model ships presented in gratitude.
Day 6 - Meyronne / Souillac 16km/10mi/4hr
Accommodation: Hotel Le Quercy
Today is an easy paddle, with lots of interesting things to see along the river. You'll pass, and can visit, the Grotte de Lacave (over a mile of caverns with curious stalactites reflecting in the water) and some beautiful riverside chateaux (look out for Belcastel and the impressive Chateau de la Treyne in particular).
Day 7 - At Souillac
Accommodation: Hotel Le Quercy
The prosperous farming country around Souillac was created from marshland by industrious C12-13 Benedictine monks. Of the powerful abbey they built, just the abbey church remains, with outstanding bas-relief sculpture. Today Souillac is a bustling town, with good shops and a weekly local market. Visit the Musee de l'automate, the largest collection of mechanical toys and dolls in France.
Day 8 - Souillac / Sarlat 12km/7.5mi/3hr
Accommodation: Hotel de Meysset
Relaxed canoeing down to Grolejac via St Julien (lovely village, good lunch stop) through the heart of peaceful and prosperous Perigord countryside, with lots of time for swimming or lazing by the river. We pick you up from here and take you to Sarlat in time to explore the old regional capital before dinner. The Vieux Quartier is an astonishingly beautiful jumble of varying architectural styles, virtually all pre-C17.
Day 9 - Leave Sarlat
You leave your hotel after breakfast.
Day 1: Bordeaux, Margaux, Blaye, 50km
- 10:00 am: Departure from the Memosine agency in Bordeaux
- 10:30 am: Admire your first vines and drive along the Gironde estuary
- 11:30 am: Visit of an 1855 classified great growth Château followed by a wine-tasting*
- 3:00 pm: Lunch (not included)
- 2:30 pm: Legendary Castle Road to Margaux
- 3:00 pm: Wine-tasting visit in lovely Cru Bourgeois Château**
- 4:30 pm: Ferry crossing Lamarque-Blaye
- 6:00 pm: Settle in your charming guesthouse in Blaye***
Classified Château: Dauzac, Desmirail, Prieuré-Lichine **Cru Bourgeois Château: Lamothe-Bergeron, Haut-Breton Larigaudière ***Guesthouse: Clos Réaud, Villa Prémayac
Day 2: Blaye, Bourg sur Gironde, Saint-Emilion, 60km
- 08:30 am: Breakfast at the guesthouse (included)
- 10:00 am: Free visit of Blaye Citadel
- 11:30 am: Drive along the Dordogne river past charming Bourg-sur-Gironde
- 1:00 pm: Lunch (not included)
- 3:30 pm: Wine-tasting visit in a Fronsac appellation Château on the way to Saint-Emilion*
- 6:00:pm: Night amongst the Saint-Emilion vineyards**
Château: La Rivière **Guesthouse: Franc Grâce-Dieu, Haut-Sarpe
Day 3: Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Sauternes, 90km
- 08:30 am: Breakfast (included)
- 10:00 am: Wine-tasting visit in the lovely family property*
- 11:00 am: Famous Châteaux loop to see Pomerol, Domaine de Petrus, Châteaux Cheval Blanc and Angelus
- 12:00 am: Lunch (not included)
- 2:30 pm: Guided visit of the Saint-Emilion underground monuments and monolithic church
- 3:30 pm: Free time around Saint-Emilion
- 4:30 pm: Leisurely drive to Sauternes past Saint-Macaire medieval city
- 6:30 pm: Night amongst the vineyards Sauternes**
Château: Franc Grâce-Dieu, Haut-Sarpe **Guesthouse: Relais du silence du Château d’Arche
Day 4: Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, 80km
- 08:30 am: Breakfast (included)
- 10:00 am: Wine-tasting visit in the property of Sauternes appellation*
- 11:00 am: Stop by Château Yquem and drive along the Landes forest
- 12:30 pm: Lunch in the Graves wine region (not included)
- 2:30 pm: Visit of the Château of La Brède, former home of world-famous philosopher De Montesquieu
- 4:00 pm: Stop at the Sources of Caudalie, famous for their grape-based cosmetics
- 5:00 pm: Drive across the Graves region and back to Bordeaux along its 18th-century quays
- 6:00 pm: Arrival at the agency in the Chartrons district of Bordeaux
