Bordeaux & Dordogne—Walking Tour

Itinerary at a glance

After meeting in the city of Bordeaux, we head to St. Émilion (2 nights). The ancient village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it’s the flinty vineyards, the limestone caves, and the red vintages that bring us here. And we’ll punctuate our scenic walks with a meal built around a tasting of the region’s finest.

After a short drive to the Dordogne Valley, we take our guide Bart’s favorite footpath to cross farm pastures…clamber over a ruined 12th century castle…and visit the gardens of Château de Marquessac. Settling into Les Eyzies (2 nights), we strike out on a remarkable walk through a valley studded with the fortifications of Domme, Castelnaud and Commarque Castle.

Sworn to secrecy, we’ll go truffle-hunting with our ami Edouard, France’s head master, and lunch on a classic truffle omelet. From Coly (2 nights), a riverside walk in the Vezere Valley leads to a viewing of 27,000-year-old cave art in a site not open to the public. Then we’ll stroll and shop in the tiny villages on the river’s bank. On our final day, we visit the Lascaux II caves before parting company in Brive.