We can say without doubt that the best cycling conditions are to be found in the Dordogne: quiet country roads to suit all levels of riding, beautiful scenery, and one of the cleanest rivers in Europe to cool off in… La Dordogne. Weather conditions here are great for riding from April to November.

Since 2000, Aquitaine Bike has organized cycling tours throughout France and Spain and worked as consultants to U.S. and British bicycle touring companies. Alongside their bike hire services, they specialize in self-guided custom tours in the Dordogne. Their system and organisation of these cycling tours keep costs to a minimum. Check out their Touring page for details. You can find suggestions for accommodation on the Where to Stay page.

The routes and itineraries that Aquitaine Bike design are the result of 20 years of personal cycling experience in the region and 10 years of client feedback.

Visit their Southwest France Tour page for information on our self-guided trip across Aquitaine, from the Dordogne to the Basque Country.

The Dordogne, or Perigord region, is a treasure of natural beauty, prehistory, history, architecture, and gourmet cuisine built around such delicacies as foie gras, the famous black truffle, walnuts, and fresh strawberries. Magnificent feudal and renaissance castles, prehistoric cave art, quiet country roads linking charming honey-coloured stone villages, meandering rivers, and dense oak and chestnut forests full with deer and wild boar. This magical land will enchant you!

Aquitaine Bike are fully insured and listed with the Ministry of Health, Youth, and Sports, reference number 02407ET0126.

Robert and Amy Owensmith
24220 Coux et Bigaroque, France
Email: aquitainebike@gmail.com
Tel / Fax: +33 (0) 553.30.35.17

For more info visit: www.aquitainebike.com

Aquitaine Bike is highly recommended by

■ B&B Ferme de Tayac : www.fermedetayac.com
■ Scenic Dordogne : www.scenicdordogne.com
■ Walking Dordogne : www.walkingdordogne.com
■ Les Eyzies Tourist Info : www.leseyzies-tourist.info
■ The Dordogne : www.thedordogne.com
■ Dordogne Tourist Info : www.dordognetourist.info
■ Duke of Dordogne : www.dukeofdordogne.com
■ High on Mountain Biking : www.highonmountainbiking.com

Walking Dordogne has put together without any doubt the best Mountain Biking Trails in the Dordogne. Their trails are suitable for all levels.

For more videos click HERE ==>

Walking Dordogne’s notorious trails to date are :

• The Devils Play Ground
• Satan’s Fury
• Devils Backbone
• Valley of Revenge
• Hells Gorge
• Dordogne Mayhem

Walking Dordogne will be adding two “Dordogne Epic” tours to their 2010 list of tours. These 2 Epics will be all day rides, if lucky they can be done in 7-10 hours, and will take you about 80% off road.

For more info visit : www.walkingdordogne.com

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Walking Dordogne has about 20 excellent walks in their Itinerary, varying from 3 hours to 10 hours, most walks can be combined with other walks to make them longer or shorter. Our walks are guaranteed to show you the REAL Dordogne, and take you to all the main highlights this region is famous for.

Our walks are suitable for all ages, but for most walks a certain level of fitness and stamina is required. Most walks are on tracks & trails, some marked, others not. Certain walks to caves, dwellings, ruins and view points are off the tracks, and up hill walking is often required.
Some of our walks may not be suitable for people with a fear of heights.

The great thing about Walking Dordogne is that our walks are not planned months or weeks ahead, we usually plan the walks together with the customer the day before, depending on the wishes and preferences of the customer, this way we can make sure everyone gets to see what they want to see. If the walks are done in combination, with canoeing or horse riding, then these walks are usually planned ahead, to guarentee the use of the horses or canoes.

Our most popular day hikes are :

 The Valley of Caves * round trip * 9+ hours but can be combined with other hikes to make it longer or shorter * must be fit and adventurous

The Valley of Caves tour, is a 9+ hour hike for the “die hards” it is a strenuous version of the “Ode to the Neanderthal” hike. On this thrill seeking, adrenaline pumping hike, you will get dirty, you will get tired, you will be cursing, but you will have the best time of your life!! On this trip of a lifetime we go prepared with camelbacks, headtorches, and extra batteries. We venture deep into caves, crawling into caverns, follow an ancient once river now cave, we will climb to hidden caves, and lots more, If it’s caves you want to see, then Welcome to the “Valley of Caves”

 In the footsteps of the Mammoth * round trip * 4-5 hours but can be combined with other hikes to make it longer or shorter

In the footsteps of the Mammoth is a exciting 4 – 5 hour round trip hike, 90% of this walk is off the beaten track, it is also part of the “Valley of Caves” and “Ode to the Neaderthal” trips. Highligts on this trip are numerous caves, some excellent troglodytes, an amazing rock ledge and shelters, fantastic views of the Vezere Valley and a ruined village, left behind hundreds of years ago.

 Prehistoric, Romans and Medieval * round trip * 4-5 hours

Our Prehistoric, Romans and Medieval hike is an extremely interesting 4 – 5 hour hike through history, from the Prehistoric “Cap Blanc” and some excellent Troglodytes, to the Medieval stronghold village Commarque to the Roman roads, canal and bridges hidden in the Beune Valley. This trip is a MUST for anyone with an interest in various historic periods.

 Hells Gorge * round trip * 4-5 hours

Hells Gorge, the name say’s it all, we follow an ancient track that cuts through the gorge. Here you will see the largest Prehistoric Overhang in Europe. We will venture into some hidden and unmapped caves  and shelters, you will also explore the ruins of a Templars Hospital, an ancient sacrafice spot, excellent views and lots more. All in all an unforgettable 4-5 hour round trip.

 Ode to the Neanderthal * round trip * 7-8 hours but can be combined with other hikes to make it longer or shorter

Ode to the Neanderthal is Walking Dordogne’s most popular trip, it is a thrilling 7-8 hour round trip that takes you off the beaten track to the best kept secrets in the Vezere Valley. About 40 unmapped prehistoric caves, troglodytes, shelters excellent views of the Vezere Valley, and lots more. This trip can be combined with “Valley of Caves” and “In the Footsteps of the Mammoth” tours, to make it longer or shorter.

 The ring of Eyzies * round trip * 4-5 hours but can be combined with other hikes to make it longer or shorter

The “Ring of Eyzies” is a fantastic 4-5 hour hike taking you to unmapped, long forgotten and hidden treasures in and around Les Eyzies de Tayac. We will venture off the beaten track into some great caves and Troglodytes, you will have wonderful views of the surrounding area, and we will follow some ancient tracks used 1000′s of years ago by our ancestors.

 For more info visit : www.walkingdordogne.com

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Ferme de Fonluc is situated in the hart of the Vezere Valley in Tayac, just 10 minutes walk from Les Eyzies de Tayac. We have the Vezere river running through our land, and stunning views of the Limestone rock faces riddled with Prehistoric dwellings.

Ferme de Fonluc is an ideal place to spend your vacation, a beautiful Perigordine’s farmhouse nestled away in the Vezere Valley surrounded
by lush fields and woodland with spectacular views of the limestone cliffs that are riddled with prehistoric dwellings and the Vezere river running through it. Being just 10 minutes walk from Les Eyzies, it is an ideal place to experience the Prehistoric Capitol, but to escape the very busy tourist villages / attractions.

Horse riding in the Dordogne is an absolute unique experience, nowhere else in the world can you visibly travel through more than 250000 years of history, from neanderthal dwellings, through Cro-Magnon settlements to Medieval towns and villages, all within a day. The Vezere valley in the hart of the Perigord Noir is with it’s more than 250 UNESCO sites of interest the undisputed Prehistoric Capital of the World. Most of these sites are only accessible on foot or horseback. Vezere Valley, Lascaux, La Madeleine, Commarque, Font de Gaume, these are just a very small list of the treasures on our doorstep.
Ferme de Fonluc guarantees you horse riding trips and multi day treks that you will never forget, you will get to see the real Dordogne, and see places in the Prehistoric Capital of the World that tourists never get to see.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6BNqd0emX8 

For more info visit : www.fonluc.com  and / or www.dordogneonhorse.com

Canoeing & Canoe / Hike

Both the Dordogne and Vezere are named after the rivers that cut through the area.  A lot has changed over the years, 1000′s of years to be precise.
Ever since “Man” came and settled in the Vezere Valley, the sheer limestone cliffs have been ideal spots to use as shelters, safe from the dangers that our ancestors faced, wild animals, severe weather, and other tribes.
Some of Dordogne’s best kept secrets are still to be found along the rivers, and only accessible by canoe or canoe / hike.

Our canoe trips leave at the crack of dawn, chances are you will spot deer, wild boar, otters, buzzards, kingfishers, fox and plenty of other wildlife.
We will pass Chateaus, ancient farmhouses, troglodytes and caves, and this is all on the way to our exploring grounds.

For more info visit : www.walkingdordogne.com 

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