Ophorus

History of "5 Days Dordogne Private Travel Package (Private)"

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Version 27 – September 13, 2023 09:59

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Terms and conditions
  • All our terms & conditions can be found here: https://www.ophorus.com/terms-sales
  • Ophorus requires a deposit of 30% on booking confirmation with balance to be made at least 30 days prior to arrival (in case of last minute registration payment is expected immediately). We accept payment by credit cards (Visa, Master card, American Express) or bank transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest). There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%.
  • No insurance for cancellation or assistance is included in the prices mentioned for all packages. Each customer has to check that he or she has the appropriate documents for their journey: a passport (with visa if necessary) or a valid ID card. No refund will be granted in case of lack or loss of ID documents. Eating, drinking and smoking on board the minivans are strictly forbidden (law of September 17th, 1977). All passengers are insured during the excursions while in the vans. The responsibility of Ophorus is limited to our insurance contract clauses.

Version 26 – September 13, 2023 09:53

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Blocked dates
  • 2024-01-01, 2024-05-01, 2024-12-25

Version 25 – September 13, 2023 09:52

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Group info
  • We can handle any group size (from 8 people) ranging from small groups to large groups of hundreds of people. Transportation options include private vehicles, mini-vans, mini-buses and large buses.
  • Just get in touch to find out more! Contact us by email: [email protected] (groups from 8 people)
  • For groups of 2-8 people please fill out this form: ophorus.com/contact-us/
  • For larger groups don’t hesitate to contact us.

Version 24 – April 05, 2023 10:03

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Previous Version
Trip difficulty
  • Moderate

Version 23 – April 05, 2023 10:03

Current Version
Previous Version
Health items
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
  • COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
  • COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers

Version 20 – April 05, 2023 10:03

Current Version
Previous Version
Know Before You Go
  • currency is in euros, please be ready 10 minutes before arrival time, wear comfortable walking shoes
  • currency is in euros, please be ready 10 minutes before arrival time
Address
  • Address:

  • Address:
  • Address: Ophorus Day Trips & Wine Tours in the Loire Valley, Boulevard Pierre 1er, Le Bouscat, France,

  • Address: Sarlat-la-Canéda, France,

Version 19 – April 05, 2023 10:02

Current Version
Previous Version
Know Before You Go
  • currency is in euros, please be ready 10 minutes before arrival time
  • please be ready 10 minutes before arrival time

Version 18 – April 05, 2023 09:59

Current Version
Previous Version
Description
  • Based in Sarlat, in the heart of the Dordogne region, follow us on this 5-day tour to discover the essential of what this fascinating French province has to offer. Follow your guide on this small group tour and visit one of the most well preserved 17th century town during its bustling market day.
  • You will also experience a unique visit at Lascaux IV cave that will plunge you back to the origins of Art. The tour also includes the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the area as well as a boat ride on the River Dordogne so as to admire stunning landscapes and mighty medieval fortresses lined up along the River.
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN SARLAT 
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR AND VILLAGES
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT AND THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE 
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
  • You will also experience a unique visit at Lascaux IV cave that will plunge you back to the origins of Art. The tour also includes the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the area as well as a boat ride on the River Dordogne so as to admire stunning landscapes and mighty medieval fortresses lined up along the River.
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN SARLAT 
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR AND VILLAGES
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT AND THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE 
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
Full Description
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN SARLAT
  • Arrive in Sarlat on your own and settle into your hotel. Night in Sarlat.
  • Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and is one of the most representative towns of 14th century France. Located in the heart of the Perigord Noir, the town possesses an outstanding number of buildings and houses dating from the 13th to 18th century. Take some time to stroll through the small narrow alleys and streets for personal discovery.
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR & VILLAGES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.30am pick up at your hotel.
  • Experience the Best of Historic Sarlat in Two Hours
  • Follow your guide on a 2-hour walking tour and discover all the main sites the town has to offer including the Lantern of the Dead, Saint Sacerdos Cathedral, Saint Mary church and covered market, the house of La Boétie and so much more. On Wednesdays and Saturdays your guide will also point out all the main specialties that one can find in the Sarlat Market.
  • A Perfect Half-Day Jaunt Through the Magic of the Dordogne Valley
  • In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful village of Domme. With its trapezoid city plan, Domme is a bastide (a fortified medieval town) adapted to the surrounding terrain, and thus falling short of the rectangular city plan characteristic to Bastides. The village is classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France”). In 1307, Knight Templars were imprisoned in Domme while during the Hundred Years’ War, the town was coveted by the English who first took it in 1347 and repeatedly changed rulers throughout the war until 1437 when it finally fell under French rule again.
  • Then drive to La Roque Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire mighty castles that line the river. You can also discover the Gardens of La Roque that benefit from micro-climate conditions and where local vegetation stands alongside more exotic plants such as Banana trees, agave and Bougainvillea flowers.
  • Finally, reach Beynac to admire the village and the Castle. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built from the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defenses were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican. After the tour, return to Sarlat.
  • 5.30pm Return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT & THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am Pick up at your hotel
  • Start with a Visit to the National Prehistory Museum
  • Some 15,000 years B.C. unknown artists created breathtaking paintings, drawings and etchings inside caves of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. During this day you will be introduced to this fascinating art and to the people who created it.
  • Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum. Established in July 2004, the museum houses some 18,000 pieces and a collection of six million artifacts. The museum’s collections were established as early as 1913, when indefatigable researcher Denis Peyrony convinced the French state to acquire the Château des Eyzies, built at the end of the 16th century, and to transform it into an excavation warehouse that could double up as a museum. Follow your guide and discover the main chapters of the Hominids’ development through an anthropological frieze and a brief reminder of Africa’s history, starting with the early Australopithecines. Many themes are explored, including the legendary “Lucy”, the small 3.5-million-year-old woman discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. You will then visit the permanent exhibit galleries that will plunge you into the mists of time, revealing seven sequences that cover the entire Paleolithic era through an “ideal historiography”.
  • Visit the Incredible Lascaux IV Cave Complex
  • Continue to Montignac where you will visit the brand-new Lascaux IV cave – open December 2016. For the first time, all of Lascaux is revealed. A complete new replica retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave. But that’s not the end of the adventure: the entire site inquires into the position that Lascaux occupies in cave art and its relation to contemporary creation. The opening of the International Center for Cave Art marks the beginning of a new adventure combining the emotion of ancestral art and an important technological achievement.
  • Then, a Visit to the Famous Rouffignac Cave
  • Finally, end the tour with the visit of Rouffignac Cave that possesses original and authentic etchings and drawings. The Rouffignac cave was already mentioned in 1575 by François de Belleforest. In his book, ”Cosmographie universelle”, he cites “paintings and animal traces”. In the 19th century, the cave was known as a tourist attraction. Famous archaeologists like Henry Breuil, André Glory and Martel had visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it was only in 1956 when Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, rediscovered and confirmed the cave art. After the visit, return to Sarlat.
  • 6.00pm return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am pick up at your hotel.
  • Rocamadour - A Picture-Perfect Visit Awaits
  • Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour that has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. The village is renowned for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has brought pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. Follow your guide and visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, part of an extraordinary 13th-century chapel complex perched on a cliff and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Sarlat.
  • Lunch will be at leisure.
  • Discover Padirac cave with a boat tour
  • After an extraordinary boat journey along the Rivière Plane, the vault rises, the walls move further apart, and the Lac de la Pluie appears… This area of constant seepage is an unbelievable, unique vision. The ceiling is thinner and more fissured, so it lets in raindrops from ground level that constantly replenish this underground lake. The raindrops carry dissolved limestone, which they deposit in the form of stalactites that, over the centuries, have come to form spectacular decorations.
  • Just above, the Grande Pendeloque (Great Chandelier), a 60-m-long series of calcite formations, hangs in mid-air, as though it were the set piece for an unusual theatre.
  • 5.00pm Return to hotel in Sarlat.
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
  • Breakfast at your hotel and end of our services.
  • Based in Sarlat, in the heart of the Dordogne region, follow us on this 5-day tour to discover the essential of what this fascinating French province has to offer. Follow your guide on this small group tour and visit one of the most well preserved 17th century town during its bustling market day.
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN SARLAT
  • Arrive in Sarlat on your own and settle into your hotel. Night in Sarlat.
  • Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and is one of the most representative towns of 14th century France. Located in the heart of the Perigord Noir, the town possesses an outstanding number of buildings and houses dating from the 13th to 18th century. Take some time to stroll through the small narrow alleys and streets for personal discovery.
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR & VILLAGES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.30am pick up at your hotel.
  • Experience the Best of Historic Sarlat in Two Hours
  • Follow your guide on a 2-hour walking tour and discover all the main sites the town has to offer including the Lantern of the Dead, Saint Sacerdos Cathedral, Saint Mary church and covered market, the house of La Boétie and so much more. On Wednesdays and Saturdays your guide will also point out all the main specialties that one can find in the Sarlat Market.
  • A Perfect Half-Day Jaunt Through the Magic of the Dordogne Valley
  • In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful village of Domme. With its trapezoid city plan, Domme is a bastide (a fortified medieval town) adapted to the surrounding terrain, and thus falling short of the rectangular city plan characteristic to Bastides. The village is classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France”). In 1307, Knight Templars were imprisoned in Domme while during the Hundred Years’ War, the town was coveted by the English who first took it in 1347 and repeatedly changed rulers throughout the war until 1437 when it finally fell under French rule again.
  • Then drive to La Roque Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire mighty castles that line the river. You can also discover the Gardens of La Roque that benefit from micro-climate conditions and where local vegetation stands alongside more exotic plants such as Banana trees, agave and Bougainvillea flowers.
  • Finally, reach Beynac to admire the village and the Castle. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built from the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defenses were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican. After the tour, return to Sarlat.
  • 5.30pm Return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT & THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am Pick up at your hotel
  • Start with a Visit to the National Prehistory Museum
  • Some 15,000 years B.C. unknown artists created breathtaking paintings, drawings and etchings inside caves of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. During this day you will be introduced to this fascinating art and to the people who created it.
  • Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum. Established in July 2004, the museum houses some 18,000 pieces and a collection of six million artifacts. The museum’s collections were established as early as 1913, when indefatigable researcher Denis Peyrony convinced the French state to acquire the Château des Eyzies, built at the end of the 16th century, and to transform it into an excavation warehouse that could double up as a museum. Follow your guide and discover the main chapters of the Hominids’ development through an anthropological frieze and a brief reminder of Africa’s history, starting with the early Australopithecines. Many themes are explored, including the legendary “Lucy”, the small 3.5-million-year-old woman discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. You will then visit the permanent exhibit galleries that will plunge you into the mists of time, revealing seven sequences that cover the entire Paleolithic era through an “ideal historiography”.
  • Visit the Incredible Lascaux IV Cave Complex
  • Continue to Montignac where you will visit the brand-new Lascaux IV cave – open December 2016. For the first time, all of Lascaux is revealed. A complete new replica retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave. But that’s not the end of the adventure: the entire site inquires into the position that Lascaux occupies in cave art and its relation to contemporary creation. The opening of the International Center for Cave Art marks the beginning of a new adventure combining the emotion of ancestral art and an important technological achievement.
  • Then, a Visit to the Famous Rouffignac Cave
  • Finally, end the tour with the visit of Rouffignac Cave that possesses original and authentic etchings and drawings. The Rouffignac cave was already mentioned in 1575 by François de Belleforest. In his book, ”Cosmographie universelle”, he cites “paintings and animal traces”. In the 19th century, the cave was known as a tourist attraction. Famous archaeologists like Henry Breuil, André Glory and Martel had visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it was only in 1956 when Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, rediscovered and confirmed the cave art. After the visit, return to Sarlat.
  • 6.00pm return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am pick up at your hotel.
  • Rocamadour - A Picture-Perfect Visit Awaits
  • Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour that has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. The village is renowned for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has brought pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. Follow your guide and visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, part of an extraordinary 13th-century chapel complex perched on a cliff and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Sarlat.
  • Lunch will be at leisure.
  • Discover Padirac cave with a boat tour
  • After an extraordinary boat journey along the Rivière Plane, the vault rises, the walls move further apart, and the Lac de la Pluie appears… This area of constant seepage is an unbelievable, unique vision. The ceiling is thinner and more fissured, so it lets in raindrops from ground level that constantly replenish this underground lake. The raindrops carry dissolved limestone, which they deposit in the form of stalactites that, over the centuries, have come to form spectacular decorations.
  • Just above, the Grande Pendeloque (Great Chandelier), a 60-m-long series of calcite formations, hangs in mid-air, as though it were the set piece for an unusual theatre.
  • 5.00pm Return to hotel in Sarlat.
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
  • Breakfast at your hotel and end of our services.

Version 17 – April 05, 2023 09:59

Current Version
Previous Version
Description
  • You will also experience a unique visit at Lascaux IV cave that will plunge you back to the origins of Art. The tour also includes the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the area as well as a boat ride on the River Dordogne so as to admire stunning landscapes and mighty medieval fortresses lined up along the River.
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN SARLAT 
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR AND VILLAGES
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT AND THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE 
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
  • Cruise the Dordogne River Along Claffside Villages and See 17000 Year Old Cave Paintings. 
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN SARLAT 
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR AND VILLAGES
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT AND THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE 
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
Full Description
  • Based in Sarlat, in the heart of the Dordogne region, follow us on this 5-day tour to discover the essential of what this fascinating French province has to offer. Follow your guide on this small group tour and visit one of the most well preserved 17th century town during its bustling market day.
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN SARLAT
  • Arrive in Sarlat on your own and settle into your hotel. Night in Sarlat.
  • Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and is one of the most representative towns of 14th century France. Located in the heart of the Perigord Noir, the town possesses an outstanding number of buildings and houses dating from the 13th to 18th century. Take some time to stroll through the small narrow alleys and streets for personal discovery.
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR & VILLAGES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.30am pick up at your hotel.
  • Experience the Best of Historic Sarlat in Two Hours
  • Follow your guide on a 2-hour walking tour and discover all the main sites the town has to offer including the Lantern of the Dead, Saint Sacerdos Cathedral, Saint Mary church and covered market, the house of La Boétie and so much more. On Wednesdays and Saturdays your guide will also point out all the main specialties that one can find in the Sarlat Market.
  • A Perfect Half-Day Jaunt Through the Magic of the Dordogne Valley
  • In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful village of Domme. With its trapezoid city plan, Domme is a bastide (a fortified medieval town) adapted to the surrounding terrain, and thus falling short of the rectangular city plan characteristic to Bastides. The village is classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France”). In 1307, Knight Templars were imprisoned in Domme while during the Hundred Years’ War, the town was coveted by the English who first took it in 1347 and repeatedly changed rulers throughout the war until 1437 when it finally fell under French rule again.
  • Then drive to La Roque Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire mighty castles that line the river. You can also discover the Gardens of La Roque that benefit from micro-climate conditions and where local vegetation stands alongside more exotic plants such as Banana trees, agave and Bougainvillea flowers.
  • Finally, reach Beynac to admire the village and the Castle. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built from the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defenses were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican. After the tour, return to Sarlat.
  • 5.30pm Return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT & THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am Pick up at your hotel
  • Start with a Visit to the National Prehistory Museum
  • Some 15,000 years B.C. unknown artists created breathtaking paintings, drawings and etchings inside caves of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. During this day you will be introduced to this fascinating art and to the people who created it.
  • Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum. Established in July 2004, the museum houses some 18,000 pieces and a collection of six million artifacts. The museum’s collections were established as early as 1913, when indefatigable researcher Denis Peyrony convinced the French state to acquire the Château des Eyzies, built at the end of the 16th century, and to transform it into an excavation warehouse that could double up as a museum. Follow your guide and discover the main chapters of the Hominids’ development through an anthropological frieze and a brief reminder of Africa’s history, starting with the early Australopithecines. Many themes are explored, including the legendary “Lucy”, the small 3.5-million-year-old woman discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. You will then visit the permanent exhibit galleries that will plunge you into the mists of time, revealing seven sequences that cover the entire Paleolithic era through an “ideal historiography”.
  • Visit the Incredible Lascaux IV Cave Complex
  • Continue to Montignac where you will visit the brand-new Lascaux IV cave – open December 2016. For the first time, all of Lascaux is revealed. A complete new replica retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave. But that’s not the end of the adventure: the entire site inquires into the position that Lascaux occupies in cave art and its relation to contemporary creation. The opening of the International Center for Cave Art marks the beginning of a new adventure combining the emotion of ancestral art and an important technological achievement.
  • Then, a Visit to the Famous Rouffignac Cave
  • Finally, end the tour with the visit of Rouffignac Cave that possesses original and authentic etchings and drawings. The Rouffignac cave was already mentioned in 1575 by François de Belleforest. In his book, ”Cosmographie universelle”, he cites “paintings and animal traces”. In the 19th century, the cave was known as a tourist attraction. Famous archaeologists like Henry Breuil, André Glory and Martel had visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it was only in 1956 when Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, rediscovered and confirmed the cave art. After the visit, return to Sarlat.
  • 6.00pm return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am pick up at your hotel.
  • Rocamadour - A Picture-Perfect Visit Awaits
  • Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour that has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. The village is renowned for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has brought pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. Follow your guide and visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, part of an extraordinary 13th-century chapel complex perched on a cliff and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Sarlat.
  • Lunch will be at leisure.
  • Discover Padirac cave with a boat tour
  • After an extraordinary boat journey along the Rivière Plane, the vault rises, the walls move further apart, and the Lac de la Pluie appears… This area of constant seepage is an unbelievable, unique vision. The ceiling is thinner and more fissured, so it lets in raindrops from ground level that constantly replenish this underground lake. The raindrops carry dissolved limestone, which they deposit in the form of stalactites that, over the centuries, have come to form spectacular decorations.
  • Just above, the Grande Pendeloque (Great Chandelier), a 60-m-long series of calcite formations, hangs in mid-air, as though it were the set piece for an unusual theatre.
  • 5.00pm Return to hotel in Sarlat.
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
  • Breakfast at your hotel and end of our services.
  • Based in Sarlat, in the heart of the Dordogne region, follow us on this 5-day tour to discover the essential of what this fascinating French province has to offer. Follow your guide on this small group tour and visit one of the most well preserved 17th century town during its bustling market day. You will also experience a unique visit at Lascaux IV cave that will plunge you back to the origins of Art. The tour also includes the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the area as well as a boat ride on the River Dordogne so as to admire stunning landscapes and mighty medieval fortresses lined up along the River.
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN SARLAT
  • Arrive in Sarlat on your own and settle into your hotel. Night in Sarlat.
  • Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and is one of the most representative towns of 14th century France. Located in the heart of the Perigord Noir, the town possesses an outstanding number of buildings and houses dating from the 13th to 18th century. Take some time to stroll through the small narrow alleys and streets for personal discovery.
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR & VILLAGES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.30am pick up at your hotel.
  • Experience the Best of Historic Sarlat in Two Hours
  • Follow your guide on a 2-hour walking tour and discover all the main sites the town has to offer including the Lantern of the Dead, Saint Sacerdos Cathedral, Saint Mary church and covered market, the house of La Boétie and so much more. On Wednesdays and Saturdays your guide will also point out all the main specialties that one can find in the Sarlat Market.
  • A Perfect Half-Day Jaunt Through the Magic of the Dordogne Valley
  • In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful village of Domme. With its trapezoid city plan, Domme is a bastide (a fortified medieval town) adapted to the surrounding terrain, and thus falling short of the rectangular city plan characteristic to Bastides. The village is classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France”). In 1307, Knight Templars were imprisoned in Domme while during the Hundred Years’ War, the town was coveted by the English who first took it in 1347 and repeatedly changed rulers throughout the war until 1437 when it finally fell under French rule again.
  • Then drive to La Roque Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire mighty castles that line the river. You can also discover the Gardens of La Roque that benefit from micro-climate conditions and where local vegetation stands alongside more exotic plants such as Banana trees, agave and Bougainvillea flowers.
  • Finally, reach Beynac to admire the village and the Castle. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built from the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defenses were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican. After the tour, return to Sarlat.
  • 5.30pm Return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT & THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am Pick up at your hotel
  • Start with a Visit to the National Prehistory Museum
  • Some 15,000 years B.C. unknown artists created breathtaking paintings, drawings and etchings inside caves of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. During this day you will be introduced to this fascinating art and to the people who created it.
  • Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum. Established in July 2004, the museum houses some 18,000 pieces and a collection of six million artifacts. The museum’s collections were established as early as 1913, when indefatigable researcher Denis Peyrony convinced the French state to acquire the Château des Eyzies, built at the end of the 16th century, and to transform it into an excavation warehouse that could double up as a museum. Follow your guide and discover the main chapters of the Hominids’ development through an anthropological frieze and a brief reminder of Africa’s history, starting with the early Australopithecines. Many themes are explored, including the legendary “Lucy”, the small 3.5-million-year-old woman discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. You will then visit the permanent exhibit galleries that will plunge you into the mists of time, revealing seven sequences that cover the entire Paleolithic era through an “ideal historiography”.
  • Visit the Incredible Lascaux IV Cave Complex
  • Continue to Montignac where you will visit the brand-new Lascaux IV cave – open December 2016. For the first time, all of Lascaux is revealed. A complete new replica retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave. But that’s not the end of the adventure: the entire site inquires into the position that Lascaux occupies in cave art and its relation to contemporary creation. The opening of the International Center for Cave Art marks the beginning of a new adventure combining the emotion of ancestral art and an important technological achievement.
  • Then, a Visit to the Famous Rouffignac Cave
  • Finally, end the tour with the visit of Rouffignac Cave that possesses original and authentic etchings and drawings. The Rouffignac cave was already mentioned in 1575 by François de Belleforest. In his book, ”Cosmographie universelle”, he cites “paintings and animal traces”. In the 19th century, the cave was known as a tourist attraction. Famous archaeologists like Henry Breuil, André Glory and Martel had visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it was only in 1956 when Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, rediscovered and confirmed the cave art. After the visit, return to Sarlat.
  • 6.00pm return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am pick up at your hotel.
  • Rocamadour - A Picture-Perfect Visit Awaits
  • Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour that has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. The village is renowned for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has brought pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. Follow your guide and visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, part of an extraordinary 13th-century chapel complex perched on a cliff and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Sarlat.
  • Lunch will be at leisure.
  • Discover Padirac cave with a boat tour
  • After an extraordinary boat journey along the Rivière Plane, the vault rises, the walls move further apart, and the Lac de la Pluie appears… This area of constant seepage is an unbelievable, unique vision. The ceiling is thinner and more fissured, so it lets in raindrops from ground level that constantly replenish this underground lake. The raindrops carry dissolved limestone, which they deposit in the form of stalactites that, over the centuries, have come to form spectacular decorations.
  • Just above, the Grande Pendeloque (Great Chandelier), a 60-m-long series of calcite formations, hangs in mid-air, as though it were the set piece for an unusual theatre.
  • 5.00pm Return to hotel in Sarlat.
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
  • Breakfast at your hotel and end of our services.

Version 16 – April 05, 2023 09:58

Current Version
Previous Version
Highlights
  • explore the hidden gems of the wondrous valley of dordogne, see the beautiful town of rocamadour, enjoy a cruise on the dordogne river , see extraordinary cave paintings from 15,000 bc, wander the picturesque town of sarlat
  • explore the hidden gems of the wondrous valley of dordogne, see the beautiful town of rocamadour, enjoy a cruise on the dordogne river by the cliff-side village of beynac, see extraordinary cave paintings from 15,000 bc, wander the picturesque town of sarlat
Included
  • accommodation in 3* or 4* hotel, double room sharing in sarlat, boat ride on the dordogne, breakfast from day 2 to day 5, lascaux iv, rouffignac and national prehistory museum, padirac visits with entrance fees, private sarlat guided walking tour
  • accommodation in 3* or 4* hotel, double room sharing in sarlat, boat ride on the dordogne, bottles of water in the minivan, breakfast from day 2 to day 5, lascaux iv, rouffignac and national prehistory museum, padirac visits with entrance fees, private sarlat guided walking tour, private guided walking tour of rocamadour, private visite of beynac and domme, travel in recent, comfortable and fully equipped minivans

Version 14 – December 02, 2021 13:06

Current Version
Previous Version
Health items
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
  • COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
  • COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers

Version 10 – October 23, 2020 09:46

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Previous Version
Tier labels
  • ---
  • adult: ''
  • ---
  • adult: ''
  • child: ''
Tier ages
  • ---
  • adult:
  • from: '18'
  • to: '99'
  • ---
  • adult:
  • from: '18'
  • to: '64'
  • child:
  • from: '5'
  • to: '11'

Version 9 – October 23, 2020 09:43

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Previous Version
Available tiers
  • adult
  • adult, child

Version 7 – October 23, 2020 09:43

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Duration from
  • 5.0
Duration unit
  • days
  • minutes

Version 6 – October 23, 2020 09:42

Current Version
Previous Version
Pickup
  • strict
  • none

Version 5 – October 23, 2020 09:42

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Location
  • Name: Sarlat-la-Canada, France
  • Search name: Sarlat-la-Canada, France

Version 4 – October 23, 2020 09:42

Current Version
Previous Version
Booking cutoff
  • 7
Group info
  • For larger groups don’t hesitate to contact us.
Valid_for
  • 5
Cancellation notes
  • - 60+ days: €20 fee per person
  • - 59 to 30 days prior to arrival: 30% of the overall price (deposit) except the booking fees
  • - 29 to 15 days prior to arrival: 75% of the overall price except the booking fees
  • - 14 days or less prior to arrival: no refund
  • Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund
  • Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Cancellation cutoff
  • 14
  • 24
Terms and conditions
  • Ophorus requires a deposit of 30% on booking confirmation with balance to be made at least 30 days prior to arrival (in case of last minute registration payment is expected immediately). We accept payment by credit cards (Visa, Master card, American Express) or bank transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest). There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%.
  • No insurance for cancellation or assistance is included in the prices mentioned for all packages. Each customer has to check that he or she has the appropriate documents for their journey: a passport (with visa if necessary) or a valid ID card. No refund will be granted in case of lack or loss of ID documents. Eating, drinking and smoking on board the minivans are strictly forbidden (law of September 17th, 1977). All passengers are insured during the excursions while in the vans. The responsibility of Ophorus is limited to our insurance contract clauses.
  • Please contact us for all our Terms & Conditions

Version 3 – October 23, 2020 09:41

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Previous Version
Know Before You Book
  • english speaking tour, other languages on request, minimum number of 2 participants applies, prices are per person, double room sharing

Version 2 – October 23, 2020 09:40

Current Version
Previous Version
Full Description
  • Based in Sarlat, in the heart of the Dordogne region, follow us on this 5-day tour to discover the essential of what this fascinating French province has to offer. Follow your guide on this small group tour and visit one of the most well preserved 17th century town during its bustling market day. You will also experience a unique visit at Lascaux IV cave that will plunge you back to the origins of Art. The tour also includes the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the area as well as a boat ride on the River Dordogne so as to admire stunning landscapes and mighty medieval fortresses lined up along the River.
  • DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN SARLAT
  • Arrive in Sarlat on your own and settle into your hotel. Night in Sarlat.
  • Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and is one of the most representative towns of 14th century France. Located in the heart of the Perigord Noir, the town possesses an outstanding number of buildings and houses dating from the 13th to 18th century. Take some time to stroll through the small narrow alleys and streets for personal discovery.
  • DAY 2 - SARLAT WALKING TOUR & VILLAGES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.30am pick up at your hotel.
  • Experience the Best of Historic Sarlat in Two Hours
  • Follow your guide on a 2-hour walking tour and discover all the main sites the town has to offer including the Lantern of the Dead, Saint Sacerdos Cathedral, Saint Mary church and covered market, the house of La Boétie and so much more. On Wednesdays and Saturdays your guide will also point out all the main specialties that one can find in the Sarlat Market.
  • A Perfect Half-Day Jaunt Through the Magic of the Dordogne Valley
  • In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful village of Domme. With its trapezoid city plan, Domme is a bastide (a fortified medieval town) adapted to the surrounding terrain, and thus falling short of the rectangular city plan characteristic to Bastides. The village is classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France”). In 1307, Knight Templars were imprisoned in Domme while during the Hundred Years’ War, the town was coveted by the English who first took it in 1347 and repeatedly changed rulers throughout the war until 1437 when it finally fell under French rule again.
  • Then drive to La Roque Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire mighty castles that line the river. You can also discover the Gardens of La Roque that benefit from micro-climate conditions and where local vegetation stands alongside more exotic plants such as Banana trees, agave and Bougainvillea flowers.
  • Finally, reach Beynac to admire the village and the Castle. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built from the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defenses were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican. After the tour, return to Sarlat.
  • 5.30pm Return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT & THE ART OF THE CAVES
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am Pick up at your hotel
  • Start with a Visit to the National Prehistory Museum
  • Some 15,000 years B.C. unknown artists created breathtaking paintings, drawings and etchings inside caves of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. During this day you will be introduced to this fascinating art and to the people who created it.
  • Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum. Established in July 2004, the museum houses some 18,000 pieces and a collection of six million artifacts. The museum’s collections were established as early as 1913, when indefatigable researcher Denis Peyrony convinced the French state to acquire the Château des Eyzies, built at the end of the 16th century, and to transform it into an excavation warehouse that could double up as a museum. Follow your guide and discover the main chapters of the Hominids’ development through an anthropological frieze and a brief reminder of Africa’s history, starting with the early Australopithecines. Many themes are explored, including the legendary “Lucy”, the small 3.5-million-year-old woman discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. You will then visit the permanent exhibit galleries that will plunge you into the mists of time, revealing seven sequences that cover the entire Paleolithic era through an “ideal historiography”.
  • Visit the Incredible Lascaux IV Cave Complex
  • Continue to Montignac where you will visit the brand-new Lascaux IV cave – open December 2016. For the first time, all of Lascaux is revealed. A complete new replica retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave. But that’s not the end of the adventure: the entire site inquires into the position that Lascaux occupies in cave art and its relation to contemporary creation. The opening of the International Center for Cave Art marks the beginning of a new adventure combining the emotion of ancestral art and an important technological achievement.
  • Then, a Visit to the Famous Rouffignac Cave
  • Finally, end the tour with the visit of Rouffignac Cave that possesses original and authentic etchings and drawings. The Rouffignac cave was already mentioned in 1575 by François de Belleforest. In his book, ”Cosmographie universelle”, he cites “paintings and animal traces”. In the 19th century, the cave was known as a tourist attraction. Famous archaeologists like Henry Breuil, André Glory and Martel had visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it was only in 1956 when Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, rediscovered and confirmed the cave art. After the visit, return to Sarlat.
  • 6.00pm return to your hotel and night in Sarlat.
  • DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE
  • Breakfast at your hotel.
  • 9.00am pick up at your hotel.
  • Rocamadour - A Picture-Perfect Visit Awaits
  • Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour that has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. The village is renowned for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has brought pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. Follow your guide and visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, part of an extraordinary 13th-century chapel complex perched on a cliff and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Sarlat.
  • Lunch will be at leisure.
  • Discover Padirac cave with a boat tour
  • After an extraordinary boat journey along the Rivière Plane, the vault rises, the walls move further apart, and the Lac de la Pluie appears… This area of constant seepage is an unbelievable, unique vision. The ceiling is thinner and more fissured, so it lets in raindrops from ground level that constantly replenish this underground lake. The raindrops carry dissolved limestone, which they deposit in the form of stalactites that, over the centuries, have come to form spectacular decorations.
  • Just above, the Grande Pendeloque (Great Chandelier), a 60-m-long series of calcite formations, hangs in mid-air, as though it were the set piece for an unusual theatre.
  • 5.00pm Return to hotel in Sarlat.
  • DAY 5 - SARLAT
  • Breakfast at your hotel and end of our services.
Highlights
  • explore the hidden gems of the wondrous valley of dordogne, see the beautiful town of rocamadour, enjoy a cruise on the dordogne river by the cliff-side village of beynac, see extraordinary cave paintings from 15,000 bc, wander the picturesque town of sarlat
Included
  • accommodation in 3* or 4* hotel, double room sharing in sarlat, boat ride on the dordogne, bottles of water in the minivan, breakfast from day 2 to day 5, lascaux iv, rouffignac and national prehistory museum, padirac visits with entrance fees, private sarlat guided walking tour, private guided walking tour of rocamadour, private visite of beynac and domme, travel in recent, comfortable and fully equipped minivans
Excluded
  • entrance fees other than mentioned in the program, gratuities for the driver/guide, meals and drinks, personal expenses and insurance
Additional Info
  • Every day – except Saturdays and May 1st 2021
  • During the following months – April, May, June, July, September, October 2020

Version 1 – October 23, 2020 09:38

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Previous Version
Description Summary
  • A 5 Day Package based in Sarlat to see the major sites of the Dordogne including: Accommodation in 3* or 4* Hotel, Private Sarlat Tour, Villages visit, Boat ride on the Dordogne, A full day dedicated to Paleolithic Art &  Rocamadour visit.