Getting to the Dordogne
How to reach the start of your walking or cycling holiday from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK: flights, trains and the last hop to your first hotel.
Flying in
From the US and Canada, the easiest gateway is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), with many direct flights. Bordeaux (BOD) and Toulouse (TLS) are closer to our routes, but usually need a connection.
From Australia and New Zealand, fly to Paris through a Middle East or Asian hub, or connect on to Bordeaux or Toulouse.
Bergerac and Brive are small regional airports, with mainly seasonal flights from the UK and Paris.
Trains from Paris
- Paris Austerlitz to Brive-la-Gaillarde takes about 4 hours, and to Souillac about 4½ hours.
- Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux by TGV takes about 2 hours. From Bordeaux a regional train runs to Sarlat (about 2½ to 3 hours), or to Les Eyzies, changing at Le Buisson.
- For the Ardèche, the TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon (or from Charles de Gaulle airport) to Valence takes about 2 to 3 hours, then it’s about an hour by road to Lamastre.
Book on SNCF Connect ↗, about 3 months ahead for the best fares. Seats on Intercités and TGV trains need a reservation.
Getting to the start of each holiday
| Holiday | Starts in | Station | From the station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Périgord | Le Port de Domme | Sarlat | Your taxi from Sarlat to your first hotel is included. |
| Castles & Caves of the Dordogne | Les Eyzies | Les Eyzies | The station is in the village. |
| France’s Most Beautiful Villages | Sarrazac | Brive-la-Gaillarde | About 25 minutes by taxi, which we can arrange. Driving? Free parking at your first hotel. |
| Exploring Rocamadour | Souillac | Souillac | The station is in the town. |
| Ardèche Adventure | Circular from Lamastre | Valence | About an hour by taxi or bus. |
| Cycling in the Dordogne | Circular from Souillac | Souillac | The station is in the town. |
Jet lag and extra nights
If you’re flying in from North America, Australia or New Zealand, it’s worth arriving a day or two early, in Paris, Bordeaux or Sarlat, so you start walking or riding rested. We can add extra nights at the start of your holiday.
Driving
You can hire a car at Bordeaux, Toulouse or Brive. On France’s Most Beautiful Villages you can leave your car at your first hotel in Sarrazac free of charge: just let us know in advance so we can tell them.
Questions about getting there?
Tell us where you’re travelling from and we’ll help you plan the journey. You’ll find more in our FAQ and under Practical information on each holiday page, such as our walking holidays.