How fit do I need to be for a walking holiday in the Dordogne?
If you enjoy a good day’s walking, you’ll be fine on most of our holidays. Here’s how hard each one is, with the daily distances and climbs measured from our own GPX tracks, so you can choose with confidence.
By Cassie ·
The short answer
Most of our walking holidays are moderate: a full day’s walking on varied paths and tracks, with some climbs and descents. You’ll enjoy them if you walk regularly and are happy with 4 to 6 hours on your feet.
Premium Périgord has the shortest walks, and the Ardèche Adventure is the most demanding, with long climbs and villages more than 1,000 m (about 3,300 ft) up.
Every holiday page gives an activity level and the distance for every day, and every day with a GPX track shows its climb and descent.
Our walking holidays, day by day
The distances are the shortest and longest walking days of each holiday. The biggest daily climb is the most height you gain in a single day, measured along our GPX tracks with elevation data from IGN, France’s national mapping agency.
| Holiday | Activity level | Distance per day | Biggest daily climb | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Périgord | Easy to moderate, with some short climbs on rocky paths | 4.6–14.1 km (2.9–8.8 miles) | 210 m (about 700 ft) | 5 |
| Castles & Caves of the Dordogne | Moderate, with a few short steep climbs | 12.8–17.8 km (8–11 miles) | 450 m (about 1,500 ft) | 7 |
| France’s Most Beautiful Villages | Moderate, with a few short steep climbs | 15.5–23 km (10–14 miles) | 560 m (about 1,850 ft) | 7 |
| Exploring Rocamadour | Moderate | 14.1–20.1 km (9–12 miles) | 400 m (about 1,300 ft) | 7 |
| Ardèche Adventure | Challenging, with some strenuous stretches | 13–23.2 km (8–14 miles) | 1,070 m (about 3,500 ft) | 7 |
What each activity level means
- Easy to moderate
- Shorter walks on paths and quiet lanes, with some short climbs, sometimes on rocky paths. Right for anyone who enjoys a few hours’ walking.
- Moderate
- A full day’s walking on varied paths and tracks, with some climbs and descents. You’ll enjoy it if you walk regularly and are happy with 4 to 6 hours on your feet.
- Challenging
- Longer days with big climbs and descents, sometimes on rough paths. For fit, experienced walkers used to 6 or 7 hours on their feet.
Cycling holidays
Our cycling holiday, Cycling in the Dordogne, follows quiet lanes and riverside paths, with some hills. Standard bike hire is included, and most of our cyclists choose an e-bike (an extra £140 per person), which makes the climbs easy.
| Holiday | Activity level | Distance per day | Biggest daily climb | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cycling in the Dordogne | Moderate | 29.2–46.9 km (18–29 miles) | 530 m (about 1,750 ft) | 7 |
- Moderate
- Rolling country on quiet lanes, with some hills. Comfortable if you ride regularly, and an e-bike makes it easy.
Making the days easier
- You only carry a daypack with water, snacks and a waterproof: your luggage is moved on to your next hotel each day.
- Our route notes, maps and GPX files show you the way, so no energy goes on finding it.
- If a day turns out to be too much, or the weather is bad, call us and we’ll arrange a taxi to your next hotel (you pay the fare locally).
- Every itinerary can be shaped around you: extra nights, rest days or a gentler pace.
- The FAQ has more on how fit you need to be, and how a self-guided holiday works.
Not sure which holiday suits you?
Tell Cassie a little about how you like to walk or ride and she’ll suggest a holiday. We reply within 24 hours, usually much sooner.