What’s included in our self-guided holidays
We create and run these holidays ourselves. Here’s what every holiday includes, and what it doesn’t.
By Cassie ·
Hotels
Every night is booked for you in comfortable, characterful hotels, often family-run: seven nights on most holidays, and five on Premium Périgord, which stays in just two hotels. Each holiday page lists your hotels night by night.
Meals
Breakfast every day and dinner on most evenings. Here’s how many of each are included on the standard length of every holiday (each holiday page shows which nights):
| Holiday | Nights | Breakfasts | Dinners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Périgord | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Castles & Caves of the Dordogne | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| France’s Most Beautiful Villages | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Exploring Rocamadour | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Ardèche Adventure | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Cycling in the Dordogne | 7 | 7 | 5 |
Premium Périgord also includes welcome drinks, a lunch, a truffle tasting and a wine tasting with paired dishes.
Lunch is up to you: pick up a picnic from a village bakery or market, or stop at a café along the way. Drinks aren’t included: anything you enjoy with dinner is simply settled with the hotel before you leave.
Your luggage
Whenever you change hotel, your bags are taken on for you, so they’re waiting when you arrive, and you walk with just a daypack. Please keep to one bag per person, up to 20 kg, and have it ready at reception by 9am.
Route notes, maps and GPX
You’ll have our detailed route notes and maps in digital form, plus GPX files by email for every day, with simple instructions for using them on your phone. Download the maps before you set off and they work even where there’s no signal.
Support
- Our phone number and WhatsApp throughout your holiday: we’re on hand from 9am to 7pm, UK or French time.
- We reply within 24 hours, usually much sooner.
- If you book directly with us, Cassie will usually meet up with you during your holiday, for example in Sarlat.
- If you can’t manage a day, or the weather is bad, we’ll arrange a taxi to your next hotel (you pay the fare locally).
Transfers and taxis
- Premium Périgord: your arrival taxi from Sarlat to your first hotel is included.
- Ardèche Adventure: the taxi from Lamastre to Le Crestet on day 2, and the taxi back from St Martin-de-Valamas to St Agrève after the optional day 6 walk, are included.
- On the other holidays, transfers aren’t included, but we can arrange a taxi to your first hotel and back from your last one, for an extra charge. Our Getting there page has the trains and the last hop to each start.
Bikes
- On Cycling in the Dordogne, standard bike hire is included.
- An e-bike is an upgrade for an extra £140 per person, and you can charge your battery at every hotel.
- Helmets aren’t included. Bring your own, or hire one from the bike company when they deliver your bikes.
Travelling solo or needing a single room
Prices are per person, sharing a double or twin room. Travelling solo, there’s a supplement on top of the per-person price, as the costs aren’t shared; a single room supplement applies when someone in a group would like a room of their own. Each holiday page has its prices, and our guide to solo holidays lists every solo price.
Longer versions
Several holidays come in longer versions, up to 11 days, and every itinerary can be shaped around you: extra nights, rest days or a different start day.
| Holiday | Lengths |
|---|---|
| Premium Périgord | 6, 7 or 8 days |
| Castles & Caves of the Dordogne | 8, 9 or 10 days |
| France’s Most Beautiful Villages | 8, 9, 10 or 11 days |
| Exploring Rocamadour | 8 days |
| Ardèche Adventure | 8 days |
| Cycling in the Dordogne | 8 days |
What isn’t included
- Travel to the start and from the finish (flights and trains).
- Lunches (unless a holiday says otherwise) and drinks, including with dinner.
- Entrance fees for châteaux, caves, gardens and museums.
- Travel insurance and personal expenses.
- Activities on your free afternoons, such as kayaking.
Questions
Is luggage transfer included?
Yes. Whenever you change hotel, your bags are taken on for you, so they’re waiting when you arrive. Please keep to one bag per person, up to 20 kg, ready at reception by 9am.
Are the routes waymarked?
It varies by route. Some sections are waymarked, and your route notes tell you where. The notes and GPS guide you the rest of the way.
Are dinners included every night?
Dinner is included on most evenings, and each holiday page shows which nights. On the free evenings you choose where to eat.
Talk to Cassie
Tell us which holiday you’re thinking of and your dates. We reply within 24 hours, usually much sooner.