Dordogne Self-Launched Multi-Activity Adventure
9 days · Dordogne, France
Exodus charges £2,175
No-markup version: ~£630 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Exodus's classic 9-day Dordogne multi-activity holiday through the Périgord Noir. Independently string together the same highlights — UNESCO Rocamadour, the cave systems at Lacave and Padirac, canoeing the Dordogne past Belcastel and de la Treyne chateaux, and medieval Sarlat — using budget guesthouses, bookable canoe hire, and local buses/taxis instead of a packaged itinerary. Walk, cycle and paddle at your own pace for roughly a third of the operator price. Costs are approximate and based on budget/solo traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Rocamadour
Rocamadour
Arrive in Rocamadour via Brive-la-Gaillarde (flights from Paris or the UK), then a local bus or short taxi up to the clifftop village. Settle into a budget guesthouse or hostel within walking distance of the ancient town walls, then wander the medieval alleyways at dusk when day-trippers have gone and the sanctuary lights up.
🚌Train to Brive-la-Gaillarde + regional bus/taxi to Rocamadour (~£18)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Rocamadour (~£35)
- →Arrive via Brive-la-Gaillarde
- →Evening walk through Rocamadour's medieval lanes
- →Visit the sanctuary and Black Madonna shrine
Rocamadour to Meyronne (via Grottes de Lacave)
Meyronne
Explore Rocamadour's sanctuary in the morning, then walk or cycle the quiet lanes south to Meyronne via the Grottes de Lacave (~15 km). Book the Lacave cave tour directly on arrival, then continue to Meyronne on the Dordogne's banks. Rent a bike locally (~£15/day) or walk if you prefer. Overnight in a village guesthouse.
🚌On foot or hired bike
🛏Village guesthouse in Meyronne (~£38)
- →Grottes de Lacave cave tour (book direct, ~£12)
- →Walk or cycle ~15 km to Meyronne
- →Riverside evening in Meyronne
At Meyronne — Rochers Ste Marie & Gouffre de Padirac
Meyronne
Free day. Walk south of the river to Rochers Ste Marie or take a local taxi to the Gouffre de Padirac — an enormous chasm where you descend by lift and explore the underground river system by boat (book tickets ahead online, ~£16). Alternatively cycle back to Rocamadour. The canoe lesson happens tomorrow, so keep the afternoon light.
🚌Local taxi to Padirac (~£20 return) or on foot
🛏Village guesthouse in Meyronne (~£38)
- →Gouffre de Padirac underground boat tour (~£16)
- →Rochers Ste Marie walk
- →Optional cycle back to Rocamadour
Meyronne to Souillac by Canoe
Souillac
Pick up your canoe lesson and hire locally (day rate incl. buoyancy aid and helmet ~£30). Paddle an easy 17 km downstream below pinky-gold cliffs with buzzards and kites overhead, passing the imposing chateaux of Belcastel and de la Treyne. Collect your gear at Souillac and check into a budget auberge in town.
🚌Canoe (hire operator provides shuttle back)
🛏Budget auberge in Souillac (~£35)
- →Canoe hire & lesson (~£30)
- →17 km paddle Meyronne–Souillac
- →Pass Belcastel and de la Treyne chateaux
At Souillac
Souillac
Explore Souillac's abbey and the Musée de l'Automate (largest collection of mechanical toys and dolls in France, ~£8). Walk to La Durantie for the best views over the Dordogne valley, or cycle to the Cathar stronghold Château de Fénelon or the Jardins de Cadiot. Bike hire locally ~£15/day.
🚌On foot or hired bike (~£15)
🛏Budget auberge in Souillac (~£35)
- →Musée de l'Automate (~£8)
- →Walk to La Durantie viewpoint
- →Cycle to Château de Fénelon or Jardins de Cadiot
Souillac to Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse by Canoe
Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse
Another gentle 20 km paddle downstream to Groléjac through peaceful Périgord countryside — plenty of time for swimming, picnicking and lazing by the river. Pre-book a local taxi for the short transfer to your guesthouse near Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse, or base yourself in Beynac village itself.
🚌Canoe + local taxi (~£25)
🛏Chambres d'hôtes near Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse (~£40)
- →Canoe hire Souillac–Groléjac (~£30)
- →Swimming and riverside picnic
- →Transfer to Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse / Beynac
At Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse — Beynac & Castelnaud
Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse
Stroll to Beynac and climb the steep footpath lined with 15th–17th century stone houses to the 13th-century hilltop chateau (entry ~£10) for the serpentine river views. In the afternoon visit the hanging Jardins de Marqueyssac (~£10) and the Château de Castelnaud (a further ~6 km on foot or by bike).
🚌On foot or hired bike (~£15)
🛏Chambres d'hôtes near Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse (~£40)
- →Château de Beynac (~£10)
- →Jardins de Marqueyssac (~£10)
- →Château de Castelnaud
Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse to Sarlat
Sarlat
Walk or cycle ~32 km through pretty villages and shaded woods to medieval Sarlat — a full day's ride, or split it with a short taxi-hop if preferred. Arrive at Sarlat's Renaissance facades and richly ornamented courtyards, then reward yourself with a last evening exploring the old town and its markets.
🚌On foot or hired bike (or partial taxi ~£20)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Sarlat (~£40)
- →Walk or cycle ~32 km to Sarlat
- →Explore Sarlat's medieval old town
- →Evening at the Place des Oies
Leave Sarlat
Sarlat
Breakfast and departure. Sarlat-la-Canéda has direct bus links to Souillac for onward trains to Bordeaux, Brive or Paris — easy to connect back to a flight home.
🚌Regional bus Sarlat–Souillac + onward train (~£20)
🛏N/A
- →Departure via Souillac rail connection
- →Optional last morning in Sarlat markets
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£630 | £2,175 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,545 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£630
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Dordogne Self-Launched Multi-Activity Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £630 per person for 9 days in Dordogne, France. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,175 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £630 — a saving of roughly £1,545 (71%) per person.
How long is the Dordogne, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Dordogne, France.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, foodie trip through Dordogne, France, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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