Luxury single-centre rail holiday to the Dordogne with hire-car
This 7-night holiday is a single-centre luxury holiday by train to the Dordogne, staying in a country-house hotel at the heart of the Périgord. You travel by Eurostar from London to Paris and on to Libourne by TGV. The travelling time from London to Libourne is between 8 and 9 hours. It is then a 1 hour 30-minute drive to your hotel. Use your hotel in the quaint Périgord village of Trémolat as a base to explore the enchanting Dordogne. The region boasts clear, flowing rivers, craggy hillsides of golden rock, hill-top villages and castles built of the local stone, and attractive houses with grey slate roofs and mini turrets, with vines trained along their walls. There are pre-historic grottoes to explore, market towns of mediaeval houses and cobbled streets such as Sarlat and various castles to visit. Plus, the gastronomy of the Dordogne is renowned for its truffles, foie gras, `magret de canard` and walnuts. Other interesting villages to visit include La Roque-Gageac, Domme and Beynac, each with local markets on different days of the week. There are over 200 prehistoric sites in the region, mostly in the Vezere Valley. We recommend visiting Grotte de Lascaux for its cave paintings, discovered in 1940. Another interesting town to visit is Bergerac, noted for its wine and the Chateau de Monbazillac where you can have a tour and visit its wine museum. If you want an active stay, there are many sports activities available in the Dordogne region, including hiking, cycling and kayaking on the River Dordogne itself. After seven nights exploring the region, you return by TGV from Libourne to Paris and on to London by Eurostar.
Highlights
Trémolat • Périgord villages • Visit Les Eyzies and Lescaux • Visit Sarlat • Visit La Roque-Gageac • Bergerac
Day by day
Your luxury rail holiday to the Dordogne starts with a morning departure on Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, where you change stations to take the high-speed TGV train to Libourne, north-east of Bordeaux and a town at the heart of the region known for its Pomerol and Fronsac wines, and on the River Dordogne. If you leave London on a Eurostar just before 08.00 hrs you can reach Libourne just after 17.00 hrs. You collect your hire-car from the station, and it is a drive of about 1 hour 35-minutes to your hotel where you spend 7 nights.
You have six full days at leisure to explore the Dordogne region. The Dordogne has a great number of very picturesque small towns, most of which have markets on various days of the week.
Sarlat is probably the best known but Domme, La Roque-Gageac, Les Eyzies and Beynac are worth seeking out. Some of the towns also have night-time markets where you can eat, drink and listen to music. Experience the rich culture and history of the region, from the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux and Les Eyzies to the mediaeval fortresses that perch on rocky crags above the meandering valley of the Dordogne, to beautifully fashioned gardens, at Eyrignac and Marqueyssac for example. Bergerac is situated 40 minutes to the west of Trémolat, on the river Dordogne. The town is renowned for its wine and it is possible to go on vineyard tours. Nearby, visit Chateau de Monbazillac, where you can visit the chateau with its small wine museum and stop off for tastings. Another chateau to visit is the Chateau de la Jubertie at Colombier near Monbazillac. Visit Perigueux, the capital of the Dordogne region, and 50 minutes to the north of Trémolat. The town is famed for its gastronomic specialities. It is home to the Cathedral of St Front which dates from the 12th century and is Romanesque with Byzantine influences. On the River Dordogne at Trémolat there is a water sports base where you can practise water-skiing, stand-up paddle, diving, fishing and canoeing, in a lush setting on the huge bend in the river here. Horse-riding and cycling are also available nearby.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before you check-out and drive back to Libourne station to return your hire-car before taking the TGV back to Paris, changing stations, and then taking the Eurostar from Paris to London. There is a train that leaves Libourne just before 11.00 hrs which means you arrive in London just after 17.30 hrs.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,320 per person based on two people sharing a comfort double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class about £320 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR16
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury single-centre rail holiday to the Dordogne with hire-car
Your luxury rail holiday to the Dordogne starts with a morning departure on Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, where you change stations to take the high-speed TGV train to Libourne, north-east of Bordeaux and a town at the heart of the region known for its Pomerol and Fronsac wines, and on the River Dordogne. If you leave London on a Eurostar just before 08.00 hrs you can reach Libourne just after 17.00 hrs. You collect your hire-car from the station, and it is a drive of about 1 hour 35-minutes to your hotel where you spend 7 nights.
You have six full days at leisure to explore the Dordogne region. The Dordogne has a great number of very picturesque small towns, most of which have markets on various days of the week.
Sarlat is probably the best known but Domme, La Roque-Gageac, Les Eyzies and Beynac are worth seeking out. Some of the towns also have night-time markets where you can eat, drink and listen to music. Experience the rich culture and history of the region, from the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux and Les Eyzies to the mediaeval fortresses that perch on rocky crags above the meandering valley of the Dordogne, to beautifully fashioned gardens, at Eyrignac and Marqueyssac for example. Bergerac is situated 40 minutes to the west of Trémolat, on the river Dordogne. The town is renowned for its wine and it is possible to go on vineyard tours. Nearby, visit Chateau de Monbazillac, where you can visit the chateau with its small wine museum and stop off for tastings. Another chateau to visit is the Chateau de la Jubertie at Colombier near Monbazillac. Visit Perigueux, the capital of the Dordogne region, and 50 minutes to the north of Trémolat. The town is famed for its gastronomic specialities. It is home to the Cathedral of St Front which dates from the 12th century and is Romanesque with Byzantine influences. On the River Dordogne at Trémolat there is a water sports base where you can practise water-skiing, stand-up paddle, diving, fishing and canoeing, in a lush setting on the huge bend in the river here. Horse-riding and cycling are also available nearby.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before you check-out and drive back to Libourne station to return your hire-car before taking the TGV back to Paris, changing stations, and then taking the Eurostar from Paris to London. There is a train that leaves Libourne just before 11.00 hrs which means you arrive in London just after 17.30 hrs.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,320 per person based on two people sharing a comfort double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class about £320 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR16
Our prices include
● Standard class Eurostar and second-class TGV from London to Libourne return (standard premier/first class can be booked at a supplement)
● 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a comfort room at Le Vieux Logis, Trémolat
● Hire of a group B car for 7 days
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers, entrance fees and meals except daily breakfast at each hotel
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in Paris
Additional information This holiday can be arranged throughout the year. Additional nights can be added at any point on this itinerary. Timings can vary depending on the month and day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury single-centre rail holiday to the Dordogne with hire-car
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,320 per person based on two people sharing a comfort double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class about £320 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR16
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury single-centre rail holiday to the Dordogne with hire-car
About Dordogne
The Dordogne region at the heart of Perigord abounds in clear, flowing rivers, craggy hillsides of golden rock, hill top villages and castles built of the local stone, and attractive houses with grey slate roofs and mini turrets, with vines trained along their walls. A holiday in the Dordogne is ideal for those seeking a combination of activity, sightseeing and relaxation. There are pre-historic grottoes to explore, market towns of mediaeval houses and cobbled streets such as Sarlat, numerous sporting activities such as riding and cycling and castles to visit. Plus, the gastronomy of the Dordogne is renowned for its truffles, foie gras, `magret de canard` and walnuts. The Dordogne region possesses much of the essential delights for a visitor to France. A self-drive touring holiday is an excellent way to travel to the Dordogne, perhaps discovering the chateaux and manor houses of northern France along the way. A quicker alternative is to travel to the region by train, collecting a hire-car on arrival which allows you to explore at your own pace.
Highlights of Dordogne
Cultural highlights include ceramics, wine festivals, foie gras and truffles, wild mushrooms, castles, valleys, water-sports, and local walks.
Climate of Dordogne
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 10.0, Feb: 9.4, Mar: 12.2, Apr: 19.5, May: 18.0, Jun: 23.7, Jul: 27.2, Aug: 25.7, Sep: 24.2, Oct: 19.7, Nov: 15.4, Dec: 11.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
