Cave tours in the Dordogne Valley

What month are you going to France? Sarlat? If you are going anytime after September you will be fine just showing up the night before and getting tickets online. You will always save more money of you book online,be specially since the Pandemic.

I will say all the Caves are worthwhile. Booking a restaurant or planning your meals earlier rather than later may avoid disappointment. Sarlat, while s good Destination and a four Season playground for French & Europeans, since the Pandemic restaurants close earlier after September, particularly in Weekdays.

Some of the more interesting caves require advance notification because they only open occasionally...those Te the ones that Are really worthwhile

One of the best is Lascaux. Only about 40 minutes from Sarlat. Even though it is a replica, it is done very well. There are many in the area that you could do. These two were very interesting and very close to Sarlat. You can easily do both in a day.

https://www.perigord.com/en/listings/sites-touristiques-visites/village-de-la-madeleine/

https://www.perigord.com/en/listings/sites-touristiques-visites/chateau-de-commarque/

Threadwear beat me to it, I was also going to recommend Lascaux.

I lived in France so Ive seen the original Lascaux Cave closed in 1963. Lascaux IV is a recreation of that site and I believe in 2018 it was such a good recreation, over time the Lascaux I had deteriorated so much IV is Better than the Original. It's an exact replica & 3D. A must if you have limited time.

The Lascaux Complex Caves I - IV will take all day, including of you bring a picnic or eat lunch on-site. Slow Travel at its best. Big Parking Lot, no fees that I'm aware of to park unless the Pandemic has changed this. Pick a gorgeous day to do this...although I went most recently with our 18 year old daughter on a Gray, ",In & Out," day and came prepared with a raincoat and head covering for dropping water in our heads - these are limestone caves, after all..underground water

You don't mention if you are a Solo traveller, group, ages and/or stages e of w/o children. If you have more time, try these and $ friendly:
These are the best places for budget-friendly caverns & caves in Dordogne:
Les Combarelles
Cave of Font-de-Gaume
Grotte du Grand Roc
Grotte de Tourtoirac
Grotte de Villar

C

I went to the first two mentioned above and they were both amazing. Also saw Cap Blanc, which is a small cave but with incredible carvings. Lascaux had an interesting tour and with the reconstruction, the paintings were easily visible and well-explained, but I enjoyed being able to see the originals while we still can.

I wouldn't rely on being able to turn up on the morning and buying tickets. Most of the advice you will find on websites predates Covid, and is therefore completely wrong.

You need to buy your tickets as soon as they become available online.

The Font du Gaume is the best 'real deal' still available. Get tickets ahead as they are very limited. Last I read you could do this on line -- last time we were in the area a few years ago you had to show up at dawn and sit in a numbered seat till they opened at 9.

Lascaux recreation is terrific and should be seen but it is not the real deal -- but so well done. We have been several times and never had problems just buying the ticket on arrival for the next English tour.

Roffignac takes you underground on a small train; the drawings are not as impressive as the polychrome recreations at Lascaux IV or the much degraded polychromes at Font du Gaume but it is still impressive. Lots of mammoth drawings. Their t-shirts are the best souvenir T-shirts I have seen.

Thanks so much for all the info.we’re going to be there in early May so hopefully it won’t be too busy. There are 3 of us traveling together. We found a cute apartment on the market square in Sarlat to stay in. We’re driving and plan on arriving on a Wednesday from Bordeaux and hoping we get to Sarlat before the market closes. Probably not though since I’m sure we’ll be stopping in St Emilion. Upon leaving Sarlat, we will have to catch a train in Bordeaux so we won’t be able to dilly dally and make stops.

Any tips on where we can stop on the way to Sarlat from Bordeaux?

In case you miss Sarlat.

https://www.northofthedordogne.com/dordognemarkets.php

Saint Cyprien is very good.

Definitely see Font du Gaume. Get your tickets on line early and try to get a tour that is in English. It is a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it. It is the real deal. Lascaux IV is great too, but a replica, which Font du Gaume is not. I recommend both.

Not at all relevant to your question but have you read any of the Martin Walker detective book series, Bruno Chief of Police? It will get you in the mood for the area!

This was a timely question for me. We arrived in Sarlat today and will be here for 5 nights. I just got online and got tickets at Lascaux IV for an English tour on Monday. I could have gotten them for tomorrow or Sunday but rain is in the forecast and I would rather go on a dry day.

Remember to dress warmly, even in the heat of summer. The caves are underground and (silly us), we froze in our t-shirts an d shorts! A sweater or (better yet) a jacket is highly recommended!