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Feedback on our itinerary

I was wondering if anyone could provide some feedback on our trip itinerary scheduled for this July. Most of our trip is already reserved, but if anyone has been to these places and could provide some insight/feedback I would be interested in hearing it.

We are both avid cyclists and hikers with lots of experience doing both. We are not interested in museums or over tourist-ed areas. We like to go and participate on whatever activity I plan then have good meal (either picnic or restaurant or pizza), enjoy the scenery and just being over there. This is a 3.5 week long trip, which is the longest we've ever been away. (it seems like such a long time) and we will be renting a car. Onto the trip...

Arrive Lyon (somewhat late in the afternoon)
Spend a full day in Lyon

Pick up rental car, drive to Viason La Romain (3~ hrs)
We then spend a week in Viason La Romain at a Gite

Drive to Gorges Du Tarn (4 hrs)
We spend four days in Gorges Du Tarn at a hotel. Why here? Looks amazing.

Drive to Murat Cantal France (2 hrs)
We spend three days in Murat. Why here Murat? Central to a lot of hiking and the hotel has excellent reviews, on the way to Correze.

Drive to Correze, (2hrs) staying in a small town about 20 mins from Brive-la-Gaillarde
We spend 3 days here. Why here? Close to the Dordogne, but less busy overall? Hotel has excellent reviews. Again access to a lot of mapped hikes and bike rides provided by the tourist office.

Drive to small town East of Lyon (4 hrs)
We spend 3 days here. Why here? Close to Lyon for return flight (45 mins drive). Surprisingly many opportunities for walking and biking. We stay in a comfortable Gite here

Drive to Lyon in late afternoon (45 mins) or earlier if we want more time in Lyon
Return the car, overnight at the same hotel Lyon we started at. We spend an additional night here (2 total) before returning home at a reasonable hour the next day.

Thanks

Posted by
2091 posts

Unless you plan lots of day trips/hikes/bike rides from Vaison-la-Romaine, a week is far too long there, IMO.
The Dordogne needs at least 5-7 days. A car is really necessary here, but biking options are a nice addition. Many of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" are here. Lots of small towns with markets, pretty drives (car or bike), prehistoric caves (do at least one!), castles from the Hundred Years War, and kayaking or canoeing on the beautiful Dordogne River. (we have river rafted on some great rivers here in California, but the Dordogne is truly special.) Also, the local food specialities are delicious.

One hint...drive times listed in Google or Viamichelin are underestimated. They make no allowance for gas/food/comfort stops. We almost always drive when in France, and I use Viamnichelin for drive times, routes, etc., but I always add 1-2 hours cushion, depending on the drive length. Of course, we mostly take the smaller D roads for the scenery, not the Autoroutes. Viamichelin usually gives 2 or 3 route options (fastest, most economical, most scenic, etc.)

I don't know the Gorges Du Tarn, Murat or Correze, so I have no recommendations for you.

Have fun!