Hi- we are hoping to spend 4-5 days in Dordogne/Lot with a central base between Sarlat and Bertel that should hopefully make venturing on excursions and returning back to the gite rather easy. Ideally, we would be within an hour of all the day-tripping we will be doing and can relax at a Gite in the late afternoon/evening.
What do you recommend? Is 4 or 5 days enough time? Too much? What the "must-dos" are for the area. Thanks so much!
Posted by
SF Bay Area
929 posts
I'd recommend more time, depending on what you want to see. We spent 5 nights in the Dordogne and 2 nights in the Lot in early April 2024. My trip report (see link below) describes what we were able to accomplish in that time and what we considered the "must-dos." That might will help you decide how much time you need.
Posted by
State of Washington, USA
273 posts
We stayed 6 nights in Dordogne in Aug 2021, staying in lodging located between Sarlat and Domme. Our trip report might be useful reference (Parts 3 and 4): https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-france-28-days-aug-sep-loire-dordogne-languedoc-roussillon-lyon-burgundy-honfleur
Posted by
France Southwest
2466 posts
I assume you mean Martel and not Bertel.
Between Sarlat, to the west and Martel to the east, there is approximately 1h15 of driving at the pace of a visitor not accustomed to the small roads in this region.
Between these two towns there are dozens of places possible as a base or to stay for a few days.
Except Souillac, which I do not particularly recommend, there is no "town" between these two places, only small villages, which makes the region specific and interesting.
So, whatever central location you choose you will always be less than 45 minutes from the main activities and visits
I already gave you the link about all that you can do and see in Dordogne & Lot Valleys, it was in your other post:
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1471 posts
sashap123,
Congratulations on going to the Dordogne and Lot rivers area! It is a great place to visit. In June 2023 we took our adult children and grandchildren there for ten days. We rented a large refurbished house from Gites-de-france, a place with 4 bedrooms,3 baths, sleeping 8, very modern kitchen, full laundry facilities, VERY comfortable. We were seven, from 9 to 80 years old. We had two cars. The place was between Vitrac and La Roque Gageac, on a large property with an orchard, a pool, barbecue and nice outdoor eating spaces, access to the river, swings, large grounds, and caretakers on the grounds.
We didn't find time to visit the eastern area villages because we had plenty to do just in the western part of the Dordogne area. We would have breakfast at "home", go to an activity in the morning, have lunch out, maybe go someplace else in the afternoon, return "home "to swim and relax, fix dinner there or go to a restaurant in one of the towns or villages. Things we saw and did were: Beynac Castle, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Grotte de Font de Gaume, Lascaux IV, kayaking on the Dordogne River, visiting the Wednesday market in Sarlat and strolling around the town, visiting Domme and its little church and shops, visiting a chocolatier, and going to the local boulangerie and grocery store regularly for our food supplies. (We missed the Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies because it was closed on the day we were there, but that would be a must-see for my next visit.) We also missed Chateau Milandes, many of the "plus beaux villages", a goose farm, wine tasting of monbazillac, an acorn orchard, the town of Perigeux (cathedral and some Roman ruins), and many more prehistoric caves and grottoes. We just didn't have enough time, even though most places we went were drives of between 10 and 45 minutes.
So, my must-dos are the two castles, at least two caves, the museum, canoe or kayak trip, at least one market, and any of the above-mentioned things. I hope you can increase your time there, but I have given you some ideas. By the way, if you are there in the summer, try to go to a "night markets". I'll let you look that up.
Enjoy yourselves!