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More detailed itinerary for Lot/Dordogne and Muerren/Lucerne

Thanks to all who commented on my earlier draft itinerary. I've done more research and come up with this revised, but still tentative, itinerary for the second and third weeks of June 2020.

Day/Night 1: Arrive Toulouse, walk around, stay awake, sleep in Toulouse

Day/Night 2: Pick up car. Drive to the Lot valley (figure out best route, see Najac, Figeac, Cordes sur Ciel or RS route through Puycelsi?), if time walk the towpath from Bouzies, sleep in St Cirq Lapopie or other Lot valley location

Day/Night 3: Visit Peche Merle and Cahors (if time Puy l’Eveque), drive to the Dordogne, stay in Dordogne (Sarlat, Beynac, Castelnaud, or La Roque Gageac)

Day/Night 4 (try for Wed or Sat): Morning in Sarlat, afternoon canoe ride. Stay in same Dordogne location

Day Night 5: Visit pre-history museum and Grotte du Font de Gaume (or Lascaux if can’t get tickets to Grotte du Font de Gaume) Stay in same Dordogne location

Day Night 6: Free day—choose from hanging out at B&B pool, a drive to Eastern Dordogne, more time in nearby towns Stay in same Dordogne location

Day/Night 7: Travel day: Return car to Bordeaux airport and fly to Basel, Geneva, or Zurich, then trains to Muerren, Switzerland. Sleep in Muerren.

Day/Night 8-11: Stay in Muerren and have four full days to see Berner Oberland, hiking when weather is good enough. If weather is poor, possible day trip to Bern.

Day/Night 12-13: Travel to and stay in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Day 14: Fly home from Zurich in afternoon.

My questions are:
1) How does this look overall?
2) We will probably have one or two nights to add. Which of the following one or two options would you recommend?
A. Add one night to Toulouse (we like large cities, and wish we had one in this plan, although Toulouse was never on our list before)
B. Spend one night in Carcassone
C. Add one night to the Lot or Dordogne
D. Add a night to Muerren
E. Other ideas?

Thanks, as always, for your advice.

Posted by
4132 posts

I think this sounds great. Every subchoice is good.

If you are fond of cities, I'd suggest you spend that extra day in Toulouse. it has considerable charm, though no blockbuster sights. If not, spend it in the Dordogne.

Carcassonne a bridge too far, not worth the detour.

Not related, but since Toulouse airport is about the same distance from the Dordogne as Bordeaux, it should figure in the mix as an option when you are deciding which Swiss airport to fly into.

Posted by
882 posts

Thank you, Adam. I will definitely look at both airports and add a night to Toulouse.