I was on the first tour May 4, 2014. There was a good balance of guided time with the group and free independent time. The guide always gave you enough information to be on your own. She never left the group until she knew everyone’s plans and that the people knew how to use the trains/buses to get back and forth to the hotel.
I arrived in Chartres Sunday afternoon as many here suggests. The people on my tour who arrived on Saturday said they could have spent the time elsewhere. Sunday evening after the group dinner, it’s worth to walk around and see the other light shows in addition to the Cathedral light show.
On Monday after our time with Malcolm Miller, we had an optional group picnic followed by a short guided walk. It was pleasant and informative. There was still time in the afternoon to explore, rest, enjoy a glass of wine, and revisit the Cathedral. In the evening there was plenty of time for a leisure dinner and the enjoyment of the views of the Cathedral.
I passed on the Leonardo da Vinci home and had a bite to eat with a tour mate. After sampling chocolates we walked them off along the river bank way. Seeing the Chateaus from both afar and close up were all wows. It’s worth the view if you can walk to the rear grounds of Villandry and take in the vantage of the garden patterns from there. Amazing what a man will do for a ladies’ attention! The family run hotel in Chinon was fun and a pleasant surprise.
In Mortemar we had our picnic stop with all our goodies from local markets. Take a moment to pop into the village church. The names of the WWI and WWII who gave service are on the walls of the interior columns. I have a a famiy name I currently researching. Later the time given to Oradour-sur-Glane is important and poignant.
After the Cave tour it was down pouring so we explored the same village I think. In Cenac we had time to explore and had a picnic lunch. When the weather broke the guide arranged the canoe trip and she went with those people. The rest of us went on the barge ride. We were the first Rick Steves group to ever do this barge tour. Afterwards the bus driver took us up to a hill town for a scenic overlook of the Dordogne… the name is in my notes but not in my brain at the moment. Then we met the canoe group at the landing.
The Sarlat free day was a welcome break to be at leisure for the market, sightseeing, shops, and enjoy some more wine! Our guide arranged an optional activity in late afternoon which was a boules game in the park with a local apertif. It was a great evening to have an informal dinner with new friends or for couples to go off for a romantic dinner on their own. Sarlat also is the best place for laundry. Their is a drop off laudrymat and then they deliver it to the hotel. SInce I had been in Paris for 3 days prior to the tour, it was more than refreshing to have my clothes cleaned outside of the sink!
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