Hooked on Walking Holidays has developed a wonderful walking holiday in France. France has a varied landscape allowing different types of walking and hiking holidays. Our French walking holiday is in the LOT region of south west France. Three famous rivers cross this region the Dordogne , Lot and Tarn rivers. Our walking holiday follows the River Lot through the limestone hills. Our walking holiday in the Lot valley is only available as a self led walking holiday. The Lot valley is less explored than its famous neighbour the Dordogne Valley but it is just as beautiful and spectacular and less crowded. For sure you will see great scenery , lovely and varied footpaths and trails and you will come across many remote treasures. This regions is steeped in history in not only its buildings but also in its human habitation with caves dating back to prehistoric times. You will walk and come across many medieval villages along the way. The Lot and Cele valleys around this region are built around a limestone plateau cut by deep valleys and covered with orchids and small white oaks.

Available April to October ( Level 2 self guided tour )

Day 1 Arrival to Figeac
Arrive to Figeac in the afternoon, a very nice town with lovely streets and buildings as old as half a thousand years. Possiblity of a lovely walk by the  ancient city pedestrian streets or guided visit of the ancient city.

Day 2 9.5 miles 15 km, difference in heights is 300m
Today a short transfer to Beduer a very nice village with a lovely castle. Then walking to the the lovely Cele valley by the Grealou limestone plateau. Terrain is gently undulating with nice footpaths. On the way you will see ancient stone-made shepherds huts, dolmen (prehistoric monument), lovely old houses and an old stone made fountain. Arrival at the Cele valley in the lovely Espagnac Ste Eulalie village.

Day 3 & 4
Now in the gorgeous Célé Valley, surrounded of limestone cliffs. You will follow the valley, sometimes down in the valley, sometimes on top of it along the ridge line, some times along footpaths seemingly hanging onto the cliff. You are also crossing a limestone plateau and its small trails surrounded by small stone fences, very typical from the area. The plateau is an arid region with specific flora, land of orchids and of numerous other flowers. You will also walk through Saint Sulpice village and  its trogloditic houses (built into the cliff), Marcilhac Abbey, Sauliac castle . Night 3 in Marcilhac village, night 4 in Cabreret village. Day 3 is 10.6 miles 17 km (diff. in height is 600 m) , day 4 is 11.1 miles 18 km (diff. in height is 550 m)

Day 5 Saint Cirq Lapopie. Walk is 9.5 miles 15 km difference in height is 350 m
Today you are leaving the Cele valley, en route to the Lot valley; The  wonderful Pech Merle cave with prehistoric wall paintings , a  surprising footpath cut into the cliff above the river. St Cirq Lapopie is an incredible village overlooking a bend in the Lot, the village is  perched on the edge of the cliff; the ancient houses rise up over the rocky slope protected by the 500 years old church.

Day 6 9.5 miles 15 km difference in height is 400 m
 A loop above the Lot valley by a very nice and peaceful scenery with beautiful lookout views to  the valley. (optional walk  of 20 km (600m)

Day 7 end of tour
Your tour is finished after breakfast when you will be dropped off in Figeac or Toulouse if the transfer has been requested .

Difficulty:
Walks of 4 to 5,5 hours during which you climb and descent 550m on some days from the valley floor to the upper regions. the average daily distance of around 17 km , around 10-11 miles.

Accommodation:
6 nights in good 2 and 3 star family run hotels and quality bed and breakfast  with en-suite bathrooms in all the rooms and selected quality Bed and breakfasts.

2010 Prices

How to get there
By plane to Toulouse airport and then by train to Figeac. 
By Train to Figeac on direct link from Paris
To view other walking holidays in France

Click Below if you would like to review our
Cycling Holidays in Dordogne

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