Enjoy a Self Guided Biking Vacation in the Bordeaux & Dordogne regions of France! Cycle Through Vineyards, Villages & Castles of Southwest France
Discover France by bike on a self-guided cycling tour from Bordeaux to the Dordogne. Ride through vineyards, St Émilion, Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Bignac, Sarlat and Montignac – with wine, history, and beautiful countryside at every turn.
All of our Self-Guided tours in this area will have you spend a night in its capital, the city of Bordeaux. A UNESCO World Heritage city known for its grand architecture, riverfront boulevards, and world-famous wines Bordeaux also has fantastic restaurants, the incredible Cité des Vins, and a rich culture of art and music. You may consider asking us to customise your tour to add an extra night here for more exploration – you wouldn’t regret it!
A couple of our Bordeaux cycling itineraries are truly built for winelovers. Taking you on great, small roads through the world-famous vineyards of the Medoc and St Emilion, this is a fantasy trip for Bordeaux lovers: pedal by renowned wine names in the Medoc like Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Cos d’Estournel, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild… our itinerary of course takes you by all of these, so you can pay your respects, and take a photo of the beautiful properties as a memento!
Though those wineries don’t accept tastings, other Grand Cru Classé wineries do, and we include reservations at some on our tours, to ensure that you get to taste the best the region can offer.
A loop ride around UNESCO St Emilion similarly takes you past Chateau Ausone, Chateau Cheval Blanc, and Chateau Pavie… Again, we organise a tasting at a Grand Cru Classe in Saint Emilion, as well as leaving you time to explore the incredible town and underground monuments.
On our other cycling itineraries, starting in Bordeaux, we concentrate on the fantastic countryside cycling running parallel to the Dordogne River, moving eastwards into the Perigord.
Leaving Bordeaux city you follow the beautiful and tranquil Roger Labeypie bike path to Saint Emilion. Again, you’ll fall in love with this beautiful small town, eating their famous macaroons, visiting the underground monolithic church, and enjoying super food and wines.
Continuing eastwards on your Bordeaux & Dordogne River biking tour, you’ll pedal through towns with ancient castles, surprising kiwi and tobacco farms, vineyards, and through traditional market towns like Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, one of the oldest bastides in France, with arcaded squares, lively Saturday markets, and a warm local atmosphere.
The town of Bergerac invites explorations, and you’ll want to stop at the beautiful Chateau de Montbazillac, to taste the wonderful sweet white wines produced there.
There is a section of very hilly and busier riding that we avoid with a handy short transfer in to your hotel in Sarlat-le-Caneda on our longer Bordeaux & Dordogne itineraries. This UNESCO Heritage Town is known as the largest Medieval grouping in Europe, and is quite stunning.
It has a fantastic bi-weekly market, and is stunningly lit up at night to enhance your explorations there – we provide a map and Self-Guided walking tour.
You’ll pedal through walnut groves and goose farms, and then descend to another river, the pretty Vezere, past prehistoric grottos and shelters to a final stage in Montignac on our longest Bordeaux & Dordogne Bike tour. Ending there, with a visit of the truly superb Lascaux IV Prehistory Centre makes for a great finale to your cycling holiday! Enjoy the fascinating history and reproduction of the famous caves of Lascaux, with their Palaeolithic cave paintings, estimated to be over 17,000 years old. The vivid depictions of animals and symbols offer a rare glimpse into early human art and life during the Stone Age.
All our self-guided bike tours are designed for independent travellers who love discovery, culture, and authentic French life. You ride at your own pace, while we take care of the logistics – quality bike hire, luggage transfers, highlighted route maps, GPS navigation, charming accommodations, and full telephone support. Of course, we also know that you want to enjoy as much of the local culture and history as possible, so we provide a rich package of regional information, with highlights of each day’s towns and sites along the way.
Our self-guided Bordeaux to Dordogne cycling holidays give you freedom, flexibility, and confidence. Follow brilliantly researched scenic routes on quiet country roads, stop for vineyard tastings or riverside picnics, and immerse yourself in authentic French culture. Choose what’s right for you: the start date, level of accommodation comfort, and then which itinerary is right – are you excited to see famous Bordeaux wine names? Or is your interest the fantastic pastoral and beautiful countryside and villages? Do you want the best of both worlds, with some wine, but also the rich culture of the Perigord? We are here to build the Best Self Guided Biking holiday for you!
From Bordeaux’s wine estates to Dordogne’s medieval villages and prehistoric wonders, these self-guided cycling tours combine culture, cuisine, and natural beauty in unforgettable journeys.
