Quercy

Our recommended train and flight options arrive into Toulouse. We’ll meet you and drive to L’Espère in the heart of Quercy’s gentle hills. After settling into the elegant Domaine de Labarthe, we’ll take a short afternoon walk through the surrounding countryside dotted with walnut groves and wild herbs. This evening, enjoy our first dinner together, accompanied by a glass of local wine, before a peaceful night in the Dordogne-style manor.

We begin our first full day on the bike with a circular ride west from L’Espère, following quiet lanes through farmland and villages. Lunch is a feast at Ferme du Tessou, where our hosts raise the famed Noir de Bigorre black pigs. In the afternoon we’ll visit a local winemaker for a tasting. If the weather is warm, we might even take a dip in the Lot River before returning to the Domaine for the evening.

A short drive brings us to the medieval Pont Valentré in Cahors. We’ll walk into the city for its vibrant market and a chance to sample the region’s produce: cheeses, walnuts, truffles, wines and charcuterie. After a leisurely browse, we saddle up for a ride along the Lot, stopping for a picnic lunch en route before climbing to the clifftop village of Calvignac. Tonight’s stay is at the charming Mas de Garrigue.

Today’s ride takes us across the limestone plateau towards Limogne, an area known for its truffle oaks. Lunch will be at the acclaimed La Table de Charrou, serving authentic local cuisine with signature wines. In the afternoon, we will join a truffle-hunting expert to learn about the prized 'black diamonds' of Quercy. In the afternoon we will return on quiet roads to Mas de Garrigue.

From Calvignac, we follow the Lot upstream through timeless rural scenery, heading across the limestone Causses to the Célé valley, where we will have lunch in the hamlet of St-Sulpice. In the afternoon we will head along the Célé, with an opportunity for a wild swim, towards Figeac. We stay overnight at the elegant Château de Saint-Dau.

Today we ride a scenic loop along the tranquil Célé Valley, passing limestone cliffs and medieval hamlets. Midway, we leave our bikes for a short walk to the riverside village of Espagnac. Lunch will be at the atmospheric Bar Restaurant Communal du Prieuré, housed in a restored monastery. We'll return to Château de Saint-Dau for a final evening together in Quercy.

After a hearty breakfast, we will transfer you to Toulouse for your onward journey.