Cycle Tours Dordogne ~ FAQs

We have a limited number of E-Bikes available. They are offered on a “first come first served basis” (a surcharge is payable). However, we work very closely with a local bike rental company, and should we have no E-Bikes available or that our E-Bikes are not suitable (size, model, etc.), we can arrange rental on your behalf. In these circumstances we reduce the cost of our tour by 100 Euros and the rental payment due is made direct to the rental company.

In the case of road bikes, we can arrange the rental of high end road bikes. Should this be your choice (as with the E-Bikes), we will reduce the cost of your tour by 100 Euros and the resulting rental charges will be paid directly to the rental company by yourself.

A self-guided tour is a fully co-ordinated holiday package for the independent traveller. We supply your bikes; book all of your accommodation; move your luggage between the accommodation; give you detailed routes to follow. You decide with whom you want to travel and you travel at your own pace – there is no guide or group to speed you along or slow you down. We’re sure that once you’ve experienced self-guided tours, there’ll be no going back!

Our tours are to be enjoyed and it’s certainly not a race. We want you to enjoy both the cycling and the countryside you’re cycling through. You would generally expect a typical day to consist of 4 to 5 hours of cycling or walking. Most tours, however, have the option of additional distances to cover each day, should you feel the need. Dordogne and Lot are hilly in parts but with no more than a moderate degree of difficulty.

The tours are aimed at competent cyclists with a basic level of fitness. If you take regular exercise, you shouldn’t have any problems. Our longest day of cycling is a little over 60kms, but this is not the norm. Should you intend to take one of our tours but have not been exercising regularly, we would recommend that you consult your doctor before considering an activity-based vacation.

Although your tour is self-guided, you are not alone. If there is an emergency, you call us. Remember, we are based in the locality and can always get to you should you be in need of help. But please also remember that there is no “sag wagon” and that it is down to you to get from hotel to hotel (regardless of the weather)!! Please note that all clients must have suitable travel insurance which includes cover for repatriation.

  • All accommodation – your choice of chambres d’hôtes, family-run hotels or deluxe hotels (at some locations)
  • All breakfasts and at least two evening meals (the number of evening meals is dependent upon your choice of tour)
  • Use of a 21-speed Trek (or equivalent) hybrid bicycle set up to your personal specification (height and inseam)
  • Bicycle equipment including helmet, a set of panniers, map case, a puncture repair kit with spare tube, mini pump & lock
  • Detailed route descriptions
  • All luggage transfers
  • Telephone support and personal help if required – we’re just a call away

Prior to your tour, you will receive an information pack. Included in this pack is a comprehensive list of what you will – or won’t – need to bring.

Of course you may. But remember the cost of your tour includes the use of a high-quality bicycle. Should you still decide to bring your own bike, we will reduce the cost of your tour by 100 Euros. Also, please bear in mind that – as has happened to some of our tour clients – you can arrive in France ready for your tour, but your bike might still be in transit!

The majority of our tours start and finish in Gourdon. Whether you plan to travel by road, rail or air, we will endeavour to assist you with your travel plans and recommend the most convenient routes. (Gourdon is on the main Paris-Toulouse train route and the journey can be made without having to change trains.)

If you request this option, we will send you an email containing a special link which “knows” the exact amount which you are due to pay us. Clicking on that link will take you to PayPal’s secure website where you will be able to make your payment quickly, easily and securely using any major credit or debit card.

Unlike other international tour companies, our business is locally based. We specialise in the Périgord Noir region where we ourselves live – an area of outstanding natural beauty which we know intimately; an area about which we can share accurate local knowledge with all our customers; an area where we can find you easily if you need help in an emergency. We believe that our tours offer choice, value for money, flexibility and freedom. We want you to have a holiday that will leave you wanting to come back for more. We want you to tell your family and friends what an unbelievable experience you’ve had – from your initial enquiry to waving us goodbye at the end. We want you to live that dream…

How to Book

  1. Please browse our various activity tours and select your preferred tour from the “Cycling Tours” or “Walking Tours” pages.
  2. Please then contact us using the ‘Booking Enquiry’ form, specifying your chosen tour, to check availability and to make a provisional booking.
  3. To make your booking, we ask you to complete the ‘Booking Form‘ for your chosen tour by clicking the relevant BOOK NOW button.
  4. A non-returnable 10% deposit will be requested to confirm the booking. This can either be paid by a debit/credit card, a bank transfer or a banker’s draft. We will send you the payment details on receipt of the emailed booking form. For those who prefer to pay by cheque, please send this with the downloaded PDF version of the Booking Form. (Address shown on the PDF).
  5. The balance must be paid not less than eight weeks before the start date of your holiday.

Booking Enquiry

To check availability of your chosen cycling or walking tour, please complete this short form:

Privacy *

Read our Privacy Policy here.  The personal information you have provided here will allow us to respond to your enquiry and will be stored by us should further contact concerning the original enquiry be required. It will not be sold or shared to any third party.  You are free to opt-out at any time, please contact us should you wish to do this.

Terms & Conditions

RAISON SOCIALE
Cycle-the-Dordogne is the trading name of SARL Randonnée En Dordogne.

AVAILABILITY
For details of availability, please contact us using one of the methods indicated at the bottom of each page of our website.

Should you be interested in one of our “non-standard” tours i.e. Dordogne/Lot Combo, Hub & Spoke Cycling, Multi-Activity or a customized tour, a price will be calculated based on the length of the tour and the activities involved. This price will be given to you by telephone or sent to you by e-mail.

TOUR SIGN-UP
To make a booking with Cycle-the-Dordogne, a Reservation Form must be completed and forwarded to us, along with a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the total price.

Upon receipt of your deposit we will confirm your booking and tour details.

Further information regarding your tour will be forwarded to you prior to your tour start date.

PAYMENT DETAILS
A non-refundable 10% deposit must be paid at the time of booking. If the booking cannot be made for whatever reason, the deposit will be returned in full. The balance is due 8 weeks prior to the commencement of your vacation.

Bookings made within 8 weeks of your chosen start date will require full payment to be made at the time of booking.

Payments may be made by

  • credit/debit card (we will contact you by phone at a mutually agreed time for your card details, rather than asking you to put them in an email)
  • banker’s draft
  • cheque
  • bank transfer (please ask us for our account details)
  • PayPal (please ask us for the address of our PayPal account

PRICING
The prices quoted are per person assuming double occupancy of a room. Consequently, single occupancy supplements may be payable.

Prices may also vary should your tour be shorter or longer than the standard number of days.

CANCELLATION
Should you wish to cancel a booking once it has been confirmed, you will need to do so in writing to Cycle-the-Dordogne. The cancellation is not deemed effective until received, whereupon confirmation will be advised.

The following cancellation charges are effective:

(a) 8 weeks or more before start date: deposit only
(b) more than 2 weeks but less than 8 weeks before start date: 50% of total cost
(c) up to 2 weeks before start date: 75% of total cost
(d) within three days of the start date or once the tour has started: no refund

In the event that Cycle-the-Dordogne deems it necessary to cancel a tour, a full refund will be issued. However, this will not include any incidental expenses you may have incurred as a result of your booking, such as travel arrangements, travel insurance, visas etc.

INSURANCE
Please be aware that arranging your own personal travel insurance is a condition of booking. We strongly recommend that you take out appropriate insurance, covering you for illness, injury and loss or damage to your belongings. Your insurance should also cover the possibility of you having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason and repatriation to your homeland.

RISK/LIABILITY
Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you – the customer – realise the risk involved in such a holiday. It is your responsibility to ride/walk/canoe with due care at all times.

Cycle-the-Dordogne does not accept any liability for any loss or injury however caused.

Cycle-the-Dordogne cannot accept responsibility for the services of any accommodation, restaurant or other supplier used in conjunction with our tours, nor any liability for claims, damages, expenses or other financial loss to persons or property.

Cycle-the-Dordogne’s responsibility does not start until you reach your start point. If you fail to arrive at the designated start point, we cannot be held responsible for any additional costs incurred by yourself.

AMENDMENTS AND CANCELLATION
Cycle-the-Dordogne will not accept liability or pay compensation where the booking is affected by “Force majeure” or an “Act of God”. These events include but are not limited to war or the threat of war, terrorist activities (threatened or actual), civil or industrial action (threatened or actual), adverse weather conditions, or any other such events outside of our control.

PASSPORTS
Each customer is responsible for ensuring that he/she is in possession of a valid passport (and any necessary travel and health documentation that may be required).

USE OF HIGHWAYS
Cycle-the-Dordogne cannot be held responsible for the conditions of the highways and roads used, or for the other users of such routes. Consequently, clients take part in their chosen activity at their own risk and we are therefore not responsible for death, injury or illness of customers on our tours.

LAW AND JURISDICTION
French law governs each of our tours. Therefore, SARL Randonnée En Dordogne and its clients each submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the French courts in relation to any dispute that may arise from any booking.

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