Experience the beauty of the Dordogne by train and explore this laid-back region of striking villages and spectacular scenery from our base in idyllic Les Eyzies

Meeting the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras, your holiday begins as we board the Eurostar to Paris. In the French capital, we transfer to Gare d'Austerlitz for a rail journey through the centre of France to Brive-la-Gaillarde. From here, we continue by coach following the Vézère river through this picturesque region. The Dordogne is known as the jewel of French gastronomy and, with truffles and walnut trees dotting this verdant land of thick forests we pass, it's little wonder.

Set in parkland and with a large outdoor pool, our hotel is in the centre of Les Eyzies*, a village at the heart of a UNESCO-listed site of caves containing prehistoric rock paintings and significant palaeolithic discoveries. On arrival, we enjoy our first dinner together at a local restaurant.

*Please Note - For departures 2nd & 23rd May, 6th, 14th & 21st June, 4th July and 1st & 24th September we will stay at the Hôtel Le Renoir in Sarlat.

Two holiday highlights await today as we firstly travel by coach to beautiful La Roque-Gageac.

With a huddle of elegant stone buildings appearing hewn out of the limestone cliff, this small riverside settlement is one of the most beautiful villages in France and formerly a thriving trading port. We hop into one of the traditional flat-bottomed boats - a gabare - that would have been used to transport goods. Sailing along the scenic Dordogne, relax while admiring châteaux peering out from densely forested hills. Afterwards, there's free time to explore La Roque-Gageac at leisure.

Our next destination is the 15th-century Château des Milandes. Offering panoramic views and displaying fairytale features, it has a surprising history. In 1947, it was bought by Josephine Baker, a star of the Parisian cabaret scene in the 1920s. The American-born singer and dancer, who performed at the Folies Bergère, created an Art Deco haven. You can explore the château, wander its manicured grounds at your leisure. Returning to Les Eyzies this evening, we gather for a three-course dinner at a restaurant.

Please note: due to market day in Sarlat and the operation of the Truffadou steam train, the order of the itinerary may change.

Today is at leisure for you to explore Les Eyzies and the surrounding areas as you wish.

Our picturesque base in the heart of the Dordogne is rich in prehistory and was where the Cro-Magnons were discovered in 1868. The village and the Vézère Valley boast a number of attractions for those interested in this era of formative human history, including a Cro-Magnon shelter dating from 40,000 BC. You don't have to go far to feel like you're at the centre of this jaw-dropping archaeology. Behind our hotel there is the Prehistory Interpretation Centre, while the National Museum of Prehistory is also nearby. Both bring to life nearly 400,000 years of humanity.

While its incredible history is Les Eyzies' main attraction, the scenery is also stunning. After exploring, relax by the river and, as you dine independently today, seek out a restaurant for dinner. Look out for local cuisine including confit duck, cepes mushrooms and walnut bread.

One of the region's most important and historic towns, Sarlat, is our destination today. Its Old Town is full of honey-coloured medieval buildings lining a labyrinth of alleyways and is virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages.

Our visit coincides with market day, giving you the chance to peruse the stalls and enjoy the aromas drifting throughout the square. The market is famed throughout the region and local producers flock to sell products such as duck, goose, walnuts, cheese and excellent fresh fruit and veg, including various varieties of melon and tomato. You could also take a walk around the historic attractions, perhaps visiting the Cathedrale Saint Sacerdos. Much of Sarlat's oldest architecture lies in the lanes at the back of the cathedral. Here, pretty courtyards - such as the Cour des Fontaines and Cour des Chanoines - can be found, as can some of the town's original fortifications.

We return to Les Eyzies in the late afternoon, with time to relax before dinner at a restaurant this evening.

Please note, to ensure we visit Sarlat on market day, some tour groups will enjoy an excursion to Beynac today instead with a chance to visit the market on the free day. This change affects the following departures: 2 & 23 May, 6, 14 & 21 June, 4 July, 1 & 24 September.

After breakfast, we travel by coach to the beautiful village of Rocamadour, stopping enroute to admire the Château de Belcastel perched on a rocky promontory.

Cascading down a huge cliff, the UNESCO-listed village of Rocamadour is an important site of pilgrimage. A mix of rustic medieval stone houses and impressive religious structures, there's free time to explore one of France's most popular tourist destinations. One of the main attractions is the Sanctuary of Rocamadour, a cluster of seven chapels and churches halfway up the cliff, where a Black Madonna statue was discovered in the Middle Ages. Pilgrims used to climb the 216 steps on their knees - but thankfully you can now pay to use the lift.

From Rocamadour, we continue to Martel for a journey on the restored Truffadou Steam Train*, named as it was historically used to transport truffles. We enjoy a round trip to Saint Denis in open carriages hauled by a steam engine, soaking up excellent views across the beautiful local countryside. Afterwards, dinner at a restaurant awaits us on our return to Les Eyzies this evening.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

With a train station in Les Eyzies, a full free day gives you the perfect opportunity to discover more of the Dordogne at your own pace.

A regular service connects Les Eyzies with Périgueux, the historic capital of the Périgord region, in about 30 minutes. This rich tapestry of this 2,000-year-old city can be uncovered in its many appealing sights. To explore the Roman origins, head to the Vesunna Gallo-Roman Museum, where you can view the remains of a first-century villa. Périgueux's most spectacular attraction is its UNESCO-listed 12th-century cathedral with a towering turret and five circular domes. Périgueux is renowned as a gastronomic city and there are many good restaurants showcasing the region's famed produce.

Exuding laid-back charm, the Dordogne has showed us a slice of quintessential France on this memorable holiday. Our base in the heart of the 'cradle of humankind' showcased an array of history, while time at Sarlat's popular market allowed us to experience the sights and aromas of the region's famous produce. The pilgrimage site of Rocamadour impressed and a relaxing cruise in a traditional gabare revealed stunning views of La Roque-Gageac, one of France's most beautiful villages.

Leaving Les Eyzies by coach after breakfast, we board a train in Brive-la-Gaillarde and say farewell to the Dordogne. Travelling through the heart of France, we make our way to Paris where we change to the Eurostar, arriving back at London St Pancras this evening.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above..

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Originally constructed to serve the four miles between St. Denis Les-Martel and Martel, the 'Truffadou' Line first opened in 1889. The railway proved to be an almost immediate success, and in particular it managed to acquire a lot of the freight loads from this stretch of the Dordogne. In spite of the line's apparent popularity, the tracks had to be lifted in 1917 to help the Allied forces with their First World War effort. The railway was almost completely dismantled by American forces, who then helped to reconstruct the line on the conclusion of the war late the following year.

In many ways, the railway's finest hour was yet to come. Having to rebuild its infrastructure and traffic levels, the line then managed to secure a monopoly on transporting truffles from Martel's Market, one of the most important in France during the inter-war years. This gave the railway the nickname that has stuck with it to this day.

The 'Truffadou' Line continued to run services for decades afterwards, though traffic steadily declined as the 20th century wore on. The final scheduled services ran in 1980, and the line was closed later that year. Yet many locals were determined that the railway would prove to be a popular tourist attraction, and in 1991 the preservation society set to work on restoring the line to working conditions. After a lot of persistence and dedication, the first heritage train ran along the line in 1997. Today the volunteer-operated line continues to delight tourists, and remains one of the very few heritage lines to run at its complete original length.

With golden limestone walls and painted shutters, this family-run 3-Star hotel exudes French charm from the heart of prehistoric Les Eyzies. Its beautiful gardens look out onto cliffs filled with history in the 'cradle of humankind'. The large, shaded grounds contain a gentle river and an outdoor pool with loungers, while guests can relax with drinks from the bar. Air-conditioned guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safe, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

This 3-Star hotel is set in a former distillery a short distance from Sarlat's medieval centre. Carefully renovated to blend modern comforts with traditional touches that also recall the golden age of cinema. Guests can relax in the bar or, in the warmer months, in the large outdoor area that contains a terrace and pool. Guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safe, tea & coffee-making facilities, complimentary toiletries and hairdryer.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

Enjoy hassle-free travel with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £199 per bag.

The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag as your luggage will be delivered direct to your first destination hotel. The luggage service is not available where you are flying to or from your destination and you will need to take your own luggage with you on the flight.