Dordogne and Lascaux Cave Private Tour from Bordeaux
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the stunning Lascaux IV Cave
- Admire exquisite Paleolithic cave art
- Wander through the picturesque Beynac
- Experience the rich history of the Dordogne
Full description
Experience the wonders of the Dordogne region on a private tour from Bordeaux. You'll journey to the renowned Lascaux IV Cave, where you'll marvel at stunning Paleolithic art that dates back thousands of years. Along the way, take in the picturesque charm of Beynac and La Roque Gageac, while your expert guide shares fascinating stories that bring this ancient landscape to life. This tour offers a comfortable ride in a fully equipped minivan ensuring an enjoyable experience as you explore the heart of French heritage.
Explore the Dordogne Valley's prehistoric heritage and medieval splendor on a private full-day tour from Bordeaux featuring Lascaux IV International Cave Art Center, the culinary capital of Sarlat-la-Canéda, and the cliffside Château de Beynac. Discover breathtaking Paleolithic cave paintings recreated with state-of-the-art technology, stroll through France's best-preserved 14th-century town, and visit one of the Dordogne's most dramatic medieval fortresses overlooking the river valley.
Lascaux IV International Cave Art Center
Begin your journey at Lascaux IV in Montignac, home to a complete, life-size replica of the world-famous Lascaux Cave featuring approximately 600 prehistoric paintings and 1,000 engravings dating back 17,000 years. This Snøhetta-designed museum, listed on Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Places in 2018, recreates every detail of the original cave using advanced 3D scans and physical castings crafted by two dozen specialist artists.
Follow an English-language guided tour through the facsimile cave experiencing masterpieces of Paleolithic art including the Great Hall of Bulls, exactly as they appeared when first discovered in 1940. Interactive galleries, immersive technology, and multimedia exhibits bring the art, history, and culture of our Ice Age ancestors to life with remarkable intelligence and sensitivity, revealing how prehistoric artists created these extraordinary works thousands of years ago.
Sarlat-la-Canéda Medieval Town
Continue to Sarlat-la-Canéda, the gastronomic heart of the Dordogne and one of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns. Located in the Périgord Noir, Sarlat features an exceptional concentration of 13th-18th century buildings including the Lantern of the Dead, Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral, the beautifully restored Saint Mary Church covered market, and Maison de La Boétie Renaissance mansion. Wander atmospheric cobblestone streets lined with golden stone architecture that has remained largely unchanged since the 14th century.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, your guide introduces you to the famous Sarlat Market showcasing Périgord specialties including foie gras, truffles, duck confit, walnuts, and regional cheeses. Enjoy free time for lunch and personal exploration of this enchanting culinary capital.
Château de Beynac Medieval Fortress
End your day at the spectacular village of Beynac-et-Cazenac, classified among France's Most Beautiful Villages. Perched 150 meters above the Dordogne River on a dramatic limestone cliff, the Château de Beynac dominates the valley with its austere medieval silhouette. Built from the 12th century by the Barons of Beynac (one of Périgord's four great baronies), this strategic fortress features double crenelated walls, double moats carved from natural ravines, and a double barbican protecting the plateau approach. Admire panoramic views of the Dordogne Valley and the picturesque village cascading down the hillside before returning to Bordeaux. This private tour ensures personalized attention from your expert guide throughout the day.
Included / Excluded
- Hotel pick up from Bordeaux or surrounding area.
- Enjoy live commentaries from your expert guide.
- Travel in recent, comfortable and fully equipped minivans.
- Tickets to Lascaux Museum & cave
- Meals and drinks (lunch)
- Personal travel insurance, expenses.
- Gratuities for the Guide
Itinerary
Bordeaux departure
Meet your guide and depart for the Dordogne region of France.
Lascaux IV Centre International de l'Art Pariétal, Montignac-Lascaux, France
Visit Lascaux IV International parietal center
Meeting point
Start Location
Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France
Important information
Know before you book
- Minimum 2 adult passengers required for tour to operate
- Full-day tour with approximately 5 hours round-trip driving time
- Lascaux IV entrance and guided cave tour included in English
- Lunch in Sarlat not included; budget €20-40 per person
- Hotel pickup included from Bordeaux and within 30 km (18.6 miles) radius
Know before you go
- Tour duration approximately 10 hours; early morning departure recommended
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for Sarlat cobblestones and Beynac village
- Lascaux IV cave replica maintains cool temperature; bring light jacket
- Sarlat market operates Wednesday and Saturday mornings only
- Tour runs rain or shine; vehicle is climate-controlled
Cancellation policy
Operator strictly adheres to its cancellation policy and will make no exceptions to the policy. If Guest chooses to cancel his or her reservation, Operator must receive written notice of said cancellation in writing via certified mail, fax or e-mail sent to info@ophorus.com (with confirmation of receipt from Operator), and Guest shall be subject to the following cancellation fee schedule: Ophorus requires full payment by credit card, internet payment (through our website) or wire transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest) to make a reservation. We accept payment by AMEX, Visa and Master Card. There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund: Up to 48 hours prior to departure: no cancellation fees except the booking fees. 48 hours prior to departure and less > no refund. No show - no refund.
Reviews
We had a very fun day with Matt to Mont Saint-Mitchel. Matt is an excellent tour guide & he cared for his clients very much. He's an on time person. We learned a lot about the history of Saint-Mitchel via Matt. He made sure we have enough time browsing this beautiful UNESCO. We definitely recommend friends & family this tour. Thank you Matt
Pascal was, above all, a smiling whirlwind of energy from the very start — bursting with knowledge, passion, and just the right amount of dramatic flair. He painted the horror of the Omaha Beach invasion so vividly that we could practically hear the chaos, then marched us through the bunkers at Pointe du Hoc like we were on a mission ourselves. And before we even caught our breath, he had already catapulted us back to Bayeux at invasion speed. A legend in tour‑guide form. Thanks from Croatian Team😉
Our Normandy D-Day tour was well worth it and we so enjoyed our tour guide Matt. He made the tour engaging, entertaining and informative. The tour was just the right size and a half day was perfect for us. It would have been much harder to get around to the sites and understand each without the information that Matt was constantly sharing. There was hardly a time that Matt was not telling us what/how/when of what we were looking at. Thanks Matt!