Padirac chasm and Rocamadour village visit

Follow our unique small group full day tour to the Gouffre de Padirac and the village of Rocamadour departing from Sarlat. At first, meet your English speaking expert tour guide at the central meeting point in Sarlat located Place Pasteur. Here, you will be first introduced to the days program. Then, it will be time to board your air-conditioned minivan and begin your day trip that will take you first to the Chasm of Padirac.

One of the most stunning visits of the area: Padirac Chasm

After a drive of just over an hour, arrive in Padirac. Experience a unique visit of one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena of the region as you plunge in an unexpected underground world. The chasm itself is 103 m (338 ft) deep, with a diameter of approximately 35 meters (115 ft). The flooded network of Padirac Chasm is the second longest in the world after those located in the Yucatan province of Mexico. The visit of this vertiginous chasm begins with a 75 meter descent via a lift before actually entering the cave system. Following the descent, enjoy a peaceful boat ride on the mysterious subterranean River. Then, disembark and walk along a path that will take you through large caves decorated with stunning gigantic limestone concretions. After the walk, you will return by boat to your original departure point and take the lift back up to reach the outside world.

Rocamadour: A castle set above a sanctuary set above a village

After the visit of Padirac, board the minivan and head to the nearby village of Rocamadour. Miraculous rock, collection of tales, legends and beliefs, sanctuary of the Black Virgin, pilgrimage site: the Village of Rocamadour is all of this at the same time. The old medieval houses, the towers and fortifications, the oratories all tumble along the steep cliff that dominates the Alzou Canyon. The whole site is topped off by the castle and its dungeon and the seven sanctuaries. Your guide will certainly stop here for a breathtaking view of the whole site that make for fantastic photo opportunities.

Depending on your time of arrival, you will either follow a guided walking tour of the village or enjoy some free time for lunch. Rocamadour is without a doubt one of the most beautiful villages of the area. Classified as a Unesco World Heritage site as it is located on the way to Santiago de Compostella (St James Way), the main attraction of the village lies in its sanctuaries especially that of Notre Dame that bears a statue of the Black Virgin. The visit of the village can be painful for those with walking problems but please note that there is a possibility of accessing the sanctuaries by lift (tickets not included in price). For lunch, there are many restaurants & snacks to be found in the village and your guide will make the adequate suggestions depending on what type of meal you are looking for.

Other great trips that can be taken to local villages include our private tours to Saint Cirq Lapopie, Collonges la Rouge or to the small villages of the Dordogne valley.