2020 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

Prehistoric Caves & Great Cuisine of France FROM BORDEAUX TO PROVENCE

From Bordeaux to the lush Dordogne Valley and limestone gorges of the Ardèche, we bring you delightful walks and hikes, memorable cuisine (with several gourmet dinners), and a fascinating experience of the region’s astounding cave art. Paleolithic cultures created immense galleries of mystical paintings across southern France, and we’ll explore the best of them, including World Heritage caves as well as off-the-beaten-path sites that few travelers see. We’ll also go wine tasting, meet chefs, savor genuine regional cuisines in family-owned restaurants, hike between villages, and enjoy market day in medieval Sarlat. We finish up at the spectacular limestone Gorges de l’Ardèche, where we visit the amazing Caverne du Pont-d’Arc.

CLEMENT PHILIPPE

Days 1-4 Saint-Émilion / Les Eyzies, Capital of Prehistory / Lascaux Meeting in Bordeaux, we hike through vineyards to the ancient wine town of Saint-Émilion, with a tasting at the elegant Château Guadet wine estate. In Les Eyzies, we’ll be joined by a gifted expert to explore the twists and turns of magnificent galleries of Paleolithic art at Lascaux II (by torchlight to experience the paintings in flickering natural light!) and at Rouffignac, Font-de-Gaume, and special lesser-known sites. Days 5-7 Market Day in Sarlat / Chateau de Beynac / Lot Valley / Grottes de Cougnac We explore the lively weekly market in Sarlat’s old quarter, hike along the Dordogne River, visit the stunning clifftop castle of Château de Beynac, and discover the off-the-beaten-path caves at Grottes de Cougnac.

Days 8-9 Laguiole / Aubrac Plateau / Chemin de St. Jacques / Michel Bras Visit ancient Laguiole, where renowned knives have been produced for two centuries, and walk on the Camino de Santaigo, a beautiful stretch of the historic pilgrim trail in the wild Aubrac Plateau. At world-famous Michel Bras, we enjoy a special dinner and a warm welcome from the Bras family. Michel Bras’ son Sebastian, the chef, gave back his three Michelin stars in 2017 to gain more culinary freedom. Days 10-12 Massif Central / Ardèche Gorge / Vallon Pont-d’Arc In the bucolic Massif Central, we pass through historic villages and sample the rich local cheeses (St. Nectaire, Laguiole, or Roquefort), then head to the dramatic Ardèche Gorge, where we visit the perfect replica of the Paleolithic paintings at Caverne du Pont-d’Arc and savor our lovely hotel set among lavender fields. Depart on Day 12 via Avignon.

on Day 12.

HIGHLIGHTS • Trace an arc across southern France’s lush and historic landscapes • Visit fantastic galleries of Paleolithic cave art, both famous and little known, with expert local guides • Enjoy lovely walks between villages, several dinners in Michelin-starred restaurants • Experience market day in medieval Sarlat, with its Old Town of honey-colored 16th century buildings DETAILS • 12-day trip begins in Bordeaux and ends in Avignon • 11 nights charming hotels and inns • All meals included except 2 lunches and 2 dinners

In the heart of ancient France, explore astonishing galleries of Paleolithic art and enjoy wine tasting, village hikes, and superb cuisine. PHOTO: BRIAN MCGILLOWAY

DATES May 19-30, 2020

Jun 2-13 Sep 8-19

TRIP COST $7995 (10-13 members) $8495 (5-9 members) Single supplement: $1640

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 + 3 4 5 6 Easy to moderate walks and hikes, 2-4 hours a day, van support

ANNIE HAWKINS

COMBINE ANY TWO EUROPE TRIPS FOR A $400 PER PERSON DISCOUNT! 54