This was an excellent trip. The local operator was very well organised, helpful and professional. The trip notes were excellent, the accommodation of a high standard and the included meals were great value. We enjoyed a generous sampling of the local food and produce, as well as the local wines. The Dordogne is a very picturesque, historic and interesting area to visit.
Our trip was excellent for all the things we saw, but, as older people, it was too fast paced for us and others of our age in the group, and several became sick. We would have preferred fewer destinations, and more time in each destination. Also, we suggest walking tours should be limited to under an hour and a half. Our group, our tour leader and driver were all great. I would recommend this tour operator to friends, with the caveat that they look for the slower paced tours.
Really enjoyable trekking with a nice mixture of types of accommodation Like all mountain trips, the weather is critical to enjoyment. Fortunately for us, we had only one day of really poor weather when even seeing signposts was difficult!! Else the scenery was truly fantastic all the way round. The accommodation varied a bit in quality but all of it was basically good and that, plus the many included meals, made the trip feel more like a real holiday - tired legs and any other issues were quickly forgotten as really hot showers, good food and clean crisp sheets revitalised the body! Walking clockwise against the flow was nice as you had a quiet period each morning when sometimes you were the only visible people on the trail. Navigation notes were generally good (though we also bought Kev Reynolds book on Mont Blanc) and baggage transfer by Besson Transport (though arranged through the tour operator) worked well. Airport transfer was efficiently handled by the operator recommended Mountain Drop Offs. It was a straightforward very rewarding trek. As regular hill walkers in Scotland we very much enjoyed the freedom of being 'self guided'.