There's a little gem tucked away in a tiny corner of southwest France—the Lot Valley, a secluded world of medieval cliff-top hamlets, Romanesque abbeys, open-air markets, ancient chateaux, and a savory cuisine flavored with truffles and wild mushrooms. In this deeply French realm, we hike along the tranquil Lot River and across pilgrim paths between spectacular hilltop villages. We also explore the prehistoric Pech Merle cave, filled with extraordinary rock paintings, and sample the delicious wares of local wineries and small farms. Overnights are in hand-selected historic hotels, including the majestic 13th century Château de Mercuès overlooking the Lot River.
Arrive: Rodez, France
Depart: Toulouse, France
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
"This is a trip we will long remember. It immersed us in the atmosphere of old France, from quaint medieval hilltop villages to prehistoric caves to nights in a romantic chateau. And we spent days hiking through the stunning landscape surrounding the Lot River."
Bruce B.
Ventura, CA
"I would highly recommend this trip and your company to others. Everything was highly professional and FUN."
Carol C.
Paradise Valley, AZ
"This is a great trip to see rural France, to taste local wines and eat wonderful meals, while hiking through beautiful countryside."
Charles S.
Larkspur, CA
"This trip was incredible. I felt like I had never seen the ‘real’ France until this trip. The itinerary was perfect and I felt like we were transported into a different time. It was amazing!"
Chereen L.
Steamboat Springs, CO
"This was our 4th WT trip, and we will continue to look to WT for travel."
Cynthia S.
San Diego, CA
"This trip had everything: fantastic food, wonderful accommodations, a great attention to history woven into our daily hikes, and a lot of behind-the-scene touches I really appreciated: the lively meeting with Jean Luc Matha, a master winemaker, where we tasted several of his excellent wines; lunch at the home of a sheep farmer (leg of lamb, of course); sampled goat cheeses at a local farm; heard a rousing organ recital in a 12th century cathedral; met with the lord of a chateau and had a delightful “picnic” in one of the castle's cozy rooms with a roaring fire; attended the bustling Saturday market in Conques; and, above all, the absolutely best Trip Leaders."
Dena B.
Albany, CA
"The tour provided a nice mix of varied hiking trails, cultural outings, picturesque villages, good food and wine, and even some special events like the procession in Conques."
Dorothy D.
Denver, CO
"A big plus for this trip was being in an area not ‘discovered’ by tourists."
Edmond D.
Claymont, DE
"A great trip at a perfect time of year. The hotels were excellent, in keeping with the theme of old France. The meals were a delight, and the hikes took us through beautiful riverine landscapes and quaint medieval villages. This is the ultimate trip to France."
Elizabeth B.
Ventura, CA
"Annie's 'eating, drinking and exploring old France' trip was just as wonderful as we expected!"
Jack H.
Cockeysville, MD
"This was a wonderful trip. It flowed seamlessly and gave us an opportunity to visit a truly magical area of France."
Janet A.
Bethesda, MD
"This was one of the best walks/trips in my life. The pace was great, with time for sightseeing, and the best places to eat and stay."
Jude R.
Salt Lake City, UT
"This trip was perfect: exquisite itinerary, stunning scenery, charming hotels, incredible food, and outstanding trip leaders. I didn't want it to end!"
Judith K.
South Portland, ME
"We expected this would be a great trip and we were not disappointed. We saw beautiful villages, lovely valleys, stayed at great hotels, had interesting tours, picturesque hikes, and interesting excursions. It was a section of France we would never have explored on our own."
Marie Jose D.
Lovingston, VA
"The trip was a fascinating journey through the long history of this region, from the cave at Peche Merle to the modern stained glass windows at Conques by Pierre Soulage."
Martha F.
Denver, CO
"An exceptional overview of the unspoiled Lot Valley!"
Robert H.
Houston, TX
"We were hoping to experience the relaxed pace of village France and were not disappointed. Everything was perfect—the towns, the food, the walks, the wine, and all the ‘extra’ experiences."
Suzanne & Brady M.
Friendswood, TX
"It was an exceptional trip. A wonderful itinerary, with beautiful areas for hiking as well as sightseeing."
Suzanne T.
Santa Rosa, CA
"A glory of a trip with glorious guides, Romanesque buildings, chapels and abbeys and churches with carvings so fresh and humorous you feel as if you were walking through mid-12th century villages and secret paths. Great people, gutsy reds, endless confit du canard, superb cheeses, and gentle walks in endless beauty."
Suzy M.
Pittsburgh, PA
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.