Flavours of the Dordogne

Your fantastic French holiday begins at London St Pancras as you meet the Tour Manager and board the Eurostar. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal on our way to Paris.

In the French capital, we are transferred across the city to Gare Montparnasse, where we catch the high-speed TGV and journey in First Class to Angoulême. From here, we continue by coach to Les Eyzies, our base for the next six nights. The Dordogne is known as the jewel of French gastronomy and, with truffles and walnut trees dotting this verdant land of thick forests we pass, it's little wonder.

Our four-star hotel is in the centre of the village of Les Eyzies, in an area renowned for its prehistoric cave art. Owned by a chef and a wine expert, the hotel is building a burgeoning reputation for its gastronomy with two on-site restaurants. After checking in, we gather in the bistro to enjoy our first dinner together in the Dordogne, with an expertly curated wine pairing.

• Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

After breakfast, we head out to enjoy the first two holiday highlights.

Standing 450 feet above the Dordogne River, the Marqueyssac Gardens surround a picturesque 19th-century château. With around 150,000 beautifully pruned boxwood trees, it's one of France's most-loved gardens and was voted as one of the top 25 most beautiful gardens in the world by the New York Time. There's time to explore along the shaded paths or soak up the spectacular views of the valley before we enjoy lunch at the gardens.

Leaving this elaborate haven, we travel to the nearby village, La Roque Gageac. A huddle of elegant stone buildings appearing hewn out of the limestone cliff, this small riverside settlement is one of the most beautiful villages in France and formerly a thriving trading port. We hop into one of the traditional flat-bottomed boats - a gabare - that would have been used to transport goods. Sailing along the Dordogne, relax while admiring châteaux peering out from densely forested hills. Afterwards, there's free time to explore La Roque-Gageac before we return to Les Eyzies and dine independently.

Please note: due to market day in Sarlat and the operation of the Truffadou steam train, the order of the itinerary may change.

• Breakfast, Lunch

You are at leisure today and it coincides with market day in Sarlat, one of the region's most important and historic towns. Sarlat's Old Town is virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages, with honey-coloured medieval buildings lining a labyrinth of alleyways.

The market is famed throughout the region and local producers flock to sell products such as duck, goose, walnuts, cheese and excellent fresh fruit and veg, including various varieties of melon and tomato. You could also take a walk around the historic attractions, perhaps visiting the Cathedrale Saint Sacerdos. Alternatively, a regular train service connects Les Eyzies with Périgueux, the historic capital of the Périgord region. The rich tapestry of this 2,000-year-old city can be uncovered in its many appealing sights.

Wherever you choose to explore today, you can return to Les Eyzies in time for dinner in the hotel's bistro with wine pairing.

• Breakfast, Dinner

There's free time this morning and you could get to know more about Les Eyzies' history.

Our picturesque base was where Cro-Magnons were discovered in 1868. The village and the Vézère Valley boast a number of attractions for those interested in this era of formative human history, including a Cro-Magnon shelter dating from 40,000 BC. You don't have to go far to feel like you're at the centre of this jaw-dropping archaeology, with the Prehistory Interpretation Centre and National Museum of Prehistory bringing to life nearly 400,000 years of humanity.

In the afternoon, we head out by coach into the heartlands of the Dordogne wine region. Our special experience at the Feely wine estate begins with a tour of the organic vineyard to learn about how natural wine is produced in this area. Afterwards, we enjoy a wine-tasting, before returning to Les Eyzies, where you dine independently this evening.

• Breakfast

One of the Dordogne's most beautiful villages is visited after breakfast as we head by coach to Beynac-et-Cazenac. With pretty, ochre-hued stone cottages lining cobbled streets, wandering through this picture-perfect location feels like stepping back in time to the Middle Ages. There's free time to explore and you could walk up the steep lanes to the imposing 11th-century château or stroll beside the river.

Later, we travel to Martel for a journey on the charming Truffadou steam train. Named as it was historically used to transport truffles, the steam-hauled train* travels on an eight-mile round trip to Saint Denis on a route carved into the cliffs above the river. In open carriages, we can soak up excellent views across the beautiful countryside and experience a bygone age of travel.

Afterwards, we return to our hotel in Les Eyzies where you are free to dine independently this evening.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast

Found by chance by four teenagers in 1940, the Lascaux Caves are considered to be amongst the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. While the original cave was closed to the public in 1963 to preserve it, two replicas now showcase the incredibly detailed colourful renderings of animals such as wild cattle, deer, horses and an unknown two-horned animal. After time in Lascaux IV, we continue to another spectacular location, Rocamadour.

Cascading down a huge cliff, this UNESCO-listed village is an important site of pilgrimage. There's free time to explore this mix of medieval stone houses and impressive religious structures. One of the main attractions is the Sanctuary of Rocamadour, a cluster of seven chapels and churches halfway up the cliff, where a Black Madonna statue was discovered in the Middle Ages. Pilgrims used to climb the 216 steps on their knees, but thankfully you can now pay to use the lift.

Back in Les Eyzies, we gather in the Gastronomique restaurant to savour dinner with a wine package - the perfect way to conclude our tour.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Combining the region's sensational food and wine with its exceptional history, this tour of the Dordogne has shown why it's such a popular destination. Our experiences have been elevated with special trips to the Lascaux Caves and Marqueyssac Gardens - and wine-tastings paired with delicious cuisine.

Leaving Les Eyzies after breakfast this morning, we transfer by coach to Angoulême to catch the train to Paris, travelling in First Class seats. In the French capital, we board the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal at our seats on our way back to London St Pancras. On arrival, your holiday concludes and you can make your way home.

• Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal