Discover the ancient artistry of the Dordogne Valley on this private day trip from Sarlat. Explore caves adorned with Paleolithic rock art, learn about prehistoric cultures, and enjoy personalized insights from your expert guide.
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Why you’ll love this tour
Step back in time with expert guides
Learn about Paleolithic cultures
Discover ancient rock art sites
Visit the Lascaux IV art complex
Explore the National PreHistory Museum
Your day at a glance
Explore the prehistoric heart of the Dordogne Valley on a private day trip from Sarlat that links three major sites in a single, seamless day. Start at the National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies, where exceptional artifacts and human remains reveal 400,000 years of life in the Vézère “Valley of Mankind.” Continue to La Roque Saint‑Christophe, a monumental cliff carved into troglodyte terraces ...
Explore the prehistoric heart of the Dordogne Valley on a private day trip from Sarlat that links three major sites in a single, seamless day. Start at the National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies, where exceptional artifacts and human remains reveal 400,000 years of life in the Vézère “Valley of Mankind.” Continue to La Roque Saint‑Christophe, a monumental cliff carved into troglodyte terraces and a rock‑fortress high above the river, with reconstructions that show how people lived and defended this natural stronghold over the centuries. In the afternoon, step into Lascaux IV – International Centre for Cave Art, a state‑of‑the‑art replica of the original cave, often called the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistory,” where immersive lighting and guides bring more than 600 Paleolithic paintings and engravings to life.
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Pickup in Sarlat
Meet your guide at your accommodation in Sarlat and settle into a comfortable, air‑conditioned minivan for the day’s journey through the Dordogne Valley.
Meet your guide at your accommodation in Sarlat and settle into a comfortable, air‑conditioned minivan for the day’s journey through the Dordogne Valley.
Explore the National Prehistory Museum with your guide, discovering key artifacts that trace hundreds of thousands of years of human history in the region.
Explore the National Prehistory Museum with your guide, discovering key artifacts that trace hundreds of thousands of years of human history in the region.
Walk the terraces of this former troglodyte fortress and cliff‑side village, seeing reconstructions that show how people lived here over the millennia.
Walk the terraces of this former troglodyte fortress and cliff‑side village, seeing reconstructions that show how people lived here over the millennia.
Private tour with a maximum of eight participants.
Requires a minimum of two adults to operate.
Tour is conducted in English only, other language on request
Entrance times for sites are prebooked and may be fixed in high season.
Know before you go
Cave and replica temperatures are cool, around 13°C (55°F), year-round.
Wear warm layers and comfortable closed walking shoes.
Surfaces can be damp or uneven in and around the sites.
Large bags, food and drink are not permitted inside Lascaux IV.
Photography is generally restricted or forbidden in cave areas.
Included
Hotel pick up or drop off.
Travel in air conditioned Mercedes minivan.
Small Group private tour of maximum 8 passengers.
English speaking in-house licensed guide, Expert in Prehistory.
Entrance tickets to museum, Lascaux & La Roque Saint Chiristophe
Excluded
Meals and drinks (lunch).
Personal travel insurance and expenses.
Gratuities for the driver/guide.
Must know
Private tour with a maximum of eight participants.
Requires a minimum of two adults to operate.
Tour is conducted in English only, other language on request
Entrance times for sites are prebooked and may be fixed in high season.
Additional information
This small-group experience is best for curious travelers who love history, archaeology and art, and who want a deeper, story-driven introduction to Paleolithic life rather than a quick photo stop. It also suits adults, solo travelers and couples who appreciate expert guiding, comfortable transport and a relaxed pace, and older children or teens who already have an interest in prehistory.
Voucher information
If any hotel or predetermined meeting place changes, notify Ophorus immediately. Otherwise be at location 10 minutes prior to pick up time.
Terms and conditions
All our terms & conditions can be found here: https://www.ophorus.com/terms-sales
Cancellation policy
Cancellation deadline: 48 hours
Operator strictly adheres to its cancellation policy and will make no exceptions to the policy. If Guest chooses to cancel his or her reservation, Operator must receive written notice of said cancellation in writing via certified mail, fax or e-mail sent to info@ophorus.com (with confirmation of receipt from Operator), and Guest shall be subject to the following cancellation fee schedule:
Ophorus requires full payment by credit card, internet payment (through our website) or wire transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest) to make a reservation. We accept payment by AMEX, Visa and Master Card. There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund:
Up to 48 hours prior to departure: no cancellation fees except the booking fees.
48 hours prior to departure and less > no refund
We will come and pick you up at your accommodation in Sarlat la Caneda or surrounding area (circle of 30 kms around Sarlat).
Other possible pick up locations :
Montignac
Les Eyzies de Tayac
Beynac, La Roque Gageac, Domme
Return
Tour returns to original departure point.
Group information
We can handle any group size (from 8 people) ranging from small groups to large groups of hundreds of people. Transportation options include private vehicles, mini-vans, mini-buses and large buses.
Just get in touch to find out more! Contact us by email: groups@ophorus.com (groups from 8 people)
For groups of 2-8 people please fill out this form: ophorus.com/contact-us/
Reviews
5.0/5
(7 reviews)
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Eveline
18, Jun 2026Get Your Guide
Sehr interessant die Fahrt nach Lascaux. Unser Guide zeigte viele Sehenswürdigkeiten und wusste viel über das Périgord zu erzählen. Das Museum einfach grandios. Würden sofort die Tour nochmals machen.
V
Valerie_J
16, Jun 2026Viator
Benoit is very knowledgeable about prehistory and gave us an excellent introduction to early cave paintings at Lascaux and Rouffignac. He suggested places to eat for lunch and dinner that went above tourist food. He was…Benoit is very knowledgeable about prehistory and gave us an excellent introduction to early cave paintings at Lascaux and Rouffignac. He suggested places to eat for lunch and dinner that went above tourist food. He was personable and helpful.
E
Eveline Schüpbach
18, Apr 2026Google
Sehr sehenswertes einzigartiges Museum in Lascaux, unser Fahrer hat sehr viel über das Périgord erzählt- geschichtlich sehr kundig.
H
Heath Wilson
30, May 2024Ophorus
We spent a wonderful two days with Maarten; we are grateful for his professionalism, positive attitude, and deep expertise. On the first day, we started with a food tour in Sarlat. After Maarten provided us with some his…We spent a wonderful two days with Maarten; we are grateful for his professionalism, positive attitude, and deep expertise. On the first day, we started with a food tour in Sarlat. After Maarten provided us with some history and information on this adorable village, we had our first stop at Chez Pierro where we enjoyed a wonderful wine and cheese tasting. It was amazing – the cheese just melted in our mouths and the local wines paired perfectly. After exploring the Cathedral grounds and remains of the Abbey, we had our second wonderful tasting at Le Cellier Du Perigord for Fois gras, pate, and more local wines. We continued wandering the town including the ancient market square and completed the food tour portion of our day at Les Toques de la Noix with various walnut based patisserie. We enjoyed lunch on our own and then reunited with Maarten for a fantastic afternoon exploring castles and local villages. On our second day with Maarten, he impressed us even more with his extensive knowledge of prehistoric history. He took us to two sets of caves with stunning prehistoric drawings – Lascaux IV and Rouffignac – both very different and both just as fascinating and interesting to explore. We stopped for a relaxing and delicious lunch in the small village of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, we visited ancient cliff settlements – some of which housed people over 55000 years ago, and we soaked in all the history and knowledge that Maarten shared throughout the day. What a great two days exploring with such a knowledgeable and enjoyable tour guide. Thank you Maarten!
N
Ninette A.
01, Jul 2022Ophorus
We just finished our tour with Benoit. He is the best tour guide I have ever had! Very knowledgeable and very, very kind and thoughtful. He gave us a wonderful tour of the pre-historic caves, and the chateaus! The very b…We just finished our tour with Benoit. He is the best tour guide I have ever had! Very knowledgeable and very, very kind and thoughtful. He gave us a wonderful tour of the pre-historic caves, and the chateaus! The very best two days we have ever had.
Thanks again for everything. I look forward to coming back next year and touring a different part of France with Ophorus.
M
Melody H.
11, Jun 2022Ophorus
We were met by our driver Benoit, a common French name, who studied art history and architecture and who for the past few years during Covid worked at the Museum of Pre History. Needless to say, he was up for the task he…We were met by our driver Benoit, a common French name, who studied art history and architecture and who for the past few years during Covid worked at the Museum of Pre History. Needless to say, he was up for the task he had our tickets for an 11:30 tour of Font de Gaume so we had plenty of time first to explore the greater Vezere valley. I think he knew the name of every chateaux and castle around, as well as who currently owns it and why it was important. Font de Gaume was everything we had hoped for. To visit the last cave in Europe pen to the public with polychrome paintings was absolutely incredible. The rules have changed yet again. No more than 78 people a day and 13 people per trip are allowed into the cave. Every new cave discovered since 192 in France and Spain are closed to the public.
After our “prehistory” morning, we shifted from the Vezere valley to the Dordogne. We visited beautiful medieval villages and ended up in Sarlat and Benoit even knew a number of people from different stores around town.
He was, and is , the perfect guide to this region. He is also one of the guides to the St Emillion wineries. He was a winner.
M
mhil
07, Sep 2021TripAdvisor
A five-star trip with an exceptional guide
This day trip might seem a bit long to those who just want to see Lascaux IV, but in hindsight it was well worth every minute. Early on, our guide Martin gave us a sweeping ove…A five-star trip with an exceptional guide
This day trip might seem a bit long to those who just want to see Lascaux IV, but in hindsight it was well worth every minute. Early on, our guide Martin gave us a sweeping overview of prehistory that allowed us to make sense of the overwhelmingly rich collection of the National Museum of Prehistory at Les Eyzies, "the Louvre of Prehistory" as he called it. What we saw and learned that morning provided the background needed to understand and fully appreciate the two prehistorical sites on our itinerary, the Rouffignac caves and especially Lascaux IV.
Martin was the perfect tour guide for this trip, thanks to the depth and breadth of his knowledge of prehistory as well as his excellent communication skills. I only regret that he was not allowed to accompany us through the tour of Lascaux IV, as the official guide was way below his level of expertise and pedagogical talent.
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Quick answers
What are the main highlights of the Dordogne's Paleolithic Art tour?
Key highlights include visiting the National Prehistory Museum, Lascaux IV, and La Roque Saint-Christophe, while learning about Paleolithic cultures
What is included in the Dordogne's Paleolithic Art day trip from Sarlat?
The tour includes hotel pickup, travel in an air-conditioned Mercedes minivan, an expert English-speaking guide, and entrance tickets to the sites visited
How many participants are there in a small group on this tour?
The tour has a maximum of eight participants, ensuring an intimate experience
Is there any age restriction for this tour?
The tour is suitable for adults, solo travelers, couples, and older children or teens with an interest in prehistory
What should I wear for the tour?
It is recommended to wear warm layers and comfortable closed walking shoes, as cave temperatures can be cool
Are meals included in the tour package?
Meals and drinks are not included in the tour, so guests should plan accordingly
What is the cancellation policy for the tour?
If you cancel within 48 hours of departure, there is no refund provided, while cancellations made earlier incur no fees except booking fees
Will the tour be conducted in languages other than English?
The tour is conducted in English, but other languages are available upon request
Can large bags or food be taken inside the Lascaux IV cave?
Large bags, food, and drinks are not permitted inside Lascaux IV, and photography is generally restricted
What kind of transport is used during the tour?
The tour travels in a comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan designed for small groups
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