Cro Magnon Cycling Tour - Journey into pre history in Southern France

Cro Magnon Tour Overview

Our Cro Magnon tour takes us on a journey into the prehistory as we join the dots between the cave art of Cro Magnon across Southern France. Cro-Magnon refers to the population of early Homo sapiens dating from the Upper Paleolithic Period (c. 40,000 to c. 10,000 years ago) in Europe and provides the primary focus for this tour. We start at the Chauvet cave in the Ardeche region whose painting has been carbon-dated to 32,000 years ago. From here we head south along the Rhone River and through Provence and the Languedoc as we head to the ‘capital’ of prehistory – Les Eyzies-de-Tayac in the Dordogne. It was here that Édouard Lartet discovered the five archaeological layers in a shallow cave that demonstrated the evolutionary path of mankind. Rouffignac with it’s mammoth, Font de Gaume and Cap Blanc are just three of the amazing cave sites that we’ll visit here.

We then head westwards to perhaps the best-known cave site at Lascaux (images from which are shown below). Discovered by four teenagers in 1940 this site is considered by many to be the most impressive example of pre-historic cave art. The original cave is now closed to the public due to the damaging impact of carbon dioxide in human breathe but the replica that is situated on the same site is a wonderful representation in its own right.

Further highlights of the tour include a meeting with Monsieur Begouen who owns the Grotte des 3 Frères and a visit to the Gargas cave that is otherwise known as the ‘Hands Cave’. Our trip specialist – Vincent Reboul – has spent years planning this tour and has a network of contacts at all of these cave sites that adds an extra immersive dimension to the tour experience. The tour concludes on the Spanish border at Tautavel where we visit the Aragon Cave where the remains of the 450,000 year old ‘Homme de Tautavel’ have been found. Our Cro Magnon tour provides a wonderful chance to delve into the fascinating subject of human evolution whilst offering a wonderful sensory bike ride across Southern France.

Lascaux style Petroglyph detail close up

Team Members on this Tour

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Highlights

Cro Magnon Highlights

STAGE 1 – Chauvet to Sarlat

> Cycle down the majestic Gorges d’Ardeche

> View the amazing figurative images of the Chauvet cave

> Cross the wild and enchanting Cevennes region

> Discover the gigantic spotted horses of the Pech Merle cave

> Delight the gastronomy and medieval history of Sarlat

> Visit the extraordinary replica of the Lascaux cave

STAGE 2 – Sarlat to Perpignan

> Visit the enchanting town of Bergerac

> Sample the delights of the wonderful Monbazillac wine

> Discover the gruesome history of the Cathars and their fortresses

> View the remarkable Gargas cave which is known as the ‘hands cave’

> Cycle the road less travelled through the Languedoc region

> Meet ‘Tautavel man’ in the shadow of the Pyrenees

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Overview

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Dates

Cro Magnon Bike Tour Dates 2021

Stage	Start Date	End Date	Days	Distance	Cost (Euros)
Stage 1: Chauvet to Sarlat	20th April	26th April	7 Days / 6 Nights	478km / 297 miles	€2860
Stage 2: Sarlat to Perpignan	26th April	6th May	11 Days / 10 Nights	766km / 476 miles	€4520
The Epic: Chauvet to Perpignan	20th April	6th May	17 Days / 16 Nights	1,244km / 772 miles	€6780

Supplements

> Single supplement – Our prices are based on twin/double occupancy. If you wish to have your own room a supplement is applicable.

> Deposits – To reserve a place on a stage of this tour you need to pay a deposit of €1000 (or your local currency equivalent). We also accept payment in GB£ and AU$. The final invoice will include any applicable single supplements or bike hire costs.

> Bike hire – If you don’t bring your own bike we have a fleet of bikes that we are able to rent out. Please click here to visit Our Bikes page which shows the options we have available, including the pricing which varies according to the length of the hire.

> Wine kitty – On all of your tours we run a wine kitty system. This is very much an optional arrangement that ensures non-drinkers can be accommodated. The wine kitty is owned by the group and anything left over is divided up although this rarely happens!