Camping in the Dordogne 2027. Périgord Noir, canoeing, caves and the best campsites

For campers, the Dordogne is what Tuscany is for hotel guests: a valley you see once and then return to every year. A slow river between limestone cliffs, a castle on every second hilltop, caves with paintings 17,000 years old, and markets where you buy walnuts, duck breast and Cabécou cheese straight from the producer. Add campsites that have often been in the same family for three generations.

This guide answers the questions you actually have before setting off: Which part of the Dordogne suits you? When is the trip worth it? What does it cost? And where do you park your motorhome without ending up in a car park in August?

Four Périgords, one river

The Dordogne département is historically called Périgord and is divided into four colours. For choosing a campsite, this is the single most useful piece of information.

Périgord	Centre	What to expect	Best for
Noir (black)	Sarlat-la-Canéda	Castles of Beynac and Castelnaud, La Roque-Gageac, Domme, canoeing on the Dordogne and Vézère, Lascaux	First-time visitors, families, canoeists
Pourpre (purple)	Bergerac	Vineyards of Monbazillac and Pécharmant, bastide towns like Monpazier, flatter country	Wine lovers, cyclists
Vert (green)	Nontron	Forests, lakes, the Périgord-Limousin regional park, little traffic	Peace seekers, dog owners
Blanc (white)	Périgueux	Limestone plateaus, the city of Périgueux with cathedral and market, truffles in winter	Food lovers, city-trip combiners

If you are coming for the first time, go to the Périgord Noir. Everything on the postcards lies along a 40-kilometre stretch. The downside: in July and August the valley is full. If you want it quieter, stay on the edge of the Périgord Noir, for example around Nabirat and Domme south of the river, and drive the 20 minutes to Sarlat in the morning.

Best time to travel: May, June and September

The Dordogne has two seasons that hardly resemble each other. The table shows what awaits you.

Month	Daytime temperature	River and canoeing	Campsites and prices
April	15 to 18 °C	Canoeing starts, water still cool	Many sites open, low-season prices
May	19 to 22 °C	Ideal, high water level	Quiet, cheap, bank-holiday weekends full
June	23 to 26 °C	Perfect for swimming and paddling	Best mix of weather and price
July and August	27 to 32 °C	Low river, busy rental stations	High season, booking essential
September	22 to 25 °C	Warm water, empty canoes	Second-best time, prices fall
October	16 to 19 °C	Too cool for swimming, lovely for walking	Many sites close mid-October

For long-stay campers, mid-April to mid-June is an insider tip: the sites have time for you, monthly rates are low, and the river still has enough water for long canoe trips.

Seven things you should not miss

1. Canoeing on the Dordogne from Vitrac to Beynac. The classic half-day trip passes La Roque-Gageac and Castelnaud castle. Rental stations bus you to the starting point. Expect 20 to 30 euros per two-person canoe.
2. Lascaux IV in Montignac. The replica of the famous cave is technically impressive and works well with children. Reserve online; in summer, mornings sell out days ahead.
3. Font-de-Gaume near Les Eyzies. One of the last original caves with coloured paintings you are still allowed to enter. Only a few visitors a day, so secure tickets early.
4. Sarlat market on Saturday. The whole old town becomes a market. If you prefer it quieter, go on Wednesday or to the farmers' market in Le Bugue on Tuesday.
5. Beynac and Castelnaud. Two castles that stared at each other across the river for centuries. Castelnaud has a medieval museum with working siege engines.
6. Domme. A bastide on a rock with a view over the whole valley. From the campsite in Nabirat it is 15 minutes.
7. The gardens of Marqueyssac. Clipped box trees on a ridge, an hour's walk with the best view of the river.

Where to camp: three sites, three roles

Campavia shows you campsites with real prices, per night and per month, and you request directly from the host. For a Dordogne trip, three stops have proven themselves: a base camp in the Périgord Noir, a wine stop on the way to Bordeaux, and a quiet halfway halt for the drive down from the north.

Base camp in the Périgord Noir: Camping les Pialades, Nabirat

Camping les Pialades sits in Nabirat, south of the Dordogne between Domme and Gourdon. 40 pitches on 2.7 hectares of woodland, the plots are large and framed by trees, the sanitary blocks are close by, and there is a pool and communal areas. Motorhomes up to 8 metres, 10-amp electricity.

The site is perfectly placed for the Dordogne: Sarlat in 20 minutes, the canoe launch at Vitrac in 15, Domme and La Roque-Gageac likewise. At the same time you are out of the valley in the evening and have peace.

Prices: from 17 euros per night, around 357 euros as a monthly rate. Add 0.55 euros tourist tax per person per night, paid on site. Free cancellation up to 14 days before arrival.

Wine stop towards Bordeaux: Le Coteau des Sens, Belvès-de-Castillon

About two hours west, just before Saint-Émilion, lies Le Coteau des Sens. This is not a classic campsite but a wine estate that takes motorhomes up to 15 metres on 100-square-metre pitches. The stay itself is free, for a maximum of 3 nights. The winemaking family hopes you will spend about 30 euros in the farm shop, at breakfast or at a tasting, and that is exactly what you will do.

What you get: a pool from April to October, a wine tasting every summer evening at 6:30 pm, a cellar tour for 12 euros, a private spa on request. Electricity 5 euros a day, dogs welcome. Outside summer, always ask ahead.

Halfway halt from the north: Camping Courte de Vallée, Airvault

If you come from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium or the UK via Tours, Airvault in the Deux-Sèvres is a sensible stop. Camping Courte de Vallée is a British-run site with 110-square-metre grass pitches in the Thouet valley, a few minutes' walk from the medieval town centre. Pool from May to September, bar and lounge from March to October, dogs allowed.

Prices: from 23 euros per night or 690 euros per month, electricity 9 euros a day. From here it is a good three hours to Sarlat.

You will find all three sites with current prices on the France overview.

What a week and a month cost

The Dordogne is not expensive if you come outside the school holidays. An example for two people with a motorhome:

Item	One week in June	One month in May
Pitch (Les Pialades)	7 × 17 € = 119 €	357 €
Tourist tax (2 people)	7.70 €	33 €
Electricity (metered or flat rate)	20 to 40 €	60 to 120 €
Canoe, caves, castles	80 to 120 €	150 to 250 €
Market and eating out	150 to 250 €	500 to 800 €
Total	around 400 to 540 €	around 1,100 to 1,560 €

For comparison: in high season many sites in the valley charge 35 to 50 euros per night, and monthly rates do not exist at all then.

Staying longer: the Dordogne as a spring or autumn base

More and more campers who spend the winter in Spain stop for a month in the Dordogne in April and May on the way home. The climate is mild, prices are low, and you have the valley almost to yourself. The same applies to September and October on the way down.

What to check on a monthly rate:

• Electricity. Some sites meter it, others charge a flat rate. Over a month that is a 50 to 100 euro difference. On Campavia the electricity rule is shown for every site.
• Opening months. Many sites in the Périgord Noir close mid-October and open in early April. Check the offered months on the site page.
• Dogs. Most family sites take dogs, some charge 1 to 3 euros a night.
• Cancellation. For a month you do not want to pay the whole sum upfront. On Campavia, bookings from 300 euros require only a 30 percent deposit, the rest on arrival.

Practical notes for motorhomes and caravans

• Roads. The valley is narrow but fine at 8 metres. The bridges at La Roque-Gageac and Beynac are tight, and traffic jams build in summer. Drive before 10 am or after 6 pm.
• Parking. Sarlat has signposted motorhome parking on the edge of the old town. In Domme and La Roque-Gageac, parking large vehicles in the centre is not possible; use the car parks at the village entrance.
• Gas. French bottles do not fit German or British regulators. Bring an adapter or fill up beforehand.
• Shopping. Supermarkets in Sarlat, Gourdon and Le Bugue. For cheese, duck and nuts, the markets are better and no more expensive.

Frequently asked questions about camping in the Dordogne

When is the best time for canoeing on the Dordogne? May to June and September. The water level is high enough for long stretches, the water warm enough for swimming, and the rental stations are not overrun. In August the river is shallow and busy.

Do I need a reservation for Lascaux? Yes. Lascaux IV sells tickets for fixed time slots. In July and August, mornings are often sold out days ahead. Font-de-Gaume has only a few tickets a day, so book weeks in advance.

Can I wild camp with a motorhome? In the Dordogne, wild camping is prohibited in most municipalities, especially in the valley. Many villages have well-equipped motorhome stopovers. For more than one night, a campsite with a monthly rate is almost always cheaper than the sum of stopover fees.

What does a month on a Dordogne campsite cost? Outside high season, between 350 and 600 euros for two people with a motorhome, depending on the site and the electricity rule. Camping les Pialades is around 357 euros a month.

Are dogs allowed on the campsites? On most, including the three named here. Many canoe rental companies allow dogs, ask beforehand. Not in caves and castles.

How far is it from the UK or Germany to the Dordogne? From Calais to Sarlat it is around 800 kilometres, from Cologne around 1,000. With a stopover, for example in Airvault, that is two relaxed days.