I take small groups (up to 3 people) on full-day trips from Toulouse to places I know well and love to share. Every itinerary below can be adjusted. If you have a different idea, tell me and we’ll work it out.
Please note: many of the castles, caves and villages on these trips are fully open only from April to October. If you’re coming at another time of year, let’s have a chat first. I’ll tell you what’s open and adjust the day so it’s still worth your while.
Let’s have a quick Zoom call to discuss it or click here to email me to start working out the best day trip for you.
Cathar Country
Toulouse → Mirepoix → Puivert → Limoux → Carcassonne → Toulouse, 599€ for up to 3 people for the day
We start in Mirepoix, a medieval market town with timber-framed arcades around the main square. Come on a Monday if you want to see the local open market, but Mirepoix is lovely any day of the week.
Next is Puivert: an easy walk up to a small, privately owned château that was mostly destroyed and is now a picturesque ruin.
Then a quick tasting of Limoux wines. Limoux is known for its sparkling wines.
We end the day in Carcassonne, where you can walk the ramparts of the medieval Cité before we head back to Toulouse.
Day trip to Cordes sur Ciel with stops at several wineries
Toulouse → Albi → Cordes-sur-Ciel → Bruniquel, Puycelsi or Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val → Toulouse 599€ for up to 3 people for the day
We spend the morning in Albi, then have lunch and an afternoon in Cordes-sur-Ciel, a medieval hilltop village.
On the way back, we pick one more stop depending on the season and how much walking you want to do:
- Château de Bruniquel, a castle above the Aveyron gorge
- Puycelsi, a fortified hilltop village that’s harder to get around on foot
- Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, the easiest of the three for walking
Day Trip to Foix
Toulouse → Mirepoix → Niaux → Château de Foix → Toulouse 599€ for up to 3 people for the day
We start in Mirepoix, the medieval market town. Monday is market day.
Then we visit the Niaux cave, one of the few caves in France where you can still see original prehistoric paintings. You get there with a guide and a flashlight, and booking well ahead is essential.
We finish at the Château de Foix, the castle of the Counts of Foix, which stands above the town. I can add a winery stop on request. The local wines are mostly reds.
Day trip to Saint Cirq Lapopie
Toulouse → Pech-Merle → Saint-Cirq-Lapopie → Cahors → Toulouse 599€ for up to 3 people for the day
We start at the Pech-Merle cave, which has authentic prehistoric paintings of mammoths, horses and hand stencils.
Then Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, a village perched on a cliff above the Lot river.
We end in Cahors, where you’ll see the Pont Valentré, the fortified medieval bridge.
Off-season: when Pech-Merle is closed, we walk the towpath at Bouziès instead. The path is cut into the cliff above the Lot.
Day Trip to the Dordogne
Toulouse → Sarlat-la-Canéda → Lascaux IV → Toulouse 599€ for up to 3 people for the day
This is a long day with an early start. We spend the morning in Sarlat-la-Canéda. Wednesday and Saturday are the best days, because that’s when the market is on.
In the afternoon we visit Lascaux IV, the full-scale replica of the Lascaux cave.
Coming soon: longer Dordogne trips with one or two nights.
What strikes your fancy?
The trips above are starting points, not fixed packages. Maybe you’ve always wanted to see a particular castle, a village your grandmother talked about, or a winery a friend told you about. Or maybe you just know you want a good day out in the southwest and need help choosing.
Book a free 20-minute Zoom call with me and tell me what you have in mind. I’ll tell you what’s realistic in one day, what’s open when you’re here, and what I’d do in your place. There’s no obligation. If we find a plan that suits you, we’ll set a date.
Book a call with Annie here