Dordogne
Dragonflies & Wildlife

Saturday 23 - Friday 29 June 2012 (7 days)

The Dordogne and Vezérè Valleys in SW France have been called 'an Exotic England, steeped in prehistory'. This year we have added another tour there, mainly for the superb range of dragonflies to be found in the area, and led by dragonfly expert Dick Askew.

Dordogne is an excellent place for a dragonfly-watching holiday. There are around 60 species across a diverse range of wetland habitats: ponds, canals, lakes, fens, streams and of course the great River Dordogne itself, together with smaller tributaries, streams and springs. Water quality is high and adjacent grasslands and forest habitats provide further feeding areas. Most habitats are on limestone but we will also visit areas of sandy geology. Rare and extinct UK species can be seen, together with exotic and familiar ones. Sites are plentiful and easily accessible.

We are based at the cosy riverside Hotel Le Barrage at Mauzac, just upstream from Lalinde, an excellent venue with comfortable rooms, good food, excellent hosts and dragonflies on tap! Western Demoiselles and smaller damselflies flit close to the bank whilst larger clubtails patrol the open water. Perhaps a Western Spectre will grace us with its presence after dinner above the terrace.

Each day we will visit different areas. One 'must-see' site is the 'Tourbières de Vendoire', a fenland in the NW of the département. 40 species have been recorded here so we will have our work cut out identifying everything! There will be ample opportunities for photography and there will be time to review these in the evening at the hotel.

The tour has been designed and will be led by Dick Askew, a keen entomologist and author of 'Dragonflies of Europe', who spends much of his time in France.

Accommodation
We will be based at a cosy riverside hotel in the sleepy village of Mauzac with all rooms en suite. Lunches will be in auberges to sample the local cuisine or 'terroir'.



Price: £ 1,295
Single supp.: £ 115
Deposit: £ 300 per person

The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of return flights London Stansted-Bergerac, accommodation, meals, minibus transport, incidental tips, admissions, and leadership.

The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses.

*For an ex-flight cost of the tour (ex Bergerac) please deduct £ 100 per person from the tour cost.

Leaders: Dick Askew & David Simpson

Numbers: Max. 8 clients

The Dordogne map

Outline Itinerary
Day 1We fly from London Stansted to Bergerac where we meet Dick Askew. From here it is about a half-hour drive down to our riverside hotel in Mauzac. Overnight Mauzac
Days 2-6Five nights Mauzac
Day 7We should have time for a morning in the Dordogne and a farewell lunch before returning to Bergerac for our flight home in the evening.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary