Reviews of Pech Merle and Lot tours
I’ve read the reviews published on GetYourGuide for each of the excursions featured on this site, as well as those for the cave itself on TripAdvisor (4.6 out of 5, over 1,500 reviews). Two excursions have ratings, while three are too recent to have any. I don’t fill in the gaps with made-up testimonials: when there are no reviews, I assess based on the itinerary, the local operator, and the cancellation policy, and I state that clearly. For the cave, the excursion from Cahors remains the one I recommend because it includes entry and transport.
The five excursions reviewed
From Cahors: Pech Merle Cave & Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
The only excursion that sorts out the ticket, transport and Saint-Cirq in one day.
8 hrs · small groupRead the full review ›
From Toulouse: Hidden medieval France & the Lot Valley
Cahors, the Valentré Bridge, and the cave as a private tour, departing from Toulouse.
8 AM · private groupRead the full review ›
Rocamadour: small-group guided tour
The highest-rated on the site: an hour and a half in French through the sanctuaries.
1.5 hours · small groupRead the full review ›
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie: private guided tour of the village
Two hours with a certified guide in the village where I grew up.
2 hrs · private groupRead the full review ›
From Sarlat: Private tour of Rocamadour & Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
A day trip by van from the Dordogne. Without the Pech Merle cave, mind you.
8 AM · private groupRead the full review ›What visitors say about the cave
TripAdvisor reviews of the cave highlight the same points, which match what I observe on every visit: it’s an original cave and not a replica like Lascaux (Marco, July 2026, emphasises the 25,000 to 30,000-year-old drawings and the need to book in advance); the guides lead the tour (Olivier mentions Thierry, Marie-Isabelle mentions Lauriane, Belinda mentions Gilles, all in August 2026); and geology enthusiasts enjoy the discs, pearls and spinning top (Stéphanie, July 2026). The most common advice: watch the film beforehand and visit the Amédée Lemozi museum, both included in the ticket.
My method
I didn’t book each excursion under a fake name. I know the area well—I grew up between Cabrerets and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and have been visiting the cave since primary school. For each excursion, I read the programme line by line, check what’s included and what’s not, compare the advertised duration with the actual travel time, and read the published reviews when available. The ratings shown are from GetYourGuide at the time of writing; the booking widget, however, is always up to date. To compare the six products in a single table, see all excursions; to understand why booking is mandatory, visit the booking & tickets page.
Frequently asked questions
Why don’t some excursions have a rating?
Because they are recent on GetYourGuide and no reviews have been posted yet. This is the case for excursions from Cahors and from Toulouse, and for the private tour of Saint-Cirq. I prefer to point this out rather than display a non-existent rating.
Are these reviews independent?
Yes. I am neither the Pech Merle Prehistory Centre nor an operator. If you book through a link on this site, I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you; this does not affect what I write. The details are on the affiliation page.
Which tour really includes the Pech Merle Cave?
The one from Cahors (entry included) and the one from Toulouse (cave visit on the itinerary). The excursion from Sarlat goes to Rocamadour and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, not the cave. The all excursions page summarises this in a table.