How to get to the Pech Merle cave from Cahors, Toulouse or Sarlat

The basic problem: no bus service

I’d rather say this upfront, since I get emails about it every week. There’s no bus route between Cahors and Cabrerets, nor from Figeac or Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. The train stops in Cahors. After that, it’s by car, taxi, or an excursion. A taxi for a 40 km trip there, an hour’s wait, and a 40 km trip back logically costs more than a seat on an excursion that also includes the ticket and Saint-Cirq.

From Cahors, by car

Allow 45 minutes. Leave Cahors via the Lot Valley towards Saint-Cirq and Figeac, then at Conduché, follow the Célé Valley up to Cabrerets. The road is narrow, winding, squeezed between cliffs and the river, and it is stunning. In Cabrerets, the cave is signposted; it is on the hillside, a few minutes above the village. The car park is on-site, with toilets, a refreshment stand, the gift shop-bookstore, and a picnic area.

From Cahors, without a car

The tour from Cahors is designed for this. Departing in the morning from the city centre, round-trip transport in a small group with a local driver-guide who comments on the valley, cave entry included, then Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and the Bouziès towpath. Eight hours. Lunch is not included, nor pick-up outside Cahors city centre. The activity is recent, with no reviews published yet; I give my detailed review.

From Toulouse

145 km from the airport, just under two hours’ drive via the motorway to Cahors and then the valley. By train, Toulouse–Cahors is direct, after which you’re back to the previous scenario. There’s also a private day excursion from Toulouse, including pick-up, a guided tour of Cahors and the Valentré Bridge, then the cave with a local guide. This is the simplest option for families or groups staying in Toulouse, and the most expensive per person, which is the nature of private tours.

From Figeac, Sarlat, Rocamadour

From Figeac, a 45-minute drive down the Célé Valley, the most scenic approach. From Rocamadour, about an hour across the causse. From Sarlat, it’s a full-day trip: down the Dordogne Valley, then through Gourdon, then the Lot. The private tour from Sarlat goes to Rocamadour and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie but does not include the cave—I mention this because the confusion is common.

On site

Arrive twenty minutes before your time slot. That gives you time to park, pick up your tickets and visit the restroom. It’s 12°C underground; grab your jacket from the car, not later—see what to wear.

Frequently asked questions