“France’s Most Beautiful Villages,” the tour my husband and I took of the Dordogne region in September-October ’04, visited places where large tour buses cannot go. Our 12-day tour was with Intimate France (Box 92, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956; phone 800/676-1247or visit www.intimatefrance.com).

We traveled in a van with eight people, with Intimate France owner George Nevin as our chauffeur and guide. In such a small group, our trip was more personalized and flexible. Sometimes George changed the itinerary to accommodate the group’s interests.

The land-only price of our tour was $3,195 per person and included breakfast daily, five lunches and four dinners. The restaurants chosen were formidable! George is proficient in French and saved us from making gaffes in ordering.

The hotels were charming and always located within walking distance of the town centers, allowing us to explore on our own. We stayed in the villages of St. Emilion, Brantôme and Sarlat as well as in Bordeaux the first and last nights at a hotel convenient to the airport. Tour activities included visits to outdoor markets, caves, an old walnut mill, museums, châteaux and the medieval town of Rocamadour.

The Dordogne region is unsurpassed in natural beauty and dotted with medieval castles, prehistoric caves and thriving vineyards.

— BETTY GILLELAND, Winter Park, FL