Hiking between lakes and volcanoes in Auvergne

Self guided journey 7 days / 6 nights - 6 days hiking
During this hikingvolcanic landscapes will seduce you with the intimate beauty they have kept since their birth. Here, the Chain of Puys and the Sancy are offered to you as an open book. The harmony with this contrasting nature is also found in the architecture and the thermal baths of these small villages of Mountain, loaded with stories and legends. Nights in hotels.


  • Auvergne chaine des puys avec Aluna Voyages
  • séjour liberté avec aluna Voyages
  • Auvergne chaine des puys Unesco
  • Lac et volcans d'auvergne
  • Chaîne des puys patrimoine mondiale de l'UNESCO
Itinerary
  • Day 1:

    Clermont Ferrand

    Overnight in hotel

    Arriving in Clermont-Ferrand, you will do the checking at your hotel.
    If you arrive not too late, you can visit the centre of the city with his black cathedral build with lava stone.
    Night at your hotel in Clermont-Ferrand.

  • Day 2:

    Lake Servières - Lake Chambon

    Night in hotel or guest room / 18Km / Walking time 5h / Elevation : + 326 m / - 630 m

    By taxi, in the morning, you join Servière and its small crater lake, nestled in its lava. Its clear waters invite you to refresh yourself. You continue through the woods to Pessade and then the Puy de Baladou, you join Beaune the cold and its cellars in Saint Nectaire. From here, by the jump of the virgin, you go down to Chambon, small lake of natural dam formed by the flows of Puy du Tartaret.
    Night (hotel or bed and breakfast) at Lake Chambon.

  • Day 3:

    Lake Chambon - Besse en Chandesse

    Night in hotel or guest room / 16 km / Walking time 5 h / Elevation : + 460 m / - 300 m

    In the morning, through small hamlets and pastures, you go up the old lava flows to reach Saint Victor la Rivière. After the lunch break, you leave on these landscapes steeped in history and go back on the southern flanks of the massif to reach the small fortified village of Besse en Chandesse.
    You will appreciate this stage in the heart of a medieval village.
    Overnight (hotel or bed and breakfast) in the small medieval village of Besse.

  • Day 4:

    Besse - Top of Sancy (optional) - Le Mont Dore

    Night in hotel or guest room / 20.5 km / Walking time 6-7 h / Elevation : + 965 m / - 826 m

    The mountain is calling you today to climb the peak of Sancy, the highest point of the Auvergne. From Besse, along the Couze Pavin, you gradually go up by summer pastures. You will walk to the edge of an ancient glacier valley, The Natural Reserve of Chaudefour along the ridges where you will not fail to observe marmots, or more
    discrete chamois.
    Possibility to climb the top of Sancy : 1:30 more (go and return).
    After the 360 ° panorama, in the descent, you pass by the Great Cascade before arriving at the thermal baths of Mont Dore.
    Night (hotel or bed and breakfast) in this small spa village.

  • Day 5:

    Le Mont Dore - Lac Guéry - Orcival

    Night in hotel or guest room / 19 km / Walking time 6 h / Elevation : + 663 m/ - 828 m

    In the morning, you go to Guéry (the highest lake in Auvergne) passing under Puy Gros. In the afternoon, between the Maleviale Valley and the Bear Valley, you reach the village of Orcival, well known for its basilica and virgin "Our Lady of Irons".
    Night (hotel or bed and breakfast).

  • Day 6:

    Orcival - Laschamps

    Night in hotel or guest room / 15,5 km / Walking time 5 h30 / Elevation : + 455 m / - 347 m

    Bucolic day between pastures and small mountain hamlets. This stage will take you to the heart of the Chaîne des Puys to the village of Laschamps, passing by the twin volcanoes Puys of "La Vache" and "Lassolas", among the youngest cones of this slice of more than 80 volcanoes ....
    Night in a hotel-gîte in Laschamps, under the benevolent gaze of the giant of the Domes.

  • Day 7:

    Laschamps - The Puy de Dôme - Royat (Clermont-Ferrand)

    Night as optional / 17 km / Walking time 5h30 / Elevation :+ 471 m /- 986 m

    In the morning, you climb the slopes of the Puys de Dome by the historic path "The muleteers", already frequented by the Romans who came on pilgrimage to the temple of Mercury at the top of the giant of Chaîne des Puys (1465 m).
    You will then descend to Royat (also known for its terms in Roman times).

    From Royat you can reach Clermont-Ferrand SNCF train station with a local bus.
    You can also choose to spend the night in Royat and dive into the beneficial waters of Royat's terms.

Disclaimer

The journey can be changed for reasons of safety, weather or unforeseen circumstances. Events beyond our control may change the course: change of accommodation (if the chosen accommodation is full at time of booking), cut roads, rivers in flood, strikes, local festivals ... "Aluna Travel" will always make every effort to provide the best solution, even changing the course.

Level

Walking time or activity

The days offer 4 to 7 hours of walking per day.

Consecutive days of activities

6 days.

Carrying

Luggage transportation according to the chosen option.

Climate environment

Mountain climate pleasant interseason. The evenings are cool.

Engagement

Easy level hike, walking on trails without technical difficulty. Mountain trails, forest tracks, very few roads.

Experience required

Practice a sport activity 1 to 2 hours a week, walk regularly and 2 months before your departure, strengthen your endurance 2 times a week.


Dates & prices

Possible stay from May to October / stay in freedom : choose your date


2 people traveling together
Nights + Breakfast 

Backpack

  • Room for 2 people : 515 €/pers 
  • Single room :                770 €/pers 

Transport of luggage

  • Room for 2 people : 680 €/pers
  • Single room  :              935 €/pers 

Traveling alone

Nights + Breakfast

Backpack

  • Single room : 840 €/pers 

Transport of luggage

  • Single room  : 1170 €/pers

Special rates for 3 people traveling together : 1 double room + 1 single room

Nights + Breakfast 

Backpack 
  • Room for 2 people : 515 €/pers
  • Room 3rd person :   695 €/pers

Luggage transport
  • Room for 2 people : 630 €/pers
  • Room 3rd person :    795 €/pers

The Supplements 


Supplement for taxi if the J2 is a Sunday or a public holiday
  • Supplement of 21 €/pers for people traveling together
  • Supplement of 15 €/pers for 3 people traveling together 
  • Supplement of 13 €/pers for 4 people traveling together
  • Supplement of 42 €/pers for 1 person traveling alone

Half board formula from day 2 to day 6 (5 dinners) : Supplement of 150 €/pers

Extra night at Royat in hotel *** (night + breakfast) :
  • Double room (price / pers) : 70 €pers 
  • Single : 118 €

Extra night at Royat in hotel ** (night + breakfast) :
  • Double room (price / pers) : 53 €pers 
  • Single : 96 €

Extra night in Clermont Ferrand (night + breakfast) :
  • Double room (price / pers) : 47 €/pers
  • Single : 80 €

Our price includes

Accommodation

In rooms of 2 persons in Hotel ** or ***, group lodgings, or guest rooms comfortable and warm. Supplement single if chosen option.

Meal

Only breakfasts from the day 2 to the breakfast of the day 7. If you take the half board formula (150 €/pers in supplement), you have 5 dinners included in your package (from D2 to D6).

People transportation

First transfer by taxi on the day 2 from the hotel in Clermont to Lake Servières. 

Luggage transportation

Depending on the option chosen. Luggage transportation every day from accommodation to accommodation if you pay this option.

Equipment

Maps and road book for logistical information but also for naturalist and cultural information.

Our price does not include

Meal

All the lunches of the stay.  Drinks and personal extras.
For dinners, according to chosen option (with or without half board). In any case, the D1 and D7, dinners are not included in the price. 

Various

Entrance fees, to sites and museums are not included in the program. 

Insurance

Insurance cancellation, luggage, interruption of stay and assistance-repatriation : 4.9% of the price of your trip. 

Compulsory registration fee 

  • 30 days or more before departure : 12 €/pers
  • Less than 30 days before departure : 20 €/pers
  • For any tailor-made trip : 30 € + 12 €/pers





Practical info

Accommodation

Room for 2 persons in comfortable and warm accommodation (hotels ** or***,  lodges or cottages).
Supplements single

Food

Bed and breakfast from first night on Day 1, to breakfast Day 7.
If you take the “half-board” option (extra 150 €/pers), you have 5 diners included (from Day 2 to Day 6).

How to get there

Clermont-Ferrand train station. 

Before and after your stay

Contact us if you want to discover our area before or after the trip. We will be happy to make a program suited to your needs or simply to book your accommodation.

Recommended equipment

A small backpack containing

  • A hat or cap
  • A pair of sunglasses
  • A rain cape
  • A windbreaker- jacket or better Gore-Tex
  • A small personal first aid kit (aspirin, tape, elastic tape, ...)
  • A water bottle
  • Plastic bags to wrap your things in case of bad weather
  • A camera and a pair of binoculars

For evenings (indicative)

  • Khakis or jogging
  • A flashlight for night
  • A pair of tennis or else for the evening
  • A polar fleece

To put on

  • A pair of walking shoes and preferably already in use, or for sensitive feet, a good pair of tennis strengthened.

Services / shopping

D1 : Clermont Ferrand : all shops
D2 : Lake Chambon : bakery, grocery store
D3 : Besse : all shops 
D4 : Mont Dore : all shops
D5 : Orcival : grocery store, post office, bakery
D6 : Laschamps : none 
D7 : Royat : all shops