FRENCH VOLCANOES IN AUVERGNE

Day 1: Volvic

Arrival in the region and transfer towards Volvic in the early afternoon.

Visit the Maison de La Pierre, a cave shaped by man during the 13th century thatnwill take you into the world of quarrymen from the 1900s. The Volvic Stone was extracted in the galleries within the heart of a lava flow.

After the tour, transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Volcanoes park route/ Sancy Massif / Saint-Nectaire

Breakfast at the hotel.

Coach tour along the Volcanoes Park road until your reach Orcival, to see the Tuilères and Sanadoire rocks peaking at 1268 metres above sea level, for an immersion in a very surprising landscape between Mont Dôme and Mont-Dore.

Head to the Sancy Massif where the years have taken their time to shape impressive landscapes, made of steep hills and lakes of eruptive origin.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Continue towards Saint-Nectaire and its impressive Romanesque church overlooking the whole valley.

Flavourful stop at a local farm to try the famous Saint-Nectaire cheese.

Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Auvergne’s volcano park / Puy de Dôme

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for to the region’s park and its stunning panorama of 80 volcanoes lined up over 30 km.

Visit the exceptional site of Lemptégy, where you will have a guided walk or train ride at the heart of the volcano crater.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Head to Orcines and its panoramic train of the Dômes, electric rack-railway taking you to the highest peak of the Volcano range, the Puy de Dôme, to admire a landscape at 1465m height over the most beautiful volcanic complex in Europe with 80 volcanoes stretched over 45 km.

At the end of the visit, get down by train before returning to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Le Puy-en-Velay

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure to Le Puy-en-Velay.

Guided tour of the architectural elements of the city with highlight the Cathedral of Notre-Dame du Puy, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, listed by UNESCO. Le Puy-en-Velay is a sanctuary and a pilgrimage city, a crossroads for hiking (the starting point of the Via Podiensis, GR 65 towards Santiago de Compostela), a city with a lacemaking tradition which continues until this day. Take a walk in the heart of a thousand-year-old city.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Transfer back towards Lyon or the next step of your journey.

End of our services.

***

Our suggestions for activities (upon request) :

visit of the Michelin Adventure in Clermont-Ferrand / visit of the Vulcania theme park / hot-air balloon flights over the volcanoes / bike rides / golf course / tasting of local specialties / depending on your level, possibility of organizing day-long hikes with qualified guides or other activities such as rafting, canoeing, climbing, via ferrata, tree-climbing courses, electric mountain bike rides …