• Auvergne - Volcanoes, lakes and historic villages

• Mid May - end of September

• £495 p/p based on 2 sharing (single supplement £90)

• 8 days: 6 days single-centre, independent walking holiday. Altitude maximum 1886m, average 1200m. This holiday requires a vehicle to get to the walks. Length of holiday can be tailored to your wishes.
• Discover more general information about our independent walking holidays

• Varied and interesting walking through spectacular volcanic landscapes
• A region of perfectly preserved volcanic domes easily accessible on foot
• Dramatic waterfalls, beautiful lakes and strange rock formations
• Historic villages with important romanesque churches built from the volcanic stone
• Great views and abundant wildlife
• Welcoming guest house in historic buildings
• Choice of walks to suit varied tastes and at different levels

• 7 nights accommodation in a small "chambre d'hôte" style guest houses, double and twin rooms with own bathrooms. All breakfasts included, 6 packed lunches and 6 evening meals

1. 7 nights' accommodation
2. Full Board. (with the exception of lunches on day of arrival and departure)
3. Detailed walking notes and maps, including information about the region and the sites on route

1. Travel to guest house (see travel shop for transport operators)
2. Car hire (if you do not travel with your own vehicle)
3. Lunches on the day of arrival and departure
4. Any excursions or entrance fees
5. Travel insurance

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Walking profile

The walks on this independent walking holiday in Auvergne are graded moderate and explore the full range of landscapes found in the northern Auvergne. There is the option of making some walks longer or shorter as required. Longer days out on the hills can be interspresed with shorter easier days exploring the lakes and villages of the region. The walking holiday notes include more walks than you have days in the holiday, so that you can choose your walks based on the weather, your interests or the level of difficulty. Ascents are generally no more than a couple of hundred metres at a time. Average length is about 15km. All the walks are on good paths. The upland terrain, is occasionally rocky and requires a degree of surefootedness as well as a good head for heights.

Possible walking days

A stroll amid the volcanoes

This circular walk ascends the Puy Pariou in the Puy de Dome area; a remarkable landscape found in the northern Auvergne which is unique in Europe. With some volcanoes as young as 7000 years old, this region of perfectly preserved volcanic cones lets you walk back in time to an era when lava and hot ash filled the skies. After climbing onto the Puy Pariou you'll complete a gentle traverse underneath a series of volcanoes.

Puy de Dome

The Puy de Dome, the highest and most impressive of all the volcanoes at 1465m, is also the site of a 1st century Roman Temple. A short but steep walk takes you to the summit for remarkable views in all directions across a sea of volcanoes. This walk is the only way to the summit, whilst a cog railway is being built, which is due to open in 2012.

Ascent of Puy de la Vache and Puy de Lassolas
These volcanoes are distinctive features, although they are not always visible from the surrounding roads. They are two volcanoes made of red rock with little vegetation cover, giving the impression that they’ve only recently erupted. They are both collapsed on one side and there ascents make for an interesting short excursion and provide great views of the Puy de Dome. The walk can be extended to explore the chaotic lava flows in the area.

Around Orcival

This walk visits the pretty historic village of Orcival nestled in a secluded valley and its 12th century basilica. This walk also passes chateaux, chapels, historic villages. After climbing away from the historic village of Rochefort Montagne the trail takes you along a delightful ridge to the edge of a beautiful glaciated valley with great views of the surrounding peaks, before descending to Orcival via a pilgrims path with the Stations of the Cross. Your return goes via the Chateau des Cordes and the hamlet of St Martin de Tours.

Descent from the Puy de Sancy

You’ll take the cable car from Mont Dore to the top of the Puy de Sancy, a spectacular summit with amazing views, which is not only the highest point in the Auvergne, but in the whole of the Massif Central, reaching 1885m (6184ft). After taking in the views you have the choice of two walks leading back down the valley. The longer option follows the glacial u-shaped valley revealing a multitude of views of rocky faces, dramatic waterfalls and views over the surrounding hills and valleys.

La Banne d'Ordanche

Near the town of Mont Dore, this moderate walk starts by the Col de Guéry where there are great views of two volcanic rock towers which stand like sentinels either side of a beautiful glaciated valley. After walking past Lac Guéry you'll ascend by a gentle path to the Banne d'Ordanche, offering great views of the Puy de Sancy.

Montagne de Capucin

From just above the village of Mont Dore, this short walk climbs to reach the edge of the u-shaped valley of the Dordogne where you can ascend the summit of la Capucin for great views of the Puy de Sancy and the other summits in this mountain range. You can extend the walk to take in a higher summit nearby.

Lac Pavin and Besse

This walking trail in Auvergne starts in the historic village of Besse en Chandesse with its town walls and pretty cottages built from volcanic rock which you can explore at the end of the walk. Your route follows a pretty glaciated valley to lac pavin, a remarkable circular volcanic lake, the youngest volcanic formation in France. A lovely walk around its rim is followed by a traverse across varied countryside, with volcanic peaks, forest, wetlands and green pasture back to the village.