Lakes and volcanoes of Auvergne

Moderate walking, suitable for people in good physical condition. Walks with no technical difficulties. Daily stages involve 5 to 7 hours of walking, with a maximum ascent of 900m per day. Although you do not need to be an expert navigator, being able to read a map is essential.

No heavy bags to carry: you only carry a small daypack with your picnic lunch and the things you need for the day. Your luggage will be waiting for you at your accommodation each evening.

Minimum 2 people.

6 days, 5 nights, 5 days of walking.

Depart on a date of your choice from May to mid-October.

A self-guided trip, without a guide accompanying you; we provide a digital travel pack that includes access to our smartphone navigation app, a list of your accommodation, any vouchers required and all the information you need for your trip to run smoothly.

If you wish, we can send a printed version of the travel pack to your home, including maps, a route guide and a travel wallet, for a supplement of 35 € per pack.

For printed travel pack requests made less than 45 days before departure, and for residents outside France, the pack will be available at the first hotel of your stay.

Accommodation

1 night in a 3* hotel, 3 nights in a 2* hotel and 1 night in a walkers' inn, in a room for 2.
Rooms usually have an en-suite bathroom and toilet, except in Chareire and Picherande, where the bathroom and toilets are shared and located on the landing. Bed linen is provided.

Hotel ratings

In France, an increasing number of hotels and guesthouses choose not to have an official rating, including establishments that were still rated one or two years ago. This does not mean their quality has declined—far from it. Many guesthouses offer charming rooms. If we indicate, for example, a comfort level of “3* or equivalent”, this means that the establishment does not necessarily have an official rating, but offers comfort comparable to that of a 3* hotel.

Meals

Half board: breakfasts and hot dinners.

Please let us know about any food allergies or special dietary requirements when booking; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

Start

On Day 1 in the afternoon in Mont Dore.

Finish

On Day 6 in the afternoon in Mont Dore, after the walk.

Please note: Accommodation photos are for illustration only. Accommodation may change. Depending on availability, we may book other hotels of an equivalent standard and comfort level.

You can add an extra night in Mont Dore before or after your trip.

From Paris Bercy: change at Clermont-Ferrand, approximately 4 hours 30 minutes.

Take the A71 motorway to Clermont-Ferrand, then the N89 towards Tulle and Brive as far as the Randanne junction. Follow signs for Le Mont-Dore.

You can leave your vehicle in the car park of the first hotel in Le Mont-Dore (please arrange this with the hotel owner).

A number of our trips offer opportunities to swim, during a day’s route or at the end of the day. It would be a shame to miss out. However, we emphasise that you alone must judge whether it is appropriate to swim; any swimming is therefore your own responsibility and at your own risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike and on snow – to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and consideration.

As a member of the board of directors since 2018, we actively help guide the tourism sector towards more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we focus on:

• Transparency in our practices and prices
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the traveller’s ethical charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and make meaningful connections with the people they meet.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has been recognised as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible environmental, ethical and sustainable management practices, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification scheme, recognises our practical efforts towards responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy

In this section, you will find links to products from our partner Alpinstore, a French online retailer specialising in outdoor equipment, based in Annecy.

For carrying your belongings

• A comfortable 30 to 50 L backpack with a hip belt to carry your personal belongings and picnic lunch during the day
• A bag for luggage transfers: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition or a suitcase that is not too bulky. One bag per person, with a weight limit of 15 kg

Read our magazine article on how to pack your hiking backpack.

For hiking

For maximum comfort, choose a layered clothing system: warm base layers (leggings + top) such as “Carline” or “Capilene” (hollow fibres that wick away perspiration) + a sweatshirt or fleece jacket + a mountain jacket and overtrousers with a waterproof, breathable membrane (such as Gore-Tex or equivalent) for bad weather. As a general rule, except in hot climates and countries, avoid cotton, which holds moisture close to the body (and dries slowly), and choose suitable synthetic fabrics instead.

• Hiking boots with ankle support, a sturdy treaded sole, a supportive heel counter and good waterproofing
• Comfortable hiking socks (at least 3 pairs)
• A fleece
• Comfortable walking trousers (quick-drying technical fabric)
• Comfortable technical shorts
• Technical T-shirts or base layers (quick-drying fabric)
• A long-sleeved shirt
• Walking poles (telescopic), very important for making walking easier. Discover all the benefits of hiking poles in our dedicated article or how to choose your hiking poles

Note: synthetic technical clothing performs very well. New merino wool clothing is also available; it performs very well, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of resisting sweat odours!

For your lunchtime picnic

• Your eating kit: a plastic bowl, container or plate, and cutlery (spoon, fork, knife)
• 1 or 2 water bottles (a total capacity of at least 1,5 L) – mandatory –; an insulated flask for winter

Protection from sun and rain

• Sunscreen (high protection)
• Sunglasses
• A hat, cap or bucket hat
• A rain poncho or a waterproof jacket such as a softshell or Gore-Tex jacket, and optionally waterproof trousers

After your day’s activities

• A pair of running-style trainers for the evening
• A change of clothes and underwear
• A toiletry bag and a small towel
• Swimwear and a towel for wellness facilities (where specified) or swimming
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, surgical masks, hand sanitiser, plasters, sterile dressings and a bandage, gauze, disinfectant, arnica pellets and aspirin, etc. (Please note that this list is not exhaustive and should be adapted to your own medical needs.)

Find these tips in our article #“what to take with you on a hike”.

This list is provided as a guide and should be adapted to your trip and the season in which you are travelling.

Country: France
Capital: Paris

Travellers, including minors, must carry a national identity card or passport (EU nationals).

Bring your Carte Vitale health insurance card and enough of your usual medication for the duration of your stay.

Sancy Tourist Office: https://www.sancy.com/

Mont Dore: Avenue de la Libération, 63240 MONT DORE, Tel: 0473652021.

Picherande: Le Bourg, 63113 PICHERANDE, Tel: 0473223083.

Super Besse: Rondpoint des pistes, Maison du Tourisme, 63610 SUPER BESSE, Tel: 0473796029.

Chambon sur Lac: Plage du Lac Chambon, 63790 CHAMBON SUR LAC, Tel: 0473786510.

International dialling code for calling France from abroad: +33.

No time difference: GMT +1.

Oceanic influence. Cool in spring and warm in summer, although the altitude moderates the heat. Generally fine weather in autumn.

• IGN green series map at a scale of 1:100000, no. 49
• Top 25 at a scale of 1/25000, no. 2432 ET Massif du Sancy