Grande Traversée du Massif Central - From Sancy to Cantal

Daily stages of 15 to 20km, with 5 to 7 hours of walking on trails with no technical difficulties. Daily ascent of 400 to 700m. One day is a little more demanding when crossing the Cantal peaks (1100m of elevation gain), but you will not be disappointed! Some sections of the trails along the route are not waymarked, so you must know how to read a 1/25000 scale map and use a compass. We can provide GPX tracks on request.

Luggage transfer is included. You only carry what you need for the day, including your picnic lunch, in a small backpack or bag. Your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel each evening.
You can choose the option of carrying your belongings throughout the hike.

From 2 people.
Solo travellers can book with a supplement.

6 days, 5 nights, 5 days of walking.

Choose your departure date, from May to October.

3 IGN maps at 1/25000 scale, colour extracts from IGN maps at 1/25000 scale with the routes marked, and day-by-day descriptions of each stage.

You will receive your travel pack 15 days before departure, or collect it at your first accommodation.

1 travel pack for 1 to 4 people

Accommodation in guesthouses and hotels of various categories depending on the stage, in rooms for 2 to 3 people, with an en-suite bathroom and toilet (occasionally on the landing, depending on availability), and bed linen provided.
Rooms in walking hostels and holiday lodges may also be available, subject to availability.

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

Dinner and breakfast are generally served at your accommodation. Packed lunches can be ordered from your accommodation (not included in the package). Please note that on some stages, you will not pass any shops. Remember to order your packed lunch from your accommodation the evening before, or even by phone 2 days in advance.

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

Start

On Day 1 in the late afternoon at Clermont-Ferrand railway station

Finish

On Day 6 at Murat railway station at around 17:00.

Outbound: SNCF railway station in Clermont-Ferrand. A taxi transfer to Besse is included in your package.

Return: SNCF railway station in Murat.

For example: depart Murat at 17:05 - arrive at Paris Gare de Lyon at 23:09 via Clermont-Ferrand at 18:56.

Return: SNCF railway station in Murat

For example: depart Murat at 17:05 - arrive at Paris Gare de Lyon at 23:09 via Clermont-Ferrand at 18:56

The times provided are indicative and must be checked with SNCF by phone (special number 3635) or online https://www.sncf-connect.com/ We accept no responsibility for these times.

Clermont-Ferrand is easily accessible by motorway: A 71 from Paris, A 75 from Montpellier, A 89 from Toulouse, or by main roads.

You can return to Clermont-Ferrand by train from Murat (see above).

If you would like to drive directly to Besse, please let us know when booking so that we can arrange the necessary logistical changes together.

Besse is about 50 km southwest of Clermont-Ferrand. If you drive to Besse, ask Grand Angle to confirm parking arrangements and any charges before travel. Leaving your vehicle in Clermont-Ferrand may make the return journey easier. Check the current parking options in Clermont-Ferrand.

On a number of our trips, there are opportunities to swim during a stage or at the end of the day. It would be a shame to miss out. However, we emphasise that you alone must decide whether it is appropriate to swim; you therefore swim under 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 in a different way: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

As a member of the board of directors since 2018, we actively help the sector adopt more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we take care to:

• Transparency in our practices and pricing
• 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 foster meaningful encounters.

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 concrete actions in support of 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
• One bag for luggage transfers: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition, or a suitcase that is not too bulky. One bag per person, limited to 15 kg

Find out how to pack your hiking backpack properly in our magazine.

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 takes a long time to dry), and choose suitable synthetic fabrics instead.

• Hiking boots with ankle support, a sturdy heel counter, a well-treaded sole and good waterproofing
• Comfortable hiking socks (at least 3 pairs)
• A fleece
• Comfortable walking trousers (quick-drying technical fabric)
• Comfortable shorts in technical fabric
• T-shirts or technical base layers (quick-drying fabric)
• A long-sleeved shirt
• Walking poles (telescopic), which are 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 perspiration odours!

For your picnic lunch

• Your cooking 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) – required –; an insulated flask for winter

Protection from sun and rain

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

After your hike

• A pair of trainers or running shoes 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 granules and aspirin, etc. (Please note that this list is not exhaustive and should be adapted to your own medical needs.)

You can find this advice in our article #"What to take on a hike".

This list is for guidance and should be adapted to your trip and the season in which you are travelling.

France

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

Clermont-Ferrand Tourist Office
Place de la Victoire
63000 Clermont-Ferrand
Telephone: 0473986500
https://www.clermontauvergnevolcans.com/

Besse Tourist Office
13 rue Notre Dame
63610 Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise
Telephone: 0473795284
https://www.sancy.com/decouvrir/toutes-les-communes/besse-saint-anastaise/

Hautes Terres Tourisme
Place de l’hôtel de ville
15300 Murat
Telephone: 0471200947
https://www.hautesterrestourisme.fr/

There may be no mobile reception on some sections of your hike.

A mid-mountain climate with a strong oceanic influence. Cool in spring and warm in summer, although the altitude moderates the heat. Generally fine weather in autumn.

The route ranges from 910 metres at Murat to 1855 metres at the Plomb du Cantal.

Euro

• Michelin Green Guide “Auvergne”
• Guide Bleu “Auvergne”, published by Hachette
• Auvergne terre de volcans, G Joberton, published by De Borée
• Auvergne romane, B Craplet, published by Zodiaque
• Tradition d’Auvergne, A Pourrat, published by Marabout