Trailrunning

Trail running across the volcanoes of Auvergne

April to September

4 days| 3 nights

Eco-score 4/5

What you will experience

Trail through the iconic sites of the Auvergne volcanoes, from the UNESCO-listed Chaîne des Puys to the summit of Puy de Sancy, the highest peak in the Massif Central.

A series of trail stages of 15 to 25 km on volcanic paths and GR, with ridges, domes, high plateaux and a final ascent of the Sancy.

You'll be able to progress at your own pace thanks to the support of a guide who specialises in the massif and is attentive to the pace of the group and the conditions of the terrain.

Enjoy convivial evenings in typical accommodation, from cosy gîtes to high-altitude burons, punctuated by meals with an Auvergne flavour.

Share the adventure with a small group of runners, so you can run together, help each other on the stages and make the most of the collective experience.

Off the beaten track, discover the Auvergne through its local specialities, visit and taste a traditional microbrewery and share traditional meals, including truffade.

Itinerary

DAY 1 / 4

Accommodation :

Gîte

D+ :

600m

Distance :

18km

We'll meet at 10am at the Volvic gîte, where you'll meet your guide and the rest of the group. After a briefing on the next few days, we'll set off on our first loop outing, ideal for warming up.

The route passes through the area around Tournoël castle, skirts the Volvic springs, reaches the Dômes plateau and descends into the Enval gorges.

At the end of the afternoon, we return to our accommodation for a chat, followed by an aperitif and a tasting of local produce.

In the early evening, we set off on a short, accessible walk to reach a viewpoint over the Chaîne des Puys and enjoy a sunset over the volcanoes. Dinner is at La Chaumière in Tournoël, a typical restaurant renowned for its Auvergne cuisine, before we return to our gîte for the night.

DAY 2 / 4

Accommodation :

Gîte

D+ :

1000m

Distance :

25km

After breakfast at the gîte, a 15-minute minibus transfer takes us to the Col des Goules, the starting point for the stage.

Wearing our trail waistcoats, we'll set off across the heart of the emblematic volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys, the Faille de Limagne, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The route follows ridges, domes and ancient volcanic cones, with uninterrupted views over the whole massif.

There is a gourmet break at the summit of the Puy de Dôme, at an altitude of 1,465 m. At the end of the itinerary, the route takes you on more gentle paths, gradually descending to the village of Laschamps.

At the end of the day, settle into the Archipel des Volcans stopover gîte, briefing for the next day, followed by a meal and a convivial evening.

DAY 3 / 4

Accommodation :

Gîte

D+ :

1000m

Distance :

25km

After breakfast at the gîte, a 20-minute minibus transfer takes us to the start of this new stage.

Today's route takes us gradually through more open countryside, between volcanic plateaux and mountain pastures. We reach the Banne craft microbrewery, where an Auvergne-style picnic is planned, accompanied by a tour and tasting of local products.

After this break, a short transfer of around 15 minutes takes us to the Buron du Col, our accommodation for the night. We'll settle into this typical high-altitude site, an ancient pastoral building emblematic of the region.

We'll spend the evening enjoying a traditional meal, sharing a truffle by the fire and, conditions permitting, watching the sun set over the surrounding volcanic landscape.

DAY 4 / 4

D+ :

900m

Distance :

18km

On this final day, we set off on a tour of the Sancy strato-volcano, the highest point in the Massif Central. The route follows more alpine mountain paths, with a climb to the summit of the Puy de Sancy, at 1,886 m altitude.

Lunch is taken at the foot of Le Mont-Dore resort, in a setting marked by ancient glacial valleys.

In the early afternoon, a train transfer from Clermont-Ferrand station takes us to Volvic, where we pick up the vehicles left behind at the start and say goodbye.

The guides who will lead your adventure

Damien

Mountain leader (AMM)

French

I was born and grew up on the Limagne plain, with the Chaîne des Puys as my playground from an early age. What was once a passion has become my job: guiding and sharing the treasures of the Auvergne. I imagine experiences where sport, nature and conviviality meet... always with good food on the menu!

Find out more about Damien

What's included in the price

Included

Guiding: Throughout your stay, you'll be guided by Damien, a certified trail guide.

Accommodation: You will sleep every night in a comfortable gîte/guest house in a shared room.

Meals: All meals are included, from the first meal in the evening to lunch on the last day.

Transfers by minibus as mentioned in the programme, as well as luggage transfer.

A visit and tasting of local products at the Banne microbrewery is included.

Not included

Transfer to and from the meeting place.

Any personal expenses.

Picnic lunch on Day 1.

What level should you expect

Level 4

You should be at least 16 years old to participate

You are capable of completing four consecutive days of exertion, with outings of 15 to 25 km per day and up to 1,000 m of elevation gain.
You regularly practice an endurance sport (running, trail running, hiking, cycling, etc.) and already have some experience in nature running or trail running.
You are comfortable on varied, sometimes technical trails, with sustained climbs and uneven descents.
You are looking for a challenging but friendly sporting adventure, combining effort, discovery of the Auvergne volcanoes and moments of sharing around local gastronomy.

Getting there

Start: Volvic (10h00)

End: Volvic (16h00)

Transport

It is possible to travel by train to Clermont-Ferrand station.

Departure station > Clermont-Ferrand station

From Clermont-Ferrand station, we can collect you by minibus.

You can drive to the meeting point and leave your car in a free car park.

No car? You should know that we encourage car-pooling between participants by creating a whatsapp group 15 days before departure: an opportunity to get to know each other before you even start your expedition!

How to register

Step 1

Choose your departure date and number of participants

Step 2

Book online by paying a deposit or the full amount directly. It is also possible to book by telephone by calling +32 460 25 61 85 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

If the minimum number of participants is reached, departure is confirmed!
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will give you a full refund.

Departure is confirmed 15 days in advance for adventures lasting more than 4 days. Departure is confirmed 7 days prior for adventures lasting less than 4 days.

Step 3

In the case of a deposit, the remaining amount will be debited from your account before departure.

Your reviews

The opinions of our participants who have placed their trust in us

Frequently asked questions

How comfortable is the accommodation?

Every night, you'll sleep in a different gîte or B&B. You'll sleep in a shared room, in a single bed with blankets and pillows - everything you need for a restful night's sleep after a hard day's work.

How many minibus transfers will we make in total?

As this is a crossing of the Auvergne volcanoes, we will have to make occasional transfers by minibus to get to the starting point of the stage. In total, we'll be driving 15 minutes on day 2 and 35 minutes on day 3.

How long does the return train from Clermont-Ferrand to Volvic take on the last day?

On the last day, we'll take a train from Clermont-Ferrand station to Volvic station. The train journey takes around 35 minutes.

Are instalment payment options available?

Yes, that's right! At checkout, you can choose the Alma option to pay for your booking in 2x, 3x or 4x. All you have to do is select Alma at checkout and follow the instructions. It's simple, fast and secure.

Can I privatise this expedition for my group?

Yes, all our expeditions can be privatised for a group already formed, on the dates of your choice.

To make your request, go to the expedition that interests you and click on "Privatise the expedition". We'll take care of the rest!

What happens if the weather is bad?

At Wildhartt, nature is our playground, rain or shine. Rain, snow or wind: our guides adapt the itinerary, activities and accommodation to guarantee you the best possible experience.
Unless safety is at stake (storm, avalanche, flood...).

In this exceptional case, we can cancel an expedition, at least one week before departure.
If this happens:
→ You can postpone your adventure at no cost,
→ Or receive a full refund.

What kind of people usually join Wildhartt expeditions ?

You don’t need to be a top athlete or adventure expert to feel at home. Most Wildhartt participants are between 25 and 60 years old, with a balanced mix of women and men.

Many join solo or in small groups of two or three. They often live in cities and are looking for a meaningful brea some time to reconnect with nature, slow down, and enjoy something real.

They usually have a regular movement practice (hiking, running, yoga...), but not with a competitive mindset. They’re in good shape, but don’t necessarily have technical skills. What brings them together is a shared desire to disconnect, observe, learn, and experience nature in a more grounded, accessible way.

If that speaks to you, you'll feel right at home. The group spirit is kind and open, and the pace adapts to everyone.