Auvergne Road Trip: Camper Van Itinerary | VAN-AWAY, give yourself the freedom to roam

About this road trip

152 km

Short (2 to 4 days)

Centre

Embark on an unusual discovery of the Land of Volcanoes by treating yourself to a weekend in a camper van departing from your Van-Away Clermont agency.

Enjoy breathtaking landscapes in a unique environment.

Ideal for outdoor activities with a wide variety of sites to visit.

Whatever your interests or preferences, one thing is certain—you’ll love your stay in Auvergne!

And for food lovers, don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from the itinerary ‘In the Footsteps of Auvergne Cheeses’ to enrich your trip!

View the itinerary

Day 1: Discovering the Sancy Massif

This first part, starting from the Clermont-Ferrand van rental agency, allows you to discover the fabulous landscapes of Sancy, the highest in Auvergne.

Gain some altitude with a first lake (Aydat) created by a lava flow that formed a natural dam
Then head to Orcival, a typical Auvergne village at the bottom of a valley that houses a magnificent 12th-century Romanesque basilica. Let’s continue towards the Col du Guéry where Lake Guéry is located. Possible walk on the heights of the plateau – IGN Map: n°2432ET

Paragliders over Auvergne

After the walk, head to Mont Dore at the source of the Dordogne River and at the foot of the Puy de Sancy volcano at 1886m, the highest in the Massif Central. Possibility to take the cable car to the summit or hike via the Val de Courre (4 hours of walking) – IGN Map: n°2432ET

For the evening and night, we strongly recommend:

A bivouac at the Col de la Croix Saint Robert
…or a bivouac at the Col de la Croix Morand with the Salers cows! And for food lovers, a stop at the Le Buron inn at the pass is a must, to taste the best Truffade and the best blueberry tart in the region!

Day 2: Tour of lakes and medieval Auvergne…

We stay in the Sancy massif to discover other aspects, both natural and cultural!

Head to Lake Chambon which offers superb beaches, and the medieval castle of Murol to dive into the Middle Ages
Stop at the GAEC de l’Oiseau farm (Coudert Grand, 63790 Chambon-sur-Lac): Discover the secrets of making Saint Nectaire, Cantal cheese and taste Auvergne charcuterie.

Salers cow in Auvergne pasture

Late morning towards the Chaudeffour Nature Reserve for those who want to stretch their legs: short hike at the bottom of the valley (remember your binoculars to see chamois and marmots on the heights) (1.5 hours of walking). For good hikers, possibility to tour the ridges (6 hours of walking, simply grandiose!)
Continue towards the medieval village of Besse. Once a fortified city, Besse has preserved its narrow, cobbled streets, beautiful stone houses… A stroll through the maze of its small streets is an instant journey to the Middle Ages!
End of the day around Lake Pavin (crater lake), created during the last eruption in Auvergne 6,900 years ago.

For a 2-day weekend, you’ve seen plenty: return to the VAN-AWAY camper van rental agency! For those extending their weekend, let yourself be tempted by a bivouac at the Lake Pavin lookout.

Day 3: Heading to the Puy chain and its 90 volcanoes…

Finish your Auvergne road trip in style by taking a tour of the famous Puy chain, dominated by the Puy de Dôme which you can reach by walking or by rack railway.