The Volcano Tour – 2024 (FULL)

Did you know that France is a land of volcanoes?

Well, more than 1,000 volcanoes, dormant or inactive, can be found within the Auvergne region, an area in which there are probably more cows than humans per m2.  Few people know it, but France has one of the greatest diversity of volcanoes in the world. You will cycle the departments of Puy de Dôme, Cantal and Haute-Loire during the six days of this tour. In the north, you’ll find the Puys chain, a group of more than 75 volcanoes stretching over only 45 kilometres (28 mi). These are young volcanoes, just 7,000 years old. This tour explores the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park via a large loop, starting and finishing in the town of Clermont-Ferrand, located at the foot of the famous Puy de Dôme (Which we will of course climb), a lava dome. It will be an undulating landscape….(7/10)

A total of 6 days cycling. Around 380 miles and 34,000 ft of climbing in total. Starting and finishing in Lyon. Although having some significant climbs, the days give you time to really enjoy the tour to its full. Comfortable hotels, good food and vehicle support, making it a wonderful tour. We follow a mixture of main roads and back roads with our bike route always trying to choose the quietest option.

This is a supported tour – at the start of the day, when the group sets off biking, your kit bag will be loaded into the support vehicle and transported to the next overnight halt.  The van will meet you to feed and water you, but you are free to cycle at your own pace, with the support vehicle never far away. We must stress that apart from the emergency tool kit and spares that you would take on any day ride, you will not be required to carry any luggage. Stunning scenery, atmospheric overnight accommodation and a great route make this an unforgettable cycling holiday experience. Average 65 miles per day. Come and savour the Volcano experience, yet enjoy the occasional ‘significant’ climb !

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
This is a small hotel/ based holiday. Prices are based on sharing in twin rooms.
Single Supplement for this tour is £450. If opting to share, this must be with a friend or partner. If no one else is prepared to share with someone wanting a twin room, then the single supplement is payable. Ideally you should sign up with a friend to enable you to share a twin room. ACT is reluctant to allow strangers to share a twin room.

THE ROUTE
Starting off from close to Lyon, we cycle east to the famous Puy de Dome. Then south down through the volcanoes into the Aubrac Natural Regional Park, then west over to the Monts d’Ardèche – Maison du Parc Natural Regional Park, before circling back north to Clermont-Ferrand via the Pilat Natural Regional Park, and the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park. A fascinating area of France, with superb scenery throughout. Below is an approximation of the route.

BIKES

WE CAN TRANSPORT YOUR BIKE IN A CUSTOMISED VAN SPECIALLY TRANSFORMED TO SAFELY CARRY YOUR PRIZED POSSESSION !

We recommend a road bike with 25 to 28 mm tyres. Most people cycle on carbon road bikes. Mountain bikes are NOT suitable. The most important thing is that the bike functions properly and that you are comfortable riding it. You should make sure that your bike has suitable gears as there are some steep hills on parts of the route.  You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and extra clothing with you on the bike.