Mountain bike France

An MTB mini-break in the beautiful Chaîne des PuysRef CY10

In the Regional Nature park of the Auvergne Volcanoes, a mountain bike weekend in the middle of craters! Immersion in the Chaïne des Puys: its 80 cones and volcanic craters: Puy de Dome, Puy Pariou, Puy de Come, Puy de la Vache and Puy de Lassolas; without missing its lakes (Servière, Aydat The Cassière). A volcano goes off, a mountain biker awakens!

Guided version: from 485€ - DetailsSelf-guided version: from 345€ - Details Duration : 3 or 4 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
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+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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Highlights

  • Biking at the foot of Auvergne volcanoes.
  • The ascent of some volcanoes on foot to admire the view.
  • The architecture and the unique character of remote villages that we are passing through.

Description

Comments

  • This trip exists in 3 versions : V1 = wheels / V2=2 wheels / V3=3 wheels.
  • Special offers for private groups. Please ask us for a quotation

Detailed itinerary (3 days)

Day 1 : Volvic - Laschamps

Itinerary start : Rendezvous with organization team is fixed on day 1 at 10.00 am at SNCF train station of Volvic. On demand we can book for you one night in Volvic or Clermont Ferrand for the previous day.

Our day starts in Volvic, the media capital of Auvergne volcanoes, the day is devoted to the northern crossing of the Puys chain, via Puy de Nuger, the "Chopine " and the pass of Goules. Then comes the part with the very spectacular Puy de Come and its very technical "cheer" (old lava slide), Puy de Pariou, and Puy de Dome (1465m). The latter made legendary by the Tour de France. Last downhill to Laschamps village by the pass of Ceyssat.

Distance : approx. 25 km / altitude gain : approx. 500 m

Day 2: Laschamps - Southern crossing of Puys chain - Laschamps

The giant Puy de Dome separates the chain into two sectors. Today we are exploring the volcanoes in the south. The both "Strombolians" La Vache and Lassolas offer to our eyes their craters letting escape the huge "cheire" (lava slide) Aydat from their mouth. They offer us dreamy single tracks towards the lakes Aydat and Cassiere, which are separated by the passage of a basalt flow.  Night at Laschamps like the previous day.

Distance : approx. 30 km / altitude gain : approx. 300 m

Day 3: Laschamps - Volvic

Last day: This time we take the west side of the Puys chain, which offers us new perspectives on the stunning volcanic cones. The crossing of the lava flow of the Puy de Côme is spectacular. Volvic is already in sight again, and with reaching the village our short trip in the Puys chain ends.

Distance : approx. 30 km / altitude gain : approx. 500 m

Itinerary end : The trip ends in Volvic at 4pm. On demand we can book for you one supplementary night in Volvic or Clermont Ferrand.

The given length (Km) and altitude difference (m) are given as reference and can slightly change depending on unpredictable local conditions

Detailed itinerary (4 days)

Day 1 : Volvic - Laschamps

Itinerary start : Rendezvous with organization team is fixed on day 1 at 10.00 am at SNCF train station of Volvic. On demand we can book for you one night in Volvic or Clermont Ferrand for the previous day.

The biking day starts at Volvic, the media capital of Auvergne volcanoes, the day is devoted to the northern crossing of the Puys chain, via Puy de Nuger, the "Chopine " and the pass of Goules. Then comes the part with the very spectacular Puy de Come and its very technical "cheer" (old lava slide), Puy de Pariou, and Puy de Dome (1465m). The latter made legendary by the Tour de France. Last downhill to Laschamps village by the pass of Ceyssat.

Distance : approx. 25 km / altitude gain : approx. 500 m

Day 2: Laschamps - Southern crossing of Puys chain - Murol

The giant Puy de Dome separates the chain into two sectors. Today we are exploring the volcanoes in the south. The both "Strombolians" La Vache and Lassolas offer to our eyes their craters letting escape the huge "cheire" (lava slide) Aydat from their mouth. They offer us dreamy single tracks towards the lakes Aydat. We then bike along  Puy de Montenard one of the last Puy of the volcanic chain. Last downhill to Murol, where we will sleep.

Distance : approx. 30 km / altitude gain : approx. 300 m

Day 3 : Murol - Laschamps

We leave the younger volcanoes of Auvergne to reach the old stratovolcano of Sancy by its eastern side, following the lava flows of Aurieres and Vernin. We discover the crater lake of Servieres and the forest of Pessade. Detour in the valley of Sioule to admire the Orcival Basilica, a jewel of Auvergne Roman Art. Mountain biking turns into backroad cycling on country fireroads.

Distance : approx. 45 km / altitude gain : approx. 800 m

Day 4: Laschamps - Clermont-Ferrand

Last day: This time we take the west side of the Puys chain, which offers us new perspectives on the stunning volcanic cones. The crossing of the lava flow of the Puy de Côme is spectacular. Volvic is already in sight again, and with reaching the village our short trip in the Puys chain ends.

Distance : approx. 30 km / altitude gain : approx. 500 m

Itinerary end : The trip ends in Volvic at 4pm. On demand we can book for you one supplementary night in Volvic or Clermont Ferrand.

The given length (Km) and altitude difference (m) are given as reference and can slightly change depending on unpredictable local conditions

Dates and price

Dates
Please, contact us.

Costs and services guided tour

3 day biking programme
The price includes:
  • Fully qualified English-speaking mountain bike guide 
  • 2 nights in guest houses in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 2 breakfasts
  • 3 picnic lunches
  • 3 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
4 day biking programme
The price includes:
  • Fully qualified English-speaking mountain bike guide
  • 3 nights in guest houses in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 3 breakfasts
  • 4 picnic lunches
  • 4 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Supplementary services:

Prices per person:
  • Single-room (SR) supplement: 125 € for 2 nights, 155 € for 3 nights (subject to availability)
  • Supplementary nights in Clermont Ferrand in 2* hotel: 55 € (DR), 65 € (SR)
  • MTB rental: see below

Mountain bike rental

  • Semi rigid MTB - Kona Big Honzo or equivalent 105€ for 3-day tour 140€ for 4-day tour
  • Full-suspension MTB 195€ for 3-day tour 260€ for 4-day tour
  • Semi-rigid EMTB - Giant Fathom E3+ or equivalent 165€ for 3-day tour 220€ for 4-day tour
  • Full-suspension EMTB - Lapierre Overvolt 5.5 or equivalent 245€ for 3-day tour 300€ for 4-day tour

Please indicate your height when completing your reservation form.

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Getting there

By train: From Paris Gare de Lyon train station to Clermont-Ferrand train station (about 5h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Lyon airport: join the Lyon train station and head to Clermont-Ferrand.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com


Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Groupe size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided groups.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Cereal bars and dried fruit during the day
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Travel Insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Important note: Our insurance contract is only valid for persons with a permanent residence in Europe. The “liability insurance abroad” included in the contracts is only valid for persons with a permanent residence in France. Details can be found in the policy booklet (see below).

If you subscribe to one of the contracts, the insurance policy will be available on your France Bike Trips customer account.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Material provided by France Bike Trips (guided version only):
  • A group first aid kit
  • A repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof, extra clothing, sunglasses...

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

IMPORTANT : Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg.

List of equipment to pack:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A mountain bike helmet (COMPULSORY).
For your upper body
  • Two cycling jerseys (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts with chamois
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit
  • Waterproof trousers (recommended for our alpine tours)
For your feet
  • Mountain bike shoes (“multi-activity / outdoor” type with grippy soles or clipless biking shoes)
  • Sports socks (+ warm wool socks for our alpine tours)
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice during breaks...).
For your mountain bike

If you rent your MTB from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • If you have tires with tubes: 2 spare tubes + puncture repair kit
  • If you have tubeless tires: sealant, a tube with presta valve (just in case), a spare tire
  • If you have V-brakes: 2 sets of replacement brake pads
  • If you have disc brakes: 2 sets of replacement pads
  • A rear derailleur cable + 1 rear brake cable
  • Chain lube
  • A pump
  • A high pressure pump for your suspension  (optional, your guide will have one).
  • VERY IMPORTANT: A spare derailleur hanger  (only if your rear derailleur is not integral to the frame).
Various
  • A pair of MTB gloves (+ warm waterproof gloves for our alpine tours)
  • A bike lock
  • A head torch with batteries
  • A pair of spare laces
  • A toiletry kit and towel
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
  • A pocket knife
  • Some plastic bags to protect your equipment
  • A needle and thread
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Dates

This self-guided tour can be booked anytime from May to middle of October.

Supplementary services:

Prices per person:
  • Single-room (SR) supplement: 125 € for 2 nights, 155 € for 3 nights (subject to availability)
  • Supplementary nights in Clermont Ferrand in 2* hotel: 55 € (DR), 65 € (SR)

MTB rental:

  • Semi rigid MTB - Kona Big Honzo or equivalent 105€ for 3-day tour 140€ for 4-day tour
  • Full-suspension MTB 195€ for 3-day tour 260€ for 4-day tour
  • Semi-rigid EMTB - Giant Fathom E3+ or equivalent 165€ for 3-day tour 220€ for 4-day tour
  • Full-suspension EMTB - Lapierre Overvolt 5.5 or equivalent 245€ for 3-day tour 300€ for 4-day tour

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

Single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups.

3 day biking programme
The price includes:
  • 2 nights in guest house in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 2 breakfasts
  • 2 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed travel documents, highlighted maps and GPS tracks
4 day biking programme
The price includes:
  • 3 nights in guest houses and 2* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 3 breakfasts
  • 3 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed travel documents, highlighted maps and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • Picnic lunches
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Option analogue maps

We offer digital map material with highlighted tracks for our self-guided tours by default. These are printable (A4, pdf format). On request, we can provide you with analogue maps containing the highlighted itinerary and route infos (official French maps at a scale of
1:25,000). Shipment will be made to the accommodation of your extra night before the tour.

Price of this option incl. shipping within France: see above

Please let us know in the booking form if you would like this option. Please also give us an accommodation address for shipping if you do not
book an extra night through us before the tour.

GPS tracks

If you choose to book a self-guided tour, we provide the GPS tracks of the route. You will be able to download the GPX type files from your France Bike Trips user account once you receive our travel documents by email. They are compatible with all current GPS software applications and editors.

Accuracy

These tracks have been created using professional mapping software. There may be slight differences between the GPS track and the reality on the terrain. The GPS tracks should thus be considered a "plus" to help you find your way. However, they are by no means a substitute for orientation with the help of the highlighted map material.

The distances and altitude gain in the tour's programme remain the reference. Indeed, real-world altitude and mileages can be different and vary significantly from the data shown in GPS software applications.

Data privacy

We ask you not to publish these GPS tracks on any website, social network or anywhere else. Their elaboration required many hours of hard work, both to create the track in the field, but also in our software applications. The non-respect of this ethic would force us to remove these valuable tool from our offer.

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)