Hôtel Radio, Chamalières
Why we like it: 1930 Art Deco hotel in Chamalières, on the slope of Clermont-Ferrand towards the volcanoes: 24 rooms, a gastronomic restaurant and free private parking.
Duration2 nights
From LyonCar, about 2 h 10
From SpainPlane to Lyon and hire car
BaseOrcines, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme
Budget€300–450 pp without the balloon; the balloon, €329 more
Best timeMay · Jun · Sep
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for Friday to Sunday, from April to October, when the summit restaurant, Vulcania and Lemptégy are all open, and the balloon flies. On Friday you arrive at midday; Saturday is the big day; Sunday, Vulcania and the return. Book the hotel, the balloon, the summit table, Saturday's dinner and the tickets beforehand.
Friday
- 19:30Leave Lyon
By the A89 to exit 26. Eat something on the way or in Clermont-Ferrand.
- 214:00Volcan de Lemptégy
Two and a half hours inside a former quarry that left the volcano exposed: chimneys, bombs and layers of ash. On foot, €14; by little train, €18. Book your time online.
- 317:30Arum Hôtel
Former coaching inn in Orcines, ten minutes away. Call Auvergne Montgolfière before 11:30 to confirm Saturday's flight.
Saturday
- 1DawnBalloon flight
An hour in the air over the chain, taking off near Orcines or Volvic, and about three or four hours in all. €329 per adult. If the weather does not allow flying, it is postponed: the ticket is valid for two years.
- 211:00Train to the Puy de Dôme
Fifteen minutes of rack railway to 1,465 m. Walk round the summit and the Temple of Mercury. €18.60 return from April to September.
- 312:30Lunch at Le Resto d'Epicure
At the summit itself, menu at €30 or €39 with views of the Sancy. Book online.
- 415:30Pariou crater
Go down by train and drive a few minutes to the Les Goules car park. About two hours through the woods, the wooden stairs and the crater rim.
- 519:30Dinner at L'Auberge de la Fontaine du Berger
Next to Les Goules. Fish from Brittany and Auvergne produce, menu at €44. Book.
Sunday
- 110:00Vulcania
The day for the volcano park: planetarium, giant screens and attractions. From €28 per adult and €23 for ages 6 to 16. Eat inside, or go out to Le Petit Graillou if you confirm that it is open.
- 217:00Return to Lyon
By the A89. In Lyon around 19:15.
The Chaîne des Puys can be seen in four ways, and in two nights they all fit: from the air, in a balloon at dawn; from the summit of the Puy de Dôme, which a rack railway climbs; on foot, along the rim of the Pariou crater; and from inside, in the Lemptégy quarry and at Vulcania. Everything is a few minutes from Orcines, the village at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, about two hours from Lyon by the A89.
How do you get there from Spain?
By plane to Lyon: there are direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga and Seville. Hire the car at the airport or in the city and continue on the A89 towards Clermont-Ferrand; in about two hours ten you are in Orcines. Here you need the car: the balloon takes off at dawn in the countryside and Lemptégy, Vulcania and the Pariou are on the plateau, far from public transport. By car from Spain, the A75 takes you to the Chaîne des Puys without passing through Lyon: about 470 km from La Jonquera.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | Where | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Arum Hôtel | Orcines, on the road to Vulcania | A simple base, with family rooms and a duplex for five |
| Hôtel Radio | Chamalières, at the gates of Clermont-Ferrand | 1930 Art Deco with a gourmet restaurant, for sleeping in the city |
| Camping les Dômes | Nébouzat, on the plateau | Motorhome, tent or mobile home, with an indoor pool |
How much does it cost?
Between €300 and €450 per person without the balloon, with two nights at the Arum Hôtel sharing a room, the car from Lyon shared, tickets, the train and meals; excluding flights. The balloon adds €329 per adult. Sleeping at the campsite lowers the bill a lot; the Hôtel Radio raises it.
With children
It works well with children from age 8, which is the balloon's minimum age. With smaller children, drop the balloon and sleep in late on Saturday: Lemptégy, the train, the Pariou and Vulcania are for all ages, and the Arum Hôtel has rooms for four and five.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Chaîne des Puys, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Chaîne des Puys
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Where to stay
Where to stay in Chaîne des Puys
Arum Hôtel, Orcines
Why we like it: Former coaching inn in Orcines, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme and on the road to Vulcania: 17 rooms for two to five people, garden and free parking.
From €63
View details
Camping les Dômes, Nébouzat
Why we like it: Three-star family campsite in Nébouzat, on the volcano plateau, with a heated indoor pool, chalets, mobile homes and pitches with electricity. April to October.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Chaîne des Puys
Le Resto d'Epicure, at the summit of the Puy de Dôme
What to order: the €39 three-course menu, and the Auvergne cheese board if you are hungry
L'Auberge de la Fontaine du Berger
What to order: the €44 menu with the Saint-Nectaire supplement, or the godaille, the fish of the day as it arrives
Le Petit Graillou
What to order: the truffade with Auvergne ham, the local dish
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book the balloon for Saturday and leave some margin
If you call on Friday and it is not flying, try moving it to Sunday morning and Vulcania to the afternoon.
- 2Check the summit webcam
If the Puy de Dôme is in fog, change the order: Pariou in the morning, train in the afternoon.
- 3Buy the Lemptégy and Vulcania tickets online
You save the queue and some tickets are only sold on the website.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does the getaway cost?
Between €300 and €450 per person without the balloon and without flights; the balloon, €329 more per adult.
Can it be done in winter?
Not as it stands: Vulcania, the summit restaurant and the balloon stop from November to March. The Puy de Dôme train does run all year.
Do you need a car?
Yes. The balloon, Lemptégy, Vulcania and the Pariou are far from public transport.
What if the balloon does not fly?
It is postponed to another date within the ticket's two-year validity.