# Two nights in the Chaîne des Puys from Lyon: balloon at dawn, Puy de Dôme by train, the Pariou crater, Lemptégy and Vulcania Two nights in Orcines, about two hours from Lyon: inside Lemptégy, a balloon at dawn, the Puy de Dôme by train with lunch at the top, the Pariou crater and Vulcania. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/auvergne-rhone-alpes/chaine-des-puys/itineraries/two-nights-from-lyon-balloon-vulcania · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Dónde: Chaîne des Puys 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? AccommodationWhereFor whom Arum HôtelOrcines, on the road to VulcaniaA simple base, with family rooms and a duplex for five Hôtel RadioChamalières, at the gates of Clermont-Ferrand1930 Art Deco with a gourmet restaurant, for sleeping in the city Camping les DômesNébouzat, on the plateauMotorhome, 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. ## El plan ### Friday · 9:30 · Leave Lyon By the A89 to exit 26. Eat something on the way or in Clermont-Ferrand. ### Friday · 14:00 · Volcan 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. ### Friday · 17:30 · Arum Hôtel Former coaching inn in Orcines, ten minutes away. Call Auvergne Montgolfière before 11:30 to confirm Saturday's flight. ### Saturday · Dawn · Balloon 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. ### Saturday · 11:00 · Train 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. ### Saturday · 12:30 · Lunch at Le Resto d'Epicure At the summit itself, menu at €30 or €39 with views of the Sancy. Book online. ### Saturday · 15:30 · Pariou 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. ### Saturday · 19:30 · Dinner at L'Auberge de la Fontaine du Berger Next to Les Goules. Fish from Brittany and Auvergne produce, menu at €44. Book. ### Sunday · 10:00 · Vulcania 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. ### Sunday · 17:00 · Return to Lyon By the A89. In Lyon around 19:15. ## Consejos ### Book 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. ### Check the summit webcam If the Puy de Dôme is in fog, change the order: Pariou in the morning, train in the afternoon. ### Buy the Lemptégy and Vulcania tickets online You save the queue and some tickets are only sold on the website. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### 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.