Grand discovery stay in Auvergne

A land of volcanoes, medieval villages and exceptional cheese

Highlights
Your hotel
The program

A fully escorted group holiday for 25 or more guests

8 days / 7 nights
Full board included
All visits and excursions included
Dedicated tour guide
Flexible itinerary

Discover Auvergne on a hub-and-spoke tour based in Besse and the Sancy Massif — a journey through volcanic landscapes, medieval towns and a culinary tradition unlike anywhere else in France.

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Highlights

Medieval Besse and Lake Pavin
Pavin Lake
The Gergovie Plateau
Brioude and its magnificent Romanesque basilica
Puy-Mary and the medieval town of Salers
Saint-Nectaire cheese and a visit to local producers
Puy de Lemptegy volcano or the Michelin Adventure in Clermont-Ferrand
The Cezallier plateau and Issoire

Your Base: Hotel La Gazelle

Your group is based throughout at the 3-star Hotel La Gazelle, ideally situated in Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, overlooking the Sancy Massif.

Hotel*** La Gazelle

More than just a place to stay, the hotel is a true ambassador of the region:

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Capacity: 37 cozy guestrooms, each thoughtfully decorated and fully equipped for your comfort.
Free Parking: On-site parking for both coaches and cars.
Accessibility: Fully accessible for guests with reduced mobility (PRM).

Their deep-rooted local connections mean every excursion benefits from insider recommendations and seamless organisation.

Discover the hotel

A holiday package with a hub-and-spoke itinerary, including:

the welcome drink
the services provided by our guide
wine with meals
full board (from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8)
coffee with lunch
a drink to celebrate
visits and excursions
a dinner featuring local produce
the souvenir gift

Grand Stay Program (8 days/7 nights)

Day 1

Arrival at Hotel La Gazelle, Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise

Arrive in the late afternoon

Check-in and welcome drink

Dinner

Day 2

Medieval Besse, Lake Pavin and a Vineyard Visit

A guided walking tour of Besse, a beautifully preserved medieval and Renaissance town, then a coach ride to Lac Pavin, the youngest and most mysterious crater lake in Auvergne, hidden in the forest.

Lunch

After lunch, a meeting with a local winegrower to discover the character of Auvergne's volcanic vineyards, followed by a stop at the panoramic Gergovie plateau, where Vercingetorix famously held off Caesar's legions.

Alternative afternoon: the petrifying springs of Saint-Nectaire, where volcanic water slowly encrusts objects in mineral deposits. Workshops nearby produce remarkable bas-relief creations. Finish with a visit to Saint-Nectaire church, one of the masterpieces of Auvergne Romanesque art.

Dinner and accommodation at the hotel

Distance: 140 km

Day 3

Brioude & the Gorges de l'Allier — or Thiers & Vichy

In Brioude, the gateway to the Allier Gorges, visit La Maison du Saumon: here you can discover 35 species of fish, including the famous Atlantic salmon, as well as the history of the Allier over the past century (river transport, fishing, etc.) during the golden age of salmon.

Lunch in the local area

A visit to the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque Basilica of St Julien, a magnificent building housing the remains of murals that make it one of the finest examples of Romanesque art in Auvergne, on the Way of St James.