Organize your holidays with your dog at the campsite in Puy-de-Dôme
Florian Meyer • January 20, 2023
Going on vacation is good, enjoying it with your dog is even better! Good news, your companions are welcome at the campsite but also in a large number of tourist places nearby. Here are some useful tips and information to best organize your vacation with your dog.
Remember: dogs are welcome at Les Volcans campsite! They can accompany their owners on vacation both in rentals and on campsites. And this year they will even be entitled to a little useful gift upon their arrival ;-)
We try to make their stay at the campsite easier with little touches like a "Doggy Bar" at the snack bar or the loan of bowls available at reception. It is also possible to borrow a vacuum cleaner to make cleaning easier at the end. For 6 years, welcoming dogs has always gone very well, both for the animals, their owners and the other campers, thanks to everyone's attention and respect for basic rules, such as picking up droppings and keeping them on a leash.
What to visit with your dog in Auvergne around the campsite?
Most tourist sites around the campsite allow dogs . Here are a few, the list is not exhaustive:
- Murol Castle
- Lemptégy Volcano (except for the train tour)
- Jonas Cave Fortress
- Petrifying Fountains
- Cornadores Caves
- Panoramic view of the Dôme (Puy-de-Dôme train)
- Mont Dore cable car
- Perdrix cable car to Super Besse
- ...
Have your dog looked after for the day near the campsite
Some tourist sites do not accept dogs, for example Vulcania, the Battle of Gergovie Museum, the Auvergne Animal Park and Aventure Michelin.
If you wish to take advantage of these visits it is possible to have your dog looked after for the day or a few hours. Several establishments exist around the campsite, including:
- At Mrs. LORADOUX (ACACED graduate), in Olloix: 06 74 28 01 08 (excellent feedback from our customers!)
- Pension La Vallée des Arvernes , in Saint-Saturnin (20 min from the campsite). Telephone: +33 6 80280766 or 04 73 39 46 68
- Chenil de la Bulle , in Volvic (35 min from the campsite and 20 min from Vulcania) Telephone: +33 6 80280766
Hikes to do with your dog
Most hiking sites are accessible with a dog. However, there are a few exceptions that it is better to know about to avoid disappointment (or even a fine) along the way. Here are the most notable dog-free hiking sites:
- Le Puy de Combegrasse, located behind the campsite. Banned from May to October due to sheep in summer pastures.
- The paths of the Chaudefour Valley nature reserve
- The paths of the Chastreix-Sancy nature reserve
You must therefore pay particular attention to your itinerary if you want to climb to the summit of Puy de Sancy (only by cable car or via the GR 4 or GR 30) but for the rest you have almost free rein everywhere!
+ details for climbing the Puy de Sancy with your dog
on the tourist office website .
Lakes, waterfalls, puys... you will be spoiled for choice for your hikes with your dog. You will still have to remember to take your physical abilities into account, some hikes can be demanding even when you have four legs :-)
Some ideas for beautiful hikes starting from or near the campsite.
Discover 4 road bike circuits from the campsite in Aydat in Puy de Dôme, Auvergne. Lakes, passes, gorges ... take small calm roads for sports cycling or tourist bicycle walks.
- Puy de la Combegrasse, the essential in an hour! It's the ride to do even if you only spend one night at the campsite. Count a good hour including a nice little coast to climb the Puy but without major difficulty. And the climb is worth the detour: at the top you will have a 360 ° panorama on the chain of Puys and on the Sancy massif (with 2 orientation tables). It is also a very beautiful place to admire the sunset (provide hot clothes)! This hike is accessible to children, from 3 years old, taking its time. Please note, dogs are not allowed during summer periods, from May to October. As a bonus: the brochure "I discover the Puy de Combegrasse" (available at the reception of the campsite) The Puy de Combegrasse hike (beware here the departure is not a campsite) want to extend the pleasure? Add the Puy de l'Enfer and the Espinasse Narses after the Puy de la Combegrasse. Or about 3 hours of walking (10km, yellow markup) still from the campsite. This hike offers great discoveries with in particular the amazing Espinasse Narse, an old crater at the foot of the Puy de l'Enfer, which has long been haunted! You will also be entitled to sublime panorama on the Puys channel. Details of the Balirando hike. - Puy de Vichatel, a magnificent crater in 2:30 am! It is the second deepest crater in the Puys chain after Puy Pariou), and it is possible to go inside, a great experience! A large part of the hike is in wood (very pleasant the sunny days) with beautiful views at the top. The ride lasts about 2:30 or 3 hours with children, on very practicable paths. The route is not marked out from the campsite but you cannot get lost with an IGN card or a GPS application. The course is available is line. - Puy de la Rodde, a hike of about 1 hour (3.3km) partly in the undergrowth, so very pleasant in hot weather! This volcano opposite the entrance to the campsite was the subject of arrangements in 2025 which allow to benefit from very beautiful panoramas on the Sancy massif and the chain of Puys but also to guess its crater at the top. The path is well practicable and accessible without problem with children. A new essential in the sector! Puy de la Rodde hiking route departing from the campsite - Puys de la Vache de Lassolas, the twins in one day! Go with the picnic to discover these two beautiful twin craters. On the menu: glowing pozzolan and panoramas of the exceptional on the chain of Puys! To take advantage of it you will have to face two beautiful ribs and a lot of stairs. Our little advice: climb by Puy de Lassolas, because his path is in a pozzolan, very slippery on the descent. On your way you will also come across the Puys de Charmont and La Rodde. To discover these Puys with young children, prefer the departure of the parking lot provided for this purpose. Proposals for a 16km loop between the campsite and the Puys de la Vache and Lassolas or a longer alternative with an 18.5 km course from the campsite. - Lac de Servières, a day discovery! This lake was formed in a volcano crater and offers a still wild landscape. The hike to access it from the campsite is a round trip without any particular difficulty with several beautiful views. It is possible to eat along the way to Pessade. The hike of about 19 km is done by following the white and red marking of the GR from the campsite.
Our advice for hiking with young children (from 3 years old) in the Puy de Dôme: Puy de combegrasse, Lac Pavin, Lac de Servière, Mont Dore waterfall...
Giant zip line, via ferrata, tree climbing, e-foil, paragliding, summer tobogganing... Sensational activities around the campsite in Aydat in the Puy de Dôme (from 3 years old)
Want to go down a river in a canoe or kayak? Two possibilities are available to you depending on the type of river you expect: - On the Allier for a bit of speed and some rapids. Departure with Auvergne Loisirs from Pont-du-Chateau or Sainte-Marguerite (30 minutes from the campsite). You will discover this tributary of the Loire which is worth the detour. Our advice is to opt for the course between Coudes and Ste-Marguerite for the scenery and the rapids! (-10% on canoe rentals thanks to the Pass'Arverne available at the campsite reception) - On the Sioule for a peaceful descent in a wild setting. Departure with Aqua Canoe in Ebreuil (55 minutes from the campsite) or Sioule loisirs (1 hour from the campsite). A little extra: possibility of combining your canoe trip with a Via Ferrata or rail bike depending on the location! Ready for the canyoning adventure? Embark with Auvergne Loisirs with a meeting point at Chambon-sur-Lac (15 min from the campsite, then a little further on the road to get to the start). Then you will have a busy program: jumps, abseiling, slides... between natural pools and waterfalls! The jumps range from 2 to 7 meters in height. Are you more into sailing or paddling? Aydat Lake is the largest natural lake in Auvergne and offers a magnificent playground for all types of boats: pedal boats, paddle boats, windsurfing, catamaran, optimist, canoe... You will inevitably find what you are looking for in the sailing school (3 km from the campsite) which offers several rental formulas. Want originality? Try your hand at e-foil or wing-foil to surf the lake. It is also possible to participate in the courses organized during the summer over several days. (-10% on activities thanks to the Pass'Arverne available at the campsite reception)
Cheeses, beers, apple juice, chips, wines... We offer as many local products as possible at the campsite's grocery store and snack bar. Discover these Auvergne producers who will delight you.
