La Banne d'Ordanche

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A hiking trail in the Auvergne summer pastures, on a summit overlooking the spa resort of La Bourboule.

Details

n°13138
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 460 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 452 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,505 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,247 m
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Photos

View of Lake Guéry
Banne d'Ordanche
the climb
A few snowfalls in early May on the Sancy (Photo from Puy Gros)

Description of the walk

Go to the Lac de Guery and park in the large car park at the end of the lake(S) This is where this walking tour in Auvergne starts.

Take the GR®30 path (red and white waymarks). N.B. Contrary to what is stated on the IGN map, this GR® path goes along the right bank of the lake in order to avoid the road.

Stay on the waymarked hiking trail which, after taking you on a path due south to the end of the lake, goes towards the west. You'll reach the summit of Puy Gros (1) Go downhill to the hamlet called Tenon. Here you leave the hiking trail (2)to take a smaller hiking trail (yellow waymarks), going through pastures and leading to a large track at the Col de St-Laurent (3) Take a left to reach the summit of La Banne d'Ordnacge (4) going up the wooden stairway.

Return to the crossroad mentioned before and continue on the track, due East and then due North-East. Go through the farm of Puy Mary ruins (5)before regaining the heritage trail (Sentier Découverte) (6) which takes you back to the car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,263 m - Car park north of Lac de Guéry - Col de Guéry
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 1,260 m - Carrefour - Lac de Guéry
  3. 2 : km 5.19 - alt. 1,483 m - Puy Gros
  4. 3 : km 6.56 - alt. 1,345 m - Au Vieux Loup
  5. 4 : km 7.67 - alt. 1,449 m - Col de Saint-Laurent (1450m)
  6. 5 : km 8.28 - alt. 1,486 m - La Banne d'Ordanche
  7. 6 : km 10.04 - alt. 1,397 m - Puy May Farm
  8. S/E : km 12.98 - alt. 1,263 m - Car park north of Lac de Guéry

Notes

No water source on this walk.

Worth a visit

The summer pastures allow you to catch a glimpse of cows grazing peacefully during this hike. Chalets are no longer occupied, the shepherds now live in camping vans. Further down on La Banne, gentian grows freely, which is used for making drinks such as Suze, local colour known as Avèze (drink in moderation).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 232 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 18570654

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I’d say it’s somewhere between moderate and difficult, but it’s a really interesting hike. Well worth doing (with a short detour to see the waterfall nearby)

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User 22498352

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, peaceful walk, though it’s very busy.

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stjo
stjo

@faistos The proof is in: when you go hiking, you should never set off late.

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faistos
faistos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Late November with an average of a few centimetres of snow, but much more in some places. We set off late, so the climb was quite tough. We reluctantly decided not to climb the Banne d'Ordanche, as we were worried about night falling. Fortunately, the end of the route is very easy going (despite the slush): it's a gentle downhill slope for several kilometres and we finished well before nightfall.
A magnificent ride that we will do again, leaving earlier this time.

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Did63
Did63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I loved the route and the magnificent 360° view from the summit of Banne d'Ordanche.

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michelmarieandree
michelmarieandree

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views, enjoyed under a beautiful autumn sun. We encountered a few cows in the pastures. No difficulty following the route.

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Woshee
Woshee

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with incredible views of both the Sancy and the Chaîne des Puys.
Took 4 hours with a short break and at a fairly brisk pace. The elevation changes are quite intense, and sometimes rocky.

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fanmirando
fanmirando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Stunning panoramic views.
Extremely busy due to nearby parking.
The return journey can be enhanced by taking the ridge route for the first part.

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berdoy.jean
berdoy.jean

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great ride, beautiful scenery, splendid views.
It was a pleasure...

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Cécile 45
Cécile 45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with views of the Sancy and Puy de Dôme mountains and magnificent landscapes on the Banne plateau that invite you to relax and unwind. We came across some pretty cows grazing in the pastures!
The way back is less pleasant but has the advantage of being flat, so you can rest a little.

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User 8947162

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

.

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berdoy.jean
berdoy.jean

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

excellent hike, magnificent!!!

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stjo
stjo
• Edited:

What a superb route, artistically illustrated and very well described! I know the area a little, and I can't wait to go back and do this hike. Well done, you make me want to follow you through this uniquely beautiful landscape.

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Pou95
Pou95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with stunning views of the Sancy and the Chaîne des Puys (Puy de Dôme). No major difficulties, a few steep climbs but all manageable for families.

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CHAPA
CHAPA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

great hike

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