The Cirque du Bout du Monde

A hike in the foothills of the Larzac plateau overlooking Cirque du Bout du Monde and the village of Gourgas with a return journey via a beautiful forest path.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 645 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 647 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 707 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 276 m

Photos

Description of the walk

In the village of Gourgas, park in the hikers’ car park as indicated.

(S) From the car park, go down and go past the castle. Just after, take the path up to the right (yellow markings), and after the second house take the left path along a fence. Continue to climb up a path on the right for a few metres, then turn onto the path on the left (yellow markings). Follow this path up (remember to close enclosure gates) to arrive at the intersection with the GR 653 variant.

(1) Turn right and attack the climb; you will reach a fork on two occasions at which you should go left and climb to reach a cistern and a forest track.

(2) Take it right uphill for about 150 m and turn onto a path on the right (cairn).

(3) You are now at the start of the Larzac plateau with a beautiful view of Gourgas and Lodévois. Keep following the path that is sometimes near the cliffs (be careful). You arrive on a stretch of closed routes where you may come across herds of animals (cows or goats depending on the season). The owner has made paths especially for hikers. After passing by a large building on your right, you will arrive at the hamlet of Roque and a cross.

(4) Take a wide road to the right into a pine forest. At the next junction, continue to the right (5), then immediately left (6) on a path that goes down in zigzags along the usually dry Fanaudrac stream (markings). At the end of the trail you will come across a road that heads around Pioch Blanc by the right to come to a fork.

(7) Pass by the PR route on the left, which also leads to the village of Gourgas and follow the right track (it is signposted all the way) to reach the beautiful forest trail that passes beneath the cliffs you have previously followed on the plateau. This spot is beautiful. At the end you return to the GR653 few metres before point (1). Turn left and descend along the outbound path that will take you to the Gourgas car park and the start point.

A lovely walk in this beautiful place

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 283 m - Hiking car park
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 349 m - T-junction
  3. 2 : km 1.45 - alt. 453 m - Junction with the GR653 variant
  4. 3 : km 2.65 - alt. 634 m - Tank, junction with runway
  5. 4 : km 2.97 - alt. 667 m - Right fork
  6. 5 : km 5.03 - alt. 641 m - La Roque, cross
  7. 6 : km 5.79 - alt. 640 m - Intersection
  8. 7 : km 6.92 - alt. 448 m - Road junction
  9. 8 : km 7.61 - alt. 413 m - Fork
  10. S/E : km 13.9 - alt. 283 m - Hiking car park

Practical information

Bring good hiking boots.
No drinking water refill point (remember to bring flasks).
Yellow and sometimes yellow and blue markings.
This route is largely sheltered from the wind.
The best season for this walk are spring and autumn, but is also pleasant in winter.
Avoid periods of hot weather.

In the nearby area

The first foothills of Larzac, overlooking the plain of Lodévois, a beautiful pine forest.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 69 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
evrancken
evrancken

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk, medium difficulty, pretty and varied landscapes with majestic viewpoints and a pretty passage through the forest. The vegetation is rich and varied, and we counted 4 different species of wild orchid, including one that is quite rare in the region. A must-do in spring to enjoy the blooms!

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pasacl
pasacl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk - Magnificent views.
The route is well marked out and easy to follow.

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Palavas34
Palavas34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A fine route with beautiful views, particularly on the return journey along the balcony path.

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Gibusset
Gibusset

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pretty circuit that's a pleasure to follow.

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sankaou
sankaou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb hike, no difficulty in following the trail, breathtaking scenery.

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FabianC
FabianC

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk
Lovely views and beautiful scenery.
Slight change to the route since it was created (point 5) because fences have been installed following the construction of a house. Small deviation of about a hundred metres to find the path again.

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goldorak63
goldorak63

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk to do, with magnificent views over the plateau and the second part of the balcony. However, the distance indicated is not correct. It's around 18.5 km, which I did in 5 hours 30 minutes.

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Impact_de_pic_vert
Impact_de_pic_vert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Super hike, breathtaking scenery.
Walk completed in 5 hours 23 minutes, including a sandwich break.
Be careful about the direction of the loop, visorando suggests doing the whole climb first, whereas the signs on the spot show the loop in the other direction.
I advise you to follow the Visorando itinerary.

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efourboul
efourboul
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

One of the most beautiful walks, with a wide variety of landscapes and breathtaking views.
Just before reaching point 5, it is not possible to follow the signposted route, but there is a new path that avoids passing through what appears to be a private estate.

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MaJo1+
MaJo1+

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Bjr
Very nice hike, not too difficult for hikers used to 15 to 20 km all the same. The cirque is very beautiful, the route very varied, panoramic, magnificent woods at the end.
A must do.

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RandoJean
RandoJean

A very fine route, with balconies and sumptuous views, then back along a forest path:

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dr34
dr34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely route with a pleasant climb up to the plateau. Superb views.
Once on the plateau, there are several possible trails leading to the same passage made by the owner. The one closest to the cliffs is preferable.
Once on the return path, you can take a left turn onto a wide track about 1km from the finish. This takes you through the village, which is easy to spot on the map.
Enjoy your walk.

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RandoJean
RandoJean

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful route, especially at the top of the cliffs. For the climb, we did the reverse loop.

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narbo118
narbo118

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a beautiful route, with sections above the cirque offering great views and the return, a path through the forest on a balcony after going all the way to the end... magnificent.
Personally, while we were talking we missed the cairn at point 2 (covered in vegetation) so we went straight on... We had to retrace our steps, which added almost 3km to the distance...
So be careful when you reach the plateau after passing the cistern.
The river near the car park at the finish: A very pleasant place to relax your legs in very cold water!

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Patrone G.
Patrone G.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A varied loop between the village and the plateau via the beautiful and refreshing Parlatge forest, offering contrasting landscapes and sensations; the walk was completed at the end of May and we saw some remarkable blooms, notably of orchids and campanulas. The pre-summer heat was conducive to an encounter with two green lizards basking in the sun. On the way back, there was some confusion between the route chosen for the PR (which was much shorter) and the one suggested by Visorando, which extended the pleasure by a climb before the final descent to Gourgas.
A spectacular and risk-free passage on the cliffs was particularly appreciated.

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