Join a guided mini-van tour from Mende to Aubrac. Enjoy breathtaking landscapes, a traditional lunch, and visit the famous Laguiole knife workshop.
- Mende - Mende, located at the Place du Foirail (coach stop), serves as our starting point. We will begin in the Lot valley, which we will follow for approximately 30 minutes, and observe the contrasting fauna, flora, and landscapes compared to the Aubrac plateau, where we will spend the day.
- Col de Bonnecombe - Departing from the Lot valley, we will enter the Aubrac Regional Natural Park. Our journey starts on the Aubrac lakes road, passing through the iconic Bonnecombe pass. We will pause here for a photo opportunity.
- Cascade du Deroc - This enchanting waterfall, about thirty meters high, overlooks a small cave formed by basalt columns. The Déroc waterfall is a landmark in Aubrac.
- Buron de la Sistre - We will arrive in Aveyron, the neighboring department. In the aptly named village of Aubrac, we will stop for lunch in a buron, a former shepherd’s shelter and cheese dairy. Lunch will feature the classic aligot and sausage (vegetarian options or Aubrac meat are available upon request at the start of the excursion). We will then head to Laguiole, which is about 20 minutes away.
- Laguiole - Known for the famous French knife, this village offers a visit to a cutlery workshop to see how the knives are made. You might want to purchase your own Laguiole knife. Afterward, you will have free time to explore this charming Aveyron village. The return trip to Mende will take about 1.5 hours along scenic roads.
- Mende - The return journey features more typical landscapes of the Aubrac plateau, with fields bordered by stone rows and an expansive horizon. After about an hour of driving, we will arrive back in Mende.
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Coffee
- Meal drinks (alcohol, mineral water, soda) are not included, except coffee.
Commented day excursion in mini-van departing from Mende. Let yourself be driven to fully enjoy the landscapes. Breathe the pure air of the Aubrac plateau when arriving at the Col de Bonnecombe after having traveled the magnificent lake route. You can admire the Aubrac cattle which remain the basis of local economic activity. Then we will go to the Déroc waterfall, a highly important place in Aubrac. We will pass through Aveyron for lunch included, planned in one of the emblematic burons of Aubrac. It will be an authentic lunch with the traditional Aligot, an astonishing generous dish of potatoes with cheese, a culinary experience rich in tradition. In the village of Laguiole, popular for its traditional cutlery techniques, we will visit a workshop manufacturing the famous Laguiole knife. It might be time to buy your own Laguiole! We will return to Mende passing through grandiose landscapes.
- Possibility of changing to a vegetarian dish - please notify us at the start of the excursion
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
