Tour du Cézallier (Vaches Rouges)

Known as the 'Tour des Vaches Rouges' (Tour of the Red Cows), the Tour du Cézallier is a deep dive into France's most isolated, windswept volcanic plateau in the Auvergne volcano region. Tucked between the Cantal and Sancy mountains, this 135km loop offers an experience vastly different from the Alps—a vast, rolling ocean of high-altitude grasslands (estives), peat bogs, and glacial lakes. It is a hike defined by total silence, minimalism, and the rhythm of the wind. Note: Compiled from public sources — not a field report.

Following the historic path used by the Army of the Andes in 1817, this 6-day trans-Andean expedition traverses the central cordillera from Mendoza, Argentina, to the Cajón del Maipo in Chile. The route crosses two significant high-altitude barriers—Portillo Argentino (4,330m) and Paso Piuquenes (4,030m). Hikers move through a high desert landscape of volcanic rock, vast glacial valleys, and the powerful Tunuyán River. The terrain consists primarily of rocky mountain paths, loose scree on the steeper pass approaches, and high-altitude plateaus where exposure to wind and sun is constant.