Family bivouac in the valley of the wolves
Duration : 5 days
France, Southern Alps
Level : easy
from 345 € / p. from 6 to 14 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
Between the Hautes-Alpes and the highlands of Provence, in an exceptional natural and wild environment, preserved from polluting human activities (no phone network), I offer you nature stays with bivouac under tent, tepee, poncho, hammock or simply under the stars.
This stay is suitable for families, with parents, grandparents and children from 9 years old. It is perfect for reconnecting and finding your roots, far from the stress of modern society.
It is also an opportunity to discover and practice many activities with your children:
- Learn to make fire with a flint.
- Eat grilled grasshoppers.
- Wood-fired cooking.
- Make a clay bath.
- Brushing teeth with a prehistoric plant.
- Find a spring and purify its water.
- Set up a camp.
- Discover a territory inhabited by a pack of wolves.
- Aquatic hike.
- Play and relax.
My daughters (Lise 15 years old, Lucie 13 years old and Julie 10 years old) and my wife Dominique accompany us most of the time during the summer.
Departure possible every Monday in July. You can also propose me your dates and come for less than 5 days (see below).
it is possible to organize this hiking trip with bivouac on the tracks of wolves in classic mode (ie without children).
If you have other desires, I also propose throughout the summer:
- a Retrouvance® trekking in the Haut Verdon and the Entraunes valley.
- another Retrouvance® trekking in the Buëch and Dévoluy.
- a hiking and relaxation stay in Gap.
Customer reviews:
"A week of happiness in nature with the kids! A real moment of disconnection in this tumultuous world, and above all a reconnection with nature and simple, essential things. Time is a luxury we don't have, here it's ours, and we rediscover the pleasure of simple things!
The kids loved it, and soon forgot that 5G wasn't passing through this "bubble", because the setting is so magnificent. Étienne transports us into his world with great simplicity, kindness and benevolence. Not to mention the organization, which he manages to perfection, allowing us to make the most of this "special" week. We highly recommend these moments with family and/or friends."
Sébastien and Aurélie PILLET and their 2 children Hippolyte (11) and Louis (15), from Saint-Laurent-sur-Sève, stay from July 22 to 26, 2024
"An unforgettable family bivouac. Étienne is a fascinating guide who shares his knowledge with pedagogy. He knows how to adapt the program so that everyone finds what they need and learns to live together. The bivouac site is very pleasant, you feel safe and secure, far from the noise of the world, and you don't lack anything, quite the contrary. Our two boys, aged 9 and 11, loved it. An experience to be lived over and over again, moments of conviviality around the fire, mutual aid and sharing. We've come back serene and recharged. It's up to us to continue our daily efforts to slow down and spend time in nature."
Alice GUETAUD from Monthou-sur-Cher, stay from July 22 to 26, 2024
Program
Access to the valley of the wolves (near Gap in the Hautes-Alpes) in 1 hour and a half of walking by a very impressive balcony path, above some gorges. It is a kind of airlock between the human world and the wild nature.
Arrival in a suspended valley isolated from the world where we settle to arrange the bivouac. The place is wild at the foot of the highest limestone cliff in Europe, right next to a river (swimming, clay mud bath...) with lawns grazed by cows in spring.
The days are punctuated by walks and various activities to share together:
- Learn the techniques to make fire (flint - iron, piston lighter, solar lighter, firesteel, etc.).
- Go on the tracks of the wolf.
- Look for a spring and filter its water.
- Find a spring and estimate its potability.
- Recognize edible and non-edible berries.
- Animal tracks and clues, especially on the tracks of the wolf.
- Make your own toothbrush, soap and toothpaste.
- Sculpting a walking stick.
- Land'art.
- Cook a farm chicken on a spit.
- Cook together.
- Set up a camp.
- Wash your clothes in the river with an organic soap.
- Carve cutlery.
- Survival skills.
- Mountain first aid,
- River crossing techniques,
- Photo contest,
- Hikes adapted to the age of the children,
- Natural beauty contest.
- Etc.
In order to discover these wild landscapes and to immerse yourself in this atmosphere, I advise you to watch the film of my friend Jean-Michel Bertrand, "La vallée des loups".
The price includes
- Supervision by the mountain leader.
- The meals, well the ingredients of the meals, a whole art to choose and a big logistic beforehand, but then the idea is to make together.
I will provide you with a list of stuff to take and submit the menus if there are any allergies or "I really don't like 🙁" - Part of the equipment (big canteen, 8-seater tent, tarps, saws, various materials like flint).
Here are the possible durations and corresponding rates:
| Duration | Rates |
| 3 days / 2 nights | 285€ / adult, 205€ / child |
| 4 days / 3 nights | 380€ / adult, 290€ / child |
| 5 days / 4 nights | 445€ / adult, 345€ / child |
The price does not include
- Transport to and from Gap.
- Cancellation/repatriation insurance via Europ Assistance (5% of the price of the stay, optional). On request I will provide you with a summary table of the refund, especially in relation to Covid.
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
- In a tent, under a tarp or under the stars, depending on your wishes.
- In general the children sleep in a large tent of 8 places.