Comprehensive training in mountain trekking and bivouacking
In summary
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Sports
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Duration5 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationVercors Massif / Isère
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AgeFrom 18 - 70 years
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CO₂-Emissions28.31 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
This course guides you through all the stages of mountain trekking : route planning, map/compass/GPS navigation, equipment selection, water and food management, weather, first aid, hiker health and good eco-bivouac practices.
After an initial personalized consultation, you'll alternate between one day of classroom training and four days in the field to put each skill into practice. Camping equipment is provided , and you'll benefit from a year of support to prepare for your next adventures.
A gradual and structured immersion to learn how to go into the mountains independently and safely.
The highlights
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Customized training: content adapted to the needs of the 6 participants
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Small group of 6: individualized attention for optimal learning
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Complete support: 50-page educational booklet and one year of follow-up
Photos
Flavie - verified review - may 2026
Flavie - verified review - may 2026
Flavie - verified review - may 2026
Flavie - verified review - may 2026
Flavie - verified review - may 2026
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
Elevation gain 300-600 m per day
Walking time: approximately 4 hours per day on easy terrain
Carrying capacity 10-13 kg
Accessible to beginners as well as more experienced players.
The goal of the training is not "to move forward" but rather to learn together...
The pace of walking is not fast: we stop regularly to read the maps, do workshops, and exchange ideas on different topics.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 3h30
- Average distance/day: 9 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 450 m
- Average daily descent: 300 m
Management
French
Matthieu is a mountain guide and specialist in multi-day treks. He spent many months alone on the trails: 5 months across the Alps , then 2 months in the Pyrenees , testing in practice what he teaches today — organization, regularity, effort management, reading the terrain, weather, bivouacking… everything that allows you to progress confidently in the mountains.
For the past 8 years , he has been training hikers to prepare their own expeditions, always in a spirit of transmission, serenity and respect for nature — not survival , just know-how, common sense and well-established autonomy.
His style: educational, reassuring, simple and cheerful. He shares what he has learned over thousands of kilometers traveled, to help you confidently embark on your own adventures.
Program
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Preparation & Theory
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Day -30: Preparation
One of the unique aspects of this course is the adaptation of the content to each participant. One month before the start of the course, you will need to complete a questionnaire about your experience and expectations, which will be followed up with a phone interview with Matthieu Chambaud. You will then be given tools to prepare for your trip (equipment list with weights to be measured). Discussions between participants and the instructor will allow for adjustments to the equipment before departure. Camping equipment is provided (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat).
Day 1 - Theory Part
After a significant amount of time to get to know each other and share our experiences and expectations, the day's objective will be to acquire a solid foundation in map reading and navigation, and to manage route planning. At the end of the day, we will focus on the logistical aspects (checking individual equipment and distributing camping gear and food).
Indicative sequence:
10am - Arrival at the gîte - round of introductions and settling in.
10:30-12:30 - Theoretical session on orientation and other topics depending on the participants' expectations (indoors & outdoors if the weather permits)
12:30-2:00 PM - lunch at the gîte (and a mini-nap)
2pm-4pm - Preparation of the itinerary for the following days - creation of a road map.
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM - Distribution of equipment & individual equipment check (+ the famous bag weighing!)
7pm - Dinner at the gîte / free time
Day 1 -
Orientation and first bivouac
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The initial goal of this day is to make the theoretical part on orientation acquired the day before concrete and to become familiar with the logistics of bivouacking (getting water supplies / choosing your bivouac point / setting up your tent).
Indicative sequence:
7am - Breakfast at the gîte and adjusting backpacks
9am-12pm - Hike with a focus on orientation (map/terrain relationship)
12pm-2pm - picnic break (and nap?)
2pm-4pm - Hike to the first bivouac site; 4pm - Water refill and setting up camp
5pm - Stretching / Free time 7pm - Dinner & debriefing of the day
During this second day, we will cover:
• workshops on orientation - map/terrain relationship, use of the compass
• searching for a bivouac spot (on the map, then on the ground)
• Tent setup (precautions)
• Foot stretching and care session
• Cooking at the campsite and discussions about the constraints of food at the campsite
Day 2 -
Preparation: autonomy and orientation
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The initial goal of this day is to give each participant confidence in navigating a route using a map and compass (and possibly an altimeter). Each participant will have to lead the group for part of the day (following the route plan established on the first day).
Indicative sequence:
7am - wake-up (earlier for those who want to see the sunrise)
7:30 am - Breakfast
8 a.m. - Methodical dismantling of tents and packing of bags
8:30 am - warm-up and internal weather check (everyone's mood)
9am-12pm - Group leadership by participants taking turns / discussions on orientation
12pm - picnic and choice of afternoon route: water supply possibilities & bivouac area.
2pm-4pm Group driving by participants taking turns 4pm - Water replenishment and setting up camp
5pm - Stretching / Free time
7pm - Dinner & debriefing of the day
During the day/evening, discussions will allow for a better understanding of the following points:
• Adapting the hike to the weather conditions
• water source search / water supply (filtration)
• body temperature regulation
• Respect for the environment (peace and quiet for wildlife + limiting our impact)
Other topics will be addressed depending on the participants' projects.
Day 3 -
Researching characteristic points and safety
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
During this day, we will delve deeper into orienteering by searching for landmarks marked on the IGN map. We will also discuss safety: how to anticipate risks, react appropriately to accidents, and alert emergency services in mountainous terrain.
Indicative sequence:
7am - wake-up (earlier for those who want to see the sunrise)
7:30 am - Breakfast
8 a.m. - Methodical dismantling of tents and packing of bags
8:30 am - warm-up and internal weather check (everyone's mood)
9am-12pm - Identifying key points / discussions on orientation
12pm: picnic and choice of afternoon route: possibilities for water supply & bivouac area.
2pm-4pm hike and safety workshop (emergency situation / calling for help)
4pm - Water refill and setting up camp
5pm - Stretching / Free time
7pm - Dinner & debriefing of the day
During the day/evening, discussions will allow for a better understanding of the following points:
• orientation: deliberate error / marching by azimuth / concept of attack point
• Livestock guardian dogs: how to react?
• rockfalls & snowfield crossing
• precautions with wildlife
• Accident: protect yourself, alert emergency services, provide first aid
• Mountain alert: the different methods
• pharmacy and “survival” kit
Day 4 -
Slow hiking approach and debriefing
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Distance 6 km
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
On this final day, which involves little walking, the goal is to conclude the training by stepping away from the logistical aspects of the trek and reconnecting with the meaning of adventure for each participant. What do I want, as a hiker, when I set off on a multi-day trek? What am I looking for? Who am I (a gregarious person, a loner, etc.)? These questions allow us to consciously develop projects (and discuss them when they are group projects) and identify potential sources of joy and tension.
Indicative sequence
7am: wake-up (earlier for those who want to see the sunrise)
7:30 am: Breakfast
8 a.m.: Methodical dismantling of tents and packing of bags
8:30 am: Warm-up and internal weather check (everyone's mood)
9am-11:30am - return to the gîte with discussion on the Slow Hiking approach
11:30 am: Lunch at a restaurant in the village center
1:30 pm carpooling back to the gîte - return of equipment - showers for those who wish.
2:30 PM Departure
Follow-up on your project after the internship
Your guide remains available after the course to answer your questions about your adventure project and address any potential concerns.
Day 5
Note
The program will respect the spirit of the course, but as you will have understood, for the sake of comfort, safety, and to accommodate the six participants, we will create our itinerary and workshop content together, taking into account the conditions encountered and everyone's expectations. The mountain guide remains the sole final decision-maker regarding the itinerary.
Accommodation
Gite - Hôtel de la Croix Perrin welcomes us for the first day of training.
Hotel-quality service, showers and toilets in the rooms.
Seminar room with overhead projector.
Quality à la carte evening meals.
A very complete breakfast (cheese, eggs, cereals, pastries, fruit...)
Access
To reduce our environmental impact on this trip, we encourage you to travel by train or carpool. If you choose to carpool, we will provide the contact information of other participants to those who are interested. The mountain guide can also arrange carpooling from Grenoble (around 5 pm the day before departure, with drop-off in Grenoble around 4 pm on day 5).
Go to the starting point
- Line T65 GRENOBLE - LANS EN VERCORS (departure 7:40, arrival 8:23) - stop LANS Tourist Office
- Line T66 LANS EN VERCORS - AUTRANS (departure 8:25 a.m. arrival 8:35 a.m.) - Col de la Croix Perrin stop
Back
- Line T66 AUTRANS - LANS EN VERCORS (departure 3:00 PM, arrival 3:25 PM) - stop LANS Tourist Office
- Line T65 LANS EN VERCORS - GRENOBLE (departure 3:50 PM, arrival 4:42 PM) - bus station stop
The timetables are given for guidance only (2024), please check on www.transisere.fr
- 1 hour from Grenoble via RN531 then RN532 towards Villard de Lans via Sassenage and Lans en Vercors
- 2 hours from Lyon – A48 motorway – Veurey exit towards Villard de Lans
- 1 hour 30 minutes from Valence, RN531 towards Pont en Royans, Gorges de la Bourne
Price details
The price includes
• Supervision by Matthieu Chambaud, a state-certified mountain guide
• Accommodation: 1 night in a gîte on the first night and 3 nights in a tent with loan of bivouac equipment.
• The provision of a meeting room
• Meals: Full board from dinner on the first evening to lunch on the last day (snacks included)
• the distribution of a practical guide to traveling (50 pages) prepared by the guide
The price does not include
• Transportation to and from the meeting point
• Drinks and personal expenses
• Your personal equipment
• Cancellation insurance - repatriation assistance, rescue costs
• Anything not listed under "the price includes".
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- 2-person tent (with 2 doors for added comfort) - Swiss-made
- Sleeping bag, comfort temperature 0°C (feather) - made in France
- High-quality inflatable sleeping mat (6-8 cm thick) - European made
- Cooking pot / cutlery / cups • Headlamp (rechargeable batteries)
- Stove (high-efficiency gas stove for energy savings)
- Compasses / map holders
Equipment to bring
- waterproof bags to protect your belongings
- compass / map holders (available for loan)
Clothing to bring
A detailed list of hiking equipment to bring will be sent to you upon registration. While not exhaustive, here are the main items that will be required:
- Hiking backpack suitable for carrying loads, with a minimum capacity of 45L
- High-top hiking boots
- Gore-Tex type waterproof jacket
- A down jacket or thick fleece
- A micro-polar or similar
- Rain pants
- Warm hat & gloves
- A small first-aid kit with your prescription if you are currently undergoing medical treatment
They traveled with us
Pierre-Augustin
- 27 ans
100% Verified Reviews: Only travelers who have booked with us can leave a review. All reviews are subject to human moderation. Reviews that do not comply with the moderation rules are rejected.
may 2026
In a group
Flavie
- 26 ans
100% Verified Reviews: Only travelers who have booked with us can leave a review. All reviews are subject to human moderation. Reviews that do not comply with the moderation rules are rejected.
may 2026
In a couple
