Hiking and bivouacking in the footsteps of the wolf in the Hautes-Alpes, Gap
In summary
-
Sports
-
Duration5 days
-
LevelIntermediate
-
DestinationGap / French Alps
-
AgeFrom 13 - 81 years
-
CO₂-Emissions22.88 kg CO2
-
Type of stayIn a group
-
Languages
English
French
In a few words
Indulge in a wild immersion in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes and the Hautes Terres de Provence, in areas completely untouched by human activity. Far from cell phone networks and tourist crowds, this human adventure invites you to disconnect and rediscover the simple pleasures of life.
Head to the heights above Gap, to the mysterious "Valley of the Wolves." Following the rhythm of the ridges, streams, and alpine pastures, you'll search for signs of this elusive predator. This high-altitude territory is also home to exceptional alpine wildlife : chamois, marmots, vultures, and deer might just be spotted.
Your guide, Etienne Trautmann, with 30 years of experience, runs a small travel agency called "Ventdici." An experienced mountain guide and correspondent for the French Office for Biodiversity, as well as a forestry technician, he will share his secrets about pastoralism and wildlife with you. Together, you will experience a unique sense of camaraderie during bivouacs in tents , hammocks, or under the stars. Learning trapper techniques will be on the agenda: lighting a fire with flint, cooking over a wood fire, and setting up camp. Accessible to all, this trip simply requires curiosity and a desire to reconnect with nature .
The highlights
-
Discovering the wolf, an emblematic species, and its wild territory
-
Simple pleasures: swimming in rivers and pools, clay baths and spring water
-
Exploration walks, cooking over a wood fire, and nights under the stars
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
This bivouac trip is led by mountain professionals. They will ensure the pace of the hike is adapted to the physical abilities of the entire group. For more energetic participants who wish to hike further or climb an optional summit to admire the view, itinerary extensions are entirely possible.
To maximize your comfort, carrying a loaded backpack is limited. On the first day, you'll only need to walk for about 1.5 hours to reach the bivouac site and set up camp. For the remaining excursions, you'll be able to travel with a very light pack, as you'll return each evening to the same fixed campsite.
This trip does not require you to be an expert hiker. However, a good basic level of fitness is required, along with a good dose of motivation and a friendly attitude.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 3h30
- Average distance/day: 4 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 317 m
- Average daily descent: 277 m
Water hiking
- Average duration/day: 5h
Management
English
French
This trip will be in my company! My name is Étienne Trautmann, and I've been a mountain guide in the Hautes-Alpes for 30 years. I've also set up my own small travel agency, "Ventdici." The adventure will be a collaborative effort: my experience in the field on one hand, and your energy on the other.
For my part, I will put at your service my in-depth knowledge of the area, its resources, and its history. I will also share with you my expertise in cooking with natural ingredients and my experience in making this communal living a harmonious, warm, and completely safe human adventure in the heart of this wild corner of the world.
From 1993 to 1995, I helped create the first Buëch-Dévoluy Reunion and led its inaugural trip in 1996. The adventure continued when I settled with Dominique in a little corner of paradise in the hills above Gap in the Hautes-Alpes. We restored an old farmhouse into a gîte (holiday cottage) from which we offer summer and winter stays. In 2004, I founded my own travel agency, "Ventdici," and the adventure began: sharing our mountains with you—their atmosphere, landscapes, hidden corners, stories and anecdotes, secrets, and poetry—and meeting the men and women who work there, is my chosen profession, the one that gives meaning to what I do.
I'll let my daughter Lucie, who is now 18 and training to become a mountain guide, speak: "Hiking in the mountains is like a dream; there are no walls to stop us, we can see far and wide, and no one can stop me from running. I feel alive and..."
"That's how I see freedom!" Lucie, 8 years old
Program
-
Access to our bivouac site from Rabou
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 80 m
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
The mysterious "Valley of the Wolves" is our flagship destination. For a preview, watch the documentary by our naturalist friend Jean-Michel Bertrand. This gem is hidden in the Southern Alps, but we won't say any more to preserve this wild corner of the world.
On the first day, we hiked for two hours along a magnificent trail perched above a gorge. It was a splendid appetizer before discovering our destination: a verdant haven crossed by a river, isolated from civilization. We set up camp there for the stay, which meant we didn't have to carry a heavy pack for the rest of the week.
From this base camp, we will venture out to organize the life of our community and explore the surrounding area. We will fetch water from the spring and firewood. This will be an opportunity for hikes, keeping a watchful eye out for wolves, chamois, mouflon, eagles, and marmots. For daily life, we will set up our mud baths, our grooming area, and our laundry facilities by the water's edge. Finally, our days will be punctuated by the discovery of the ruins of an old convent and by expeditions to gather wild garlic, thyme, and savory to enhance our campfire meals.
Day 1 -
Water hiking and exploration of the Petit Buëch gorges
- Activity Water hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A magnificent aquatic hike awaits you, dotted with small pools perfect for swimming in the heart of wild and isolated gorges. You'll experience the unique adventure of sleeping under the stars, searching for a spring to collect your pure water, and learning to make a fire using ancestral techniques. The more adventurous can try roasted grasshoppers before enjoying an impromptu sauna by the river. Finally, we'll set off together on the trail of the elusive wolves that inhabit this protected territory.
Day 2 -
An adventure in the great outdoors, following the trail of the wolf
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h per day
- Distance 7 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 600 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Depending on individual preferences, we can set up camp at a higher altitude, following the river upstream and passing pools carved into the stream, with warm water between 20 and 23°C perfect for swimming. We'll stop for the night in the Cirque de Chaudun, overlooking the Pic de Bure, the highest limestone cliff in Europe – the view is breathtaking. The cirque is home to mouflon and chamois, and an eagle nests there.
You'll immerse yourself in the heart of the wilderness, learning to sleep under the stars and spot the subtle signs of wildlife. Together, you'll track the wolves that roam this protected territory. Survival skills will be emphasized: you'll learn to find a water source and build a fire using traditional methods. For the more adventurous, the culinary experience includes a tasting of grilled grasshoppers . After these days of discovery, you can enjoy a unique moment of relaxation in a riverside sauna .
Days 3 to 4 -
Back to civilization
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 200 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
You savor your last moments immersed in this wild nature. After a final morning of disconnecting and hiking, you gradually begin your journey home. Your stay is scheduled to end around 4 pm at Hauts de Saint-Jean in Gap .
Day 5
Note
The program is flexible and can be adapted to the group's preferences and fitness level, as well as the weather. Everything is customizable, developed through consultation and discussion within the group.
Accommodation
Depending on the weather during the week, we may or may not take my ultra-light 8-person tent (less than 5 kg).
Access
We adapt our welcome to the train arrival times. The meeting point for the first day is at 1:30 pm at 28 Chemin des Hauts de Saint-Jean in Gap, Hautes-Alpes. This will allow us to check equipment and distribute group gear into backpacks. The trip is scheduled to end at 4:00 pm on the last day.
For travelers arriving the day before or wishing to extend their stay, two accommodation options are available nearby. It's possible to spend the first night camping on private land near the starting point, bringing your own food. Alternatively, we can recommend a welcoming and affordable guesthouse for the night before departure or the night after the end of your trip.
Go to the starting point
We can pick you up at Gap station, a contribution of €10 for a trip is requested.
A detailed access map will be sent to you upon confirmation of your registration. For participants travelling with their own vehicle, free parking will be available on site in a designated parking area for the duration of their stay.
Price details
The price includes
- The trip will be led by Etienne, an experienced mountain guide.
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 to picnic lunch on Day 5
- The tent for the bivouac
The price does not include
- Transportation to the meeting point
- Your snacks for the day
- Sleeping bag (rental available)
- Anything not listed under "Price includes"
Options
- transport to Gap train station, meeting point : On request
- 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
- Tent, saucepan....
Equipment to bring
Hiking boots (sneakers with cleats minimum), backpack of at least 50-60 liters, Gore-Tex jacket, hat (mandatory), 2 pairs of underwear, 2 t-shirts, fleece, 2 pairs of socks, small first-aid kit, sleeping bag (comfort temperature 10°C), comfortable sleeping mat, knife (Opinel type minimum), cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, cutlery, plate, bowl, backpack cover...
Clothing to bring
- Hiking boots (sneakers with cleats minimum), backpack of at least 50-60 liters, Gore-Tex jacket, hat (mandatory), 2 pairs of underwear, 2 t-shirts, fleece, 2 pairs of socks, small first-aid kit, sleeping bag (comfort temperature 10°C), comfortable sleeping mat, knife (Opinel type minimum), cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, cutlery, plate, bowl, backpack cover...
They traveled with us
The Etienne team
Our local expert is a small, family-run agency offering authentic holidays in the Southern Alps. Etienne, a guide with 30 years of experience and fluent in English, manages everything from planning to leading the trips. His stays (guesthouses, mountain huts, bivouacs) are available year-round for families and groups (bachelorette/bachelor parties, team building). For him, travel is a human adventure focused on kindness, sharing, and reconnecting with nature, far removed from the simple pursuit of summits.
