Adult bivouac following the wolf track (Hautes-Alpes)
Duration : 5 days
France, Southern Alps
Level : intermediate
from 460 € / p. from 4 to 8 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
The wolf fascinates as much as it divides. Invisible most of the time, it nonetheless fully inhabits the mountains of the Southern Alps. This bivouac trip offers much more than a simple hike: an immersion in a living, wild territory where the presence of the wolf shapes the landscapes, pastoral practices, and collective imagination.
For several days, we will explore this valley known as the "Valley of the wolves" (see the film of the same name by our friend Jean-Michel Bertrand) above Gap in the Hautes-Alpes department. We will travel across ridges, alpine pastures, and torrents, searching for signs of the predator's presence: tracks, howls, crossing points, and the behavior of herds and wildlife. While sightings are not guaranteed - the wolf remains a discreet animal - this sensitive approach allows us to better understand its way of life and the place it occupies in our mountains today.
As a mountain leader who has explored these ranges for over 30 years, I knew these mountains before the wolf's return to France, witnessed the first attacks in the area, observed the evolution of pastoralism, and witnessed the upheavals caused by the predator's return. Coming from a family of sheep farmers, with a brother who is a shepherd in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and a stepfather who is a livestock farmer in Savoie, my perspective on the subject is informed by both fieldwork and personal experience. As a wolf correspondent for the French Office for Biodiversity, I also participate in monitoring the species and sharing field observations.
The spirit of the trip: Making friends with nature. To do this, you have to gently step outside your comfort zone. It's not in a bed, confined between four walls, that you can truly be lulled and immersed in the atmosphere of the night, the hooting of the owl, the twinkling and infinity of the stars, the unfamiliar sounds and noises.
Finally, hiking with a backpack remains the most suitable way to gently experience the natural environment. This isn't a survival course; I don't claim to offer that.
Level: You don't need to be an experienced hiker, just have the motivation, the desire... and regular exercise. The mindset is "last in line," we adapt, we work as a group.
Overnight: Nothing allows you to experience the mountains as intensely as a bivouac. Sleeping in a tent or under the stars, sharing the sunset around the camp, listening to the sounds of the night... it's truly entering the wild. When silence descends upon the mountain pastures and the lights fade, it's not uncommon to hear a howl echo in the distance. During our last two trips in 2025, participants had the opportunity to experience this rare and profoundly moving moment.
Throughout the trip, we will explore wolf ethology, its prey, the dynamics of a pack, as well as the pastoral, ecological, and social challenges linked to its presence. The goal is not to provide ready-made answers, but to offer insights that are as close to reality as possible.
The bivouac, set up in the heart of an area frequented by wolves, will allow for a fully immersive experience in a still profoundly wild territory. As night falls and the mountains regain their silence, everyone will be able to feel this special connection between humans, animals, and the environment.
Beyond the wolf, this trip is also a discovery of alpine wildlife: chamois, vultures, marmots, mountain ungulates… and these preserved areas where nature still reigns supreme.
The length of your stay is flexible, from a minimum of one night up to four nights or more.
Most often, there are no fixed dates, and departures are arranged upon request. Contact me, and depending on everyone's availability, we will set a date. With a group of at least four or five people, it's easier to travel on your preferred dates.
In short, this trip allows you to reconnect with yourself, rediscover your roots, far from the stress of modern life, and share and experience a meaningful human adventure.
What will you do during your stay?
- Learn to make a fire with flint,
- eat roasted grasshoppers,
- take a clay bath,
- make your own natural soap,
- find a spring and purify your water,
- learn to cook over a wood fire,
- set up camp,
- discover a territory inhabited by a wolf pack,
- spend an evening by a campfire,
- listen to the sounds of nature and shiver when the howls of wolves pierce the night.
As you will have understood, nothing is set in stone, and everything is done according to each person's mood and desires.
In a spirit of teamwork and mutual respect, being mindful of each other's needs is essential. The chores will therefore be shared:
- collecting firewood,
- gathering spring water,
- washing dishes with gravel or river sand,
- preparing meals, and
- hunting grasshoppers and crickets for appetizers.
It's an adventure, but in complete safety! I will share my knowledge of the area and its resources (location of springs, river pools, edible plants and roots, how to make a fire, etc.), my experience leading activities, and my expertise in safety (I have a dedicated emergency radio and a complete first-aid kit) to ensure everything runs smoothly.
If this topic interests you, I recommend this family-friendly trip following the tracks of wolves in the Southern Alps.
You can also join me on one of my hiking trips:
- 5 days of hiking and relaxation around Gap,
- a Retrouvance® trip in the Southern Alps between the Haut Verdon and Val d'Entraunes,
- a Retrouvance® trip on the Millevaches plateau in Corrèze, and
- a Retrouvance® trip in the Hautes-Alpes, between the Buëch and Dévoluy valleys.
Program
- Meet in Gap on the first day:
- at 10am for a 2-day stay.
- at 9am for a 3, 4, or 5-day stay.
- at 1.30pm for a 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5-day stay.
- Program: see the "Description" section.
- End of the stay in the late afternoon on the last day.
The price includes
- Supervision by the mountain leader.
- Accomodation.
- Catering.
- Part of the equipment (big canteen,tarps, etc.).
- Prices:
| Duration | Price per person |
| 2 days / 1 night | 220€ |
| 2,5 days / 2 nights | 295€ |
| 3 days / 2 nights | 325€ |
| 3,5 days / 3 nights | 385€ |
| 4 days / 3 nights | 420€ |
| 4,5 days / 4 nights | 460€ |
| 5 days / 4 nights | 490€ |
The price does not include
- Round-trip transportation to 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.
- Your personnal belongings.
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
In a tent, tarp or under the stars.