Survival & bushcraft

Survival training in Ubaye

June to September

2 days| 1 night

Eco-score 4/5

What you will experience

In an unspoilt natural setting, you'll learn how to filter water, build a fire, find your bearings and manage your energy. It's the perfect place to discover the basics of life in the great outdoors, under the guidance of a certified and passionate guide.

Set up camp under a tarpaulin or in a hammock, prepare your meal over an open fire and sleep outside, surrounded by the mountains. A raw, authentic experience that reconnects you with what's essential.

Hike through the Ubaye countryside with your own pack, discovering how to live with the bare essentials and get out of your comfort zone in complete safety.

No experience is necessary: this course is open to everyone. Whether you come on your own, with friends or with the family, you'll have a great time sharing your experiences in a friendly atmosphere. Together, we'll learn how to live outside, simply and differently.

Itinerary

DAY 1 / 2

Accommodation :

Bivouac

D+ :

250 m

Distance :

4 km

Activity time :

10h

We’ll meet in a small group at 9:30 a.m. at the starting point. After a quick briefing on how the weekend will unfold, we’ll set off on a short approach walk, backpacks on, through a wild natural landscape. This isn’t about performance we move at our own pace, already soaking in the atmosphere of the surroundings.

Soon, we dive into the heart of the experience: the essentials of survival. How do you properly pack your bag? What gear is actually useful? How does our body react under stress or outside its comfort zone?

Throughout the day, workshops take place on the move, woven into the hike. We alternate between learning moments and hands-on activities in the wild: filtering water, identifying edible plants, finding a shelter spot, managing body temperature, basic navigation with or without a compass, and wilderness first aid techniques.

By the end of the day, we choose our base camp together and get to work setting up the bivouac: building shelters, managing fire, and gathering materials from the surrounding area. In the evening, it’s time for bushcraft workshops — lighting a fire without a lighter, crafting simple tools, and of course, preparing dinner around the fire with what everyone brought.

A warm, slightly wild evening by the firelight. The night is spent outdoors, in the shelter you built a true moment of disconnection.

To top off the experience, enjoy a tasting of local products, carefully selected by Damien, to be shared with your group by the fire.

DAY 2 / 2

Accommodation :

Bivouac

D+ :

300 m

Distance :

6 km

Activity time :

Wake up in the cool of the morning, surrounded by the sounds of the forest and mountains. After a shared breakfast, we pack up camp and set off again for a more dynamic day.

We continue our progress with new scenarios and the development of skills learned the day before. Orientation in unfamiliar terrain, reactions to emergency situations, techniques for progressing in the open air.

Depending on the mood and energy of the group, we'll also take a moment to explore the dimension of well-being in a natural environment: breathing techniques, conscious walking, posture, anchoring... Because survival also means knowing how to listen to your body and adapt to your environment.

We'll be back at the end of the afternoon with a host of tools and lessons to learn... and no doubt a desire to go out and live outdoors more often!

The guides who will lead your adventure

Damien

Mid Mountain Guide (MMG)

French

English

Spanish

Mountain guide by passion, a lover of travel, experiences, and meaningful encounters, I offer to introduce you to survival skills through courses tailored to your desires.
Reconnecting with nature, for me, primarily means restoring that bond with the environment that surrounds us. All species are sensitive to and dependent on this connection and we are no exception.
My travels and long self-sufficient treks abroad (Peru, Morocco, Asia, etc.), as well as in France with the crossing of the Pyrenees and many others, have taught me to push my limits, step out of my comfort zone, and turn hiking into a true form of active meditation through a wide variety of techniques.

Find out more about Damien

What's included in the price

Included

Guided by an instructor: Damien, a local resident and mountain guide, will share his passion with you throughout this survival weekend.

Technical equipment: You will learn to use the essential gear provided to help you survive in the wild bushcraft tools, tarp, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat.

A tasting of local products, carefully selected by Damien, to enjoy by the fire with your group.

Survival workshops: All along the route, you'll enjoy instructive sessions on a variety of topics: filtering water, recognising edible plants, first aid, orienteering techniques, etc.

Not included

Meals: Treat yourself and bring whatever you’d like to eat for two days. It’s a great opportunity to learn how to cook your favorite meals in the great outdoors!

Transport to the meeting point

What level should you expect

Level 2

You can hike for about 3 hours with a 400 m Ascent
You're prepared to carry your rucksack in complete autonomy for two days
You're not afraid of sleeping under a tarpaulin in the middle of nowhere
You want to discover the basics of life in the great outdoors, even without any previous experience
Are you up for a weekend of disconnection, sharing and learning, alone, with family or friends?
You'd like to learn how to bivouac for survival, in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Getting there

Start: Barcelonnette (09h)

End: Barcelonnette (17h)

Transport

It is possible to take a train to Gap station.

Departure station > Paris Gare de Lyon
Paris Gare de Lyon > Valence TGV Rhône-Alpes Sud (2h11)
Valence TGV Rhône-Alpes Sud > Gap (2h42)

From there, take a bus to Aimé Gassier (Barcelonnette).

Gap > Place Aimé Gassier (1h30)

Plan your journey (carpooling, train, etc.) using Tictactrip, the cheapest and most environmentally-friendly way.

You can get to Barcelonnette by car, where you can park your car free of charge in the car park at the meeting point.

If you don't have a car, you should know that we're encouraging car-pooling between participants by creating a WhatsApp group 15 days before the start: an opportunity to get to know each other before you even start your expedition!

How to register

Step 1

Choose your departure date and number of participants

Step 2

Book online by paying a deposit or the full amount directly. It is also possible to book by telephone by calling +32 474 97 09 38 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

If the minimum number of participants is reached, departure is confirmed!
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will give you a full refund.

Departure is confirmed 15 days in advance for adventures lasting more than 4 days. Departure is confirmed 7 days prior to departures of less than 4 days.

Step 3

In the case of a deposit, the remaining amount will be debited from your account before departure.

Your reviews

The opinions of our participants who have placed their trust in us

Frequently asked questions

What equipment should I bring to the course?

A detailed list of recommended and compulsory equipment will be sent to you after you register, so that you can prepare your equipment with peace of mind.

Do you have to be a survival enthusiast?

This course is designed to introduce you to the basics of survival, not to test your extreme limits. Whether you're a complete beginner or just curious to learn more, you've come to the right place. The approach is progressive, adapted to the level of the group, and geared towards discovery, learning and practice. If you can walk a few kilometres with a rucksack and you want to get away from your routine, you're ready!

How many people will be in the group?

Courses are run in small groups of no more than 10 people. This allows us to maintain a friendly atmosphere, to have time for personal discussions, and to adapt to each person's pace.

Is drinking water available on site or does everything have to be filtered?

One of the aims of the course is to learn how to find, collect and filter water in the wild. So there won't be any drinking water points, but natural springs that we'll learn to use safely. Filtration equipment is provided and you'll learn how to use it from day one.

How are we going to sleep?

We'll be spending the night in the great outdoors, in shelters that we'll build together using the equipment provided and what the environment has to offer. There will be no traditional tents here: we'll sleep in bivouac mode, under tarpaulins, tarpaulins or other simple systems, depending on the conditions. If you prefer, you can also bring a hammock, which is perfectly suited to this type of night in the forest. The aim is to learn how to make yourself comfortable (and dry!) in the middle of nature. It's a real and often unforgettable experience.

What are we going to eat?

Your guide will provide fresh, simple, local meals in keeping with the spirit of the course. You'll discover a rustic but tasty diet, prepared together around the fire. In addition, you'll learn to recognise and use some of nature's edible resources (plants, tricks of the trade), for a real survival experience.

Can I privatise this expedition for my group?

Yes, all our expeditions can be privatised for a group already formed, on the dates of your choice.

To make your request, go to the expedition that interests you and click on "Privatise the expedition". We'll take care of the rest!

Are instalment payment options available?

Yes, absolutely! At checkout, you can choose Alma to pay for your booking in 2, 3 or 4 instalments. Just select Alma during checkout and follow the instructions. It’s simple, fast, and secure.

What does the price of a Wildhartt adventure include?

At Wildhartt, transparency is key. The price of your expedition reflects a clear breakdown of costs:

30% for our guides, the backbone of every adventure.
35% for accommodation and meals, essential for your comfort.
10% for gear and transport, to ensure safety and smooth logistics.
25% for organisation and logistics, from first contact to the end of your trip.

Our priority: to offer you a high-quality experience, with full transparency.

Any questions? Get in touch!

What happens if the weather is bad?

At Wildhartt, nature is our playground – rain or shine. Whether it’s pouring, snowing or windy, our guides adapt the route, activities and accommodation to give you the best possible experience.

Unless safety is at risk (storm, avalanche, flooding...).

In those rare cases, we may cancel an expedition, but no earlier than one week before departure.

If that happens:

→ You can reschedule your adventure at no extra cost,

→ Or get a full refund.

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Full refund if departure is not confirmed

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Instalment facility available