A day of hiking, packraft and nature surprises

Hello Wildhartt community!

Today I'd like to share with you an experience that will remain engraved in my memory: a day's expedition combining hiking and packraft in a magnificent area. A nature adventure, organised by Wildhartt, that reconnected me with what's essential. Let me tell you all about it!

The beginning: hiking and meeting new people

It all started at the car park at the starting point, where I met our little group. There were 9 of us, ready to set off on our adventure, accompanied by Stéphane, our passionate nature guide, and a second guide, Charlie, who was in training. From the very first minutes, the atmosphere was friendly and I had a feeling we were going to have a great day.

Stéphane is the kind of guide we love: very friendly, very knowledgeable about the region and full of stories to tell. Between anecdotes about the plants and explanations about the local fauna, we couldn't see the miles go by.

The 6-kilometre walk... and a nice surprise

To be honest, I was dreading the 6 km. Hiking and I aren't a great love affair, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up. But in the end? The trail was very accessible, and I even enjoyed walking in the middle of nature.

The scenery was incredible: lush green valleys, soothing undergrowth and that little bit of fresh air that feels so good.

At the end of the trail, we got out the packrafts. These ultra-light little boats (weighing just 4-5 kg!) are easy to carry on your back, and take just a few minutes to inflate. Once on the water, it was a different atmosphere: total calm. No noise, just birdsong and the lapping of the water. I just let myself glide along under the sun... A real moment of serenity.

An unexpected encounter: the ratgondin!

And then it was a surprise: we came across a gurnard! So, a quick confession... At first, I thought it was a beaver (don't laugh 😅). Fortunately, Stéphane was there to explain the differences. This little animal captured all our attention, and we were able to observe it for a long time. It wandered around quietly, totally in its element. This kind of encounter with wildlife always does something for me.

A perfect end to a day of nature and conviviality

After a day like that, we didn't want to say goodbye like that. So we all got together for a drink 🍻.

It was the perfect moment to share our impressions, laugh about the day's little moments, and tell each other that we'd experienced something truly unique.

In my opinion: a must-do experience

Between the accessible hike, the calm of the packraft and the moments shared with the group, this day was perfect. I learnt a lot about nature, discovered a new activity and, above all, took the time to switch off.

If you're looking for an adventure that combines discovery, light sport and serenity, I can wholeheartedly recommend this type of expedition. And I promise, if you come across a ratgondin, you'll think of me! 😄

Thank you Wildhartt team for the organisation and thank you to Stéphane for his passion and this extraordinary day - Lucie 🌞