France · Southern Alps
Mountain Bivouac in the Alps
Sleeping under the stars at altitude, waking to the first light touching mountain peaks, sharing a meal cooked over embers in the wild, this is the essence of a mountain bivouac.
Our certified Nature and Mountain guides specialize in guiding you to spectacular bivouac spots in the French Southern Alps. Over 2 to 3 days of hiking with one or two nights in the wilderness, you’ll truly disconnect and reconnect with what matters.
Every bivouac adventure is crafted around your group’s desires:
- Wildlife observation: Watch the ballet of chamois, ibex rutting season, or an ermine playing in the meadows
- Summit aspirations: Reach peaks inaccessible in a single day and celebrate around an evening campfire
- Celebration events: Mark a birthday, bachelor party, or team achievement with Nature challenges
- Family adventure: Introduce children to the magic of sleeping outdoors
The bivouac experience works in every season: summer nights under the Milky Way, spring surrounded by wildflowers, autumn with golden larches, or winter in the warmth of an igloo.
Highlights
- Complete disconnection: No phones, no schedules, just you, your group, and the mountains
- Expert guidance: Your guide handles logistics, safety, and shares mountain knowledge
- Quality equipment: We lend professional-grade bivouac gear so you can test before investing
- Wild cuisine: Meals prepared together using organic, local, and seasonal ingredients
- Tailored experience: Every adventure is unique, designed around your group’s abilities and interests
What it takes
Effort level
We adapt to your group. Routes range from gentle 1-hour approaches to full-day mountain crossings. Tell us your fitness level and we’ll design the perfect adventure.
Difficulty: 2-4/5 (depending on chosen route)
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What it feels like
The Bivouac Experience
Hiking Toward the Sky
The bivouac site is reached on foot, that’s part of the magic. The route is planned by your guide based on your desires and fitness level.
Before departure, your guide helps each participant optimise their backpack: a well-compressed sleeping bag at the bottom, layers easily accessible, water within reach. The guide carries collective equipment: kitchen gear, stove, and food supplies.
On the trail, the mountains reveal their wonders, aerial ridgelines, hidden valleys, wildlife encounters. If your group is curious, your guide invites you into the mysteries of alpine nature with a practical, educational approach. Why do these flowers grow here? What animal made those tracks? How did glaciers shape this valley?
Sleeping Under the Stars
This adventure offers a concrete opportunity to discover quality mountain equipment for safe outdoor sleeping.
We lend you the essentials for a first bivouac in optimal conditions:
- Top-comfort inflatable mattress
- Sleeping bag rated for mountain temperatures
- Hiking backpack if needed
- Tarp or tent depending on conditions
Sleeping options adapt to your comfort needs:
- Belle étoile (open sky): For the purists, nothing between you and the stars
- Tarp: Light shelter, still connected to surroundings
- Tent: Private space, protection from elements
- Tipi/Teepee: Communal shelter, great for groups
- Natural shelter: Shepherd’s hut or rock overhang
Cooking in the Wild
A feast for mountain people, cooked together on embers, hot stones, or camping stoves.
The experience includes:
- Challenge yourself to light a fire without a lighter
- Meals prepared collectively from organic, local ingredients
- Wild foraging (when season allows), discover edible plants for an aperitif
- Optional: the exoticism of grilled grasshoppers for the adventurous!
Playful Moments
If weather and mood allow, your guide organises activities to deepen your mountain experience:
- Wildlife observation: Setting up a blind to watch chamois or marmots
- Navigation games: Learn to read the landscape and use a map
- Photography: Capture the golden hour on surrounding peaks
- Stargazing: Far from light pollution, discover constellations and meteor showers
- Team challenges: Custom activities for corporate groups
And always, the colours of an alpine sunset to crown the day.
The possible formats
Bivouac Options
Weekend Bivouac (2 Days)
The classic format: Day 1 hike to the bivouac site, spend the night, Day 2 return via a different route.
- Duration: 2 days / 1 night
- Meeting: Day 1 at 9:30 AM
- Return: Day 2 in the afternoon
- Price: From A$331/person
Extended Adventure (3 Days)
Go deeper into the wilderness with two nights under the stars.
- Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
- Price: From A$478/person
Custom Adventures
We can design anything from single-night experiences to week-long traverses. Contact us with your dream and we’ll make it happen.
Dates and prices
Booking 2026
Price
From A$331 per person (2-day adventure)
Price varies based on group size and duration.
Price Includes
- Professional state-certified mountain guide
- Bivouac equipment loan (sleeping bag, mattress, tarp/tent, backpack if needed)
- Meals prepared with organic, local, and seasonal products
- Photography of your adventure (shared after)
Price does not include travel insurance and transport to/from meeting point.
How to Book
Bivouac adventures run year-round depending on conditions and your preferences.
{.ico-warning} **Peak season (spring weekends, July-August)**: slots fill up fast! Contact us 3 to 6 months in advance to secure your preferred dates.Contact us to design your adventure:
Email: heyaltimood.com Phone: +33 7 69 44 78 66
Before you go
Practical Information
Where We Bivouac
Our bivouac locations span the French Southern Alps:
- Écrins National Park: Wild, dramatic, true high mountain
- Vercors: Limestone plateaus, forests, accessible from Grenoble
- Dévoluy: The “French Dolomites”, spectacular cliffs and hidden valleys
- Champsaur-Valgaudemar: Our home territory, intimate knowledge of secret spots
What to Bring
We provide specialist bivouac equipment. You bring:
- Hiking clothes appropriate for the season
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Warm layers (it gets cold at altitude, even in summer)
- Personal toiletries and medications
- Headlamp
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Camera (optional but recommended!)
Complete kit list sent upon booking.
Requirements
- Valid ID
- Travel/health insurance (European Health Insurance Card for EU citizens)
- Civil liability insurance covering outdoor activities
- Assistance/repatriation insurance recommended
Before you decide
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be athletic?
No, our bivouacs adapt to all fitness levels. Your guide adjusts the route and elevation based on your group’s abilities. A one-hour walk may be enough to reach a stunning spot, while more athletic groups can aim for high-altitude summits.
What happens in bad weather?
Your guide monitors forecasts closely and adapts the programme accordingly. In degraded conditions, we may modify the route, choose natural shelter or a mountain hut, or postpone if safety requires it. You will be informed in advance of any changes.
Is bivouacking legal everywhere?
Bivouacking is allowed in most French mountain areas under specific conditions: set up at sunset, pack up at sunrise, and respect the “leave no trace” principle. In the core zone of Écrins National Park, specific rules apply. Your guide knows local regulations perfectly.
What's the minimum age for families?
We welcome families with children from age 4 for adapted formats like donkey treks or family bivouacs. The guide adapts pace and activities to the participants' ages.
Season by season
Bivouac Through the Seasons
Summer: Cool Nights at Altitude
In summer, we climb high to enjoy cool night air. Short nights offer spectacular sunrises and sunsets. It’s the perfect season for stargazing, the Milky Way far from any light pollution.
Autumn: Golden Colours and Wildlife
Autumn transforms alpine meadows into golden tableaux. It’s deer rutting season. Mild days and cool nights call for campfire gatherings under a canopy of stars.
Winter: Snow Bivouac Magic
Winter opens new possibilities: igloo nights, heated tipi bivouacs, or snow camping workshops. Cold-weather equipment is provided for an unforgettable experience in the muffled silence of snowy mountains.
Spring: Nature’s Awakening
In spring, snowmelt reveals the first flowers and waterfalls roar. Marmots emerge from hibernation. It’s a transition season where you may still cross snowfields at altitude while enjoying the warmth of the valleys.
They walked it
Customer Reviews
★★★★★ EVG: Bivouac hike with 15 friendsWe trusted Robin and Alice to organize our best friend’s EVG. We were a group of 15 friends and had nothing to worry about. We just let ourselves be carried away by the beauty of the scenery and the professionalism of Alice and Robin. From the first phone call to the last handshake to say goodbye, everything was perfect. The donkeys were on hand to carry some of the equipment, which was a real comfort. We wish you a great summer in 2023, and we’ll be back for a winter igloo session.
★★★★★ A perfect first bivouac experience with my teenagerPerfect first bivouac experience with Robin! We went as a party of 2 with my son, and Robin really adapted to us. His knowledge of the history of the region, the environment, nature and his friendliness are a real plus! We’ll be back for more! Thanks again
★★★★★ Hiking and Bivouac in the VercorsSuper Bivouac with Robin! Very instructive and sublime hike, delicious, original and local food. Great experience for the 6 of us, Robin is a sure bet 👌🏻 (Thanks to Victor for the supplies 🍉🧀).
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