If there’s one place where we truly thrive and feel at home, it’s in nature. Naturally, we jumped at the chance to embark on a multi-day trip that included camping in lush forests, hiking up majestic mountains, and rafting down vibrant rivers. We’re referring to The Packraft Trail! This adventure spans several days, immersing you in the great outdoors while combining the principles of slow travel with exciting physical activities. In this blog post, we’ll dive into this unique outdoor concept and hopefully inspire you to schedule a packrafting adventure soon!
Tip: We experienced the trail in the French Ardennes, but you can also explore packrafting in the Biesbosch, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and — excitingly new — the Balkans. Click here to find out more about these fantastic destinations.
What is Packrafting? Exploring The Packraft Trail Concept
First things first: what exactly is packrafting? Packrafting is an ultimate adventure that blends hiking through untouched natural landscapes with rafting on open waters. This activity uses a lightweight, inflatable raft that is easy to carry in your backpack while you hike.
The essence of packrafting is the unique combination of hiking and rafting. With a packraft, you can cross rivers, lakes, and streams, land ashore, pack up your raft, and continue your journey on foot. This offers an unmatched opportunity to reach secluded natural areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
The sport originated in the rugged wilderness of Alaska, where combining hiking and rafting allows for extensive journeys without being hindered by waterways. In such wild regions, the waters can be quite challenging, making a reliable raft indispensable. This is where the packraft comes into play!
For your basic equipment, you’ll need a packraft along with paddles that can be taken apart and a special ‘pump’. This ‘pump’ is not a mechanical device but rather a lightweight bag designed to capture air. You use this bag to manually push air into your raft. After filling the raft using the bag, you’ll need to blow a little more air in with your mouth to ensure the raft is firm and properly inflated. Within a few minutes, your raft is ready to use, and just as quickly, it can be deflated and packed away.
The Packraft Trail, developed by the innovative travel organization Travelbase, takes this adventure to the next level with organized trips along meticulously chosen paths. These trails, from the verdant forests of the Ardennes to the crystal-clear waters of Slovenia, offer both a physical test and a chance to connect deeply with breathtaking nature.
Preparing for the Trail
Before setting off on this adventure, thorough preparation is key. The trail is definitely challenging, but we found that you don’t need to train specifically for it; a basic level of fitness is enough. You’ll be hiking on your own unless you choose to join a group, which means you can go at your own pace and take breaks whenever you like.
You’ll get a detailed packing list in advance, telling you everything you need to bring. We debated whether to pack rain pants and were glad we did. Not because of rain—we had clear, dry weather—but they kept us dry while rafting, which was particularly pleasant in early April. If you’re renting your camping equipment like we did, consider adding a pillow to your packing list, as it wasn’t in our tent.
There’s also a handy app you can download. It’s great for planning your route before and during the trail and accessing all vital information about the trail, from the packing list to emergency contact numbers, maps, and the camping site name.
On the trail itself, you’ll carry a comprehensive gear package. Note that this does not include personal items like a tent or sleeping gear, as you’ll return to the base camp each night. You only need to carry what’s necessary for the day’s activities, including food, a gas stove, and rafting equipment. For rafting, you’ll be given a bag, an inflatable boat, a paddle, an inflation bag, and a life vest. The total weight of the rafting gear is about 3 kilograms, which is quite light.
You can bring your own food for the trail, but we opted for an ‘adventure food pack’. Although you can buy food or eat in villages along the way, we felt that it detracted from the experience. Eating in the wild, cooking with a gas stove and food packs, seems more fitting for such an outdoor adventure.
The ‘adventure food pack’ included a gas stove and the food packs themselves. You simply boil water on the stove, pour it into the pouch, let it sit, and enjoy. We were pleasantly surprised by how tasty the meals were! There are three vegetarian options, including one vegan. Energy bars are also provided for quick energy boosts during the hike.
The Route in the French Ardennes
The two-day journey begins and ends at the base camp near the village of Haulmé, by the central river of the trail.
On the first day, you head west. Start by rafting downstream, then land at the village of Monthermé. From there, your hike takes you into the forests, immediately going uphill and then downhill as you cross a river. You’ll continue to climb and descend a second hill before returning to base camp.
The second day takes you east. It starts with a hike, involving several ascents and descents. In Les Hautes-Rivieres, you get on the water.
Typically, each day involves a hike of 12-13 kilometers (though our step counters indicated slightly more). If that distance seems too much, maybe because you’re with family or your legs are weary from the first day, shorter routes are available. These are clearly marked on the laminated map you receive or in the app. Opting for a shortcut on the first day also means avoiding a steep climb.
Day 1 of The Packraft Trail
Our packrafting adventure began at 9:00 AM with a detailed briefing. It was an early start, especially for those traveling from the Netherlands to the French Ardennes, so we booked a campsite for the night before. This allowed us to start the day feeling refreshed and ready.
The previous evening, we arrived at the charming base camp, a specially arranged part of a forest campsite in the French Ardennes. The camp featured a large tent, beautifully lit with string lights and with cozy seating areas around a campfire. Inside the tent, there were comfortable spots to relax with a cup of coffee or tea, and a small fridge where we could store our drinks. A friendly guide welcomed us upon arrival and showed us to our tent. After a brief introduction, we settled in for a quiet evening, perfect for resting up before the adventure began.
The next morning, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast that included fresh bread, croissants, chocolate pastries, various spreads, yogurt, and drinks. At nine o’clock, we received thorough explanations about the trail and the packrafts. We learned how to inflate the packrafts — surprisingly easy with a special bag that pushes air into them — and were impressed by how quick and straightforward it was.
We then received our equipment, which included the boat, life vest, and paddle pieces. To our relief, the gear was much lighter than we had expected. The packraft is incredibly lightweight and compact. After the briefing, those who had ordered food packs were shown how to use the gas burners and meal packs. We all packed our food packs and energy bars, preparing for the day ahead.
Soon, it was time to get on the water. We packed up our gear, filled our water bottles, and started inflating our rafts. The first part of today’s trail took us onto the river, making for an exhilarating start! The current was strong, making it difficult to paddle against, but that wasn’t necessary. We could use the current to our advantage, letting it carry us along.
Our packing list included rain pants, which we wore in the boat to stay dry. With the paddling and the sometimes strong current or small rapids, a bit of water splashed into the boat. In warmer weather, shorts might suffice, but in early April, the rain pants helped us stay comfortable and dry.
The boating segment ended in a village where we quickly stored our raft. We took this opportunity to enjoy a beer on a local terrace. There was also a bakery nearby, perfect for grabbing a snack if you’d like.
Following the refreshment break, we headed straight into the forest. The trail through the stunning Ardennes offered the potential to spot wildlife like deer or wild boars. The path was quite challenging with significant elevation changes that we felt in our calves. It was tough but doable without specific training, though our legs were definitely put to the test.
Around lunchtime, we found a picturesque spot to prepare our lunch. We had opted for an ‘adventure food pack’. While there were villages along the way, making it unnecessary to be completely self-sufficient, preparing our own meals really enhanced the experience. The packs offered several options, including three vegetarian and one vegan option. We boiled water on our portable gas burner, poured it into the pouch, and soon enjoyed a surprisingly tasty meal.
After lunch, we continued our hike to return to the base camp. We chose to play card games, while others gathered around the campfire once more. Tip: Bring marshmallows to roast over the campfire to round off the outdoor experience perfectly.
Day 2 of The Packraft Trail
On the second day, you’ll explore the opposite side of the river, heading upstream relative to the campsite. Unlike the first day, this time you begin with a hike before making your way back to the camp by raft. Depending on how you feel after the vigorous first day, you can opt for either a longer or shorter hiking route.
We felt adventurous and chose the longer, 12-kilometer route that involved navigating both steep ascents and descents. The path took us through the lush forests of the Ardennes, offering stunning views though requiring some serious climbing effort. Nevertheless, the trail was completely manageable, and after about three hours of hiking, we arrived at a quaint village. Here, we paused to enjoy a relaxing coffee break at a local café before we returned to the water.
Getting the raft ready again only took about 5 to 10 minutes, and soon we were back on the river. The conditions were much calmer than the previous day, with few rapids, providing a relaxed and enjoyable paddling experience. At one point, we pulled over at a picnic bench situated by the river, where we savored our lunch surrounded by nature. Once again, we used our gas burner to prepare a meal from our food pack.
After about an hour and a half on the water, we paddled back to the campsite. Here, we turned in our gear and concluded our adventure. We gathered our belongings and started preparing for the journey back to the Netherlands. It was only mid-afternoon, so we had ample time for the long drive home. This two-day adventure was more active and challenging than we had anticipated, but it wasn’t overly strenuous. We were tired, but it was the satisfying kind of tired that comes from a rewarding experience.
More about The Packraft Trail
The Packraft Trail is available in various locations depending on the season. For instance, we embarked on our journey in the French Ardennes at the beginning of April, but the trail shifts to Luxembourg later in the year to accommodate changing water levels. Another option for a two-day micro-adventure is the Dutch Biesbosch. If you’re looking for a longer trip, you can try packrafting in Slovenia, and starting from summer 2024, a new route in the Balkans will open up. This new trail will take you from northern Greece to Albania!
Interested in learning more? Here’s where you can find all the details about The Packraft Trail.
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