Hiking and packrafting — explore the Ardennes along every path

Packrafting may be a word you are not familiar with yet. It is a small, ultra-light boat carried in a backpack, which you take along during a hike before unfolding it on the river. At Adventure Blue Green, Jacques has turned this combination into a unique experience — a way of exploring the Ardennes in two ways at once, with your feet on forest trails and your hands on the paddles.

The day begins on the trails. With the packraft on your back — barely six kilos — you explore the Ardennes’ forest paths in their most untouched form. No roads, no crowds. Just trees, the sounds of nature, and that special sense of freedom that can only be found deep in the woods. Jacques knows these trails and chooses the routes carefully so that every outing brings its own surprises.

Then comes the moment to unfold the boats. On the river or on a lake — depending on water levels and the mood of the day — you glide across the surface of an Ardennes landscape that you would never see from the riverbank. The natural silence that settles in as you gently paddle creates another kind of immersion, slower and almost meditative.

Along the way, a well-deserved break is in order — a chance to catch your breath and enjoy a local drink that Jacques includes in the programme as a little reward. Half-day or full-day, the adventure adapts to your group and your wishes.

The activity takes place in several locations depending on where you are staying: Hamoir, Hotton, Bouillon, the Our River or Esch-sur-Sûre. Jacques adapts the experience so you never have to travel too far from your holiday accommodation.