Mountain bivouac - Voironnais Country Tourist Office

Craving fresh air and unforgettable moments with friends? A bivouac in the Chartreuse Mountains, the closest gateway to the Alps near Lyon, is the perfect adventure: two days of invigorating hiking, an unforgettable night in the mountains, and total immersion in nature. Choose between a mountain hut or sleeping under the stars right next door… the choice is yours!

Between freedom and immersion in nature

Mountain bivouac: 3 reasons to try it

The call of the great outdoors!

Honestly, what could be better than a weekend breathing fresh air, far from car horns and screens? mountain bivouacIt's the perfect combination: sport, pushing your limits, and that feeling of freedom you can't find anywhere else. You climb, you sweat, you grumble a bit… and you love it! This kind of hiking bivouacThat clears things up for you.

The magic of a night under the stars

There's something magical about sleeping up there. Whether it's in a remote cabin or under a starry sky, the night in the mountains is a unique experience. Remember your last lie-in? Forget it. Here, you fall asleep to the sound of the wind and wake up with the first light of dawn. Unforgettable! And when this night in the mountains It's organized in Chartreuse, less than an hour from Lyon or Grenoble, which is even better!

With friends, guaranteed disconnection

We all have that friend who snores, the one who talks too much, or the one who always forgets their water bottle. But deep down, it's those moments we love. bivouac with friendsIt's an opportunity to strengthen bonds, have a laugh around a camping stove, and share a sausage at the summit. We don't judge each other, we help each other, we experience something together. That's also part of the spirit of... bivouacking in the Chartreuse mountains.

What we see up there (spoiler: it's wow)

Imagine: alpine pastures stretching as far as the eye can see, silence, the Alps extending before you. Add a sunset, an inky sky studded with stars, and perhaps even mouflon sheep passing in the distance. Can you picture it? Welcome to the world of mountain bivouacThe true, the pure, the essential to preserve.

We're taking you on board!

2 days of hiking and camping in the Voiron region

It's physical, it's beautiful, it's demanding. A true condensed mountain bivouac experience for experienced hikers.

Departure: Voreppe train station

23.8 km

Difficult / + 1,540M/ – 1,927M

Overnight stay: Hurtières Cabin

Night in a cabin or bivouacking under the stars? It's up to you!

La Hurtières cabinIt's the kind of rustic shelter we love. Unguarded, but welcoming. However, it fills up quickly. No panic: just grab your gear from mountain bivouac to sleep outside if necessary. There's nothing like setting up camp facing the peaks, with your sleeping bag and a tent for shelter. Provided you're prepared: the wind can pick up quickly! And between us, a night in the mountains Under the stars, it's unforgettable.

Ready to give it a try? Download the GPX file!

Long live soft mobility!

Easy access from Lyon or Grenoble

No need for a car for this hike: you can go by train From Lyon or Grenoble. And yes, Everything encourages you to use soft mobility. A bus or a bit of hitchhiking makes it easy to reach the starting point. Another good point for this! mountain bivouac Made in Voironnais: it is accessible, sustainable and a great change of scenery.

And if you're coming by car, the trick is not to park at the Col de la Placette: this way you avoid the hassle of getting back when all you want to do is go home to the warmth. Park instead at Voreppe train station.

And above all, stay within the rules: bivouacking in the mountains is permitted, yes, but not everywhere and not just any way. Check the regulations before each bivouac hike!

Sleeping outdoors requires planning!

Mountain bivouacking: how to prepare properly?

Essential gear for sleeping outdoors

Here, everything is carried on the back. For a mountain bivouac To succeed, you need to aim for something light and useful:

Ultra-light tent or "pole planting" to set up a tarp (stretched canvas). The choice is yours.
Sleeping bag suitable for the season (-5°C, that saves nights).
Mattress, stove, cooking pot, headlamp, first aid kit… we think of everything.

Pro tip

Test your gear before you leave. There's nothing worse than a stove that malfunctions or a tent you don't know how to pitch. Especially when your mountain bivouac It depends on that!

What do we eat upstairs?

Just because we're in the mountains doesn't mean we have to deprive ourselves! We're planning simple but comforting meals: freeze-dried if we want something light, homemade dishes for those with a bigger appetite, and above all: aperitifs! A little local sausage, a piece of Saint-Marcellin cheese, a flask of Chartreuse to share… It makes all the difference. Nothing like it to end a long day of… 2-day hiking and bivouac.

And for the morning? Filter coffee, muesli and sunshine on the mountains: what else? Nothing beats waking up with a view of the surrounding mountains.

Respecting nature: it's not an option

Le mountain bivouacIt's also a responsibility. We enjoy, we share, we respect. We leave zero trace Leave no waste behind. No fire. Avoid pitching your tent in fragile areas, respect the wildlife, and remain discreet.

And above all: we find out about the areas where the bivouac is allowedThe Chartreuse Regional Natural Park, for example, has its own rules: in the Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserve, only bivouacking under the stars (WITHOUT a tent) is permitted from July 1st to August 31st (tents are allowed outside this period). We play by the rules, otherwise the experience suffers.

Moments etched in memory

What you remember from a night bivouacking in the mountains

Burning calves, golden friends

It's not just a hike. It's an adventure. A challenge, sometimes. But also a memory etched in your mind. Did you struggle on the climb? Did you laugh when you pitched your tent crookedly? Did you share the last square of chocolate? That's what it's all about. bivouac with friendsAnd that's why we start again. Again and again.

A night in the mountains brings people closer together (especially if it's -3°C).

Sleeping at altitude is a unique experience. It awakens your senses, shakes you up a bit, and reconnects you with yourself. You thought you were just going for a hike? You come back with a story. And you'll be talking about this night in the mountains for a long time.

The desire to return, again and again

Because the mountain bivouacIt's addictive. Once you've tasted that freedom, that intensity, it's hard to do without it. There's always another summit to explore, another spot to discover, another night to experience up there. In short, another bivouacking in the mountainse to live.