Want to turn down the volume of daily life and fully embrace the mountains? Go for a micro-adventure of 2 days with a hiking-camping trip in the heart of the Alps: with every step, the scenery ignites, a glacial lake sparkles, and the starry sky serves as a nightlight. The agenda: walking, camping, and contemplation, with the simple joy of a well-packed backpack, a cooking pot steaming, and a night under the tent. Here are 8 routes for self-sufficient adventures to savor the present moment, close yet so far from daily life.
Want to silence the daily grind for two days and a night under the tent facing the peaks? Here are eight ideas for hiking-camping in self-sufficiency in the Alps, where each step leads to a glacial lake, a panoramic balcony, and a sky filled with stars. The agenda: walking, camping, a pot that sings, and a simple return to the essentials, with some clever reminders about gear, effort management, and camping rules.
Two days to let yourself be captivated by the mountains: a well-packed backpack, a headlamp ready to shine, a water filter for unpredictable springs, and a sharp sense of direction. These varied and accessible routes, depending on your fitness level, combine the micro-adventure spirit and the art of slowing down. Choose your setting, from harsh rocky landscapes to soft alpine pastures.
Emparis Plateau – postcard balcony facing Meije
Straddling Isère and Savoie, the Emparis Plateau unfolds its suspended meadows between Besse-en-Oisans and Mizoën, with a stunning view of Meije and the Aiguilles d’Arves. The gentle access makes it an ideal introduction for a first camping experience.
At sunset, the Lake Noir and Lérié are adorned in gold: perfect for pitching your tent in royal calm. Remember to adjust your backpack to save your shoulders and enjoy the views.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 700 to 900 m depending on the start point.
Lauvitel Tour – wild immersion in the Écrins
From La Danchère, the ascent to Lauvitel Lake wakes up the calves before tackling the Col du Vallon and the valley of Muzelle. Here, the scenery of the Écrins richly rewards a demanding terrain, to be approached with a steady pace and clever breaks.
The camping is done outside protected areas: respect local regulations and choose a discreet location. Managing your breaks and hydration will help you maintain energy over the two days.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 1100 to 1200 m.
Chamechaude Tour – the discreet version of Chartreuse
Starting from Col de Porte, we wind between forests, pastures, and ridges around Chamechaude. Fun variant via the pastures of Émeindras, under the Dent de Crolles, with a possible camping spot in a clearing that smells of fresh grass.
Climbing to the summit at dawn promises a breathtaking view of Belledonne. A varied route, perfect for fine-tuning your self-sufficiency organization and testing your cooking pot.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 900 to 1000 m.
Vallon de la Sache – Vanoise in its purest form
From Tignes – Les Boisses, ascend a wild valley at the foot of a suspended glacier. Depending on your desire, you can head towards the Col du Palet or descend through the valley of Savinaz. Wildlife is present: ibexes and marmots on the lookout.
Depending on the season, a few clouds of mosquitoes may appear: be prepared to protect yourself to enjoy the evening at the camping. The terrain remains alpine: adjust your pace and keep an eye on the weather.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 1000 to 1200 m.
High Plateaus of Vercors – the taste of true self-sufficiency
In the natural reserve of the High Plateaus of Vercors, you walk in complete freedom: no refuge, almost no signal, and water has to be earned. From Corrençon-en-Vercors or the Col du Rousset, head towards the cabins of Pré Peyret or Chaumailloux.
Here, everything hinges on preparation: water filter, cooking pot, suitable sleeping bag, and warm clothing. The terrain is gentle, but the distances increase — perfect for taming the micro-adventure in self-sufficiency.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 700 to 800 m.
Aiguilles de Lus – raw Dévoluy
From Lus-la-Croix-Haute, we ascend through the vallon Froid in a mineral setting where the ridges serrate like blades. Camping is possible at the Col de Plate Contier for a night suspended between sky and stone.
In foggy weather, caution is required: have a solid orientation skill or a reliable GPS to stay on track.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 1100 m.
Mont Thabor – lakes, pastures, and luminous domes
From Valfréjus or Névache, head towards Lac Sainte-Marguerite, then a cozy camping near Lac Peyron. The next day, the ascent of Mont Thabor unveils a unique panorama over the Écrins, Mont Blanc, and the Italian Alps.
A complete and delightful adventure, provided you’re physically prepared and calibrate your backpack without excess weight.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 1200 m.
Tour of the 7 Laux – wild Belledonne
From Le Pleynet or Fond-de-France, you enter an austere but grand mineral universe. After the climb to the Lakes of 7 Laux, choose a peaceful shore to pitch your tent as close to the stars as possible.
On the second day, the Col de la Vache offers a more sporty loop and a natural viewpoint over the surrounding mountain ranges. A well-organized bag makes all the difference when crossing rocky sections.
Elevation gain over 2 days: 1200 m.
Things to remember before you go
Two days outdoors, a night in nature, and the mountains as neighbors: it requires preparation. Check the camping rules in effect (usually allowed from 7 PM to 9 AM, more than an hour from access points) and respect protected areas. Choose already impacted locations, distant from immediate shorelines and trails.
Essentials in your bag: headlamp, warm clothing, water filter or tablets, first aid kit, offline maps, and something to carry out your waste — even biodegradable. Fine-tune your backpack, adopt a steady pace, bring a mosquito net if needed, and maintain a good level of humility in the face of the elements.
These suggested routes do not replace personal preparation or consultation of updated weather and topo sources. Inform a close person of your project, and if in doubt about orientation or terrain stability, turn back: the mountains will always be there tomorrow.
Want other hiking horizons?
If the call of the sea tempts you between two alpine trips, head towards exotic trails: in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe offers selected hikes among pearly beaches, humid forests, and smoking volcanoes — another definition of the word panorama.
For a playful urban getaway, explore the must-do hikes around Barcelona, where hills, parks, and modernist architecture compose a unique harmony. And if the idea of a world-island attracts you, note the must-do hikes in Malta, golden cliffs and fortified cities await you.
Need more expansive formats? From glaciers to jungles, let yourself be tempted by the 6 must-do hikes in Peru, between Andean peaks and lost valleys. And to vary daily pleasures, head to the rise of urban hiking, a trend increasingly appealing to French people eager to explore their city at a walking pace.
