Top 8 outdoor activities in The Ardennes – Outdoor adventures at Vallée les Etoiles with Dinant Evasion

The Vallée les Etoiles holiday park is located right smack in the heart of the region, offering visitors a whole array of possibilities and experiences. One of these is the option to become a true adventurer, and try outdoor activities linked to the region, besides the usual trekking routes and bicycle rides, which are awesome in their own way, but some people like to tackle life by its horns.

The following list is for all the wanderers, the try guys, the outdoor junkies and the boldest of us, who know how to spice up an already awesome experience and max out all the pleasures such an adventure can offer us:

Kayaking on the Lesse river – Experience Belgium from the water

Conquering the river has been one of the first steps humankind has taken towards being the problem solver it is today, the hive mind which is able to overcome almost any obstacle. Therefore, it is no wonder that kayaking and taking boat rides on rivers between green woods, castles and hills gives us such a rush. And this is exactly what you will be getting if you decide upon the Dinant Evasion kayak options.

You can choose from between 2 awesome tours, one that is 21 km in length and another that offers you a 12 km thrill. Partner up, choose your route and be the lord of the rivers, even if only for day. This option can be used by groups of friends or even families with children (children over the age of 5 can participate if accompanied by an adult and over the age of 12 it is totally safe to try this out with groups of friends).

Funcable – Testing your limits

The name says it all: this experience will offer you the much-needed fun you were seeking for. It’s pretty simple, but the most genius of things are usually the simplest as well. There is a platform built in the middle of the woods, 40 m in height. On the top, the experts from Dinant will secure you after which all there will be left to do is jump. Somehow, we all know with our minds that nothing bad will happen to us, but every time we experience something similar, our world view clashes, adrenaline rushes to every fiber of our being and we get to feel the primal part of our souls. Yes, the free-fall sensation will do this to you!

Deathride – Fly over the rocky Amphitheatre

Don’t get fooled by the name. This is also a perfectly safe option, but basically it is the bigger brother of the Funcable, where the feeling of free-falling gets extended and you will be gliding over a rock amphitheater and move on the line with high speed. This sensation is pretty close to what it feels like to be flying, so if you always wanted to find out how it feels to be weightless, this will be the perfect opportunity. The surrounding forest, rocks and cliffs make this an exquisite event, elevating it from a simple thrill ride to a memorable moment in your life: flying over The Ardennes region.

Via Vita – A walk to truly remember see The Ardennes from high above

This idea is truly unique, being the only one of its kind in the entirety of Belgium. Dinant evasion basically built an entire obstacles course on a rock wall, with a height of 60 m. This wouldn’t be such a big deal, but as the name suggests, this special road will give you life! You and your group will be put to the test by having to cross various obstacles and ropes, jump from platform to platform and cross rock passages. This sounds easy in theory, but at that height your brain will play tricks on you and despite it all being 100% safe, you will have battle yourself first and foremost if you would like to make it through to the other side, without giving up on the halfway mark.

The XL Swing – Panorama in full view

This one is for anyone who might think the Funcable and the Deathride wouldn’t satisfy their thirst for adventure. This will kick your adrenaline levels trough the roof, by jumping from the height of 60 meters. Don’t forget to look around first, because this panorama is worth to be taken in: the rocky amphitheater and the valley of the river Meuse, burning themselves into your mind for the rest of your life. After jumping, the rope system will sway you like a pendulum, side to side, but by this time your senses will be so heightened the air on your face will feel like the caressing hands of nature.

Treasure Hunt Hiking – Take part in a fairytale hiking trip

The truth is that if you haven’t experienced a treasure hunt in your entire life before, you are missing out on some great fun. Granted, this experience is only available for groups of at least 20 people, but if you friend or family group isn’t that numerous, you can always find friendly faces in The Vallée les Etoiles holiday park, so involving your neighbors is not a bad move actually. You will be hiking through an adventure park alongside the riverbanks of the river Meuse, searching for the hidden treasure. The story is one of fiction mixed with reality, played out by real actors who will be there in set points to help you along your path and win the game by finding your prize. Obviously hiking and being part of the surrounding natural landscape is reward enough but winning is a welcome bonus!

Initiation to nature – Relearn how to live in harmony

This is a calmer activity, giving you the option to unwind after all the adrenaline rush and active participation you might have chosen. With this option, you will be able to discover the exceptional flora and fauna present on the 17 hectares of the adventure site. This is a guided walk, where you will discover edible wild plants, condiments, aromatic and medicinal greeneries. A walk to make you enjoy a time where all this knowledge has been readily accessible to us, mixed with geology, explanations about the origins of various rock formations, limestones and much more. This isn’t simply an educational walk, it has to be viewed as initiation into something greater than yourself, a wisdom you might be able to use in your future adventures.

Cave Dwelling – Discover what lies beneath Europe

Caves are one of the few mysteries left undiscovered here on earth. Most of the times we can only see a small part of what they really represent, because no human has ever ventured past a certain part and maybe never should. The Haquin Hole and the Church Hole in Lustin can be visited and explored with the help of guides such as the ones at Dinant evasion. You can choose from between the “discovery” type of adventure or the “sports” type, depending on what you are looking for. The sports type also offers you the opportunity of descending with a harness, so if you aren’t sick of swings, jumping from a height of 60 meters and gliding over crevasses, well this is the adventure for you!

The perfect backdrop for all these ideas is a calm holiday park, like Vallée les Etoiles, equipped to host any number of people, from duos to groups of 12 people in a single house. The Norvegian style homes are the ideal place to rest after a long day of adventuring, so kick back after your dose of adrenaline and beauty, drink a nice local beer and enjoy the company of the friends you have chosen to experience all of this with.