Wallonia Expand Ardennes Tourism With New Bivouac Routes in Belgium

Written By: Abhirup Gan

Abhirup Gan

I'm Abhirup Gan, a Mass Communication graduate and digital marketing professional. Driven by a passion for storytelling, I create insightful, research-led content that explores tourism trends, destination stories, and hospitality developments with depth and clarity. Through my writing, I hope to inspire readers to discover not only where to travel, but the stories, cultures, and experiences that make every journey meaningful.

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September 9, 2026 1:16 PM

In Belgium and Wallonia, they are promoting hiking tourism by way of bivouacs in the form of long-distance footpaths and natural forest landscapes for tourists to explore the Ardennes region and the southern countryside through low-impact methods. This is done by offering hiking trails as well as small camping spots within regulated environments for the hikers.

Bivouac Areas Strengthen Long-Distance Hiking

Wallonia’s forest regulations direct overnight stays toward designated bivouac areas. The regional environment authority states that hikers spending a night in the forest should use areas specifically provided for that purpose while preserving the tranquillity of woodland environments.

This framework is creating a network of simple overnight stops along walking routes. The objective is not conventional camping infrastructure but practical locations that allow long-distance walkers to divide journeys into manageable stages.

The Ardennes is particularly suited to this model because its forests, valleys and ridges contain an extensive network of marked hiking routes.

GR16 Adds New Overnight Options

The Semois Valley is becoming an important part of the bivouac network. The Parc national de la Vallée de la Semois is developing bivouac areas along the GR16, a long-distance route following the Semois from its source toward its confluence.

The national park is also developing wildlife observation points, educational trails and themed visitor gateways. These facilities are designed to help visitors experience the landscape while limiting pressure on sensitive natural environments.

For hikers, the combination of marked trails and designated overnight areas supports multi-day journeys through the Semois Valley.

Chimay Forests Expand Walking Experiences

The Chimay area provides another example of designated bivouac infrastructure. Tourisme Wallonie’s route information lists bivouac areas at Crayats in Forges and Bois de Hernoy in Froidchapelle along the regional network around the Great Forest Crossing of Chimay.

These areas give walkers practical stopping points while travelling through wooded landscapes. The surrounding region also connects hiking with cycling routes, heritage attractions and rural communities.

Visitors can therefore build itineraries combining walking stages with village visits, local food and cultural discoveries.

Saint-Hubert Connects Forest and Hiking

Saint-Hubert is another important Ardennes base for outdoor travel. Its surrounding forests provide access to hiking routes and nature-based activities, while designated bivouac areas allow walkers to spend nights closer to long-distance trails.

Tourism infrastructure in the region is increasingly connected to the broader Ardennes walking network. Hikers can combine forest routes with wildlife observation, landscape photography and visits to nearby towns.

The approach also supports travel without requiring visitors to return to urban accommodation after every hiking stage.

Simple Shelters Support Low-Impact Travel

Designated bivouac areas are intentionally different from conventional campsites. The overnight experience focuses on short stays and proximity to trails rather than permanent recreational infrastructure.

Wallonia’s official forest guidance emphasises that bivouac areas are intended for rest and that the tranquillity of forests must be preserved. Camping outside designated areas is not permitted.

This regulated model gives hikers access to overnight nature experiences while directing camping activity toward specific locations.

Ardennes Routes Connect Multiple Destinations

The Ardennes walking network allows visitors to combine several destinations within one journey. Long-distance trails can link forests, rivers, villages and viewpoints, while regional accommodation and transport services provide additional options for travellers who do not wish to camp every night.

The GR16 is particularly suited to linear travel along the Semois. Other marked routes provide access to the wider Ardennes, including areas around Durbuy, La Roche-en-Ardenne, Bouillon and Saint-Hubert.

These connections create opportunities for multi-day walking holidays rather than single-day excursions.

Nature Tourism Gains New Infrastructure

The development of bivouac areas forms part of wider investment in Wallonia’s nature tourism. The Parc national de la Vallée de la Semois is developing visitor facilities including wildlife observation points, educational trails and themed entrances.

The national park’s infrastructure programme includes bivouac areas along the GR16 and facilities intended to help visitors understand the biodiversity and landscapes of the valley.

For tourism operators, multi-day hiking can support demand for food services, local transport, equipment rental and accommodation before or after trail sections.

Chimay Adds Heritage to Forest Travel

The forests around Chimay provide a combination of outdoor and cultural tourism. Walkers can connect wooded trails with the area’s villages, heritage sites and local gastronomy.

The designated bivouac locations around Forges and Froidchapelle provide overnight options for travellers completing longer sections of the regional trail network.

This combination allows visitors to experience the forest as part of a broader destination rather than as an isolated outdoor activity.

Belgium Broadens Its Hiking Tourism Offer

The bivouac system designed for Wallonia contributes to the development of long-distance hiking as part of the Belgian nature tourism industry. Such regions as the Ardennes, Semois Valley, Chimay forests and Saint-Hubert region offer interconnected territories that are good for hikers willing to walk for several days in a row. With the help of a trail network, regulated overnight stay locations and protected landscapes, visitors will be able to get familiar with rural Wallonia following a set itinerary. Hikers will be able to cover large territories without focusing their attention on the urban centres and concentrate on the forests, villages, rivers and other cultural elements of the area while walking. According to the present regional guidelines, overnight stays in the forests have to take place in the bivouac areas, while new bivouacs in the Semois Valley will allow visitors to have overnight stays on the GR16 route.