Guided course
Two days to go deeper into bushcraft, with a night of real self-reliance in an unstaffed mountain hut.
Course summary
Advanced bushcraft course in the Pyrenees
Two days to build on the skills from the beginners' course, sleeping in an unstaffed mountain hut: no warden, no booking and no meals service. More time for real practice and a night of genuine self-reliance, not a hotel with a view. It is the second level of our bushcraft pathway, led by an AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader.
Before you sign up
Who will be with you on this course
At the advanced level, Javier stops giving step-by-step instructions and starts asking for decisions: where to set up, how much firewood to gather before dark, what to bring for the night in the unstaffed hut. It is the difference between repeating a technique and showing you have mastered it.
The night in the unstaffed hut is not a token extra: it is the part of the course where you find out, on the ground and without a safety net, whether you have really absorbed the self-reliance worked on the first day.
How it works
DAY 1
Arrival in the area and setting up camp. We review and go deeper into the techniques from the beginners' course (natural shelter, fire, reading the environment) and get everything ready to spend the night in the unstaffed hut.
DAY 2
Extra practice on the ground and planning for an outing of more than one day: organising equipment, managing time and real self-reliance. We pack up camp before heading down.
Course highlights
Real self-reliance
The night in the unstaffed hut really tests what you have learned: no meals service, no bedding, no signal.
Twice the practice
Two full days to go deeper into each technique from the beginners' level, not just repeat it.
Planning beyond a single day
You leave knowing how to organise equipment and timings for a multi-day outing, not just a single day.
Course content
Before you come
What to bring. Sleeping bag, sleeping mat and food for the night and the following day, since an unstaffed hut has no meals service or bedding. The rest is the same as for the beginners' course; we give you the exact list when we confirm the date and the specific hut.
Prerequisites. Recommended, though not compulsory, to have done the beginners' course or to have a basic grounding in bushcraft.
AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader for both days.
Mountain leaderSpecific equipment shared during the course.
Bushcraft equipmentCoordination of the logistics for the chosen unstaffed hut.
Unstaffed hut logisticsTo the meeting point.
TransportYour own sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
Overnight equipmentFor the night and the second day.
FoodYour own clothing and footwear.
Personal equipmentFrequently asked questions
It is recommended but not compulsory. If you already have a basic grounding, we assess it when we confirm the group.
It is a mountain building with no warden and no booking, free and open to everyone, with no meals service or bedding. You bring your own sleeping bag, sleeping mat and food for the night; we give you the exact list when we confirm the date and the specific hut.
No, an unstaffed hut has no accommodation cost. What you pay for is the course with the leader, not the overnight stay.
It is a private group course. The maximum number of participants is agreed when you book.
All year round, although the specific unstaffed hut and the content are adapted to the area and the season.
Two days with one night in an unstaffed mountain hut.
Reviews
Rut V2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
A wonderful experience in a luxury setting. We got in touch with Javi after finding him online and it was a great decision. He's a young guy, passionate about his work and about nature, and it shows. He explained so many things about the rut and the surroundings, and brought samples to show us how animals are tracked, always with respect and without disturbing their habitat. He also took loads of souvenir photos, both of us and of the animals, which we really appreciated. I loved the equipment he uses: he has a screen that attaches to the camera, so we could all enjoy the views without needing telescopes. Thank you so much, Javi, for the experience. You're a truly lovely person.
M. Villar (Proska)2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
Without a doubt an unforgettable experience. Several companies offer the rut, but not like this one: his knowledge of the subject, together with the technology he uses, guarantees a complete outing and lets you enjoy the activity to the fullest. 100% recommended
Loisian2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
We can only thank Javi for our outing: the day before the weather was awful and he advised us to postpone it, so we wouldn't climb up and not see the rut. The next day was wonderful, the views beautiful, and thanks to his experience and his technology we could see everything as if we were at the cinema. If we come back, we'll do it again. 100% recommended
Juanma Ferrer Navarro4 weeks ago
Red deer rut
A really good person who knows the Val d'Aran very well. We had a great morning listening to and watching the rut with Javier, who will be your guide. On top of that, you learn a lot about the local flora and fauna of Aran.
José Luis Durán12 months ago
Red deer rut
With Ecotour we did two organised rut outings last September. Although in the morning we didn't manage to see any deer (because, unfortunately, the wild boar hunt was on), the experience, both the trekking + observation outing and the afternoon observation, was great. Javier is a great professional who radiates friendliness and passion for his work, and he passes that on in everything he explains. I think we couldn't have found a better guide. A completely recommended experience with him. To repeat another year!
Joan Palomer12 months ago
Red deer rut
We went to see the rut with two little girls, and with Javi it was great fun and he was very attentive. For our next outing in the area, we'll definitely hire him.
Montse Coca1 year ago
Red deer rut
A great afternoon: Javi took us to an area where we could see and hear the rut, treated us to a small snack of local produce and told us about the life of the deer, the differences between antlers… You can tell he's passionate about his work. Thanks to the camera and lens he uses we could see them really well and watch their behaviour during the mating season. A great experience, highly recommended.
Antonio disa1 year ago
Red deer rut
We did an outing to look for deer and listen to the rut. Javi is a very good guide, a person with a huge knowledge of the mountains and a great photography enthusiast. An experience to repeat.
sonia Jiménez2 months ago
Rafting
⭐⭐⭐⭐ An unforgettable week in the Val d'Aran with Ecotour (Javi) We've just spent a week's holiday in the Val d'Aran organised by Ecotour, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The days were full of adventure, nature, excitement and fun. We'd especially like to highlight Javi, who was much more than a guide. His huge knowledge of the area, the wildlife, the plants and the history of the valley gave every activity extra value. You can tell he's a true nature lover and knows how to pass that passion on to the people with him. During the week we did e-bike rides, rafting, canyoning, a spectacular trek in Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park with the climb up to Portarró, and we also visited some of the prettiest villages in the Val d'Aran. One of the most special moments was being able to see such emblematic species as the Apollo butterfly, a protected species that is increasingly hard to find. If we had to find a "but", it would only be the rafting, which surprised us least compared with the rest. Even so, we enjoyed the whole experience a lot. We'd also like to thank Javi for his great tips on where to eat in Vielha. He recommended restaurants with excellent value for money, where we could enjoy the valley's food without spending more than we needed to. All in all, a totally recommended experience for anyone who wants to discover the Val d'Aran in a different, active and authentic way. Thank you, Javi, for making this holiday such a special memory. We'll definitely be back!
PAU RODRIGO9 months ago
Snowshoeing
Excellent experience with Javi on a snowshoe route. Vast knowledge about everything to do with the mountains. Going with him guarantees you'll enjoy your adventure 200% and come back with a smile. He works really hard. The best guide I've ever met. See you soon, Javi. Take care 👋👋👋
Jose Manuel Luque Rodriguez11 months ago
Snowshoeing
More than a guide, a friend!! His level of knowledge about the mountains, snow, animals and everything related to the mountains is exceptional. My experience with him on snowshoes: 15 out of 10!! A professional and one of those people who only give... Personally, I didn't meet a guide, I made a friend. Professionally... one of a kind... I'd always recommend him, and I already do. A hug, Javi.
Carlos N1 year ago
Snowshoeing
We did a snowshoe route and the experience was heartwarming. Javi as a guide doesn't just pass on his love of the mountains, he teaches you to love and understand them; on top of that he's one of the group, he's your friend and he cares about every single person in it.
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