Mountain navigation course: learn to read the terrain
Val d'Aran, Pyrenees
Learn to read a map, use a compass, plan a route and make simple decisions when the terrain or the weather changes.
Find out more
Guided course
A practical one-day introduction to reading the environment and the essential woodland skills, with no overnight stay.
Course summary
Introduction to bushcraft: skills for living in the forest
A practical one-day introduction to reading the environment and the essential skills for getting around nature with more confidence and respect. It is the first level of our bushcraft pathway: no overnight stay, designed for starting from scratch with an AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader.

Before you sign up

Who will be with you on this course
Javier approaches the introduction to bushcraft as a day of real practice, not textbook theory: each participant builds their own shelter, takes part in lighting the fire and practises reading the environment with their own hands.
The low-impact principle is not an add-on at the end of the course but the yardstick for every decision on the ground: where to camp, which resources to use and how to leave the place exactly as you found it.
Course highlights
Course content
Before you come
What to bring. Clothes you don't mind getting dirty, sturdy closed footwear, a water bottle and a warm layer. The leader provides the specific bushcraft equipment.
Prerequisites. None. This is exactly the course designed for starting from scratch.
AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader throughout the day.
Mountain leaderSpecific equipment shared during the course.
Bushcraft equipmentTo the meeting point.
TransportUnless agreed otherwise when you book.
FoodYour own clothing and footwear.
Personal equipmentFrequently asked questions
Yes, the content is adapted to the age and experience of the group.
We let you know when we confirm the date, depending on what you already have and what the leader provides.
Yes, it is precisely the beginners' course designed for starting from scratch.
Yes, it is the natural next step if you want to go deeper and add the night in an unstaffed hut.
One full day, with no overnight stay.
An AEGM / UIMLA-qualified Ecotour mountain leader.
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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