From legal wild bivouacking in the Ardennes forests to glamping tents on the banks of the Semois, discover every option, Walloon regulations and the best campsites. Dogs welcome free of charge.
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The Belgian Ardennes massif is home to one of the most diverse camping offers in Western Europe: from a bare pitch at €11 on the banks of the Semois to panoramic bubbles at €320/night for nocturnal stargazing. The sector has undergone a profound structural shift, with the traditional grassy pitch giving way to the engineering of luxury glamping.
At the same time, the Walloon Region carefully manages anthropogenic pressure through strict regulations: an absolute ban on wild camping, an official network of DNF bivouac areas, caravanning permits and sustainability labels (Green Key, Camping Qualité).
"The profitability of Ardennes camping no longer lies in the plastic shell, but in the ability to orchestrate a memorable experience at the heart of a sumptuous yet fragile forest ecosystem."
Our establishment
On the Semois · Vresse-sur-Semois · Dogs welcome free · Direct kayak access
In pictures
All accommodation types
From free forest bivouac to a private lodge with spa, the Ardennes covers the full spectrum of outdoor accommodation.
From €11/night
The backbone of the Ardennes summer economy. Grassy pitches on the banks of the Semois or Ourthe, with electric hook-ups. 32 establishments certified Camping Qualité Wallonie.
From €36/person/night
High-end canvas tents on wooden floors with made-up beds, electrical sockets and shared kitchen. Durbuy Greenfields offers design modules with daily live concerts. Backpackers Camp at Bohan (~€100/night).
Free
Network of marked areas for walkers and cyclists only. Maximum one night, tent pitching 4pm–10am, zero waste. QR code booking mandatory at most sites.
€109 – €320+ / night
Transparent 360° bubbles for stargazing, geodesic domes with a royal breakfast, eco-built cabins with a private spa. Example: "Au Clair de ma Bulle" in Marche-en-Famenne (€207/night). Very high demand – book several months in advance.
Variable rates · Family
Native American tipis at Camping Le Canada (Chiny-sur-Semois) for a fun family narrative experience. Glamping in the heart of the Han-sur-Lesse wildlife park in Rochefort. A unique immersive experience combining accommodation and wild animal watching.
Price transparency
Tent / caravan
Bare pitch
€11/night
Pre-pitched safari tent
Backpackers Camp
€100/night
Durbuy Greenfields
Glamping Cocoon
€36/p./night
1
Durbuy Greenfields
Dreamlodge module
€65/p./night
Marche-en-Famenne
Geodesic dome
€170/night
Au Clair de ma Bulle
Transparent bubble
€207/night
Vresse, Namur, Huy
Treehouse / Lodge
€150/night
Camping Le Canada – Chiny
Native American tipi
On request
* Indicative rates for 2026. Booking several weeks in advance is recommended for unusual accommodation, particularly July–August.
Walloon regulations
In the face of a total ban on wild camping, the DNF has developed a network of official areas. Access is a privilege subject to strict compliance with the "Bivouac Code".
Wild camping throughout Walloon territory (risk of fire, pollution, habitat degradation). Motorised vehicles, vans, motorhomes and rooftop tents at DNF bivouac areas. Cutting live wood or burning waste.
Bivouac at official DNF areas, reserved for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Maximum one night per area. Tent pitching between 4pm and 10am. Fire only in designated fire pits, using dead wood from the ground.
Prior booking via QR code (limited capacity). Leave with all your waste (no bins on site). During dry spells, all fires and gas stoves may be banned by local authority order.
| Itinerary zone | Authority | Available areas | Associated route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hautes Fagnes | Hautes Fagnes-Eifel Natural Park (DNF) | 3 areas (Bergerie, Gileppe, Soor) | Micro-adventure loops ~20 km |
| Great Forest of Saint-Hubert | Walloon Forest Massif (DNF) | 3 areas spread over 78 km | Lesse–Lomme hike 3–4 days |
| Escapardenne / Eislek Trail | Deux Ourthes Natural Park | 5 exclusive campsites | Transnational trail – Houffalize–Nadrin stage 23.4 km |
| Semois Valley | Semois Valley National Park | Under development 2026 | Packraft + multi-day bivouac on the Semois |
Source: DNF – Department of Nature and Forests, Natural Parks of Wallonia, Semois Valley National Park.
Consult the relevant Natural Park website. Scan the QR code on the forest entrance sign to check availability (capacity often limited to 3–5 tents). Booking is mandatory at most areas.
Degraded oceanic biome: 4-season tent, sleeping bag rated to comfort -5°C (temperature swings of up to 19°C between day and night), insulating mat R-value ≥ 3, GORE-TEX boots, waterproof jacket, survival blanket.
Absolutely avoid topographic hollows (flood basins) and positions under large trees (falling branches, post-rain drip). Forest edge is ideal. Use a footprint slightly smaller than the tent.
Set up only after 4pm (or sunset). Pack up and leave before 10am. Only one night per area. Sleep in the foetal position to retain the warmth of your sleeping bag (reduces compression on the back).
No bins on site: take everything with you. Douse embers thoroughly with water. Leave the area in a visibly pristine state. Check that no personal items have been forgotten.
Any permanent tourist installation requires a caravanning permit (decree of 4 March 1991) or a CGT authorisation (Walloon Tourism Code, art. D202). This authorisation exempts from the need for a separate planning permit. Exception: recognised youth groups, up to 60 days/year without a permit.
Quality guarantees
Green Key (La Clef Verte)
International sustainable tourism label present in 90+ countries (3,000+ establishments). In the Ardennes: strict requirements on water management (pressure reducers, rainwater harvesting), energy (LED, renewables), waste (sorting, recovery) and responsible purchasing (short supply chains). In the Walloon Ardennes: Center Parcs Les Ardennes (Vielsalm), Vayamundo (Houffalize), Camping Sandaya Parc La Clusure (Bure).
3,000+ establishments worldwide · Absolute referenceCamping Qualité Wallonie
Over 25 years in existence. Assessment grid of 300+ criteria checked by independent mystery inspections. Covers: accuracy of information, quality of welcome, sanitary cleanliness, landscape integration. Consumer Trophies integrated for validation by holidaymakers themselves. 32 certified campsites in Wallonia including Huttopia Semois (Mouzaive), Le Val de l'Aisne (Blier, 1,100+ positive reviews), Le Roptai (Ave-et-Auffe).
32 certified Walloon campsitesBase camp – Outdoor activities
Ardennes camping is no longer an end in itself – it is a strategic base camp for exploring the territory through an outdoor trio.
Nodal hub at Vresse-sur-Semois: 49 marked circuits (5.65 km – 23.4 km, elevation gain up to 658 m). Orchimont loop, Table des Fées, Riverside Walk. Transnational GR trails including the Escapardenne Eislek Trail.
49 circuits available →Houffalize, Belgian MTB capital (XC World Cup). Roc d'Ardenne, Grand Raid Godefroy in Bouillon. Ourthe & Bike (165 km, Bienvenue Vélo network). Intense loops around Vresse: Roc la Tour, Pont Saint-Lambert (31.7 km, D+ 460 m).
Roc d'Ardenne · HouffalizeThe Semois is the lifeblood of Ardennes water tourism. Routes of 7–27 km from Chiny, Vresse, Alle. Multi-day packraft combining ridge hiking + bivouac + river descent. Some campsites manage their own boat fleet.
Book a kayak →Risks & Precautions
Main health risk (Ixodes ricinus, active from 6°C). Always wear long trousers tucked into socks. Carry out a full body check at the end of the day. Remove mechanically only (tick remover without twisting) – never use ether, oil or flame. See a doctor if a ring-shaped redness appears in the following days.
Ardennes temperature swings: -5°C on spring nights, 5°C at night in mid-August. Sleep in the foetal position (reduces sleeping bag compression), wear a hat (30% of heat loss is through the head). Never use a gas stove inside a tent (fatal CO risk). In summer: manage heat stroke (gradual cooling, call 112).
High humidity even in summer. Never pitch a tent in a topographic hollow (flooding) or under large trees (dripping + falling branches). The footprint must be smaller than the tent to avoid a hydraulic funnel effect. GORE-TEX boots with maintained DWR treatment.
Intensive driven hunts from October to late January (9am–12pm and 2pm–5pm). Red zone = confirmed hunt in progress: strictly forbidden to enter. Orange zone = hunting possible: fluorescent clothing mandatory, never leave marked forest paths. Check official calendars before any autumn stay.
Intensive hunting ramps up from October to late January. Before any autumn or winter camping or bivouac, consult the official Regional Natural Park calendars.
🔴 RED Zone
Confirmed driven hunt – access totally forbidden that day
🟠 ORANGE Zone
Hunting possible – fluorescent clothing, marked paths only
🟢 FREE Zone
No hunting activity planned – normal access
Frequently asked questions
No. The Walloon Region formally prohibits wild camping throughout its territory. However, there is an official network of bivouac areas developed by the DNF (Department of Nature and Forests), reserved for walkers and cyclists. Commercial campsites require a caravanning permit or a CGT authorisation.
The main legal bivouac zones are: the 3 areas in the Hautes Fagnes (Bergerie, Gileppe, Soor), the 78 km Lesse–Lomme loop in the Great Forest of Saint-Hubert (3 areas), the 5 sites on the Escapardenne Eislek Trail, and the future areas of the Semois Valley National Park. Booking via QR code on the forest entrance signs.
Rates range from €11/night (bare pitch at a classic campsite, e.g. Camping Semois Ardenne) to €320+/night for high-end unusual accommodation (cabins with spa). Glamping (safari tents, Cocoon) is between €36 and €100/night. DNF bivouac areas are free.
It is at the discretion of each establishment. Our Camping Semois Ardenne welcomes dogs free of charge 365 days a year. In DNF bivouac areas, dogs are in principle tolerated but must be kept on a lead in Natura 2000 zones. Themed glamping estates often have restrictions. Check before booking.
DNF bivouac code: (1) only on official signposted areas; (2) non-motorised travel only – no motorised vehicles; (3) one night maximum per area; (4) tent pitching between 4pm and 10am; (5) fire only in dedicated fire pits, dead wood from the ground only; (6) zero waste – take everything with you; (7) booking via QR code mandatory at most areas.
Ticks (Ixodes ricinus) are active from 6°C, peak danger at 20°C. Measures: long trousers in socks, long sleeves, walk in the centre of trails. Full body check at the end of the day. If bitten: mechanical removal only with a tick remover (no twisting) – never use ether, oil or flame. See a doctor if a ring-shaped redness appears (sign of Lyme disease).
A label with over 25 years of existence, assessed on 300+ criteria (independent mystery inspections). Covers quality of welcome, cleanliness, landscape integration. 32 certified campsites in Wallonia including Huttopia Semois (Mouzaive), Le Val de l'Aisne (Blier, 1,100+ reviews), Le Roptai (Ave-et-Auffe). The Green Key simultaneously certifies ecological efforts (water, energy, waste).
Demanding oceanic biome: 4-season tent with fly sheet, sleeping bag comfort rating minimum -5°C, insulating mat (R-value ≥ 3), waterproof GORE-TEX hiking boots (never sandals), waterproof jacket, footprint (slightly smaller than the tent), gold/silver survival blanket, first aid kit with tick remover and saline solution, filtered water bottle.
Yes, at commercial campsites with a caravanning permit. Formally prohibited at DNF bivouac areas (reserved for non-motorised travel). Wild overnight parking in forests is illegal. Motorhome service areas exist in Durbuy, La Roche, Bouillon and Vresse-sur-Semois.
Ardennes campsites serve as a base camp for an outdoor trio: hiking (49 circuits in Vresse, GR Escapardenne), mountain biking and gravel (Houffalize MTB capital, Roc d'Ardenne in Bouillon, Ourthe & Bike 165 km), and kayaking/packrafting on the Semois (7–27 km, from €26). Multi-day micro-adventures combining all three disciplines are growing strongly.
🏕️
Our riverside Semois campsite welcomes you in Vresse-sur-Semois: from €11/night, direct kayak access, dogs welcome free 365 days a year.
Rated 4.6/5 based on 1,282 reviews
« A perfect family day on the Semois. The welcome at Kayak Semois Ardenne is warm, the equipment is spotless (the kayaks are modern and clean), and the free shuttle system is superbly organised. A must-visit in the Ardennes! »
« Beautiful kayak trip on the Semois starting from Vresse! Very friendly staff and excellent shuttle service. The riverside campsites along the Semois are also a must for nature lovers. »
« Superb 11 km kayak descent starting from Alle-sur-Semois. The wild nature of the Ardennes is magnificent in the spring sunshine. Very competitive prices compared to the competition. We'll be back! »
« Wonderful experience! The kayak tour on the Semois was perfectly organised. The team is very helpful and speaks good German. The scenery of the Belgian Ardennes is simply breathtaking. »
« Excellent kayak rental service and great campsite on the banks of the Semois. The prices are very fair and the atmosphere is friendly and family-oriented. The little terrace bar is perfect for a refreshing drink after the effort. »
« A fantastic last-minute welcome even though we hadn't booked in the middle of August. Life jackets and waterproof barrels are provided free of charge. Very safe descents, ideal with children! »
« Top-tier kayak rental on the Semois river. Extremely friendly staff, well-maintained kayaks, and a reliable shuttle. The viewpoints along the river are absolutely stunning. Highly recommend this local business! »