It was thanks to a partnership between Explore-Share.com and outdoor retailer A.S. Adventure that Belgians Jens and his girlfriend Leen won a hiking and sylvotherapy weekend in Les Vosges, in eastern France, close to Epinal. They have been guided by Eric a local mountain leader (IML) featured on Explore-Share.
Covered in dense forests, the French department of Les Vosges (which borders with Germany) is named after a low mountain range of the same name and is slowly emerging as a popular hiking, trail running and mountain biking destination, just a few hours’ drive away from Luxembourg, Geneva and Brussels.
For Jens and his girlfriend, the weekend away was their first hiking experience and they were happy to share it with their guide and a group of 10 other people, mostly from France. “We walked nice trails and enjoyed breathtaking views along the way. The forest is extremely diverse and it was challenging enough for a first hiking experience,” Jens told Explore-Share.
They started early afternoon on Saturday from Le Rouge Gazon in Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle and hiked for 7km among beautiful autumn landscapes. They spent the night in a lovely lodge owned by very friendly locals. After a delicious dinner and a good night's sleep, they hiked for 11km on the second day, stopping for lunch in a beautiful chalet in the forest.
Jens especially enjoyed the interaction with the rest of the group and the lodge where they stayed, which was very cozy. “Basic in a good way”, he summarized.
The weekend also included an introduction to Sylvotherapy, a practice that aims to enhance a person’s wellbeing through contact with trees and their energy. It provided Jens with the chance to learn about the healing properties of spending time in nature and in close contact with the forest. He said,
“I really enjoyed the calm, the silence, taking a step back to reconnect.”
These hikes in Les Vosges are also possible in winter. During the colder months, Eric guides his friends and clients using snowshoes. The silence and peacefulness of nature covered in snow makes the weekend even more magical.
“We are very happy that this first hiking experience was a success for Jens and Leen. At Explore-Share.com, we strongly believe great outdoor activities enrich peoples’ lives. Our mission is to encourage our users to get out there, fulfil their dreams and live new experiences”, said Gauthier, the company's CEO.
“Our partnership with A.S. Adventure aims at reinforcing A.S. 's corporate mission which is to help its clients to embrace new and amazing outdoor experiences. I’m very excited about this collaboration! Stay tuned, other contests will be organised in the coming months," he added.
