The Packraft Festival

Organized in collab with Mekong, Packrafts made in France 🇫🇷 since 2019 in Crest (26).

 May 2024, from 9th to 12th

 in St-Bonnet-en-Champsaur (05)

Program and online booking at Mekong logo


Gear for H2R workshopsTechnical workshopsSafety workshopsPaddling workshopsSpecific workshops

For the guides, here is your dedicated information page...

Guides information Packraft Festival

LAST AVAILABLE PLACES FOR THE SUPERVISED WORKSHOPS

Beginner level:

  • Paddling : 2 places left on Friday (full day)
  • Safety : 3 places left on Saturday afternoon

Intermediate level:

  • All places are already taken!

Confirmed level:

  • Paddling : 1 place left on Saturday (full day)
  • Safety : 1 place left on Saturday afternoon

To book those last places, please  contact us ASAP!

To join the workshops organized by Hike2River during the Packraft Festival, you will have to come equipped with the equipment listed below.

Gear for H2R workshops

Compulsory individual equipment

  • Your packraft, your inflator and your paddle 🛶
  • Your PFD (ISO 12402-5) and whistle (ISO 12402-8)* 🎽
  • Your white water helmet (NF EN 1385) 👷‍♀️
  • Your dry or wetsuit (water can be cold and immersion will be on the agenda) 🏊
  • Your closed shoes, which hold to the feet, in good condition (no fivefingers, sandals, socks without soles, flip flops, etc.) 🥾
  • Your backpack to carry all your stuff ! 🎒
  • Your funniest "poum-poum short" for paddling 🩳
If you don't have something, we can rent it for you, but our stocks are limited.

Optional individual equipment

  • Your safety rope (floating rope to throw in his bag) 🪢
  • Your knife or rope cutter (mandatory if you take your rope)🔪
  • Your mouflage kit (webbing, pulleys, carabiners, twine) 🪝
  • Any other material you find useful...
Only if you have it !

Hike2River equipment rental

Equipment price 1 >>> 1 day = 10€ ; festival = 25€

  • 4 pieces paddle (Aqua Bound - Shred)
  • Full wetsuit (Wildsuits - 5/4mm) >  Find my size

Equipment price 2 >>> 1 day = 5€ ; festival = 15€

  • Chaussettes néoprène (Hiko - Neo 3.0) > Trouver ma pointure
  • Wet cap (WIP - Winter Neo)
  • PFD (ION - BoosterX)
  • Helmet (WIP - Wipper 2.0)
  • Rope (WWTC - 18m)

If you do not have a poum-poum shorts, we will lend you one...  Style is a free ! 😉

Please contact us  BEFORE the Packraft Festival to book the equipment you want to rent.

All places are indicative and can be changed at any time by your guide according to the conditions of the day.

Technical workshops

Overview

We invite you to work on your packraft navigation technique. These slots are placed in the morning (friday and saturday) and will take place on a short section of river and/or on calm water. You will learn how to use your paddle and your boat to gain comfort in rapids for your level.

Around 3h ​​​​​  25€/pers.

Choose your level...

Where : Champsaur Lake + A part of the Drac (cl. 2)

Workshop Flow:

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 8:55 am for a departure at 9 am towards the lake.
  • Walk to the lake of Champsaur (about 25min), then equipment and inflation of the boat.
  • Discovery of basic paddle strokes in calm water (propulsions, circular)
  • Discovery of basic manoeuvres in white water (Eddy in/out)
  • Return by the Drac (cl. I-II) to be at the campsite around noon

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim 25m and immerse yourself

Where : Champsaur Lake + A part of the Drac (cl. 2)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 8:55 am for a departure at 9 am towards the lake.
  • Walk to the lake of Champsaur (about 25min) then equipment and inflation of the boat.
  • Practice basic paddle strokes in calm water and discovery of advanced paddle strokes 
  • Practice basic manoeuvres in white water and discovery of ferries
  • Retour en navigant sur le Drac (classe I-II) pour être au camping vers midi.

Requirement : 

  • Savoir nager en classe II
  • Be able to hold your paddle properly
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out in class II

Where : rapide du Casset (cl. 3-4, depending on water level) on the Sévraisse

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 8:30 or 9:10 in La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar
  • Walk to the Casset (about 25min) then equipment and inflation of the boat.
  • Improvement of whitewater manoeuvres (Eddy in/out, ferries) in class 3-4
  • Discovery of WW specific maneuvers (boof)
  • Return to the campsite around 12:15.

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim in Class III
  • Be able to hold a straight line over 50m of calm water.
  • Be able to make an eddy in an out on class III
  • Être capable de nager avec son matériel ou de remonter sur son bateau en classe III


Safety workshops

Overview

We invite you to learn safety techniques and attitudes in the river. The workshops are placed in the afternoon (friday and saturday) to avoid the morning freshness (but do not underestimate the freshness of the water).  You will experience different aquatic situations to learn how to deal with the unexpected.

Around 3h ​ ​​​​​​  25€/pers.

Choose your level...

Where : Champsaur Lake + A part of the Drac (cl. 2)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 13:25 for a departure at 13:30 towards the lake.
  • Walk to the lake of Champsaur (about 25min) then equipment and inflation of the boat.
  • Discovery of basic safety manoeuvres in calm water (deep water wet re-entry, help your friend, recovery of equipment)
  • Discovery of ease in white water (active/defensive swimming).
  • Return to the campsite around 4:30 pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim and submerge yourself

Where : End of the Drac classique (cl. III)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Appointment at the reception of the campsite at 13:30 or at 13:45 at the bridge of the guinguette
  • Equipment and inflation of boats on site
  • White water ease improvement (active/defensive swimming).
  • White Water Safety improvement (Wet re-entry, Equipment Recovery)
  • End when everyone cold or around 4:30 pm then return to the campsite around 4:45 pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim and submerge yourself
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out in class II
  • Be able to get back on your boat in calm water

Where : Fin du Drac classique (classe III)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Appointment at the reception of the campsite at 13:30 or at 13:45 at the bridge of the guinguette
  • Equipment and inflation of boats on site
  • Improvement of ease in white water (swimming maneuvers).
  • Deepening of safety manoeuvres in white water (Getting back on the boat, material recovery)
  • Introduction and use of the safety rope
  • End when everybody's cold or around 16h30 to be back to the camp around 16h45

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim in Class III
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out on class III+
  • Be able to get back on your boat in classe II

Paddling workshops

Overview

We propose you to go down a stretch of river during the day (Friday and Saturday; Thursday for experts).  During the navigation, we will give you tips to identify the dangers, determine whether crossing certain rapids is possible or not, the preparation and how to lead a trip!

About 6h ​ ​​​​  50€/pers.

Choose your level...

Where : Drac, upstream of the campsite (cl. II)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 9am
  • Route preparation on map and paper
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Walk to the starting point defined together
  • Equipment and inflation of the boat
  • Interactive briefing and organization of the descent
  • Picnic (not provided) along the descent, or on departure
  • Return by the Drac (Class II) to be at the campsite around 3pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim 25m and immerse yourself

Where : Drac classique, cl. II(3)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 9am
  • Preparation of the day and organization of the shuttle
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Equipment and inflation of the boat at departure
  • Interactive briefing and organization of the descent
  • Taking control of the group and leading in turn
  • Analysis of obstacles encountered
  • Picnic (not provided) along the descent, or on departure
  • Return to the campsite around 3pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim in Class II
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out in class II
  • Be able to swim with your equipment or get back on your boat in class II

Where : Drac Blanc or Souloise (Classe III(4)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 9am
  • Preparation of the day and organization of the shuttle
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Equipment and inflation of the boat at departure
  • Interactive briefing and organization of the descent
  • Taking control of the group and leading in turn
  • Analysis of obstacles encountered
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Return to the campsite around 3pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim in Class III
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out on class III+
  • Be able to swim with your equipment or get back on your boat in class III

Where : Bonne, cl. IV

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 10am
  • Preparation of the day and organization of the shuttle
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Equipment and inflation of the boat at departure
  • Interactive briefing and organization of the descent
  • Taking control of the group and leading in turn
  • Analysis of obstacles encountered
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Return to the campsite around 3pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim in Class III and more
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out on class III and more
  • Be able to swim with your equipment or get back on your boat in class III and more

Specific workshops

Overview

There are also workshops that take you off the usual path:

  • Bikerafting : Shuttle with th bike, then jump on your boat with the bike
  • Tandem Packrafting : A team job, go where you want to go
About 6h ​ ​​​​​  50€/pers.

Choose your practice...

Where : Drac, upstream of the campsite (cl. II)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 10am
  • Route preparation on map and paper
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Bike ride (MTB or Gravel, not provided) to the starting point defined together
  • Equipment, inflating the boat and setting up the bike
  • Briefing and organization of the descent
  • Picnic (not provided) along the descent, or on departure
  • Return by the Drac (Class II) to be at the campsite around 3pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim in Class III
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out in class II
  • Be able to swim with your equipment or get back on your boat in class III
  • Bike level: Accessible to all (gravel or road tracks)

Where : Drac, upstream of the campsite (cl. II)

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 10am
  • Route preparation on map and paper
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Walk to the starting point defined together
  • Equipment and inflation of the boat
  • Interactive briefing and organization of the descent
  • Picnic (not provided) along the descent, or on departure
  • Return by the Drac (Class II) to be at the campsite around 3pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim 25m and immerse yourself

Where : Drac classique, cl. II-III

Workshop Flow : 

  • Meeting at the campsite reception at 10am
  • Preparation of the day and organization of the shuttle
  • Bag preparation and material organization
  • Equipment and inflation of the boat at departure
  • Interactive briefing and organization of the descent
  • Taking control of the group and leading in turn
  • Analysis of obstacles encountered
  • Picnic (not provided) along the descent, or on departure
  • Return to the campsite around 3pm

Requirement : 

  • Be able to swim in Class II
  • Be able to make an eddy in and out in class II
  • Be able to swim with your gear or get back in boat in class II

You still have question to ask us ? Do not hesitate...

Contact-us !