Wild Camping and Winter Hikes in the French Mountains

Come explore the mountains of southern France with us as we spend the week wild camping in our wooden campervan Bilbo! In this episode of our van life adventures, we discover rugged limestone peaks, hike through trails steeped in folklore and history, and park our home in dreamy spots surrounded by pines and olive groves. Along the way, we learn about the region’s connection to Van Gogh and discover hidden gems that make the Alpilles a truly magical destination 🌲⛰️ ➢ THE 7 LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES 1. Plan Ahead – Familiarise yourself with regulations and pack to minimise waste 2. Travel & Camp Lightly – Stick to trails and camp on durable surfaces 3. Dispose of waste properly or take it back home with you 4. Leave what you find to preserve nature and cultural features 5. Minimise campfires by using stoves or fire rings 6. Respect wildlife – Observe from a distance and never feed animals. 7. Be considerate of others by respecting people's space and avoiding noise ➢ Watch Our Other Van Life Adventures In Europe: • Van Life Spring Reset By a Remote Lake in ... ➢ Join our Members' Community to Support Our Channel and Enjoy Extra Content: / @roots-in-the-wild ➢ Links to the Hikes We Did in this Video: » Pas de la Figuière: https://alltrails.pxf.io/raGyeG » Rocher des Deux Trous: https://alltrails.pxf.io/MA5VkP » Les Baux-de-Provence: https://alltrails.pxf.io/4GJAL1 » Lac du Peirou & Grotte de Peirou: https://alltrails.pxf.io/2ajegD ➢ Follow along for daily adventures! / jessicakleczka Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Who We Are 01:16 Cooking Breakfast in the Van 02:40 Our Plans for the Week 04:15 Hiking Pas de la Figuiére 07:20 Easy Van Air Fryer Dinner 08:50 Foraging Pine Needles 10:25 Living With Chronic Illness 13:11 Making Pine Needle Tea 15:03 Hiking Rocher de Deux Trous 18:25 Van Gogh and the Alpilles 19:39 Slow Morning in the Van 21:22 Hiking Le Baux de Provence 23:36 Waking Up in the Mountains 26:08 Hiking Lac du Peirou 27:38 Exploring a Hidden Cave 30:12 Van Life Chores 31:05 Rating the Alpilles ➢ WHO WE ARE We’re Jessica, Risi, and Heidi – a trio exploring Europe as digital nomads, living a minimalist lifestyle in our handcrafted wooden van conversion “Bilbo.” A year ago we left behind our old lives working 9-5 for a life of freedom and full-time travel. We converted our second hand van using sustainable materials like reclaimed wood, linen and hemp to create an eco-friendly cottage on wheels for our adventures. Since then, we've been doing van life in Europe in the slow lane, reconnecting with nature through foraging and learning more about European folklore 🚌