WILDERNESS TRAINING CARPATHIANS | MARCH AND OCTOBER 2027
The wilderness as your classroom
The story of
this expedition
From Belgium you fly to Bucharest, and from there we drive together into the mountains, to the edge of the forest. Packs go on and we walk into the pines. For nine days we live and work in country where wolves and bears are still at home, on bare ridges up to 2,000 metres, far from roads and villages.
This is a training, not an expedition you simply follow. You learn to navigate by map and compass, at night too, when you can no longer see a thing. You build anchors, set up belays and abseil down a rock face yourself. You stabilise a casualty in rough terrain and carry out an evacuation with whatever you have on you. Every evening you set up a bivouac, purify your water and cook over an open fire.
At times you head out as a pair, without an expedition leader. Then all that counts is what you have learned: staying calm, making the call and taking responsibility. The week is for people who want to become an expedition leader and learn the craft, and for people who want to push past their comfort zone and come back more sure of themselves.
Night navigation
finding your way without sightBy day you learn to read the land: the shape of a ridge, the line of a valley, the point where the forest ends. At night all of that disappears and you are left with your map, your compass and your headtorch. You set a bearing, count your paces and keep track of where you are, even when the mist comes in. In the months before departure you practise the basics; in the Carpathians you do it yourself, first with an expedition leader beside you and later as a pair.
Rope and rescue
acting when things go wrongOn the limestone walls you learn to build anchors and set up belays, until you can abseil a rock face correctly and on your own. Then it gets serious: in an exercise, someone falls and cannot go on. You learn to stabilise a casualty in rough terrain, give first aid with limited means and, together with your partner, carry out an evacuation with what you have on you. You make the decisions, calmly and quickly. It is the hardest part of the week, and the most useful.
Bivouac and field logistics
looking after a groupEvery evening you find a place for the night and set up a bivouac with as little gear as possible, under the stars or under a tarp when it rains. You purify water from mountain streams, light a fire and cook for the group. You learn to spread your food and energy over the days and to stay warm when it freezes at night. Whatever you need, you carry yourself. That way you learn to look after not just yourself, but everyone around the fire.
What makes this
expedition unique?
Map and compass
Navigating trackless terrain, at night and in the mist.
On the rock
Building anchors, setting up belays and abseiling a rock face on your own.
Around the fire
Cooking over an open fire and sleeping under the stars, in wolf and bear country.
Out as a pair
Stretches without an expedition leader, where you make the calls with what you have learned.
In the Carpathians you learn by doing it yourself, and often by getting it wrong first. Navigating at night or evacuating someone feels clumsy the first time, and that is how it should be. What counts is that you stay calm, make a decision and carry it out with your partner. It is what we ask of our own expedition leaders too.Koen De LeeuwFounder and expedition leader, known from De Expeditie on PlayParacommando · Wilderness First Responder Meet Koen
De Expeditie
De Tijd
Humo
Play MediaEverything about
Wilderness Training: Carpathians
Route, preparation, guidance, safety and price, together in one document.
Download the presentation PDF, straight to your device after leaving your email address.How we
work
Self-sufficient,
never alone
Once we walk into the forest, we rely on ourselves. We purify water from mountain streams, cook over an open fire and set up a bivouac every evening with as little gear as possible, under the stars or under a tarp.
You do it not just for yourself: you learn to keep the whole group fed, watered and safely sheltered, with only what you carry.
Safety and
guidance
Safety is our top priority. Our X Guides hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate and have experience in rough terrain. They always carry two separate means of satellite communication, and we work with an evacuation plan and a risk analysis reviewed by a team of experts.
Someone at our basecamp in Belgium can be reached day and night.
Preparation
of 3 to 6 months
The programme starts after you sign up with a kick off. Monthly group training sessions and a technical training follow, with a final check two weeks before departure.
Everything
at a glance
All prices are per person and exclude flights. We book flights together with you during the preparation programme.
- Departure
- 20/03 to 28/03/2027 (fully booked) 16/10 to 24/10/2027
- Duration
- 9 days
- Level
- Challenge4/5
- Group
- from 12 participants
- Price
- €3,950 ppIncl. preparation programme
Included
- Full preparation programme of 3 to 6 months
- Professional X Guides
- All technical training equipment
- Backpack, sleeping bag and sleep setup
- Survival gear, navigation gear, Jetboils and water filters
- Satellite phone and first aid kit
- All overnight stays
- All meals during the expedition
- All local transport
- Local activities
- All local tips
Not included
- Flights
- Transport to and from the airport
- Personal clothing (tops, bottoms, footwear)
- Insurance (cancellation, search and rescue, medical cover abroad)
For the past ten years, there wasn't a single day when I didn't think about my company. During this challenging expedition, I was finally able to switch off completely. I learned to put things in perspective again. Back home, I immediately felt the impact: more clarity, better sleep and more peace of mind.
Frequently asked questions
See all questionsHow do I get to the Romanian Carpathians?
You fly from Belgium to Bucharest. From there we drive into the mountains together as a group, to the starting point at the edge of the forest. Local transport is included. We book flights with you during the preparation programme; they are invoiced separately.
What is the weather like in the Carpathians in October?
Expect temperatures between minus 5 and plus 10 degrees. On the ridges it can freeze at night, and the weather can change quickly, with wind, rain or mist. You get a kit list built on layers, which we go through together at the kick off. The March 2027 departure is fully booked.
Are there bears in the Carpathians, and how safe is it?
Yes. Brown bears and wolves live in the Romanian Carpathians, and we move through their territory. We carry bear spray, and choosing a safe place to sleep and storing your food properly are part of what you learn. Safety is our top priority: our X Guides hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate, we carry satellite communication and we work with an evacuation plan and fixed safety procedures.
How hard is the wilderness training?
The level is Challenge (4/5). You are on the move for long days in trackless terrain, up to 2,000 metres, carrying everything you need. On top of that come night navigation, rope work and rescue exercises. You do not need to be an elite athlete, but you do need to be willing to train seriously in the months before departure.
Do I need survival or bushcraft experience?
No. Mindset matters more than experience. During the preparation programme you get a technical training and can join the monthly group trainings. In the Carpathians you learn the rest in the field, from map and compass to rope work and first aid.
Where do we sleep during the training?
Outside, without a tent. Every evening you set up a bivouac with the group, under the stars or under a tarp when it rains. Element X provides your backpack and sleeping bag, which you receive before departure.
Will this training make me an expedition leader at Element X?
Not automatically. For candidate X Guides, this training is the first step of the selection process, after the intake form and an introductory conversation. Taking part is no guarantee of a place as an X Guide. What you do take home: the techniques our own expedition leaders use and an honest picture of your own limits.
What is included and what is not?
Included: the preparation programme of 3 to 6 months, professional X Guides, all technical and survival gear, backpack, sleeping bag and sleep setup, all overnight stays, all meals during the expedition, all local transport, local activities and tips. Not included: flights, transport to and from the airport, personal clothing and insurance. The price is €3,950 per person, excluding flights.
Other expeditions
View all expeditions
Sign up for
expedition updates
Stay one step ahead of the adventure. Receive the latest news and exclusive information about our expeditions in the wilderness.
Unsubscribe whenever you like. Read our privacy policy.
Your training in the Carpathians
starts with a conversation
Your preparation is included and starts 3 to 6 months before departure.