Laurent Bouvet

In Africa the Guinea-Conakry is the country of water. Fed by rivers and waterfalls, the Sousou’s Country in the mountains of Molota, reinvents a fair trade version of trekking, thanks to small welcoming facilities in the villages. Here in an environment of sheltered savannas and rainforests, you can benefit from an introduction tour enriched with bivouacs and canoe trips, to discovering an Africa totally untouched by mass tourism.

Within driving range of Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, the southern Utah national parks offer the ideal setting to experience adventure with a capital A. Striding over the dizzying trails of Zion National Park, playing cowboys in the middle of the fairy chimneys of Bryce Canyon, exploring the legendary Colorado river in a canoe and bivouacking "Into the wild" in the Canyonlands, strolling along Byway 12 - known as one of the most beautiful scenic roads of the United States - or simply admiring the sunset over the Delicate Arch, star of Arches National Park, so many unusual and easily accessible adventures to experience in cinemascope, with your partner or the whole family.

How to sink into the depths of the jungle and climb up to an altitude of 4095 meters above the clouds on a single trip? By visiting the island of Borneo, Malaysia! Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also where one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia is located. This magnificent granite dome overlooking the rainforest has a special characteristic, it is to be flanked by the very latest via ferrata technology, which will enable you to reach the summit via a unique and aerial route. The perfect excuse to explore this island that is evocative of exotic and exciting adventures...

From Siem Reap, a cycling and walking loop in the Angkor region, passing through its sacred mountain of Phnom Kulen, its huge forest and Tonle Sap its feeder lake. The fascinating history of the Khmer people and the builders of Angkor, World Heritage Site, through the iconic temples and picturesque meetings with Cambodian farmers.

The bustling docks of Yangon's port, the impassive smile of the giant golden Buddhas, the funny mini-tractors on the potholed roads, the subtle exchanged winks in the markets, the skilful patience of the Bagan's master varnishers, the gardens on the water of Inle Lake: Burma, now known as Myanmar, leads us at its peaceful pace, far from the gaze of the modern world. Freeze frame in another time, in quiet privacy...

Isolated territory on the southwest coast of Africa, Namibia is a natural wonder far of the common world. From Etosha National Park and its rich and varied fauna, to the Kalahari desert, via the Atlantic coast at Walvis Bay, and the huge red sand dunes of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, here is a spectacular road-trip on the dusty tracks in search of some of the finest sceneries and wildlife of Africa.

Champion of biodiversity and at the forefront of ecotourism, Costa Rica is an ideal base for lovers of outdoor activities. Exploring rural life on Creole horses, trying a rafting expedition in the heart of the rainforest, hiking among the fumaroles in the national parks, Costa Rica is much better than Avatar in 3D!

They scrape, they climb, they rummage, striding over the Mont Blanc massif to collect glittering treasures. Stéphane Dan and his partner Alex Pittin are the worthy heirs to a plurisecular mountain tradition: crystal hunters in the Alps.

More than 2,600 registrants, a 163 km race and almost 10 000 m of positive elevation swallowed night (s) and day (s) whatever it costs, we can say that “la Diagonale des Fous” (the diagonal for madmen) is aptly named! The “Grand Raid de la Reunion” crosses the island at its greatest width through the gorgeous and isolated Cilaos and Mafate cirques. A crazy ultra-trail that requires a total abnegation and only one motivation: to go to the end!

Similar to alpinism or climbing icefalls dry tooling could be qualified as a new highly specialized outdoor sport. The Dover chalk cliffs in the UK are one of the most spectacular sites where climbing without ice axes and crampons, is not an option!

Northern Luzon, Bohol the wild and Cebu the musician: nothing is better than the rhythm of a good old colonial style road-movie in your mind to immerse yourself in the gentle atmosphere of the Philippines. On the road from the South Seas, we overtake the flashing Jeepneys, we climb to the top of the volcanoes, we plunge down into the rice fields, we taste the grilled pork and exotic fruits, we sleep in authentic canopied beds, we explore colonial cities in horse drawn carts barouches, we meet the tiny tarsier with round eyes, we enter the jungle, we dance to the tune of guitars, and on Sunday, we stop off at church or at the karaoke. Terminus "the beach" by the Bohol coral reefs...

Grand To Grand Ultra, the first and only self supported stage footrace in North America. A 6-stage, 7-day foot race of approximately 167 miles (270 km), from the north rim of the Grand Canyon (Arizona) to the summit of the Grand Staircase (Utah), through some of the most beautiful landscapes of the American West. First edition was from September 23 through September 29, 2012. 16 countries were represented, 74 competitors have signed up, 60 have started, and only 48 have finished the course...

Dominica is the most recent and wildest of the Caribbean islands. Still relatively unknown, its lush virgin forests, rivers and waterfalls flow vigorously, preserved mountains rise up to 1500 m, and practically the whole island has National Park status. Hiking, snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea, swimming in the geothermal sources and nights in the amazing eco-lodges are all activities that uncover an extraordinary nature that exists, between jungle and volcanic fumaroles, offering the possibility to go walking and swimming in the same day!

Seen from far Jordan seems as a dry and arid land, just embellished by the bold forms carved in the colored sandstones of the desert of Wadi Rum. But now, there is water in Jordan, and not only in the Dead Sea! From the summits of the Kerak plateau to Petra the eighth wonder of the world, a walk in the heart of the rift valley punctuated by the exploring of sublime canyons to the discovery of secret oasis where the rose laurels blooms.

Florence, Siena, Pisa, green hills spread of cypress and vineyards of Chianti, Tuscany is probably one of the most esteemed regions in Italy. Between fortified villages, vines and olive trees, bicycle is like a Renaissance over the back roads and byways.

From the beautiful medieval city of Saint-Emilion, this bucolic biking route travels from the famous Bordeaux vineyards to the Arcachon basin and the great beaches of Cap Ferret. Alternating between bicycle paths and quiet country roads this trip takes you along a gently undulating landscape. Castles, abbeys and country houses, by bicycle we pass through stunning villages discovering the region’s unrivalled natural heritage. A trip to enjoy in the company of friends, with pit stops along the way to taste local vintages releasing that sense of freedom along with the fruity fragrances.

Benin is a small quiet and colourful country in West Africa. But “when in Rome”…. do as the locals do, so we ride a “Zem” (a kind of local motorbike) what a happy experience! On the way there are little villages of huts, lakes are traversed by canoe, there are funny little markets, giant baobab trees, groups of giggling children and the mysterious Abomey kingdom with its voodoo rituals. Benin is definitely not banal!

The Rovos Rail is a unique train ride experience. A genuine palace on rails with the nostalgic charm of the 30s, that travels the 1600 km from Pretoria to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) across the wild expanses of Botswana, in 3 days and 2 nights. Like a transatlantic cruise in an Agatha Christie’s novel, life on board enjoys mysterious muted conversations, the sound of pages gently being turned in a novel and laughter with cocktails on a sofa… An experience? Not really, it’s an institution!

In the heart of Utah in the western US, the plateau of Grand Staircase is the home of some of the most amazing jewels created by nature: the slot canyons. The Narrows, which frames the Virgin River for nearly 25 km in Zion National Park, the mythical Buckskin Gulch, reputed to be one of the longest canyons in the world, Zebra, very narrow and curiously striated, Peek -A-Boo and its arches like drops, the tortuous Spooky, Egypt, Kanarra Creek, Dry Fork, Coyote... the number of slot canyons that can be explored is truly vertiginous.

On the road to the great National Parks of the West, a few days road trip style getaway to taste the American Mormons sweet and sour.

A few days in New York City...

Near the edge of the world beneath the Arctic Circle, the winter takes on a special meaning like no other, promises of intimate and mysterious nights. From quiet fishing villages between the mountains and sea, to slippery winding roads nonchalantly meandering along the snowy fjords, crystal clear nights when even the sounds seem to resonate with a bluish hue, Lofoten islands (Norway) are a haven of peace with a dreamlike quality. The Polarlight Center, an improbable guesthouse connected to the NASA computers will be our headquarters to track down the Northern Lights and Rob Stammes, a Norwegian version of Professor Calculus, will be our host and spiritual guide in this scientific and poetic quest.

Wild and spellbinding, the Cape Verde Islands rise above the Atlantic like pieces of a lost world between Europe, Africa and America. These mountainous volcanic islands are laced with deep valleys and steep slopes, a trekker’s paradise. From cultivated terraces to isolated villages, be entirely immersed in the Terra Verde.

From the soapbox races to the cliff diving through Formula 1 and base-jumping, the Austrian cans seller is omnipresent in the world of extreme that supplies with superbly staged movies. To discover the offstage of a shooting, we follow the production staff on the shores of the Lac d’Annecy during the Red Bull Elements, a relay of trail, paragliding and mountain biking champions between lake and mountains.

In the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, takes place BALLS (Big Ass Load Lifting Suckers...), top of the top experimental amateur rocket launches worldwide. A highly technical and spectacular form of aeromodelling to reach the seventh heaven keeping feet on the ground.

Deep water soloing is a trendy activity that consists to climb on rock walls located above water. There is no rope and no insurance for the climber, which evolves solo and drop in the water if falling. No problem when staying just above the waves, but a lot of adrenaline and risks for those who want to measure themselves with height and difficulty... There are only a few sites listed, including Olympos on the shores of Mediterranean Sea, south of Antalya, Turkey. Here is a guided tour with Loic Gaidioz, emeritus French climber, during the PETZL Roc Trip festival.

The downsides are the traffic jams, smog, buildings and ring roads but the upsides are incomparable, tiny pedestrian streets, dainty boutiques, the Great Wall and the Forbidden City: this is Beijing, China’s capital. A stop-off must at the 2008 Olympic Village and then direction Guiyang mountains in the Guizhou province (in the south of the country), for an expedition that takes you back in time in the heart of rural China.
Experience the cultural surprises, exotic exploits and a candid view of life here and discover the most incredible climbing spots on the planet. The simple fact is Spiderman is Chinese!

Sébastien Souday est pilote de quad... Et pas des moindres, il est tout simplement vice-champion du monde de rallye raid ! En janvier prochain, Sébastien va participer au Dakar pour la troisième fois. Plus de 9 000 km en deux semaines, certaines épreuves durant entre 15 et 18h. Pour les pilotes indépendants c'est l'aboutissement d'un rêve, mais aussi un challenge et des sacrifices énormes... Entraînement, chasse aux sponsors, conciliation avec le travail et la vie de famille, bouclage des budgets, la vie d'un pilote de rallye s'apparente à un parcours du combattant. Ainsi, au Dakar, le team "All tracks" comprendra deux chauffeurs/mécanos et deux véhicules d’assistance, ainsi qu’une immense réserve de passion, de système D et d’huile de coude !

There are over the world a handful of inventors and genius handymen who decided to take up a crazy challenge: the manufacture and navigation with their own pocket submarine. Alec Smyth is a Washington DC hobbyist who has a submarine in operation and is working on the construction of a second. Appointment is made around Seneca Lake, New York State, for a freshwater dive in the very private club of personal submariners.

A l'occasion du cinquantième anniversaire de la Fédération Française de Spéléo, du 8 au 20 mai 2013 à Millau, nous descendons explorer l'aven de Valat Nègre accompagnés par Phil Bence, guide chevronné aux multiples expéditions, et son compère Jean Galy. Facile d’accès et richement concrétionné, le Valat Nègre est connu pour avoir abrité en 1988 l’expérience "hors du temps" de Véronique Le Guen, une spéléologue qui s’y enferma pendant 111 jours…
Ce demi-siècle de spéléo fêté à Millau verra également la concrétisation d’un record du monde de tyrolienne (2100m de portée) établi par le Spéléo Secours Français.

To the south of India is a little island in the Indian Ocean, a tropical jewel whose ancient name evokes the spicy tea aromas: Ceylon. Sri Lanka could equally be called “the land of a thousand steps” the opportunities to rise beyond the rice fields, temples and palaces are numerous, in search of nirvana. Leaving the religious capital Kandy, a journey on tracks, roads and railroad, on the trail of the Buddha’s Tooth.

The THT (Troglodyte Highline Tour) is a unique gathering of highliners, organized by the collective "Sangle Dessus-Dessous". The festival takes place on the Causse Noir in Lozère, with the particularity of proposing two incredible subterranean lines on the famous sites of La Grotte de Dargilan and l'Abîme de Bramabiau.

To the west of Leh, in the Rumbak and Stok valleys, some villages are pleased to welcome and offer board and lodging to the passing walkers. A perfect way to discover and appreciate the Ladakhi people at the rural and secular pace of the farmers and shepherds who live with their Pashmina goats. An introduction to hiking at altitude far removed from tourist trails, enhanced with crossing a pass at an altitude of 4900m and visiting the famous Buddhist monasteries.

The Lyngen Alps are mountainous fjords in the North of Norway and are a genuine paradise for wilderness skiing, away from slopes and lifts. Inaccessible by road in the winter so the only possible way to get there is by sailing. Therefore you need to rent a sailing boat and a skipper, which is easily done through specialised agencies. Sailing through Fjords, searching out the perfect runs from the sailing boat, mooring up on the banks and putting on your boots and skinning up your skis to climb up the gullies in order to glide down the magnificent snowfields. This is a sporting adventure like no other.

From Cape Town "the Californian" to Pretoria "the Afrikaans", through the inescapable Kruger National Park and its wildlife, you are invited to travel across the heart of the Rainbow Nation that will receive an honour in June, during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A mini timeless getaway: the Rovos Rail has a train like no other, a genuine palace on rails with the nostalgic charm of the 30s, connecting Pretoria to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) in a trip lasting 3 days and 2 nights.

With its wooden painted houses, its old signs and Stetson wearing cowboys, Jackson (Wyoming, USA) is the archetypal western decor. But Jackson Hole is also one of the best American ski resorts, located at the foothills of the remarkable Teton Mountains. At a stone’s throw from there, Yellowstone National Park can only be visited by snowmobile in winter to discover the geysers, frozen waterfalls and wildlife. Another American way to let one’s guns do the talking like they do in Hollywood...

Located at the bottom of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is a typical North American city with a benevolent climate and is an ideal destination for winter tourism. From the quaint charm of the old neighbourhoods flanked with red brick walls and rusty iron stairs to the proud and flamboyant buildings of the modern city, striding over the 2010 Olympic Winter Games city to shop, or test the countless restaurants or just stroll are as unforgettable as any exotic experience. The region is undeniably sports and nature oriented. Skiing is within hand’s reach, just outside the city. But lovers of high mountains and deep snow will follow the road up to Whistler, an internationally renowned ski resort located about 2 hours away by car. In the heart of preserved natural beauty, this is a unique journey where sea and mountains meet...

An inexhaustible source of adventures and mysteries, the South of Algeria offers a comprehensive overview of mineral wonders of the Sahara desert. From Djanet, we explore the Tassili N'Ajjer, the Tadrart Park, the Admer erg and the Essendilène oasis, and we are in Sébiba in time for the grand Touareg’s festival. A trip in a 4x4, on foot and by camel, enhanced by the sublime bivouacs under billions of stars.

Exploring Hong Kong and its islands by foot, subway and ferry, is the ultimate urban-trek offered in sponsorship with the Hong Kong Tourist Board. A week trip that explores the extremes of the former British colony now reverted back to China since 1997. The Yin side: the city. We sail through a real scenario from a video game: high-tech glass and steel buildings, escalators and walkways suspended above the bustling streets, XXL advertising, laser lightshows over the bay, a ballet of ferries, teeming Kowloon markets, Victoria Peak... The Yang side: the archipelago and its 260 islands. Close to the town, we discover traditional fishing villages, sandy beaches, gardens, hills and countless hiking trails.

Une sélection de voyages photo organisés en partenariat avec Nomade Aventure et Natures du Monde.