adventure valley
Adventure Valley Park offers visitors a clever blend of fun and thrills in an unspoilt natural setting
5 mins OF ESCAPE
A theme park in a natural setting
You simply cannot come anywhere near the charming town of Durbuy without stopping off at Adventure Valley. While Durbuy is known as “the world's smallest town”, the park, by contrast, is gigantic. So I'm looking forward to a perfect day, exploring the wonderful little streets of Durbuy and trying some outdoor activities at the adventure park. The park belongs to the group "La Petite Merveille" and it's the kind of place where you instantly revert to childhood and jitter with impatience as soon as you reach the car park. Once parked, we're intrigued by what appears to be in store for us beyond the majestic entrance at the edge of the forest. The reception area sets the tone. Here, we're not greeted by cardboard cut-outs and flashy colours, but by timber fixtures and features in natural, eco-friendly materials that fit perfectly against the backdrop of the Ardennes forest amid displays of shadow and light. Here, nature and sports co-exist in a perfect harmony that adds a touch of magic to the overall experience.
adventure valley durbuy
adventure valley durbuy
adventure valley durbuy
One of the site's strengths lies, above all, in its capacity for renewal, innovation and the creation of new structures and new activities to meet the ever-increasing demands of the public who come in huge numbers, day after day. For just a few hours or for several days, Adventure Valley offers made-to-measure packages that certainly make me wish I lived nearby so I could come here every day.
A playground without limits, just like the one our inner child has always dreamed of!
As I expected, as soon as we enter this park of over 300 hectares, I don't know where to start among the vast range of activities! The eating and drinking area is at the entrance and overlooks a lovely children's play area constructed entirely of timber, which seems to replicate on a small scale the various activities available in the park. Even the youngest children have their own zipwire and rope bridges.
I decide to save the refreshment break for later and get straight into the swing of things. Donning helmet and harness, I'm to test one of the via ferrata walls. From the easiest route to the most difficult, there's something for every taste, and even the most adventurous feet may falter on the tiny steps that cling to the rock face. Slowly but surely, I climb to the top of a challenging succession of sections that are steep enough to appeal to any adrenalin addict and offer only the strict minimum of footholds. On the opposite face, a father and son are on their way up the “Click and Climb”, a wall on which climbers race to the top. After bravely negotiating the last section, a formidable limestone chimney, I make it to the summit and off I go again, ready for my next adventure.
After the cliff face, I take to the trees
Since I'm so comfortable with harnesses, I put on the ropewalk gear, unable to resist all those treetop trails that look so much fun. Again, the experience gets the adrenalin flowing, with hands clinging onto ropes and feet a little unsteady on the wooden obstacles. Around me I can see only happy faces and people having fun: groups of children, parents with children, and me! So much imagination and originality have gone into these trails dotted with obstacles that are fairly challenging yet highly amusing. Sliding on a luge, avoiding a punch ball and whizzing down dozens of zipwires, the time flies. From the voices I hear around me, I gather that people travel a long way to spend a day here.
After clambering through treetops, climbing on rock faces and sliding along zipwires, I still have plenty of other features to try on this day of madness. Dotted here and there around the park, the choice is wide and I hesitate between the Laser Game and the Escape Room. The hardest part is choosing. The ideal solution would be to stay here for a few days.
An overnight stay to prolong the pleasure!
As luck would have it, Adventure Valley also proposes a vast range of accommodation at the park or in the vicinity, so that visitors can prolong this exhilarating experience and share even more moments of togetherness. Of course, everything here makes you want to stay, and there are options to suit every taste and every budget.
First of all, there's the fascinating and legendary Hôtel and Restaurant, Le Sanglier des Ardennes, in the centre of Durbuy, which attracts visitors from all over the world, day after day. Located on the banks of the River Ourthe, this tastefully decorated establishment with a modern feel and subdued atmosphere offers luxury accommodation and wellness facilities, including a spa, a sunny terrace and gourmet food, all near the shops and restaurants at the heart of the town.
Between activities, the shop “Bonbon Chic” in the historical centre of Durbuy is worth a visit, to try some of Belgium's food specialities like the famous Cuberdon sweets. Not forgetting, of course, Belgian chocolates. For nomads and seekers of the exotic, "La Petite Merveille" also proposes a guesthouse, several gites and a wide range of lodge-style tents imported straight from Africa.
Again, emphasis has been placed on preserving the landscape and these wonderful accommodation solutions blend perfectly with the setting. They feature spacious bedrooms and, outside, vast terraces with wooden decking that overlook the surroundings and promise a savannah-style start to the day. In short, you're sure to feel good here and never want to leave! And because this park favours and encourages soft mobility, there are buses and shuttle services to take you back and forth between your accommodation and various points around the park. I've already made up my mind, I'm coming back for my next holiday!
Try this experience
Adventure Valley
Rue Rome 1, 6940 Durbuy, Belgium
+32 86 21 28 15
https://www.adventure-valley.be
Location and offers of restaurants/accommodation "brand Ardenne" nearby
After a day here, you won't want to leave