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The Ourthe loop — 2 days between Esneux and Comblain
Demonstration hike — no real departures are offered.
Verified guideMax 10 participantsGuaranteed departure or refund by the announced date
I have been walking this loop for years, and it is always the train that convinces me. I board at Guillemins with my pack, and twenty minutes later I am beside the Ourthe without having to think about parking, the journey back or car-sharing. I have seen the Roche aux Faucons in all weathers. My favourite moment is arriving when fog still fills the meander and you can only make out the village by its rooftops. On the second day, on Comblain’s limestone, it feels like walking in another country: dry, pale and full of holes. Two days are enough to understand the valley.
What you will experience
Two days of walking in the Ourthe valley between Esneux and Comblain-au-Pont, with a rare advantage in the Ardennes: this loop can be done without a car. We meet at Esneux station, around twenty minutes from Liège-Guillemins on line 43, and return to the same platform late the following afternoon. In between are 28 kilometres and around 700 metres of ascent over limestone ridges, through oak woods and along paths plunging towards the river.
The first day climbs to the Roche aux Faucons viewpoint above Esneux’s great meander. Almost two hundred metres below, the Ourthe forms a loop that nearly closes in on itself, with the whole village on the peninsula. We then descend through the bois de Sainval and head upstream via Chanxhe and Poulseur to Comblain-au-Pont, where we stay in a walkers’ hostel with half board.
The second day is the rockiest. Limestone ridges overlook the confluence of the Ourthe and Amblève: the Rocher de la Vierge and Les Tartines, upright blades of rock. A visit to the Comblain caves follows before we return to Esneux along the wooded hillside. The group is limited to ten people.
Technical details
Distance
28 km
Elevation
+700 / -700 m
Effort levelEasy
A few gentle climbs, no particular fitness required.
Required fitness level
Level 2 out of 5: 16 km on the first day and 12 km on the second, or 5 to 6 hours of actual walking each day with a two-day pack. Nothing technical, but climbs to the viewpoints are short and steep, and limestone descents require sure footing. If you can walk 15 km in the woods without suffering the next day, this loop is within your reach.
Conditions & climate
We walk between 90 and 300 metres above sea level in the Condroz near Liège. The climate is much milder than in the High Fens, with 850 to 900 mm of rain a year spread across all seasons. In summer, expect afternoon temperatures of 22 to 24 °C on the ridges and a few degrees less in the wooded valley bottoms. In spring and autumn, valley fog often lifts around 10 am, clearing the viewpoint by late morning. The main concern is damp rather than cold: limestone and roots become very slippery after rain, and hillside paths stay muddy for several days. In winter, daytime temperatures are 2 to 6 °C and snow rarely lasts below 300 metres.
Participation requirements
For adults only (aged 18 and over).
Each departure requires a minimum number of participants. It is guaranteed or fully refunded by the announced date for your chosen departure, no later than 7 days before departure. The guide may set an earlier deadline for accommodation.
Programme
01
Day 1 — From Esneux to Comblain-au-Pont via the Roche aux Faucons
16 km Gîte d'étape de Comblain-au-Pont, en demi-pension
Meet at 9.15 am at Esneux station for a briefing, setting off at 9.30 am. A steady forest climb takes us to the Roche aux Faucons viewpoint, nearly two hundred metres above the meander encircling the village. Picnic on the plateau, then descend through the bois de Sainval and head upstream along the Ourthe through Chanxhe and Poulseur. Arrive at the hostel in Comblain-au-Pont around 5 pm and share dinner.
02
Day 2 — From Comblain-au-Pont to Esneux via the limestone ridges
12 km
Set off at 8.45 am after breakfast. Spend the morning on the ridges above the confluence of the Ourthe and Amblève: Rocher de la Vierge and Les Tartines, followed by a visit to the Comblain caves. In the afternoon we cross to the wooded hillside and descend towards Esneux along riverside paths, with a final view over the meander. The walk ends at Esneux station around 4.30 pm, in time for the train to Liège.
The agreement
Included in the price
- Guiding by an independent walking guide on both days
- 1 night in a walkers’ hostel in Comblain-au-Pont with half board (rooms with 2–4 beds, linen provided)
- Dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2
- Admission and a guided visit to the Comblain caves on the second morning
- Route preparation, GPS track and route sheet sent one week before departure
- Group safety equipment and first-aid kit
At your own expense
- Return train tickets to Esneux station
- Picnics and snacks for both lunchtimes
- Drinks at the hostel outside the evening meal
- Personal cancellation and accident insurance
- Personal spending during the trip
Accommodation
Arranged on your behalf by your guide under the management mandate and included in the displayed price.
Night 1
Gîte d'étape de Comblain-au-Pont, en demi-pension
Your backpack
Equipment to bring
Required
- 01Broken-in, high-cut waterproof hiking boots
- 0230–40 litre backpack with rain cover
- 03Breathable waterproof jacket, whatever the season
- 04Two water bottles or a hydration bladder, at least 1.5 litres
- 05Head torch or torch for the cave visit
- 06Walking poles, recommended for descents to the Ourthe
- 07Nightwear and spare clothes for one night in a hostel
- 08Picnics and snacks for both days
Recommended
- Pack for just two days: the walkers’ hostel provides bed linen, so there is no need for a sleeping bag.
- Properly waterproof, high-cut and broken-in hiking boots: the hillside paths stay damp even in summer.
- A proper rain jacket rather than a simple windbreaker: showers occur in the valley all year round.
- Walking poles if your knees dislike steep descents; there are four steep descents over the two days.
- A lightweight head torch for the underground section on the second morning.
- Two full water bottles at the start: there is no water point between Esneux and Poulseur.
- A picnic for each day, bought before boarding the train: there are no shops on the route.
- Dry spare clothes to leave at the hostel for the evening.
Meeting point
Gare d'Esneux (ligne 43 Liège-Guillemins – Marloie), devant le bâtiment des voyageurs côté parking - comptez une vingtaine de minutes de train depuis Liège-Guillemins.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
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Your guide
N
Nadia
Verified
New·
Ardennes
·10 years of experience
1 Hike offered
Test guide persona 5
TrekFriendly is a management mandate intermediary and is not a travel organiser within the meaning of the law of 21/11/2017. By booking, you mandate your guide to organise logistics (accommodation, transport) on your behalf. The displayed price is broken down into Logistics Costs, Guiding Fees and Platform Commission.
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Demonstration hike — no real departures are offered. You can test the booking process up to the last step; payment is disabled.
Indicative price
€300.00
per person
Upcoming departures
- 7 places available
- 10 places available
The first step towards your next outing.
An unexpected event? The cancellation fees depend on the date you cancel.
Cancellation terms
For a personal cancellation, apart from the right to cancel without charge, the following fees apply:
- More than 60 days before departure
- 10 %
- Between 46 and 60 days before departure
- 25 %
- Between 15 and 45 days before departure
- 70 %
- 14 days or less before departure
- 100 %
The amount retained is calculated on the total price and limited to the sums already paid.
For this personal cancellation, the commission is the minimum amount retained, subject to applicable legal limits. For a low-value booking, the amount retained may therefore exceed the stated percentage.
For a package holiday, the fees must remain reasonable and justifiable. The rights to cancel without charge and receive a full refund take precedence over this scale. Contact us to have exceptional circumstances reviewed.
From
€300.00