Instead of relaxing under palm trees, fans of Mike Horn and other aspiring Robinsons are learning to make fire in extreme conditions and survive in hostile environments. Lately, bookings for survival courses have skyrocketed, as if people were preparing for an imminent disaster. So, is this a passing fad or a genuine alternative to traditional holidays on sun loungers?<\/p>\n
What if, for your next vacation, you went to get lost in the forest with only the bare essentials and a simple compass to guide you? What if, instead of diving into a hotel pool with an ocean view, you made a fire like prehistoric humans and slept in a makeshift shelter built with a few branches? These trips, which give the illusion of being part of the series "Lost" or participating in "Survivor," attract crowds.<\/p>\n
While those who crave comfort and all-inclusive packages spend their holidays soaking up the sun<\/a> , sipping cocktails from coconuts, the MacGyvers at heart are training for the apocalypse. They hone their resourcefulness, carrying only a backpack and a map as their guide. And this is far from a fringe activity, booked only by pessimistic conspiracy theorists. According to statistics, around 10,000 people participate in a survival course each year, across some 1,500 sessions organized in France.<\/p>\n Those nostalgic for scout camps, nature lovers, and thrill-seekers flock to these programs, hoping to emerge from the week a more mature and prepared person for the end of the world. These programs, which promise to transform participants into better versions of themselves and enhance their adaptability, leave no room for rest. They hone their sense of direction, build water filters using whatever materials are available, and sleep on the bare ground alongside insects. For some, it borders on pure masochism, while for those most directly involved, it's a valuable, even vital, learning experience.<\/p>\n Survival courses, despite their somewhat primitive and cult-like image, primarily advocate a return to basics in an era where every action is assisted. Ultimately, participants rediscover the lives of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who had no choice but to be self-sufficient. They find solace in a simpler, less materialistic way of life.<\/p>\n Certainly, they are subject to varying weather conditions, must adapt to very basic, if not nonexistent, comforts, and eat whatever they can find, taking care not to poison themselves. But at the same time, they undertake a welcome digital detox, learn to listen to their instincts, develop their self-reliance in forests teeming with dangers, and train their minds from morning till night.<\/p>\n Of course, there's also the proximity to nature, a haven of peace that can quickly become the stage for all our fears, especially in the event of an invasion of red ants, giant spiders, or unexplained noises in the middle of the night. These are the main advantages mentioned on websites dedicated to this survival initiation, worthy of science fiction.<\/p>\n These survival courses, a hardcore version of urban escape games and bivouac excursions, appeal to those who enjoy a challenge, dystopian enthusiasts, and families seeking bonding experiences. However, even though participants are not left to their own devices and are accompanied by guides, these trips, which resemble military training more than a pleasant getaway, are not subject to any specific French law.<\/p>\n "Today, if I want to organize a windsurfing course or a boxing course in the town next to my home, I need a state-issued license. On the other hand, if I want to take ten people into nature to force them to eat any kind of plant while claiming to be a specialist, I can do it without a license,"<\/em> laments Mathieu Burgalassi, an anthropologist, in the pages of Geo<\/a> .<\/p>\n So you can quickly find yourself with a stranger who proclaims himself pack leader and whose knowledge of nature comes solely from internet tutorials. "After a few months in those circles, I was taught how to strangle people from behind with a rope,"<\/em> adds the expert, who spent four years immersed in these supposedly toughening survival courses. Survival courses are also the common ground for aspiring masculinists and conspiracy theorists. Sometimes, they are used as propaganda tools.<\/p>\n Survival courses, far more demanding and rigorous than the orienteering of our childhood, can thus be beneficial "in case" an unprecedented tragedy or crisis were to occur. However, even if they resemble a "rite of passage," they still require some legal adjustments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Instead of relaxing under palm trees, fans of Mike Horn and other aspiring Robinsons are learning to make...","protected":false},"author":8340,"featured_media":444582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96338],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-444578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-voyage"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Stages-de-survie-tendance-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Stages-de-survie-tendance-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Stages-de-survie-tendance.jpg","author":{"name":"\u00c9milie Laurent","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/cropped-2f5d8c00d5d5c27f8ce4d9b3f9015467-96x96.png"},"categories":[{"term_id":96338,"name":"Travel","slug":"voyage","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":96510,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Travel section of The Body Optimist shares destination ideas<\/strong> and practical advice for planning your trips, close to home or abroad: preparation, budget, packing, transportation, solo or family travel. We also cover what guidebooks often leave out, like traveling with peace of mind in a fat body, on a plane or at the beach, so everyone can get away and truly relax.<\/p>\n A comfortable flight starts when you book. Check seat width and legroom on the airline\u2019s website or on a seat map, and if possible reserve an aisle seat or a row with extra legroom. Read the airline\u2019s policy for passengers who need more space, sometimes called a \u201ccustomer of size\u201d policy: some airlines let you buy a second seat, occasionally refundable, while others don\u2019t. On board, you can discreetly ask a flight attendant for a seatbelt extender. Wear soft, stretchy clothes without a tight waistband, and get up regularly to stretch your legs. Our tips on choosing the best seat on a long-haul flight<\/a> round out this advice.<\/p>\n We talk about travel without clich\u00e9s: no \u201cbeach body\u201d to earn before you go, no destination reserved for one body type or budget. We focus on practical advice, accessible ideas and real-life experiences, and we also tackle the thornier topics, like overtourism and the environmental impact of travel. Our goal: helping you travel the way you want, solo, as a couple, with friends or with family.<\/p>\n For a first solo trip, choose a destination known to be safe, well served by public transportation and where you can easily make yourself understood. A large, walkable city, a region of your own country you\u2019ve never explored, or a stay at a guesthouse or hostel lets you find your footing gently.<\/p>\n Prices generally drop outside school vacations and holiday weekends. The shoulder seasons between peak and off-peak periods (late spring and early fall in the Northern Hemisphere) often strike a good balance between pleasant weather, lower prices and smaller crowds. Being flexible with your dates, comparing trains, buses and flights, and traveling with just a carry-on can also help you save.<\/p>\n Yes. Most airlines carry seatbelt extenders on board and lend them on request; you can discreetly ask a flight attendant as soon as you board. For safety reasons, airlines generally require you to use their own approved extender rather than a personal one.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Build a vacation wardrobe that feels like you with our Fashion<\/a> section, and travel more responsibly with our Green<\/a> section.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":288,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":96338,"category_count":288,"category_description":" The Travel section of The Body Optimist shares destination ideas<\/strong> and practical advice for planning your trips, close to home or abroad: preparation, budget, packing, transportation, solo or family travel. We also cover what guidebooks often leave out, like traveling with peace of mind in a fat body, on a plane or at the beach, so everyone can get away and truly relax.<\/p>\n A comfortable flight starts when you book. Check seat width and legroom on the airline\u2019s website or on a seat map, and if possible reserve an aisle seat or a row with extra legroom. Read the airline\u2019s policy for passengers who need more space, sometimes called a \u201ccustomer of size\u201d policy: some airlines let you buy a second seat, occasionally refundable, while others don\u2019t. On board, you can discreetly ask a flight attendant for a seatbelt extender. Wear soft, stretchy clothes without a tight waistband, and get up regularly to stretch your legs. Our tips on choosing the best seat on a long-haul flight<\/a> round out this advice.<\/p>\n We talk about travel without clich\u00e9s: no \u201cbeach body\u201d to earn before you go, no destination reserved for one body type or budget. We focus on practical advice, accessible ideas and real-life experiences, and we also tackle the thornier topics, like overtourism and the environmental impact of travel. Our goal: helping you travel the way you want, solo, as a couple, with friends or with family.<\/p>\n For a first solo trip, choose a destination known to be safe, well served by public transportation and where you can easily make yourself understood. A large, walkable city, a region of your own country you\u2019ve never explored, or a stay at a guesthouse or hostel lets you find your footing gently.<\/p>\n Prices generally drop outside school vacations and holiday weekends. The shoulder seasons between peak and off-peak periods (late spring and early fall in the Northern Hemisphere) often strike a good balance between pleasant weather, lower prices and smaller crowds. Being flexible with your dates, comparing trains, buses and flights, and traveling with just a carry-on can also help you save.<\/p>\n Yes. Most airlines carry seatbelt extenders on board and lend them on request; you can discreetly ask a flight attendant as soon as you board. For safety reasons, airlines generally require you to use their own approved extender rather than a personal one.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Build a vacation wardrobe that feels like you with our Fashion<\/a> section, and travel more responsibly with our Green<\/a> section.<\/p>","cat_name":"Travel","category_nicename":"voyage","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8340"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=444578"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":445433,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444578\/revisions\/445433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/444582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=444578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=444578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=444578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} The arguments put forward by his followers<\/h2>\n
Harsh stays that are not always well supervised<\/h2>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Travel section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you fly comfortably as a plus-size traveler?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to start with<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Where should you go on your first solo trip?<\/h3>\n
When is the cheapest time to travel?<\/h3>\n
Can you ask for a seatbelt extender on a plane?<\/h3>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Travel section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you fly comfortably as a plus-size traveler?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to start with<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Where should you go on your first solo trip?<\/h3>\n
When is the cheapest time to travel?<\/h3>\n
Can you ask for a seatbelt extender on a plane?<\/h3>\n