This specialization course can only be taken after completing the Hike & Survival Instructor course (or in the same year) and/or after completing the Outdoor Sports Instructor course. An equivalent or training program, even from another training institute, may also be accepted. This may also apply to sufficient experience and mastery of basic techniques such as fire, shelter, and orientation.

You will be trained as a Hiking & Backpacking Guide and learn how to plan, organize, and lead multi-day trips in semi-remote wilderness areas.

Recognized as a specialization course by the Wilderness Guides Association

Training days at De Voshaar in Eibergen
One 5-day training course in winter (France). Primarily focused on orientation and winter survival.
One 5-day training course in the summer (Alps)
A 24 or 48-hour Solo Skill Challenge
Theory: Mountains 101 Course

This course is offered as standard within the MBO Wilderness program.

When you take the Hiking & Backpacking course, it is also possible to obtain the Wilderness Leader – Interpretive Hiking Guide certification.
To do this, you must therefore register for the two-day IGA course.

Contents
– Medic First Aid
– Wilderness First Aid

– Planning, logistics and organization
– Regulations & permits
– Route finding and orientation
– Emergency procedures
– 'Back Country' camping
– Group Management
– Teaching and leading
-Predator Safety

Examination / assessment
– MFA: Practice and theory
-WFA Practice
– Mountains 101: a test follows every lesson
– Predator Safety: Theory
– Teaching and leading
– Trip planning

Theory material included
The wilderness handbook Tracks of the White Wolf you have to purchase it yourself

Costs
€ 1715,-
€1,575 if the course is combined with the Hike & Survival course in the same year.

Excluding insurance, travel, accommodation in France, food and drink.
Includes overnight stays at the Voshaar.
Overnight stays in France winter €20 pp per night
France summer €10 to €15 pp per night

The 48-hour Solo Skill Challenge does not have a fixed date. Multiple times are possible, and the final date is determined together with the participant.

Data 2026
Medical First Aid (schedule refresher or full course yourself)

January 10-11 Voshaar FROSTBITE! Wilderness Meeting
January 22-26 France
March 28-29 >Wilderness & Remote First Aid
June 12: Trip planning
June 13-14 >Predator Safety
July 24-28 France

Dates 2027
Medical First Aid (schedule refresher or full course yourself for April 3-4)
January 9-10 Voshaar Eibergen, FROSTBITE! Wilderness Meeting
January 21-25 France Winter Travel & Survival
April 3-4 Voshaar, Eibergen Wilderness & Remote First Aid
June 11 Voshaar, Eibergen Trip planning
June 12-13 Voshaar Eibergen Predator safety
June 26-27 Voshaar Eibergen HEATSTROKE! Wilderness Meeting
July 23-27 France Hiking & Backpacking

Materials

You will need the materials listed below during the course. These materials are not supplied by De Voshaar.

– Good and suitable clothing
- Sturdy footwear
– Tent
– Matje
– Knife, preferably with a fixed blade of 8 to 11 cm.
– Sleeping bag, resistant to at least -5 degrees Celsius.
– Cooking, drinking, and eating utensils.
– Waterproof marker and waterproof fine-tip pen (a thin marker)
– Writing paper and pen
– Laptop, tablet or smartphone
– Headlamp or flashlight
– GPS
– Tarpaulin, sail or poncho
– Backpack of at least 60 liters.
– Personal first aid kit
– Card cover
– Map angle meter
– Compass
– GSM
– Fire striker / fire stick