Crossing Higher Ariege Range
Simple donkey- rent
7 days, possible in 5 or 6 days
From july to october
Altitude from 700 to 1870 mm
Departure and arrival at Unac
Starting from Unac in Ariège Valley, this trip ends in Auzat in Vicdessos Valley.
Between 700 and 1900 m, within a week, you will discover this mountain range whose flanks formerly used to provide iron, which made the reputation and the riches of ariège.
your trek
The walk is partly on a green grass ridge. From here, you can see the highest summits of Andorra and the night lights of Toulouse, more than 100 kms away.
You follow the wide minors’ paths and you can even watch an ancient « mining hole » dug in the slope where the metal ore emerges.
In the end, you will be led to Bassiès Lakes, in a wild circus.
For this trek, you have to choose the Simple Rent of a Donkey and you need your tent because there are some stages where you don’t find any accommodation.
The trek is good for children from 8 years old.
The children can’t go on the donkey back in steep paths. For this trek, the donkey only carries the bags.
Upload trek leafletsteps
TRIP DESCRIPTION
day 1 : from Unac (700 m) to Verdun (600 m) 5h
Following the corniche paths you will need 5 hours to reach Verdun village, near Les Cabannes, without. any difficulty. This is the best opprtunity to discover the most beautiful roman churches in Higher Ariège, built in the heart of the villages. You will see the rocky hill crowned with the rruins of Lordat Castle. You can also admire the large panorama of the Ariège Valley.
Farm Camping at Verdun +33(0)6 23 94 94 24 http://www.campingvalleedebeille.com/. Providing at Les Cabannes.
Accommodation at Les Cabannes : les Oustallous http://www.les-cabannes.com/ +33(0)5.61.64.95.40
day 2 : from Verdun (600 m) to Besset Cabain neighborhood (1600 m) 5h
This is a harder walk that takes you from the bottom of the valley to the high crests, the border line between Ariège and Vicdessos Valley. You camp in the wilderness near Besset shelter.
day 3 : from Besset Cabain (1600m) to Siguer (750m), 4h
You keep going up to Pla de Montcamp, where you can admire a 360° landscape: Toulouse and pamiers to the North, Andorra peaks to the south. Then you will walk down the pastoral tracks to Vicdessos Valley, among one of the wildest areas in Ariège.
In Siguer village, you must spot, Gaston Fébus’ ( Foix Count) hunting house. You camp near the village of Siguer. There is a municipal dormitory with 6 places and lavatories.
day 4 : from Siguer (750m) to Auzat (720m) 4h
You first walk up to Lercoul pass (1549 m) and then down through the woods.
On that day, you will stick to the old minors’ path leading to Rancié iron mine famous for its particularly rich and abundant metal ore.
Municipal Camping with swimming pool : +33(0)5 61 64 84 46. Providing.
Accommodation :Gite d’étape : http://www.aubergedumontcalm.fr/ +33(5) 61 03 83 23
Gite d'étape at Goulier (you have to make a detour compared to the classic route), above Auzat +33(0)5 81 29 57 96 / +33(0)5 61 03 87 72 le-relais-dendron.com/
day 5 : from Auzat (720m) to Refuge de Bassies (1650m) 5h
You follow for 1 hour, the bottom of Vicdessos Valley and, later walk up to Bassies Lakes , set in a chain in a rocky circus.
Refuge +33(0)6 89 40 65 00 Possible camping near the refuge. Meals at the refuge. No providing. http://bassies.free.fr
day 6 : Walk around Bassies Refuge,you can choose the duration
You can enjoy marvelous walks up to the numerous surrounding peaks, an occasion to come across many « orrys » primitive stone shelters. Admire their remarkable architecture.
day 7 : from Bassiès Refuge (1650m) to Auzat(720m) 5h
from Bassiès Refuge (1650m) to Auzat(720m) 5h
You walk all the way down to Auzat, end of your trip.
The times indicated are the time you go on hike, excluding breaks..
accomodations
In formula "simple rent" you have to reserve yourself the accomodations.
For that trek, tent is compulsory. Day 1: bivouac near a spring or Camping in the farm of Verdun 06 23 94 94 24 http://www.campingvalleedebeille.com
Day 2: bivouac near a source
Day 3: bivouac near the village of Siguer
Day 4: Auzat campsite : 33 (0)5 61 64 84 46. - swimming pool.
Day 5 and 6: bivouac or camping near Bassiès refuge (participation requested)
The day before your departure, during our interview, we indicate on the map, the places suitable for wild camping, near a spring.
Campfires are prohibited during the summer season because of risk of fire.
For some evenings, accommodation is possible.
Day 1: Possible accommodation in Les Cabannes: gite Les Oustallous www.les-cabannes.com 33 (0)5 61 64 95 40
Day 4: Auzat step cottage www.aubergedumontcalm.fr 33 (0)5 61 03 83 23
Gite of stage in Goulier (that makes a detour compared to the classic itinerary), above Auzat 33 (0)5 81 29 57 96/ 33 (0)5 61 03 87 72 http: // le-relais-dendron.com
Day 5 and 6: Refuge guarded from Bassiès 33 (0)6 89 40 65 00/33 (0)6 81 96 39 71 http://bassies.free.fr Meal possible at the refuge. Hot showers at the refuge of Bassiès are paying.
practical informations
Donkeys
They are used to carry your luggage. For that trek, children cannot ride donkeys.
* Their équipment : each donkey wears a halter, a tether, a wooden pack-saddle, with a big bag clipped on each side.
It can carry a load of 35 kilos, that is to say the luggage for 2 or 3 walkers.
This load must be perfectly balanced (17-18 kg on each side). On top of that, only light stuff (such as matress) can be added, to avoid weariness or lack of balance.
* Food and nights of the donkey :
You'll be provided with a hike park (very light glass fiber sticks, a fence wire and a mobile battery as big as a torch).Like this, you build a fence near your tents and the donkey eat grass in this fence during the night.
Preparing your trekking
You choose your departure day, the best way being arriving the day before, between 15pm and 19 pm. Then you'll get all the instructions concerning your tour, modify it according to your wishes or the characteristics of your group. At that stage, during one or two hours, we will talk about the details of your tour and we trace it on the map. The next morning, you are introduced to your donkey and you are tought how to load it and lead it. Then we share the first loading.
.Period
Possible walk from July to September.
Map
Map 1/25000ème TOP 25 Vicdessos 2148 0T by Institut Géographique National is compulsory.
Accomodations
This hike is planned without accommodation. You must therefore be equipped with a tent. However, you have the opportunity to sleep in accommodation for some steps. You will find pastoral refuges on your way. They are sometimes open and accessible to everybody but of course we can not guarantee that they will be free when you arrive!
If you want to sleep in accommodations, you have to book yourselves. We advise against booking beforehand: it will be enough to do it when we have decided together the details of the hike, the day before your departure.
Groceries
At Les cabannes (evening of day 1 or morning of day 2) and Vicdessos (afternoon of day 4), you will find all shops.
For water, you need a gourd per person, which you can fill along the way if necessary
Your luggages
In High Ariege, the climate is irregular, proper to medium heights : bright sunshine during the day, surprising coolness at night.
Packing:
* Walking boots, and light shoes
* Change clothes, a warm pullover, a sunhat
* Rain clothing (waterproof raincoat)
* Warm coat
* Flask, torch, notepad, pen, lighter, knife, string, medecine (don't forget aspivenin), suncream, sunglasses
* Plastic bags to wap your gear within your rucksack (very efficient in case of rain) and to carry your waste back
* Stove and cooking equipment, tent, sleeping bag (if camping)
* Sheet (only blanquets are provided in refuges)
* Compass and height mesure may be useful in case of nasty weather.
* You'll get water from the numerous springs. Take chlorine tablets with you.
S.O.S. donkeys service
In case of a problem with one of your donkeys, we freely replace as soon as possible.
Your dog
Your dog may accompany you during your hike.
After a time of adaptation and mutual observation, it will cohabit with the donkeys.
But note that it does not simplify the organization of your hike. It is sometimes difficult to manage everything at once: the donkey or donkeys, children, luggage, map and follow the right path and ... the dog. Especially since it is sometimes necessary to keep away from the donkey with the dog on a leash.
You keep your dog on a leash in areas of grazing cattle. Dogs can not sleep in accommodation; In general, a shelter is provided for them outside.
Remember to let us know if you plan to walk with a dog.
Your car and various things
It will stay on the church square, at Unac near from our farm.By bringing back the donkeys, our vehicle can bring back to Unac, 1 or 2 people.
If you have precious stuff (bicycles, computer,...), we can keep it safe at home.
Nos conditions générales pour la randonnée avec des ânes
prices
Price of simple rent for 1 donkey 2024
including only the donkey, its pack-saddle and bags.
Accomodation and maps will be priced separately
“Crossing Higher Ariege Range” is a 7 days trek, at least. Day 6, you don’t change the place of your camp and you can enjoy the high mountain landscape. But it may be a day you use before: you can’t hike because there is a bad weather, you like a place where you camp and you want to stay 2 nights, you are tired...
Therefore, we don’t recommend you to do this trek in 6 days.
With young children, it’s better to have 8 days to be sure to go until the beautiful site of Bassies.
7 days : 399 €
8 days : 442 €
Transportation of donkey(s): 68 €
(1 or more donkeys)
Reductions family and group
- donkey 2:-10%
- donkey 3 and more:-15%.
