steps

TRIP DESCRIPTION

DAY 1: from UNAC (700 m) to CHIOULA REFUGE (1600 m) - 5 hours

You leave the bottom of the valley where Unac is sheltered. Following a small past in the forest, you reach the first heights. It's hard to climb, but it's so fine to discover a wonderful panorama of the Pyrenean range!

Day 2 : from Refuge du Chioula (1600 m) to Orlu (850 m) 5h

The day 4, you go down until Orlu valley. Very varied landscapes, going through typical sunny villages and forests. You will come to Orlu, small village by the side of the Oriège river.

Day 3 : from Orlu (850 m) to En Beys lake (1950 m) 6h

Fairly long and difficult step because of the big climb. Fortunately, all your efforts will be rewarded when getting to Orlu National Reserve, wide natural space, privileged observation spot of wild animals. You enjoy the high mountain atmosphere: summer flocks with ringing bells, swift isards, marmot whistling, rhododendrons flowering round the lake. You stay 2 nights at En beys Refuge

DAY 4: ORLU RESERVE (2000m ) Trek from the EN BEYS REFUGE

Beyond the En Beys refuge, the paths are not suitable for donkeys. So you'll leave them in the park, and wallk for a day or a few hours, discovering lakes, flora, and fauna,both particularly abundant.

DAY 5: from EN BEYS LAKE (2000 m) to FANGUIL PARKING (1000 m)-4 hours

Well, you have to walk away from those enchanted areas! You stop walking at the Fanguil Parking and you leave the donkeys in a park.

The times indicated are the time you go on hike, excluding breaks.

Dogs prohibited

accomodations

First night: accomodation at Chioula refuge, in small dormitories of 4 to 8 beds.

Second night: accomodation at Relais Montagnard in Orlu, in small dormitories of 4 à 12 beds.

Third and fourth nights: accomodation at En Beys refuge, in small dormitories of 15 beds

For your nights in accomodation, you must provide a bag of sheets or sleeping bag and your towels. Accommodation will provide blankets.
Rooms or small dormitories can be shared with other families.
The showers at En Beys and Chioula refuges are paying (in addition to half board)

A donkey park is set near the accommodation, with water and grass or hay,
For En Beys refuge, there is no grass in the park. You leave your donkeys for the night in the fence but must let them grazing free during 3 or 4 hours per day in the mountain around the refuge.

practical informations

Donkeys

They are used to carry your luggage. For that trek, childre can ride donkeys, only on the low part, during around 1 hour. Kids ride donkeys under your responsability.
The kids must be able to sit by themselves (so being over 2 years old) and must be looked after to avoid any kind of problem (being ready to fall asleep,...)
When there is a child on its back, the donkey has to be hold by an adult with the tether. For security, it's better to protect child's head with a ridehat or a mountain bike helmet. If your child is very small, you must take with you a special bag to carry the baby on your own back to put him when sleeping.

* 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 : In case of accomodation, a donkey park is already set nearly.
If you camp in the wilderness, 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.
There is a night-park for the donkey near En Beys refuge. But you have to let it graze out of the park during 3 or 4 hours each day.

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

This trek can be done from july to october

Map

We provide you IGN map at 1/25000 th Ax-les-Thermes 2148 ET and Map TOP 25 Bourg Madame 2249 OT.

Groceries

There is only a small grocery in Orlu (day 2).
You must therefore arrive with the necessary (especially your first picnic). For the following day (s), accommodations can prepare picnics if you book them in advance.
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)
* Compas and altimeter( for higher mountain tours) Wherever you walk through a village, you'll find drinkable water. If you only walk in the mountains, you'll get water from the numerous springs. Take chlorine tablets with you.Your luggages
For certain tours, food is provided every 2 or 3 days. Others happen in very wild areas and you often are several hour walk from the first inhabited spots. Think about this while packing.

S.O.S. donkeys service

In case of a problem with one of your donkeys, we freely replace as soon as possible.

Your dog

Dogs are prohibited in Orlu National Reserve.

Your car and various things

It will stay on the church square, at Unac near from our farm. If you have precious stuff (bicycles, computer,...), we can keep it safe at home.

Terms and conditions for treks with donkeys

prices

Price 2024 per person (from 2 people)

Ax Valleys Discovery is a 5 days trek. If you want to do it in 4 days, you can take off the day 4 but you cannot enjoy the high mountain landscape.

free for children less than 2 years
for 5 to 9 persons :-6%
10 persons and more:-12%

All inclusive formula is a turnkey formula. We take care of the booking from your accommodation.
This tariff includes:
- half-board: including the donkey, its pack-saddle and bags, transportation of the donkey, accomodation and maps.
You must add your personnal expenditure and showers in Chioula refuge. Add also costs of accommodation and meals out of the hike (the day before your departure and return from the hike)
- full board: same thing with a picnic basket for each lunch from the second day to last day of hiking (first day picnic not included)

technical leaflet

Upload technical leaflet All inclusive Ax valleys discovery format pdf

contact

Some questions?
Phone us 33 (0)6 85 34 20 22.
To help you choose the hike-donkey that suits you, nothing better than a small conversation!
You can also fill out the form below. We will reply as soon as possible.

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Type of trek chosen

Choose your formula

- all inclusive trek: we manage the accommodation reservations.
Prices includeone donkey for 2 or 3 persons, its pack-saddle and bags, transportation of the donkey and maps, and for each person: dinner, night and breakfast (+ picnic for full board) picnic day 1 not included
Showers in Chioula and En Beys refuge are not included.

- simple rent donkey-trek: You manage your own accommodation reservations.
Prices include only the donkey, its pack-saddle and bags.
Accomodation and maps will be priced separately

All inclusive treks

2-3 days: All inclusive-Donkey trek Stroll at the farm

2-3 days: All inclusive--Donkey trek Around Montaillou

2-3 days: All inclusive--Donkey trek Let's climb to Chioula!

2-3 days: All inclusive--Donkey trek Orlu Reserve d'Orlu and En Beys lake

3 days: All inclusive--Donkey trek and tree climbing

4-5 days: All inclusive- Donkey trek Villages and mountains of Pays d'Aillou

4-5 days: All inclusive-Donkey trek Ax valleys discovery

4-5 days: All inclusive--Donkey trek Chioula loop

6-7 days: All inclusive-Donkey trek Belvederes of Pays d'Aillou

6-7 days: inclusive-Donkey trek Ax valleys tour

6-7 days: All inclusive--Donkey trek great Chioula loop

Simple rent treks

2-3 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Stroll on Corniche

2-3 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Around Montaillou

2-3 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Let's climb to Chioula!

2-3 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Orlu Reserve d'Orlu and En Beys lake

2-3 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Appy pond

4-5 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Villages and mountains of Pays d'Aillou

4-5 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Ax valleys discovery

4-5 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Chioula loop

6-7 days: Simple rent-Donkey trek Belvederes of Pays d'Aillou

6-7 days:Simple rent-Donkey trek Ax valleys tour

7-8 days:Simple rent-Donkey trek Crossing High Ariege Range

6-7 days:Simple rent-Donkey trek great Chioula loop

6-7 days:Simple rent-Donkey trek Tabe's tour

7 days or more: Simple rent-Donkey trek Bonshommes' Way

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Kids from 4 to 11 years included*

Kids from 2 to 3 years included*

Babies less than 2 years old*

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