excursions with asses in mountain, Ariège the Pyrenees, camp-site or refuge excursion ass
 

 
LA FERME AUX ANES

 

7 or 8 days
 

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Sunny mountains ,  wild and preserved,
the Pyrenees Ariégeoises offer superb excursions to you
during which you will not meet practically anybody.

The evening, you can make wild camp-site at the edge of a brook, plant your tent with the accesses of a refuge or sleep in kept refuge.
We describe here excursions of 6 - 7 days. We can study with you specific routes corresponding to your wishes and the capacities of your group.
It is possible to imagine a large variety of stroll starting from these circuits. Will know simply that the asses cannot walk on in certain very escarpées zones. Also make a point we of locating the paths as a preliminary.
 You can choose an excursion of different duration, the price being proportional to the number of days.

 The starting day is with your suitability.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Up to Sault plateau (easy)
Ax Valleys tour (enough easy)
Crossing  Higher Ariège range  (enough easy)
Bésines Tour (difficult)
Way of the "Bonshommes" (difficult)(not traced on the chart)
Smugglers' Passage (difficult)
easy or difficult?
 

Camping or Lodging

Tariffs

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Practical Infos 
 

Up to Sault plateau 

 

This trip is ideal for families wanting an easy walk : often on a pastoral path or forest trail (no big heights), young kids can stay on the donkeys’ back. Short walk every day.
An accomodation is possible at each step of the trip. If camping in the wilderness, you can pitch your tent near the springs we recommend.
You will cross the grassy mountains and forests of the soft Chioula Plateau.You will come across the tiny Aillou region, a 1200 m high plateau which shelters four villages; among them Montaillou is dominated by the sparse walls of its castle.
In the end, you reach the wide Sault Plateau, scattered with red-tile roofed hamlets.
Prades village is both the starting point and the end of the trip.
 

Easy circuit
In lodging or under tent
Possible supply with the grocer every 3 days
Marked out path
Departure and arrived Prades
6 or 7 days
to see the tariffs detailed on the chart for the simple hiring and the hiring very included/understood in half-board or complete pension


 
 
For more details: technical leaflet
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Ax Valleys tour

 

First part of the trek :average heights between 700 and 1500 m on marked paths, for all walkers particularly children.
The path goes through the Ax Valleys, connecting villages. The landscape are very varied: mountain villages with narrow streets and short grass fields, North slope forests, South slope pastures.

Last stages: through higher mountains, in Orlu National reserve, on 4250 ha, with very rich fauna (Pyrenean chamois, marmots).

Dogs are strictly forbidden in Orlu Reserve, so it can’t be your companion for this trek. 
 
 

Fairly easy circuit
In lodging or under tent
Possible supply with the grocer every 3 days
Marked out path
Unac departure - Orlu Arrival
6 or 7 days
to see the tariffs detailed on the chart for the simple hiring and the hiring very included/understood in half-board or complete pension


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more details: technical leaflet
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Crossing  Higher Ariège range

 

 
 
 

Summits pyrénéenes

This route on line requires at least 7 days of excursion. If you have young children, it is necessary to envisage 8 days.

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.

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.
 

Rather easy circuit
Tent compulsory. lodging possible evenings 3, 5 and 6
 grocery day 1 and 4
Partially marked out path
Starting point Unac 
End of walk Auzat
7 or 8 days
Hiring of an ass 2007:
7 days: 257 euros
8 days: 291 euros
Donkey transportation back to Unac 61 Euros


 
 

 
For more details: technical leaflet
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The circuit of Bésines

 

This tour goes through the Besines, unspoilt mountain offering marvellous landscapes.
Most of the walk goes between 2000 and 2500 m.
The difficulty is neither owed in the number of kilomers, nor in the heights but in the harsh progression on steep and rocky paths with or without painting marks. You will have to ford several mountain-streams. Any month of the year might bring snow falls at that height.
For those reasons, we wouldn’t advice this walk to families with young children (who couldn’t be carried on the back of donkeys anyway) or to people having no experience at all with a donkey. 
You can become friends with your donkey during the first part of the randonnee which is fairly easy, through the woods.
Wilder, the second part takes you to high mountain Besines area, scattered with stones and small lakes.
The walk ends on Puymorens Pass.
 

Difficult circuit
Wild camp-site
No the supply
Partially marked out path
Orgeix departure
Arrival Collar of Puymorens
6 or 7 days
Hiring of an ass 2007:
6 days: 224 euros
7 days: 257 euros
Repatriation of the asses70 Euros

Porteille of Bésines


 

 
For more details: technical leaflet
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The way of the "Bonshommes"

 
The Way of the "Bonshommes", which goes from Montségur to Berga in Spain, is the one that used the last cathares in exile, fleeing the prison, spoliation and death.
Within the framework of a transborder collaboration, this Way was recently arranged to allow the passage of horses ans asses.
We can study with you the possibility of making whole or part of this route.
 

 

 Smugglers'passage

 

Peak and refuge of Rulhe

You will be taken to Andorra along the paths used formerly by smugglers, carrying wool, silk and cigarettes Sharp ridges of the border range, shelters by the lakes, clear water streams, all the charming features of the Pyrénées are offered to you.
The whole walk is on high mountain ground with no providing spot at all, mainly around 2000 m heigh, with a passage 2564 m high at Port drest (Dret Pass) in Andorra.
The ground being very hilly, the tour is no good for groups in company of young children. Some previous experience with donkeys is preferable, to face the difficulties.
The paths are not paint signed , and sometimes  not visible, so, it’s necessary  to be able to find one’s way throughout the mountain.
At last, remind that in case of mist, among which you have no way to know where you are, the only solution is…waiting..

Difficult circuit
Wild camp-site
No the supply
Path not marked out
Unac departure
Arrival Hospitalet close Andorra
6 or 7 days
Hiring of an ass 2007:
6 days: 224 euros
7 days: 257 euros
Repatriation of the asses61 Euros


 
 

 
 

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