Family trekking with donkeys (Baronnies of Provence)

Description

I propose a guided family trekking in the company of donkeys in the Baronnies of Provence.

Here, on the borders of the south of the Drôme and the Ventoux country, nature celebrates the meeting between the mountains and the climate of Provence. Away from the main roads, this somewhat forgotten territory is protected by a mid-mountain relief full of character. You will experience a beautiful disconnection and get in touch with nature by walking at the rhythm of the donkeys. Every evening you will set up camp in the nature for beautiful evenings under the stars.

This family circuit does not have any particular difficulty but nevertheless requires a good physical shape. It is accessible to children from 7 years old.

You only carry your belongings for the day in a small backpack. The rest is carried by the  donkeys. We ask you to limit the weight to be carried by the donkeys to 6kg per person. Tents are not provided, please bring a light one. A mess tent or a large tarpaulin is provided in case of bad weather.

The + of this trek:

• an itinerary off the beaten track with wild bivouacs,
• a mix of mountain atmosphere and softness of Provence,
• a festival of good local products.

On the same principle, you can follow me on a family itinerant hike with donkeys in the Vercors, this family trekking with donkeys, still in the Vercors massif and a trek with donkeys on the paths of the Routo in Ubaye or in the Southern Alps. It's also possible for adults to go hiking with donkeys in the Baronnies. Last but not least, I'd be delighted to take you on a hike with donkeys and celebrate the transhumance in the southern Vercors at the end of spring.

Photo credits: Bamboul'âne - Maïté Baldi.

Program

D1: Arrival in Éourres.
Welcome at 5pm at the Bamboul'âne farm in Éourres, where you will arrive by the spectacular gorges of the Méouge.
Discovery of this unusual place, clinging to the mountain, on the edge of the village of Éourres, at an altitude of 1000 meters and in a haven of calm and greenery in the middle of the Parc des Baronnies Provençales.
You will experience disconnection and sobriety thanks to a simple equipment: no electricity (but an exceptional night sky), water from the source, solar showers (thanks to shower bags and black cans), dry toilets. At the end of the day, meeting with the donkeys and first briefing the departure will be early the next day.
Night under tent in camping at the farm

D2: Éourres - Egalayes.
Loading of the donkeys (1 donkey for 3 people) and early departure for a first day of gentle hiking with the crossing of the pass of Séouze. Easy walk in the valley to get familiar with the donkeys. We cross the village of Lachau, where there are still traces of a Gallo-Roman sanctuary dating from the 2^nd century B.C., and whose remains, essentially funerary or votive, are exhibited in the Gap museum. In the Middle Ages, Lachau was the fief of an extensive seigneury.
Arrival on our bivouac place in the surroundings of Egalayes (850m), where we are in contact with the wild nature while enjoying the comfort that the equipment carried by our donkeys allows us. After taking care of them, we set up camp together, share a good meal and a beautiful evening under the starry sky. It is the occasion to exchange and share a story, a song, a musical tune.
Positive altitude difference: 200 meters, negative altitude difference: 350 meters, 3 hours and a half of walking.

D3: Egalayes - Chamousse mountain.
Today, the view is getting clearer as we go up to the mountain pasture of Chamousse. We pass through Izon-la-Bruisse, a charming hamlet whose history is marked by that of the Resistance. The summit is welcoming, easy and little frequented, it is a typical pasture area where Provence and mountain atmospheres mix. We bivouac at 1400 meters of altitude with a breathtaking view on the territory of the Regional Natural Park of Baronnies.
D+: 600m, D-: 100m, 4 hours and a half of walking.

D4: Chamousse - Chanaux fountain.
Our day follows a wild itinerary along small valleys, alternating stony climbs and abandoned meadows. We thread our way through woods and green clearings at the foot of grandiose cliffs. We cross a superb forest which leads us to the Chanaux fountain (1200m). Beautiful panoramas are offered to us: the mountain of Palle, the massif of Écrins and even the Cévennes! And as a guest star: the nearby Mont Ventoux!
D+: 500m, D-: 600m, 5 hours and a half of walking.

D5: Chanaux fountain - Éourres.
It is by a magnificent path, that we join the valley of Méouge then the village of Éourres. Perched at an altitude of 1000 meters, Éourres is a village in constant transformation. Men and women from all over the world are trying, not without difficulty, to invest in it, in the long or medium term. They do not hesitate to experiment with new individual and collective ways of life, alternatives to the consumer society. And they make the bet, together, to respect values related to the respect of nature and human beings.
Separation at 5pm at the Bamboul'âne campsite.
D+: 300m, D-: 500m, 4 hours of walking.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain leader specialized in travel with donkeys.
• The material of common bivouac (mess tent, dishes, etc.).
• Meals (from dinner on D1 to lunch on D5).
• The donkeys for the carrying of the luggage.
• Adult rate: 480€.
  Children from 7 to 12 years old: 450€.

The price does not include

• Transport to Éourres, 25km from Laragne-Montéglin and 35km from Sisteron.
• Individual camping equipment (tent, ground sheet, sleeping bag).
• Drinks.
• Personal expenses.
• Cancellation and repatriation insurance.
• Visits and activities not included in the program.
• It is customary (but not mandatory), depending on your satisfaction at the end of the stay, to give a tip to your guide.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

In tent.

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