Hiking with a donkey in Limousin

hiking with a donkey in france

Some experiences for traveling with family or friends

family hiking with a donkey

 

Year after year, we try to find the best possible compromise for the routes of our circular hikes between the beauty of the landscape, the accessibility of the paths, but of course also the overnight accommodations in the villages along the way.

We will give you reliable and precise directions (sorry : only in french). In either case, you should be able to read maps. After the return of our guests and their experiences, we continuously refine the instructions.

On the way you are expected every evening in a private accommodation, an inn or a campsite. Everywhere there is also an overnight pasture for the donkeys.

All of our hikes can be undertaken with children. We give you a recommended age for each route so that the whole family can enjoy this great experience of a donkey hike.

 

For safety reasons, the presence of at least two adults is strongly recommended. Dogs cannot take part in the hike.



Our donkeys

family hiking with a donkey

Your hiking donkey can carry up to 35 kilograms, well distributed between the two panniers that we have ready for you.

In the morning before the start of your hike, we will show you how to groom and saddle the donkey. That's not hard. We'll take this opportunity to give you some tips on how to lead and handle the donkey on the go.

You will quickly find that it is a pure prejudice that a donkey is stubborn. Our donkeys are well trained and very friendly. On the way they prove to be obedient, peaceful and trusting companions.



Hiking with children

family hiking with a donkey

A donkey hike is not a riding holiday - it is a hike on foot, even for the children.


At the age of three to five the children can of course rest on the back of the donkey for a while.

From the age of six a child is able to lead the donkey. If you instill responsibility in your children, the donkey will perfectly motivate them to do this task.

From the age of eight, children are no longer allowed to ride the donkey for weight reasons:

 

They brush their fur, hold the lead, stroke them - which donkeys can never get enough of.



Overnight during the hike

family hiking with a donkey

We'll take care of booking all of your nights in advance. You sleep every evening in an inn or private accommodation or in a tent (2- and 4-day tour) depending on what we have selected for you in the places along the way.

 

Provisions are also made for the donkey: everywhere it will spend the night on a fenced meadow in the immediate vicinity of your accommodation. Because there are hardly any grooms these days, you will have to look after your long-eared companion yourself, clean it and provide it with water.

 

As far as the route is concerned, we will give you a hiking map and a detailed description of the route for each day.



Our best tours with a donkey

Day tours / around 10km

donkey trekking in france
family ride with a donkey / photo : N. Turin
rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

difficulty
Short and easy walks: ideal for discovering donkeys.

Recommended age for children: from 4 years old

rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

on the way...
Valley circuit? Hill Circuit? The choice is yours!

Take a gourmet picnic and enjoy this beautiful walk with your family!



The Maulde Valley / 3 days / 20km

3 days trek with a donkey
A nice hike in Limousin Mountains
rando avec un âne en famille

accomodation
yurt or gypsy-caravan

rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

difficulty
hike accessible to all, perfect for discovering donkeys.

Recommended minimum age for children: from 3 years old

rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

on the way...
The Maulde takes its source on the plateau of Millevaches, then feeds the immense lake of Vassivière then makes its way in the Limousine Mountain until it joins the Vienne.

Our favorite tour !



Monts et Bocages / 3 days / 43km

hiking with a donkey: mountain circuit and groves (3 days in Limousin)
meadows and forests as far as the eye can see: hiking in Limousin

accomodation

hotel (full board)

rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

difficulty

hiking suitable for families because accessible to all: little drop, short steps ...

Minimum age recommended for children: from 4 years old

rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

on the way...

Valley of the river Maulde and large forest estates in the heart of the Limousin Mountain ...



the lake Vassivière with a donkey / 5 days / 73km

donkey-trekking by the lake vassiviere
bivouac by the lake
rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

accomodation
camping by the lake

equipment supplied and installed by us.

rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

difficulty

Beautiful route on the lake shore trail. This hike should be reserved for the good walkers ... Minimum age recommended for children: from 9 years old.

rando bivouac âne à Vassivière

on the way...

the Poets' Trail (engraved stelae, moorland and peat bog) and countless views of the lake.