Discovery of the Ax Valleys – La Ferme aux Anes

This hike is sporty because of the significant differences in altitude. Children must walk in all the steep parts which represent about half of the route. We therefore recommend it from 8 years old.
Your dog cannot accompany you on this hike, as access to the Orlu Reserve is strictly forbidden.

This tour is planned in five days.
It is difficult to do in 4 days because the differences in altitude are significant and day 4 in the Orlu reserve is really interesting to discover the high mountain environment.
For a less sporty hike, you can cover this circuit in 6 days by staying 2 nights at the Chioula refuge. Several hikes are possible around the refuge. Another possibility is to stay 2 nights in Orlu.

Route description:

Day 1: from Unac (700 m) to the Refuge du Chioula (1600 m) 5h

You leave the bottom of the Ariège valley where Unac (700 m) is nestled to reach the first heights and discover the Chioula site, offering a superb panorama of the Pyrenees chain. You sleep at the Chioula refuge.

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

Downhill stage with very varied landscapes, crossing typical soulane villages, mountain pastures and forests along the GR107, the path of the good men. It takes you to Orlu, a small village located on the edge of the Oriège, where you are accommodated at the stopover gîte.

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

This stage is quite long and difficult due to the significant difference in altitude. Fortunately, this great effort is rewarded when you arrive at the Orlu National Reserve, a vast natural area, a privileged site for observing wildlife. The En Beys refuge, where you are welcomed for 2 nights, is located next to the lake.
Day 4: Hike in the Orlu reserve (2000 m), duration of your choice

Beyond the En Beys refuge, the trails are no longer accessible to donkeys. So you leave them at the park and go hiking, discovering the lakes, the remarkably abundant flora and fauna.

Day 5: from Refuge d'En Beys (1950 m) to Orlu (850 m) 5h

Well, yes, you have to come back down from these enchanting places! The return is by the same path and your hike stops at Orlu.

The times indicated correspond to the actual walking time, excluding breaks.

Accommodation:

1st evening at the Chioula refuge, in small dormitories of 4 to 10 beds.
2nd evening at the Orlu mountain lodge, in small dormitories with 4 to 12 beds.
Accommodation for the evenings of the 3rd and 4th day is at the En Beys refuge, in 15-bed dormitories.

For your nights in a refuge and stopover lodge, you must bring a bag of sheets, sleeping bag or sleeping bag and your toiletries. The accommodations will provide you with duvets or blankets. The rooms or small dormitories can be shared with other families.
Showers in the shelter are chargeable.
A park for donkeys is set up near the accommodations, with water and grass or hay, except for the refuge of En Beys. You leave your donkeys for the night in the park near the refuge but must let them graze on grass during the day in the cirque around the refuge, because there is no grass in the enclosure.

Useful information :

The donkeys

*They are intended to carry your luggage and possibly your young children, under your responsibility and on certain sections of the route. Children must be able to stand alone (so be at least 2,5 years old) and must be supervised to avoid any problems (drowsiness). Your child's head must be protected by a helmet or a helmet, such as a mountain bike helmet. If you do not have a helmet, please let us know so that we can lend you one.
When carrying a child on its back, the donkey must be constantly held on a lead by an adult. For the smallest, you must take a baby carrier that will allow you to put the child on your back if he tends to fall asleep.

*Their equipment: Each donkey is equipped with a halter, a lead rope, a wooden pack saddle and 2 large backpacks attached to each side of the pack saddle.
It can carry 35 kg, or the luggage of 2 to 3 hikers.
The load must be perfectly balanced (17-18 kg on each side). Only light loads (mattresses, etc.) can be placed above the animal, in order to avoid exhausting it or unbalancing it.

* Donkey food and overnight stay: A park is set up for donkeys near the accommodation points.

Preparing for your hike

The departure days are free. To enjoy the first day, you must start the hike in the morning. Also, you must come to Unac the day before in the afternoon, to see together the details of the organization of your hike (about 1 hour). We give you at this time the bags that go on the backs of the donkeys so that you can prepare them in the evening

This hike can be done from July to September.

The IGN Ax-les-Thermes 2148 ET and TOP 25 Bourg Madame 2249 OT maps at 1/25000 are provided to you.

Supplies

In Orlu, you will find a small convenience store.
In the other villages, there is no grocery store. You must therefore arrive with the necessary items (including your first picnic). For the following day(s), the accommodations can prepare picnics for you, if you book them in advance.
For water, bring one or two water bottles per person, which you can fill up along the way if necessary.

The donkey will carry your belongings, up to 40 kg. But be careful, this weight is quickly reached and you should not take advantage of the donkey to hike with superfluous things. You have to think carefully about your luggage and limit its weight.
The climate in Haute Ariège is that of the mid-mountains, with its very contrasting climate: the heat of full sun during the day and surprising coolness at night.
So plan for:
* walking shoes and light shoes for the evening,
* a change of clothes, a warm sweater, a hat for the sun,
* a warm jacket,
* rainwear (waterproof poncho),
* water bottle, flashlight, notebook, pen, lighter, knife, string,
* pharmacy, protective cream and sunglasses,
* plastic bags to wrap things in the bag (very effective in case of rain) and to take your trash back down.

SOS donkeys

If you have a problem with the donkey during your hike, we will replace it free of charge during the day.

Your dog

Your dog cannot accompany you on this hike, as access to the Orlu Reserve is prohibited.

Your car and various equipment

During your hike, your car stays on a square in the small village of Unac, near our farm, then in Orlu. Your "precious" equipment (bicycle, computer, etc.), can be stored at home in Unac.

From 5 people: -6%
From 10 people: -12%

The price does not include

Hot shower at the Chioula refuge (€2) and En Beys (€3), your personal consumption, snacks, drinks, board the day before your hike.

The price includes

Rental of a donkey for 2 to 3 people (equipped with a pack saddle, a halter, a lead rope and two bags), transport of the donkey, IGN maps at 1/25000 on which we will trace your route and individual board:
Half board: overnight stay, evening meal and breakfast
Full board: night, evening meal, breakfast and picnic except the picnic on the first day,

Accommodation

• Stopover gîte / stay
• Refuge

Accommodation package

• Depending on the option chosen, half-board or full-board (bring picnic for the first day)