C4 Pyrenees Mountains Expedition

C4 Pyrenees Mountains Expedition

5 days/4 nights 

October. 17-21, 2020

749$ or 669€ per participant (including accommodation and F&B)  

Experience the traditional European mountaineer life in the picturesque Pyrenees mountain range, between France and Spain, in large inhabited rural and mountains summits. You will be team up with a native Pyrenees donkey and will lead him through various terrain of this remote area, where remarkable landscapes will reveal numerous flora & fauna species, historic and prehistoric sites. 

meeting point:  Balad’âne donkey farm, near the village of Le Port, in Ariège, South of France 

Available options : cancellation insurance 99$ 

Official schedule 

Day 1: arrival day! 

We will welcome you before 12AM at Balad’âne donkey farm, nestled at an altitude of 1150m located near the little village of “Le Port” in Ariège (see itinerary info and tips to get there). You will be checking by yourself in our yurt and tents.  

12.30AM:  traditional lunch and expedition briefing

2PM: you will meet your partner in crime, a pure breed Pyrenees donkey with whom you will explore these mountains. You will learn how to care, equip and work your Donkey. We will get over your gear together to ensure everything is in order and you don’t miss anything

7PM: our host will serve you a mountaineer dinner in an old renovated farm, you will taste 100% organic local products cooked in the most traditional way. 

Day 2: 14km 

7AM: breakfast

8AM: donkey packing and start of your journey, gaining altitude through hamlets and forest following streams up to the historical shepherds site of  Courtal de Peyre Ausselere (lunch on the trail)

4PM: arrival to the camp site, camp set up, donkeys care and visit the historical site. You will be able to clean up yourself in a bucolic river

7PM: dinner. 

Day 3: 8km 

7AM: breakfast and camp uninstallation

8AM: pack up and get our quadruped friend ready for a new journey through various landscapes making our way up to the summer pastures. We will have our lunch break on the shore of an altitude lake where you will have the opportunity to chill out or catch some wild trout’s if you wish

2PM: after this break we will resume our progression to higher altitude up to Lamarda medieval shepherd’s hamlet where we will sleep in a traditional mountain hut

4PM: camp installation

7PM: well-deserved dinner. 

Day 4: ascension day

7AM: breakfast and pack up to reach the summit

8AM: our faithful donkey will remain at Lamarda camp site while we will be heading to the summit of Les Trois Seigneurs 2199m. We will have to walk a ridge and climb 3 summits between France and Spain and make our way down to our camp through summer pastures and mountain ponds

1PM: lunch break at Arbus lake

2PM: trek down to our camp

4.30PM: arrival at Lamarda camp site

7PM: dinner 

Day 5: 14km 

7AM: breakfast and camp uninstallation

8AM: pack up and get ready for a demanding journey down to the valley through magnificent forests, stiff paths and creeks where you and your donkey will be hardly challenged. It's as old timers that you will reach the hamlet of le Port and the farm certainly exhausted but full of memories

4PM: arrival at Balad’âne farm, unpack donkey’s and yurt, tent check in

7.30PM: our last mountain dinner with our host where everyone will tell his most epic moment of this expedition. 

Recommended gear list: 

• series of waterproof / dry bag 40lt, 20lt, 10lt
• 1 pair of sleepers
• 2 hiking pants
• 2 short-sleeve t-shirts (quick dry)
• 2 long-sleeve t-shirt (quick dry)
• 1 warm sweater or fleece jacket
• 1 wind breaker/rain jacket
• 1 short trousers
• 3 pairs of socks and a set of underwear
• sleeping bag  +10°C / +15°C
• 1 flash light
• 1 knife + eating kit (fork, spoon, canteen…)
• 1 mosquito repellant
• sunscreen
• 1 toiletery kit
• personal medicine if needed
• 30lt durable backpack
• 1 trekking / hiking shoes
• 1 hat
• sunglasses 

All informations regarding your booking are available online : read C4 booking policy.