Hiking in the Cevennes with a donkey
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Day 1:
Meeting your donkey and overnight stay in Meyrueis
Arrival in the Cévennes. Overnight in a yurt at a farm campsite.
Meeting at 5 PM in the village of Meyrueis, in the heart of the Cévennes. First encounter with the donkeys, your new companions from tomorrow onward. Enjoy your farm campsite and the surrounding nature.
Dinner on your own in the village. Overnight in a yurt in the midst of nature (farm campsite). -
Day 2:
HIKING in the Cévennes with a donkey FROM MEYRUEIS TO LANUEJOLS
3h30 hiking with donkeys / ascent : +400m / 12 km
After breakfast, you gain altitude through the Scots pine forests, before the landscape opens up to the steppe-like scenery of the Causse Noir. Enjoy the wide-open spaces!
Take in the panoramic views of the nearby Cévennes mountains. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in the small village of Lanuejols. -
Day 3:
HIKING in the Cévennes with a donkey FROM LANUEJOLS TO CAMPRIEU
3h30 hiking with donkeys / ascent : +450m / 10km
You leave behind the arid landscape of the Causse and return to the wooded scents of the Cévennes forests. Walking along a beautiful ridgeline path with your pack donkeys, you’ll enjoy sweeping views across the entire Cévennes region. From this vantage point, you overlook the Aigoual state forest, the Causse Méjean, and even the distant Aubrac plateau. You arrive at the Perte du Bonheur, where the river vanishes underground before re-emerging 70 meters below through a dramatic limestone fissure known as the Bramabiau Abyss.
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Day 4:
HIKING in the Cévennes with a donkey FROM CAMPRIEU TO DOURBIES
3h30 hiking with donkeys / ascent : 300m / 9,5 km
This morning, your little caravan heads south, venturing deeper into the heart of the Aigoual Massif. After a break at a traditional Cévenol sheepfold, you cross a mountain pass that reveals the rich landscapes of the upper Dourbie valley.
These typical Cévennes scenes — chestnut groves, terraced fields, and mountain pastures — bear witness to centuries of human presence and cultivation. In the afternoon, enjoy a swim and some well-deserved relaxation in the charming little village of Dourbie.
Dinner and overnight stay in the village.
Suggestion: Rest day (see our options)
We highly recommend a rest day at this accommodation.
This will allow you to enjoy our favorite swimming spots in the nearby rivers and the hosts’ swimming pool. -
Day 5:
HIKING in the Cévennes with a donkey FROM DOURBIES TO THE TRÉVEZEL VALLEY
3h30 hiking with donkeys / ascent : 480m / 10 km
You leave the small village of Dourbies with the pack donkeys and make your way through granite boulders and fragrant broom bushes. Gradually, you enter the mysterious world of beech and spruce forests, home to deer, roe deer, and mouflons. Descend into the wild gorges of the Trévezel, rich in natural pools perfect for swimming. Dinner and overnight stay in a traditional hamlet in the heart of the Cévennes National Park.
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Day 6:
HIKING in the Cévennes with a donkey FROM THE TRÉVEZEL VALLEY TO MEYRUEIS
4h hiking with donkeys / ascent : 550m / 13km
Final stage of this family donkey hike. You leave the Trévezel gorges and arrive in the morning at the Foux Arboretum, which houses numerous species of conifers from America, Europe, and Asia, reminiscent of the forests of the American Rockies. Picnic in the shade of the trees. You leave the Gard department to return to Lozère, before descending back to the village of Meyrueis. End of this family hike upon your arrival in Meyrueis in the afternoon.
Disclaimer
N.B.: the accommodation described above is given for information only and may be subject to change depending on availability at the time of final booking.
| Package | Double/twin room 2 pers. | Triple room 3 pers. | Single room 1 pers. | 4-person room 4 pers. | 5-person room 5 pers. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Séjour 6 days / 5 nights | €525 | €500 | €620 | €480 | €480 |
NB: prices shown are per person.
OUR PRICE INCLUDES:
1 night in a yurt at a farm campsite
2 nights in a hotel
2 nights in a guesthouse
Breakfasts
Dinners (except Day 1)
Registration fees
A travel pack for 2 to 3 people including:
A detailed description of the itinerary provided upon your arrival.
If you choose the picnic option: most of our partner accommodations offer picnics. If this is not the case for certain stages, we will indicate nearby grocery stores and refund €10 per picnic.
OUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Transfers from your home to the meeting point and return
Donkey rental
Dinner on Day 1
Picnics
Personal expenses, drinks
Cancellation and repatriation insurance
In general, anything not mentioned in “Our price includes”
Options, supplements and reductions:
| Reductions | |
|---|---|
| Discount for children aged 2 to 11 included | -€50 |
| Supplements | |
| Donkey rental | €320 |
| July - August supplement | €20 |
| Extra day of donkey rental | €50 |
| Meals | |
| Picnic lunch supplement included (except picnic on Day 3) | €50 |
| Our suggestions during your holiday | |
| Extra night in guesthouse in the village of Dourbie - half board (Single room) | €105 |
| Extra night in guesthouse in the village of Dourbie - half board (Double room - adult) | €80 |
| Extra night in guesthouse in the village of Dourbie – half board (Double room - children under 12) | €70 |
| Extra night in guesthouse in the village of Dourbie – half board (Triple room - adult) | €75 |
| Extra night in guesthouse in the village of Dourbie – half board (Triple room - children under 12) | €65 |
| Transfers | |
| Luggage transfer service by taxi | €160 |
NB: prices are per person.
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Yurt (farm campsite)
Stay in a peaceful, natural setting on a working farm, where the yurts are arranged around the heart of the property.
There is no electricity at the individual pitches (electricity is available in the communal area only).
Dry toilets are available near the yurts. Wi-Fi access is provided.
The Yurts (27 m²)
Each yurt is equipped with bed bases and mattresses (1 double bed and several single beds).
We provide pillows, pillowcases, and fitted sheets.
Please bring your own blankets or sleeping bags.
Outdoor tables and benches are available next to each yurt.-
Cévennes in a Yurt -
Cévennes in a Yurt -
Cévennes in a Yurt -
Cévennes in a Yurt
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Nights 2 & 3: Stay in family-run hotels located in the heart of charming, authentic villages.
For the 2nd and 3rd nights of your stay, you will be accommodated in two small, family-run hotels.
Rooms are available as doubles or family rooms (for 3 to 5 people).
These hotels are located in the heart of well-preserved villages, where you can enjoy the village squares for a drink or visit the local grocery store to pick up supplies for your picnics.-
Double room -
Garden at the back of the hotel
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Night 4 : guesthouse
A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at Luc and Jean-Pierre’s home.
We recommend staying an extra night to fully enjoy and swim in the nearby pool and river.-
Your guesthouse swimming pool -
Rooms available for 2, 3, or 4 guests
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Night 5
Overnight stay in a guesthouse (or yurt, according to your preference) in a charming hamlet we love, right in the heart of the Cévennes National Park.
Beautiful natural swimming pools can be found nearby in the Trévezel River. -
*NB: this is our preferred accommodation. Depending on your registration date, we may be able to reserve other accommodation of the same category for you.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
HOW TO GET THERE
IF YOU COME BY CAR
SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Carrying children:
Your arrival:
EQUIPMENT
On the first day, your main luggage will be loaded onto the donkeys at 9 AM at the meeting point. You must therefore arrive ready to hike (wearing your hiking boots, with your water bottle filled, your daypack packed, and your main bag closed).
YOUR DAYPACK
It should be able to hold your personal belongings for the day — about 30 liters. Choose one with a hip belt (to distribute the weight on your hips), padded shoulder straps, and a chest strap. Always carry in your backpack: a warm layer, a rain jacket, a water bottle, a small first aid kit, and your personal items. If you don’t have a rain cover, a trash bag and two freezer bags are essential to keep your belongings dry.
FOOTWEAR
Choose hiking shoes with good ankle support and flexible, lugged soles. Footwear is one of the most important elements of your hike. Shoes should be comfortable, lightweight, waterproof, and breathable. Proper ankle support is essential. Do not start your trip with brand-new shoes. Break them in with at least two or three hikes beforehand. Likewise, make sure your “old shoes” are in good condition and won’t fall apart on the first climb.
CLOTHING
A waterproof, windproof jacket (GORE-TEX type; poncho-style raincoats are not suitable)
A fleece jacket
Hiking pants, shorts, and T-shirts (avoid cotton and choose breathable fabrics)
Spare clothes and personal laundry
A swimsuit and towel (preferably a lightweight, quick-drying microfiber towel)
SLEEPING GEAR
A lightweight sleeping bag (comfort temperature 10°C) or a sleeping liner (“sheet bag”).
Blankets are available in the guesthouses. Sheets are provided in hotels.
Note: For your nights in a yurt during spring or autumn, bring a warmer sleeping bag (comfort temperature 5°C).
PICNIC EQUIPMENT
1 individual airtight container (approx. 0.6 liters) suitable for salads, plus cutlery, a plate, and a cup.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Water bottle (minimum 1.5 liters per person)
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Hat or cap
Small toiletry bag with towel
Flashlight or headlamp (for nighttime use)
A pair of sneakers or sandals (for evenings)
Toilet paper
Earplugs
Camera
Personal first aid kit