La Routo®: trekking with donkeys in Ubaye

Description

I offer you the chance to hike with donkeys along transhumance paths, discovering the Ubaye valley, in the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

During these 5 days of hiking in the company of donkeys, you'll experience breathtaking scenery: lush green valleys, majestic mountains over 3,000 meters high, sparkling glaciers, pine forests, alpine meadows, not forgetting turquoise lakes and roaring waterfalls... This region is full of typical villages where stone houses, picturesque churches and local craft traditions immerse us in a warm and friendly atmosphere of yesteryear. For lovers of flora and fauna, Ubaye is a veritable sanctuary of biodiversity: from chamois to marmots and golden eagles, we'll have the chance to observe several species emblematic of these mountains.

On average, stages last from 4 to 5.5 hours walking per day.

Our route follows the GR69 "La Routo®". La Routo, from the Occitan far la routo, to transhume, is a Franco-Italian project aimed at developing territories around the practice of transhumance and roaming tourism. It is the result of more than ten years of exchanges between the Maison de la transhumance (Salon-de-Provence) and the Unione Montana Valle Stura (Piedmont, Italy), and aims to set up and run a cross-border itinerary and network linking the Crau plain to the Stura valley.

This trek can be a continuation of our 5-day donkey trek in the Southern Alps.

If you like the idea, I also offer:

• a family treks with donkeys in the Vercors and Baronnies regions, 
• a stay to celebrate transhumance in the Diois,
• 5 days hiking with donkeys in the Vercors,
• and a tour of the Baronnies.

Program

Day 1: Saint-Ours (1,750m).
Meet around 4pm in Saint-Ours, about 35 minutes' drive from Barcelonnette.
Meet the group, the donkeys, tour co-organizer Eric ânier and myself. Tomorrow, we enter the Upper Ubaye region and follow the GR69 "La Routo®", a hiking route of over 500 kilometers along ancient transhumance routes, linking the plains of Camargue and Crau to the Stura valley in Italy.
Accommodation and evening meal in inn.

Day 2: Saint-Ours - Lauzanier hut (1,700m).
We continue our exploration of the Ubaye valley. From Saint-Ours, we pass close to Val d'Oronaye in the Mercantour National Park. Our route then takes us to the Col de Larche in the Oronaye valley on the French-Italian border, before reaching the Lauzanier hut.
Night in a mountain hut.
Distance: 9 km, elevation gain: 300 meters, elevation loss: 400 meters, 4 hours of walking.

Day 3: Lauzanier hut - Ruburent lake (2,400m).
From the hut, we take the path into the Mercantour Park. We head for Oronaye lake and the Ruburent pass, on the border with Italy. We reach the bivouac site on the banks of Ruburent lake. You're sure to see marmots and chamois. A magical night on the border between France and Italy!
Night in bivouac.
Distance: 13 km, elevation gain: 850 meters, elevation loss: 100 meters, 5.5 hours of walking.

Day 4: Lac du Ruburent (2,400m) - riverside bivouac at Argentera (1,650m).
We leave the Ruburent lake and head for the Argentera for a second bivouac in the wilderness. This day is easier than the day before, allowing us to enjoy the lakes and river.
Night in bivouac.
Distance: 8 km, elevation loss: 750 meters, 3 hours of walking.

Day 5: Riverside bivouac towards Argentera (1,650m)
 - Becchi Rossi hut (1,900m).
We descend to Berzesio before ascending to Ferrere, enjoying fine views over the Stura valley, dominated by the peaks. We reach the Becchi Rossi hut in Ferrere for a well-deserved break after a fine day's hiking in Italian territory.
Night in a mountain hut.
Distance: 7 km, elevation gain: 400 meters, elevation loss: 150 meters, 3.5 hours of walking..

Day 6: Becchi Rossi mountain hut (1,900m) - Pontebernardo (1,400m).
From the refuge, we head for Beccho Rosso (2,261m) before descending to Pontebernardo for the end of our adventure.
 We can visit the Pastorizia eco-museum before transferring back to Saint-Ours in the late afternoon.
End of the tour around 6.30pm.
Distance: 10 km, elevation gain: 500 meters, elevation loss: 1,000 meters, approx. 4.5 hours of walking.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain leader specialized in traveling with donkeys.
• Full-board accommodation.
• Pack donkeys and their equipment.
• Transfer from the arrival point to the departure point in the late afternoon on the last day.
• Rates:
  • Adults and teenagers from 13 years old: 845€.
  • Children aged 7 to 12: 810€.

The price does not include

• Round-trip transportation to Saint-Ours.
• All drinks.
• Personal expenses.
• Cancellation, assistance and repatriation insurance.
• Anything not mentioned in "Price includes".

Accommodation

• 1 night in an inn.
• 2 nights in a mountain hut.
• 2 nights in bivouac.

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