Hiking with a donkey is less unusual than it might seem — it has become a popular way for families to go hiking together, and above all a great way to explore a region without carrying a heavy load. Here, to help you prepare your hiking trip with a donkey, you will find practical tips on approaching the animal and managing the logistics of your trek, as well as some route ideas and places to explore.
What are the advantages of hiking with a donkey?
When you look closely at what it means to travel through nature with a donkey, you quickly realise this animal offers many advantages. It is indeed an excellent way to get around without carrying heavy loads, and here are some of the donkey's key strengths as a companion on your walking treks:
- Donkeys have a good temperament: behind their well-earned reputation as stubborn animals, donkeys are above all very calm and docile. They are suitable for children but also for anyone who is not used to travelling with an animal.
- The donkey is small but strong: its particular build gives it a bone structure that allows for a carrying capacity far greater than that of horses, while remaining a more compact size. It can carry up to around 40 kg.
- Donkeys are easy to feed: they eat relatively little and are often happy with dry grass found along the route, plus a few leafy branches.
- Donkeys are motivating for children: children often get tired of walking while hiking. But the company of a donkey keeps them engaged throughout the day and makes the walk much easier for them.
5 tips for hiking with a donkey
The first few minutes are crucial for establishing authority
It is often during that first contact and the first few minutes spent together on the trail that everything is decided with a donkey. If during those first steps you let it do as it pleases, you will struggle to maintain any authority.
It is therefore essential to set firm boundaries early on and make it clear to your animal that it is only allowed to eat during the breaks you decide!
How do you manage a donkey's temperament?
A donkey is an animal that can easily dig its heels in. When it refuses to move forward, there is no point pulling on the rope — it will only make things worse. In fact, it is constantly thinking and trying to assess the situation. What matters is showing it the way, reassuring it, and encouraging it to follow you.
Finally, do not pull your donkey — push it as a last resort. More often than not, if you walk ahead of it (even just a few steps away without holding the lead rope), it will follow you without any trouble.
What rest breaks should you plan when hiking with a donkey?
Plan for breaks of around 30 minutes every 3 hours. If the terrain is very rough, take a break every two hours. Try to find a spot where there is something to graze on and, ideally, a water source for a refresh. Remove the load from your donkey to give it a proper rest — otherwise it will barely feel like a break at all!
What food does a donkey need while hiking?
Donkeys are hardy animals that feed on what they find along the way, during breaks and at stopping points. Equally, a donkey drinks relatively little.
That said, offer your donkey water whenever you come across it. In the evenings, some stopping points provide donkey feed, but don't worry — if there is dry grass and foliage available, that will be more than enough to recharge its batteries!
The donkey at the bivvy while hiking: what should you do?
The donkey handler who rented you your donkey will have provided either a lead rope or a small fence. It is important to tie your donkey up in the evening or to set up a comfortable enclosure for it.
As soon as you arrive at a stopping point, unload the bags and brush your donkey thoroughly. Then clean its hooves. In the morning, when loading your donkey, carefully follow the instructions your donkey handler should have given you before departure. Check that the load is stable and well secured — then off you go for the day's kilometres!
Route ideas for hiking with a donkey
You can find hiking routes almost anywhere in France. The best starting point is to get in touch with the Fédération Nationale Anes et Randonnées (FNAR), where you will find contact details for registered donkey handlers to rent your donkey. Many routes are available, from a weekend to a few weeks, whether as a loop or a one-way journey. You can also hike with a donkey on long-distance itineraries. Discover below the main long-distance hiking routes in France with a donkey.
The Stevenson Trail
This is the iconic, founding route for hiking with a donkey. Follow in the footsteps of the famous writer R.L. Stevenson across 250 km from Le Puy-en-Velay to Alès. You will pass through 4 departments (Haute-Loire, Ardèche, Lozère, Gard) along the GR70, from the southern Massif Central deep into the Cévennes. This route is ideal for recharging far from everything, with beautiful viewpoints and characterful villages. And there is an abundance of facilities to welcome both you and your donkey!
The Chemin des Huguenots
The Chemin des Huguenots is an international long-distance trail following the historic route of the Huguenot exile from the Dauphiné. It offers outstanding terrain between the Drôme and Isère for hiking with a donkey. The Vercors and the landscapes of the Drôme are superb, and the excellent network of gentle, non-technical paths is perfect for families setting off for several days with a donkey to carry their bags and supplies!
The Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago lends itself perfectly to hiking with a donkey. It is possible on all routes, but particularly on the GR 65, the Via Podensis starting from Le Puy-en-Velay. On the French section, you can reach Conques or even Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port with a donkey and take advantage of the many accommodation options along the way. Over such distances, having a companion as agreeable and determined as a donkey carry your load makes a real difference and saves you a great deal of effort!
The Vercors
The Vercors is a vast network of walking trails across a plateau, with few major technical challenges. It is ideal for travelling with a donkey, and many operators offer varied routes — including a full traverse of the Vercors. The landscapes are simply stunning, and nature lovers will be in their element in scenery that sees very little footfall, far from civilisation. What's more, you are never far from a donkey-friendly establishment, so suitable accommodation and care in case of difficulty are always within reach.
Whatever route you choose, the experience of a hiking trip with a donkey is always rewarding. It creates a real bond with the animal and allows you to truly absorb the surrounding landscape. You also get to walk without carrying a heavy load — all that's left is to wear good footwear, kit yourself out with the right clothing, and summon the courage to cover the kilometres with your new companion!
