Andy Goldsworthy’s art refuges with our donkeys

Welcome at Mandala from 5pm, in Prads Haute Bléone (www.camping-mandala.fr ).

After breakfast, we set off with our donkeys and equip them for the small village of La Javie. After a picnic in the donkeys' meadow, we visit the village's ecomuseum, featuring ancient life, before returning to the campsite for a second night here.

We meet the donkeys at their pasture after a car transfer. The donkeys are battened and ready to go.

We take advantage of the peacefulness of this place to start the morning before getting our donkeys ready and putting away our equipment. With the donkeys packed, we begin our walk up the ridge for an hour or so, where we join the track that we follow until it forks and leads down to the village of Le Brusquet.

One morning we enjoy another exceptional view from our camp at the pass. We have a magnificent panorama in front of us. After breakfast and preparation of the donkeys, we begin our hike with a descent. Today's walk is not long, and we can even enjoy a nice break on the banks of the river Le Bès, where we can swim and picnic below the village of Esclangon.

We return down the previous day's track to cross the Bès and climb up to the hamlet of Tanaron. This small village has recently been repopulated and the stone houses have been rebuilt. We cross a long forest before reaching the village of Lambert and climbing up to the Col de St Antoine, where we spend the night in a bivouac. It's a magnificent natural spot with no shortage of water sources.

We leave this place of peace to descend to the village of Authon, which we reach for a picnic. We rejoin the road and walk to our bivouac via the small road to St Geniez and the "Mauvais Pas".

We visit the chapel of Dromont, a very old chapel dating back to the first centuries of Christianity, which shares part of its history with the 4th-century Roman city of Theopolis.

From the Refuge, we head back down to the track that leads up to the Col de Mounis. Here we join the Duyes valley, one of the many tributaries of the Bléone. From here we climb up the gentle ridge to reach our bivouac site at its summit at 1375 m. We set up camp overlooking the valleys on either side, with a breathtaking view of the immensity of this territory.

Descent to the village of Thoard, one of the prettiest in our mountains. We then climb back up to the Refuge d'art de la chapelle Sainte-Madeleine, where we take a break in this refuge which is a response to the work of La Forest. We then climb back up the Siron ridge to our bivouac spot, where nature is still generous. We overlook a new valley, the Robine.

*We may have to modify the itinerary indicated, either for organizational reasons (overcrowding of accommodation, changes in terrain conditions, landslides, damaged trails, etc.), or at the guide's discretion (weather, group level, etc.). These modifications are always made in your interest, for your safety and comfort.

Autonomous hiking covers a whole range of practices, including radically reducing the weight of your backpack. It's also a state of mind that refuses to depend exclusively on modern infrastructures (tarmac roads, automobile transport, etc.). This can be achieved by choosing lightweight equipment - which is not necessarily expensive - and keeping only the bare essentials.

Nights 1 and 2 in a yurt at the Mandala campsite Nights 3 to 10 in a tent (provided) or possible in an art hut for nights 3, 5 and 8

The donkeys carry your belongings. Maximum weight per person for personal items: 5 kg. A precise list and practical information will be sent to you after your registration.