Founder of the company Anes et Paysages du Haut Diois, my name is Sylvain Dubois, I am 36 years old. I came back to the Diois region in 2021 after 17 years of life in the Allier (03). It is with my 2 donkeys that I put my suitcases in the Dr�me (26) and that this project was born.

    After almost two years of reflection I concretize my project of renting donkeys for hiking. Pupy and Balthazar are my long-eared companions with whom I have walked hundreds of kilometers across plains and mountains. I have a lot of experience in traveling.

    More than 10 years ago I was already travelling alone in far away countries with the aim of climbing summits during my stays. Mount Fuji in Japan, in Korea I climbed all the peaks of the Seoraksan National Park and in Peru in the Andes Cordillera where the difficulty was there. It is in Peru that I discovered the long "Zoreilles" during my last trip, I made a walk of three days at the beginning of Cachora to 3100m of altitude, 5900m of unevenness to reach a splendid completely isolated Inca city (The Choquequirao). Throughout this walk I could cross the local inhabitants with their mules carrying their materials and others (the way is not passable, neither car, nor motorcycle). It is from there that I saw the advantages of walking with mules and that I fell in love with these animals.

    In 2020, four years after this trip, the idea came back to me, I wanted to do like the Peruvians, to leave in itinerancy with donkeys in total autonomy. And so I left my life in the Allier, I left for 7 months during the fall and winter with 2 donkeys for a journey without return.

    Today, I want to share this unique experience with others. The region is rich in landscapes and in a few hours, one can reach breathtaking viewpoints. I also want to offer moments of happiness to children through donkey rides. Donkeys are affectionate animals that appreciate care and respect, and they return this happiness by doing their work promptly...or not.

           My name is Balthazar and I am 14 years old. I was born in St Juste le Martel, a small town near Limoge. One day in July 2020, a human named Sylvain came to pick me up in his weird mobile box that he calls a "van". I was very scared, but there was grass to eat, so I decided to take my courage in both hooves and get on board.

    The first few months were terrible. Sylvain was a raving lunatic who put all sorts of strange things on me. I didn't understand what he wanted, so I ran very fast hoping to get rid of him. But one day, he put his whole house on my back and all the furniture on my friend Lucy's back. We became professional donkey movers, and we traveled all over France carrying all kinds of weird stuff. It was exciting, but also very tiring. Fortunately, Sylvain was always there to take us to places where the grass was good, and I loved spending time with Lucie. She was a bit gluttonous and ate all the time, but I liked her anyway.

    One day, Sylvain couldn't find any grass for us, and we ate all kinds of disgusting things. Lucie got sick and disappeared. I was very sad, but I kept walking with Sylvain, and I learned not to be afraid of anything. We met many interesting people over the months, and when we stopped walking I even met my current girlfriend, Pupy. She is very courageous and often pushes me out of my comfort zone. I don't always agree, but I like the adventure.

     Now we spend our winters in the same meadow, which can sometimes be boring. But I bray while waiting for hay time, and Sylvain sometimes takes us on a trip to eat the local specialties. It's always fun to see new places and meet new people.

           I am Pupy, a donkey from the Diois region with a strong personality. I have always reigned as queen of the farm, doing what I want, when I want. Not even my closest friends can capture me.

    One day in May 2021, I met Sylvain. He was trying to capture me, but I wasn't going to let him! I ran around, driving everyone crazy. I even almost escaped them when I refused to get into their mobile box. Finally, I landed in a new meadow with a new friend.

     However, humans are not my cup of tea. Sylvain was like the others, trying to capture me at all costs. But I am a proud and independent donkey! There was also Balthazar, a boy who looked at me with envy. But let them all try to catch me, I won't let them! I am Pupy, the queen of the meadow!

     After a few weeks, I realized that letting myself be caught in the tether could be fun. Especially for the food, it's heaven! So I started to optimize my meals by following the fearful Balthazar who took three hours to get over each obstacle. But now I'm smarter. I take the lead and fill my belly before Balthazar even arrives!

    As for Sylvain, he thinks he can dictate everything to me. He wants me to move on, but I say no! No matter how much he agitates and pushes me, I won't move a millimeter. Of course, I make some efforts, I understood that by moving forward there are always better things to eat.