Les Baladanes de l'Hermeton, Sports / Leisure Activity in Philippeville
Discover nature on a walk at the pace of one or more donkeys
Welcome to Balad'Ânes de l'Hermeton , your gateway to a gentle and authentic adventure in the heart of the Viroin-Hermeton nature park, in the bucolic village of Sautour, between Namur and the Belgian Ardennes.
Passionately run by Karl and Véronique , our structure invites young and old to slow down and reconnect with nature... gently. The donkeys, these calm and sensitive companions, guide you along preserved paths, inviting you to discover unique landscapes and viewpoints accessible only on foot.
Before each outing, Karl introduces you to simple steps for interacting with the donkey: calm, kindness, and patience are key. "When you reassure the donkey... you calm down too," he often says.
We offer hikes suitable for everyone:
- Half-day , full-day , or multi-day (with bivouac or B&B),
- Personalized events : school trips, team-building activities, birthdays, children's courses, etc.
Our walks strengthen bonds: human relationships, complicity with the donkey, and contemplation of the living. Upon your return, you'll leave feeling calm and refreshed—"often surprised by so much beauty," according to our visitors.
Balad'Ânes de l'Hermeton is much more than a walk: it's a return to basics. Book today and let yourself be guided towards peace, sharing... and simple, fun, and humanistic discovery!
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The Edible Donkey Hike. Two days to walk through a landscape… and taste it.
Two days to walk through a landscape… and taste it.
Do you know many places where you can pick a leaf, smell a flower, bite into a ripe fruit and fall asleep under the stars in the very heart of the ecosystem that produces them?
The Edible Donkey Hike is not a hike like any other.
It's a two-day interlude where the donkeys invite you to slow down enough to rediscover what our ancestors still knew how to do: look at, touch, smell and taste the nature that surrounds us.
Starting from the Hermeton Valley, you'll follow the paths of the Fagne-Famenne region in the company of our faithful pack donkeys. No athletic performance, no race against the clock. Here, the kilometers matter less than the encounters: a butterfly perched on a flower, an old apple tree by the side of a path, a conversation around a fire, or the curious gaze of a donkey that always seems to know where it's going.
Then will come the most unexpected moment of the journey.
The bivouac will take place in the heart of an extraordinary edible forest created byLe Potager du Marbre, a nursery renowned for its expertise, creativity, and commitment to a bountiful and resilient nature. In this place shaped with passion, each tree, shrub, and plant tells a different story of inhabiting the world.
Guided by Floran , participants will discover a world where the forest nourishes both the mind and the palate. Through a sensory exploration, you will learn to recognize surprising plants, rediscover forgotten flavors, and understand how nature can produce abundance and biodiversity in a single act. A rare experience, at once poetic, delicious, and profoundly inspiring.
In the evening, your tent will be pitched beneath the canopy. The last rays of sunlight will filter through the branches while donkeys graze peacefully nearby. Conversations will drift gently around the fire until the sky takes over and the stars illuminate the clearing.
The next day, you will begin your journey back with a few more discoveries, a few more flavors in your memory and perhaps a new way of looking at the landscapes around you.
Walk. Sleep outdoors. Meet the donkeys. Discover a forest to savor.
That's the whole spirit of the Edible Donkey Hike.
And ultimately, that's already a lot.
Guided hike with pack donkeys
A night in a tent in the heart of an edible forest
Guided tour and tasting at the Marble Garden
A cozy evening around the campfire
Immersion in the heart of the preserved landscapes of the Fagne-Famenne and the Viroin-Hermeton Natural Park
Accessible to families, couples, friends and all lovers of authentic nature
Limited places available to preserve the group's friendly atmosphere and the magic of the place. 🌿🐴🍏✨
"Some forests are traversed. Others are discovered. This one is savored."
New for 2026 – The Great Crossing of the Hermeton and Viroin Valleys
The Great Crossing of the Hermeton and Viroin Valleys
5 days of gentle travel in the company of pack donkeys
What if you finally took the time?
Time to walk without rushing, to observe a deer at the bend of a path, to listen to the song of the birds at dawn or simply to share a special moment with a donkey that has become a travel companion.
The Baladanes de l'Hermeton invite you to experience a five-day itinerant adventure through the preserved valleys of the Hermeton and the Viroin, discovering the contrasting landscapes of the Fagne and the Calestienne.
Along the trails, you will traverse mysterious forests, flowery meadows, limestone hillsides, charming villages, and panoramas shaped by centuries of natural and human history. Each stage will offer the opportunity to discover a new facet of this exceptional territory, renowned for its ecological and scenic richness.
Here, there's no sporting challenge or pursuit of performance. The donkeys carry some of the equipment and naturally set the pace: that of a peaceful walk, conducive to discovery, exchanges and wonder.
Each evening, the bivouac will be set up in a location carefully chosen for its beauty, authenticity, or unusual character. Shared meals, evenings under the stars, and waking up surrounded by nature will be an integral part of the adventure.
This hike is suitable for families with children, adults seeking to disconnect, and seniors wishing to experience an authentic encounter with nature.
More than a hike, this crossing is an invitation to slow down, to rediscover the taste of simple things and to let yourself be guided by the tranquil step of the donkey.
5 days – 4 nights camping
Small groups
At the pace of a donkey, in the heart of life