Donkeys are fun for the whole family

ASINARA

Set off on a trek with a donkey. It can carry your picnic basket or give a lift to kids with aching feet. With a switch of its silky ears, it stretches down to munch fragrant herbs in a wild meadow. The magical countryside of Bohemian Switzerland unfolds before you. Your donkey plods steadily down the trail, patiently sharing the moment… maybe sharing a carrot. Fun for kids and adults, this faithful companion brings a pleasant, friendly, peaceful vibe to your outing.

What is Asinara?

Asinara is an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea with a nature preserve that’s home to wild donkeys. The Latin asinus means donkey, and Asinara can be loosely translated as donkey island. Here in northern Bohemia we’ve established our own sort of donkey island. We enjoy trekking with our donkeys in the area and have a number of proven routes. We can help you arrange trips beyond our beaten paths, but it is always important to take into account any obstacles that might prove insurmountable for the donkeys. A donkey can carry children up to 30 kg or haul a load of similar weight. But they don’t like crossing streams. And inexperienced handlers should avoid taking them on steep inclines.

About us

Donkeys are magical animals. At any rate, they’ve worked their magic on us (and others). We long dreamt of getting one of our very own. But, how do you keep a donkey happy? And, considering that donkeys like company, should you really get just one? In short, we hesitated. In the end, our friends took the plunge for us, presenting us with a newborn donkey named Vlasta as a wedding gift. The little foal had to stay with its mother for six months, so we had plenty of time to change our minds. But that’s not how things worked out. Instead, we wound up getting Vlasta a donkey pal, Sara, and found a nice little spot for a stable. We’ve enjoyed our new life with them ever since.

Donkeys require lots of care and attention. We spend at least a couple hours a day with ours year-round. Together, we watch the grass grow and the meadow change its colors with the seasons. The kids harvest carrots, radishes, and peas from our little garden patch and pick cherries and plums from the orchard. They gather fallen walnuts, play in the mud and in the snow, and rough-house with mom and dad. Our donkeys seem to enjoy our presence and the boisterous kids, and whenever we head off on a family trip, we’re amazed at how they seem to enjoy exploring as much as we do.

Last year we decided to turn our attention to the donkeys full time and share their companionship with others. We have a number of pre-tested, guided day-treks, and can lend our donkeys for self-guided hikes too, complete with instructions for working with the donkeys and help planning the route. If you want to take an untested trail, be prepared for the possibility that you could run into a spot where the donkey refuses to go on, and you will have to change course. We speak English and French. Basic instructions for donkey trekking are also available in German.

About donkeys

Donkeys are perceptive creatures. They are social animals, curious and sensitive to their surroundings. The many myths surrounding them depict them alternately as magical beings, stubborn or indecisive creatures, or silently suffering beasts with better discernment than their masters (see the biblical tale of Balaam and his ass).

We draw so much positive energy from our donkeys. They are sensitive and gentle with the small and the weak. In France (where I lived for several years and first gained an interest in donkeys) the practice of asinotherapy has become increasingly popular. The therapy uses the company of donkeys to help people solve problems in their lives.

Donkeys need the companionship of other donkeys. We’ve seen lone donkeys living alongside horses, sheep, or cattle, and they always make do. But our own observations have convinced us that it’s best to have at least two donkeys. We’ve noticed the same on treks. When we take out both donkeys, they are happier and more cooperative than when we take just one. Although a lone donkey will get along fine, it’s a pity to miss out on the interaction between the pair. And a donkey on its own always seems a bit glum.

Our donkeys were six years old this spring. They’re still relatively young, and can carry kids up to 30 kg or a similar load. We have riding pads with a handle for little riders and a pack saddle (a sort of wooden contraption with belts for hanging a pack on each side).

Enjoying the donkeys

Our donkeys are available for scenic hikes in the Bynovec area, stopping at various clifftop panoramas along the Elbe Canyon. Our shortest trip takes you to Ruzova outlook, a distance of six kilometers that takes about three hours. We also have two five-hour trips and a day-long hike (eight hours) through the meadows and woods around Bynovec. Or you might head from the village of Ruzova to Ruzenka outlook tower (recently named outlook of the year). When a large enough group gets together, we can offer short walks in Decin (roughly 40 mins) from Stare Mesto to the peninsula at the confluence of the Ploucnice and Elbe rivers.

Reserve your donkey excursion by e-mail radim.stross@gmail.com, by phone +420 777 730 958 or through your accommodation provider. See our pricelist. Please make reservations in advance, especially if you’re interested in a weekend slot. We’ll bring the donkeys to meet you at a pre-arranged location. If you choose to make your trek without a guide, read our tips for donkey handling. We’ll walk you through everything you need, and provide a map with your route marked.