Italian Alps walking holiday
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Italian AlpsSee map here |
| price: | From £250 (4 days) half board excluding flights or £495 (8 days) with one evening meal out at own expense. Walking trips can be tailormade at any time of the year but season runs from May until late Sep. |
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description
We are in prime walking/trekking country, with three nature reserves close by and plenty of mountain tracks and trails to follow. You can also visit historical and wildlife sites, enjoy local speciality foods and see the largest fortress in Europe!
Walking trips can be arranged to suit you and we have our own qualified resident guide who will be more than happy to show you the area. We are located on the GTA (Grand Transalpine Route) so it's possible to climb to over 3000m in altitude! However, we're able to cater for all abilities on this trip.
Walking and trekking can be done almost all year round but the best weather is from May until late September. From mid April to June bird spotting and wild flowers are at their best.
Mid September until mid October is ideal time for deer spotting. High summer is ideal for the higher peaks and ancient that can still be covered in snow!
Accommodation is in a friendly family run B&B in a recently restored Alpine house located in a 16th century village at the foot of Europe’s largest fortification and half an hour from Sestriere (home of the Winter Olympics 2006) and the Via Lattea ski area in the Italian Alps. As such, cross country skiing and snowshoeing options are also available.
Cross-country skiing: Environmentally friendly alternative to down hill skiing. After a morning you'll have mastered the basics, allowing you to explore unspoilt mountains and valleys.
Snowshoeing: If you want a winter holiday but don't like the idea of hurtling down a snow covered slope then snowshoeing could be for you. Suitable for any one at any age, this is a great way to explore the snow-covered mountains and to discover the real nature of the area.
Walking trips can be arranged to suit you and we have our own qualified resident guide who will be more than happy to show you the area. We are located on the GTA (Grand Transalpine Route) so it's possible to climb to over 3000m in altitude! However, we're able to cater for all abilities on this trip.
Walking and trekking can be done almost all year round but the best weather is from May until late September. From mid April to June bird spotting and wild flowers are at their best.
Mid September until mid October is ideal time for deer spotting. High summer is ideal for the higher peaks and ancient that can still be covered in snow!
Accommodation is in a friendly family run B&B in a recently restored Alpine house located in a 16th century village at the foot of Europe’s largest fortification and half an hour from Sestriere (home of the Winter Olympics 2006) and the Via Lattea ski area in the Italian Alps. As such, cross country skiing and snowshoeing options are also available.
Cross-country skiing: Environmentally friendly alternative to down hill skiing. After a morning you'll have mastered the basics, allowing you to explore unspoilt mountains and valleys.
Snowshoeing: If you want a winter holiday but don't like the idea of hurtling down a snow covered slope then snowshoeing could be for you. Suitable for any one at any age, this is a great way to explore the snow-covered mountains and to discover the real nature of the area.
itinerary
| Day 1: | Collection from airport/rail station, possible leg stretcher walk (subject to arrival times), evening meal with wine included. |
| Day 2: | Days walking with lunch at refuge/local restaurant or picnic, evening meal with wine included. |
| Day 3: | Day or half day walk/visit to local museums or wine tasting, lunch at local trattoria. Evening meal with wine included. |
| Day 4: | Short break option: Return transfer to airport/rail station 8 day option: Days walking in nature reserve with lunch at refuge/local restaurant, evening meal with wine included. |
| Day 5: | Early morning or late evening walk to spot deer and other larger alpine mammals and birds (subject to season). Possible guided tour around a talc mine. |
| Day 6: | Day or half day visit to Fortress of Fenestrelle, picnic lunch provided. Evening meal at local trattoria. |
| Day 7: | Walk to the historic alpine villages of Laux, Usseaux and Balboutet, evening meal with wine included. |
| Day 8: | Return transfer to airport/rail station. |
travellers' tales
Brilliant walking, excellent guide, superb hospitality. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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By choosing our trekking holiday you will be helping to sustain the local economy of the Alpine environment; which in modern times has suffered a massive depopulation. Trekking causes minimal environmental damage and is an excellent way to learn about and see the wildlife in the area.
Our trips take in two nature reserves and help support local refuges which provide a valuable safety role in the mountains. Unfortunately these days they have to prove their economic viability and by utilising them assists in maintaining their presence. We are in the heart of Europe and we can demonstrate that to have a high altitude exciting experience need not involve costly and damaging long haul flights. We established the business with the aim to support local businesses wherever possible as well as reduce the environmental impact to a minimum. Food is locally bought ( not supermarkets) and wherever possible is organic. We utilize local original suppliers for items such as Cheese, Wine, Meat, Bread, Vegetables and Fruit. We encourage our clients to purchase locally produced items and utilize the local bike shops and technical shops. Our cycling holidays feature local markets and events depending on timings. Clients are encouraged to use local restaurants that concur with the above policies. Visits can be arranged to local suppliers and vineyards. To reduce the impact on the environment we are actively encouraging cross-country skiing as an alternative to downhill as a more environmentally friendly option. As a business we ensure that anything that can be recycled is. From biological waste that can be composted to plastics, paper, glass and other materials. All of our accommodation is illuminated using low consumption light bulbs, all battery-powered equipment is operated using rechargeable batteries. Our central heating system is thermostatically controlled on all floors using the latest programmable thermostats. Our clients are advised to consider their effects on the environment and asked to keep this to a minimum. Food is only bought in season from local suppliers. Our clients are encouraged to book their flights to arrive at the airport at the same time and are collected en-mass and returned en-mass to reduce vehicle use. We have further projects planned to reduce our power consumption by the installation of solar powered heating and electricity generation. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |