Small group walking holiday in Tuscany, wild Tuscany
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Tuscany |
| price: | From £490 (7 days) excluding flights. Price includes transport within Italy, accommodation, full board and 5 guided walks. Minimum age 12. Departures 2009: 13 Jun, 05 Sep, 23 Sep |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
description
With a network of trails and a collection of mountain refuges, this area of Tuscany has everything from rocky crags, limestone stacks, challenging ridge walks and beautiful woodland rambles.
Wild Tuscany involves 5 treks for up to 8 hours a day through the Apuane Alps and Appenines of Northern Tuscany in groups of up to 10 people with a local guide. With peaks rising to 2000m there is opportunity to engage in a very special mountain environment: witness eagles and choughs, mouflon and deer, carpets of wild flowers while far below, red-roofed villages cling to hill tops. The itinerary can be varied according to the fitness and experience of the group, replacing ridge walking with beautiful, low level trails. Your trip is based at Lavacchio, a small hill farm which offers extremely comfortable accommodation and plenty of space in which to relax.
All meals are provided using home grown organic or local produce and the hearty dinner (with wine) is an opportunity to unwind and recount tales of exploration and adventure. A day of relaxation is built into the trip when you can explore Lucca or Florence or take a cookery class to learn more about local flavours.
Wild Tuscany involves 5 treks for up to 8 hours a day through the Apuane Alps and Appenines of Northern Tuscany in groups of up to 10 people with a local guide. With peaks rising to 2000m there is opportunity to engage in a very special mountain environment: witness eagles and choughs, mouflon and deer, carpets of wild flowers while far below, red-roofed villages cling to hill tops. The itinerary can be varied according to the fitness and experience of the group, replacing ridge walking with beautiful, low level trails. Your trip is based at Lavacchio, a small hill farm which offers extremely comfortable accommodation and plenty of space in which to relax.
All meals are provided using home grown organic or local produce and the hearty dinner (with wine) is an opportunity to unwind and recount tales of exploration and adventure. A day of relaxation is built into the trip when you can explore Lucca or Florence or take a cookery class to learn more about local flavours.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Lavacchio – Grotto Rotondo viewpoint (1068m) – restaurant at Sassi for lunch – Lavacchio |
| Day 2: | Palagnana – Foce delle Porchette – Mt Croce (1314m) – Foce del Termine – Palagnana |
| Day 3: | Vetricia – Porticciola – Lago Santo – Mt Giovo (1991m) – Vetricia |
| Day 4: | Day of to explore or take a cookery class |
| Day 5: | Ponte a Gaio – Casentini refuge – Orrido di Botri (Tuscan Grand Canyon) – Ponte a Gaio |
| Day 6: | Alto Matanna – Refugio Forte dei Marmi – Mt Procinto – Mt Forato (natural arch) - Fornovolasco |
| Day 7: | Departure. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
Walking involves a slow pace and little impact to the environment. By sticking to well marked paths we lessen the scarring so often seen in fragile mountain areas. We leave nothing on the mountain and take away only memories and snapshots of our brief stay. All of the walks are within 1 hour of the accommodation. At the farm, everything is grown according to organic principles, composting and recycling are the norm and we try to avoid needless waste: water is heated by solar panels, central heating provided by our own woodland and energy and water consumption monitored regularly. Community The holiday is based in the timeless surroundings of the Garfagnana, an area encompassing 4 regional parks. Fiercely guarded by the mountain community, the area is fully protected and walking tours help to educate visitors to the fragile life within the parks. Traditional crops such as chestnut and spelt form the backbone of many local recipes and much of the produce is the result of ancient traditions of rearing livestock and growing produce on a small scale. Local restaurants and refuges benefit from our patronage as do the farms and shops which help supply our ingredients. The local Club Alpino benefits from our support of the refuges they run and the money supports the maintenance of trails and signs. |
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