Walking
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Abruzzo |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 14 Jun |
| price: | From £895 (8 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Abruzzo National Park, located south west of Rome is the oldest park in Italy and was established by royal decree in 1922. Now, the park covers 50,000 hectares, plus 60,000 hectares of external protection. The Park has an important role in preservation of some of the most interesting species of the Apennine fauna and endemic flora including the Abruzzi Chamois, the Marsican Brown Bear, the Apennine Wolf, the Red Deer and the Golden Eagle.
The park is an ideal environment for trekkers and offers a unique combination of hiking and nature observation. All tracks are well indicated, classified and maintained by the park rangers. It is strictly prohibited to walk out of the tracks, except for animal watching and accompanied by a ranger or an official guide.
The local guide is a professional mountaineering guide (UIAGM certified) who has a deep knowledge of the park and can also explain about the nature and wildlife. The guide will suggest the best places to go for animal watching. The treks are planned as to provide the participant the best knowledge of the area, in combination with the best chance to watch animals. Sometimes, the guide may propose an early wake-up or some modification in the daily schedule, if accepted by the group, for the sake of having the opportunity to see the most elusive animals. The objective of the programme is to allow everyone the time to rest and enjoy the nature, take photos and have a snack. The guide knows this and will adapt the rhythm of the trek to the group.
The atmosphere of this programme is the one of a close friendship with the local people who will take care of you (the guide, the driver, the hotel manager). These are genuine people from the mountains and the best reward for them is to have you enjoying your holiday. They will be available for you at all times, even at nights when you are reflecting on the experiences of the day over a glass of wine or Doppio Arancio.
Please note: The day-by-day programme may be changed slightly due to weather, or in relation to best wildlife watching conditions, or by suggestions of the group in accordance with the guide.
The park is an ideal environment for trekkers and offers a unique combination of hiking and nature observation. All tracks are well indicated, classified and maintained by the park rangers. It is strictly prohibited to walk out of the tracks, except for animal watching and accompanied by a ranger or an official guide.
The local guide is a professional mountaineering guide (UIAGM certified) who has a deep knowledge of the park and can also explain about the nature and wildlife. The guide will suggest the best places to go for animal watching. The treks are planned as to provide the participant the best knowledge of the area, in combination with the best chance to watch animals. Sometimes, the guide may propose an early wake-up or some modification in the daily schedule, if accepted by the group, for the sake of having the opportunity to see the most elusive animals. The objective of the programme is to allow everyone the time to rest and enjoy the nature, take photos and have a snack. The guide knows this and will adapt the rhythm of the trek to the group.
The atmosphere of this programme is the one of a close friendship with the local people who will take care of you (the guide, the driver, the hotel manager). These are genuine people from the mountains and the best reward for them is to have you enjoying your holiday. They will be available for you at all times, even at nights when you are reflecting on the experiences of the day over a glass of wine or Doppio Arancio.
Please note: The day-by-day programme may be changed slightly due to weather, or in relation to best wildlife watching conditions, or by suggestions of the group in accordance with the guide.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Saturday: Arrive Rome (or Naples) airport and transfer by minibus to Pescasseroli. Enjoy the varying panorama from the hills of Lazio and Campania, with vineyards and wheat fields, to the first slopes of the Apennine. When approaching the Abruzzo you will see the vast beech forests that dominate the landscape. Arrive at your hotel where dinner will be served. Relax or explore the village (D). |
| Day 2: | Sunday: The local guide will run a short briefing on the programme before our visit to La Camosciara, a restricted area of integral wildlife preservation, which will offer you a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. This initial hike to the Refuge Belvedere Della Liscia will be short (3 hours) and very easy. In the forest you may hear or see the Black Woodpecker, watch a pair of Golden Eagles which nest in the area, and have a first sight of the Lady’s Slipper Orchid, the most beautiful flower in the park. The hike will reach a waterfall from where we will enjoy a view of Monte Petroso and La Meta, the highest elevations in the park (2250 m). This area also has a rich variety of butterflies. Picnic at the waterfall or nearby after which we will visit the Park Visitors’ Centre of Pescasseroli. After a short briefing a there will be a chance to visit the museum and the restricted area which contains rare animal and plant species. In this area you will see most of the endemic species of the park such as the Apennine Wolf, the Marsican Bear and the Abruzzo Chamois. The area is used for controlled reproduction of the species and as a surgery for sick or injured animals. Return to the hotel for dinner. (B,L,D) |
| Day 3: | Monday: Trek to the Val di Rose (9 hours total, approx 6 hours hiking). This is the best area to watch the Abruzzo Chamois. Along the path we will find meadows with Gentians, various Orchids, and in a magnificent place called Prato Rosso, a vast carpet of wild strawberries. In this area, other than the Chamois, red squirrels can be easily seen, as well as Red Deer and amazing butterflies such as the Cleopatra, Lesser Purple Emperor and the Apollo. Lunch will be picnic style Return to the hotel for dinner. (B,L,D) |
| Day 4: | Tuesday: Today we hike from Pescasseroli to the Iorio hut (9 hours total, approx 5 hours walking). This hut is set up for viewing the Marsican Bear. Lunch will be at the hut (1830 m) or picnic. The Iorio hut is one of the best places to enjoy the landscape of the Abruzzo National Park. On the north side Monte Serrone, I Prati d’Angro, the dry Fucino’s Lake and Monte Schienacavallo can be seen. On the east side Serra del Carapale and Monte Marsicano (2245 m). On the south side there are other villages - Opi, Villetta Barrea and Barrea and the rocky mountains of Camosciara; on the west side Creste la Rocca divides Abruzzo from Lazio. Return to the hotel for dinner. (B,L,D) |
| Day 5: | Wednesday: A long hike from L’Ara della Forca to Valle Lunga (11 hours, approx 8 hours walk). This is a very wild area with the chance to spot Roe Deer and exceptionally Lynx. Dinner and overnight at the Rifugio del Falco at 1550 m altitude in the Fiorita valley. The hut is managed by the park rangers and offers simple accommodation in a wild environment. A local characteristic dinner will be served and we will enjoy an exceptional night in the silent nature of the park. During sunset it will be possible to admire the Adriatic to the east. For the brave, our local guide may arrange a short night escape into the woods for a chance to see the Marsican Bear hunting or searching for a mate. (B,L,D) |
| Day 6: | Thursday: Today we hike to La Meta (2242 m), the third highest peak of the area (7 hours, 6 hours walk). We ascend via the Valle di Biscurri and return via the Valle Pagana. A large part of the trek will take place above 2000m. Along the way we hope to spot Apennine Wolves and Golden Eagles. The northern part of the mountain is home to the Abruzzo Chamois. Lunch will be at a mountain hut. Return to the hotel for dinner. (B,L,D) |
| Day 7: | Friday: Short hike to the Val Fondillo (4 hours). The lower part of the hike will take place in wonderful old beech, black pine, and pino mugo forests. We will cross some meadows with various types of orchid, with views of the Fondillo River and waterfalls. In the upper valley, close to the Passaggio dell’Orso pass (1670 m), Mariscan Bear can be found in the early mornings. During this hike we will also visit the Acqua Sfranatara springs and the Grotta delle Fate. Return to the hotel for lunch or picnic. Afternoon is free to relax in the hotel, visit Pescasseroli or the nearby villages, shop in the small typical boutiques or handicraft houses, taste wines, or take an optional bike or horse tour around the lake of Barrea. The mini coach will also be available if required. Dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D) |
| Day 8: | Saturday: After breakfast at the hotel we will have time for a quick last tour in the village before transferring back to Rome or Naples for the flight home (B) |
how this holiday makes a difference
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This holiday takes place in a wildlife sanctuary, the Abruzzo National Park, the oldest park in Italy. The Park has an important role in preservation of some of the most interesting species of the apennine fauna and endemic flora.
Our programme is aimed at allowing our guests to fully enjoy their holiday and, at the same time, having the lowest environmental impact. By trekking in small groups we minimise the disturbance to wild animals. The trekking itinerary has been studied together with the park rangers who are well versed in the habitats and sensitivities of local fauna. To this end, our guide is a local mountaineering guide with special knowledge of the environment, UIAGM certified and accredited to the park authority. Hikers are requested to carry their own food during the treks and carry back all litter. One night is spent in a mountain hut which is operated by the park rangers. Here, all waste is carried down to the main village; heating and cooking is by wood fire and there is no electricity or hot water. This trip also helps to take care of the culture and needs of the local population. We use a small, local hotel in Pescasseroli which offers local food from the traditional, simple Abruzzo cuisine. Our guests are given the opportunity to visit the local villages, archeological sites, places of handicraft production, to taste the local cuisine and are encouraged to fully respect the local traditions. We establish long-term relationships with the local suppliers who fully rely upon tourism in the park (there are no ski resorts in the area). Timing of our trips is also an important factor, and we tend to avoid the peak period of summer holidays in Italy (August) when visitor pressure on the area is higher. As a company, we support a variety of charities that strive for better conditions for staff who work in ‘off the beaten track’ tourism. In the Indian sub-continent and South America we help to provide better conditions for porters, and the protection of indigenous peoples in remote and fragile places such as rainforests and the sub-polar regions. All our trips are operated and planned in line with PATA and Green Globe 21 principles. We equally expect our clients to be committed to sustainable tourism. We offer you the chance to contribute to Climate Care, from £5. |
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. |