Italian Apennines: Walks & Wildlife

Experience Overview

Embark on a walking adventure in the Abruzzo mountains, joining expert nature guides from our partners Rewilding Apennines to learn about the essential conservation work they do here. During this six-day experience, we witness the intimate relationship between humans and animals, visiting bear corridors, waking before sunrise to track wolves, and spending a night in a remote mountain refuge. The expert insight of the nature guides, plus a chance to explore one of the more remote regions of Italy, will undoubtedly leave you with a deep connection to the rugged landscapes and extraordinary wildlife of the wild Apennines. This trip visits the area that is being rewilding in partnership with Rewilding Apennines, through our Nature and Carbon Corridors project. All profits from the sale of this trip will go to Rewilding Apennine’s vital biodiversity restoration work.
Profile
— Accommodation: 4 Classic nights (hotels), 1 Simple night (mountain refuge) — Four days of walking (maximum altitude: 7,220ft/2,200m) — Group normally 4 to 8, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Travel by private minibus and 4×4s — Option to travel by train to your adventure
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 4 Classic nights (hotels), 1 Simple night (mountain refuge) — Four days of walking (maximum altitude: 7,220ft/2,200m) — Group normally 4 to 8, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Travel by private minibus and 4×4s — Option to travel by train to your adventure
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. Walks: There are four days of walking in mountainous terrain with transport to and from the start/end points of the walks. Some days are quite long, sometimes involving an ascent of 2,295ft (700m) followed by a similar descent. The paths are rocky and steep in sections but generally well maintained. Activity hours: Walking hours stated are given as approximates only and include lunch and photo stops and vary depending on the group’s pace. Typically, days average about two to five hours and up to 8mi (13km). Weather: Some walks take place at altitudes up to 7,220ft (2,200m), where temperatures can be cool and there are high levels of humidity. Please ensure you pack appropriate clothing. Heights: This trip is not advised for severe vertigo sufferers.
Eating Drinking
Each morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast of cakes, biscuits, cereals, fresh bread and jams, plus eggs and cheese for extra energy on the mountains. Packed lunches (sandwiches with local breads or focaccia, vegetable, fruit, snack) from the guesthouse or local shops and bakeries are provided each morning to take with you on the day’s adventure. Each evening, tuck into traditional Italian dishes including maccheroni alla chitarra – a special type of spaghetti, soup with orapi (wild spinach) and beans, gnocchetti, and grilled meat. The region has a strong sheep-rearing culture, so plenty of local dairy products are available such as pecorino, ricotta, caciocavallo and a rare goat’s cheese called marzolina. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for.
Transportation
We use a minivan for most of the trip. Some experiences can be supported by off-road vehicles on dirt or secondary roads.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Villino Quintiliani Hotel, Viale Santa Lucia, 1, 67032 Pescasseroli AQ Phone: +39 0863 910755 Airport: Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately three hours’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. Due to the distance between the airport and hotel, we highly recommend you join the group transfer. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
The climate in the highest section of the Apennines is continental (as found in the interior of Europe) but made more pleasant by Mediterranean influences. Snowfalls are frequent, with cold winters and hot summers. Average summer temperature is 24C-35C (75F-95F) and average rainfall is 39in-78in (1,000mm-2,000mm) per year, which is higher on the Tyrrhenian slopes than on the eastern, or Adriatic, side of the Apennines.

Highlights