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Nature Travel Italy: Apennines Hiking Tour

Italy 5 days From 3,450 €

Take part in this five-day hiking tour in Italy and immerse yourself into the magnificent landscapes of the Apennines!
This exclusive nature trip offers the opportunity to understand the relevance and importance of species conservation from both an ecological and economic perspective.

While you become familiar with the flora and fauna of the Central Apennines with its bears, wolves, foxes and eagles, you will also expand your knowledge of the prevailing human-wildlife conflict and the measures developed to mitigate it.
You will listen to lectures on species conservation, visit bear corridors and interact with local people. Every day, you will enjoy magnificent landscapes and culinary delights.

Your personal guide is always with you, providing you with exciting background information on conservation issues on site.

This is a personalised trip which can be individually altered concerning duration and activities. Just get in touch with us and tell us what you are looking for!

Your trip at a glance

Highlights

Go on a hiking tour in Italy's Central Apennines
Observe wild animals such as bears, wolves and vultures
Visit the bear corridors of the Bear Smart Community Genzana
Learn more about human-wildlife conflict and species conservation
Get in touch with the local population
Enjoy open-air picnics
Stay in fantastic accommodations
Travel together with a personal guide

Locations

Apennines

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Adventure trip in the wild heart of Italy

On this five-day hiking tour you will immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes of Italy's Central Apennines, experience culinary highlights and learn more about the extraordinary connection between nature and the local communities from your private guide.

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Arrival and orientation in Italy

After your arrival at the airport or train station in Rome, your private guide will meet you on the first day of the programme and take you to Pescasseroli, the first stop of your journey. After a nice dinner with local dishes, you will meet the Italian representative of our partner who will give a presentation about the region and the work of our partner. In addition, a nature guide from the region will introduce himself to you, who will also accompany you in the coming days.

Activities during the hiking trip

The following four days of your journey always start with a balanced breakfast in your accommodation. Afterwards you will go on an exploration tour of the region, always accompanied by your personal guide.

During the five-day trek you will explore wildlife in the Central Apennines, learn more about the human-wildlife conflict, visit bear corridors, get in touch with local people, listen to lectures by renowned guides and nature photographers and enjoy a variety of culinary highlights.

The overall purpose that is linked to all your activities: exploring the extraordinary connection between nature and the surrounding communities, the prevailing challenges and the solutions that have been identified. On the morning of the fifth day, the programme ends with your departure or onward journey from Rome.

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Accommodation during the nature trip

The first and last night of your trip will be spent at the Hotel Villino Quintilliani in the small town of Pescasseroli. Beautifully furnished rooms with en-suite bathrooms promise a relaxing and exclusive stay. The hotel also has a large garden which is the perfect place for a tasty al-fresco dinner, a sundowner with a view of the starry sky or simply some relaxing surrounded by idyllic scenery.

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For the second and third night, the Bisegna Mountains Refuge will be your accommodation. This small cottage is situated high up between Pescasseroli and Bisegna and awaits its guests with a rustic and cosy atmosphere and breathtaking views. Couples stay in a double room with an en-suite bathroom; for groups, a larger en-suite bedroom with bunk beds are available. The accommodation also has a main area with a wood-burning stove, a cosy sitting area and a kitchen.

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The Bisegna Mountains Refuge is secluded in the midst of nature, home to bears, wolves and big game, and can only be reached by foot.

On day 2, 3 and 4 of your trip, you will receive breakfast, lunch and dinner. On day 1 only dinner is included, on day 5 only breakfast.

Free time during your Apennines adventure

The days during your hiking trip are filled with numerous pre-planned activities. In the afternoon or evening, however, there is often time to do your own activities. It is therefore advisable to take some leisure items such as books, music, etc. with you.

All pictures displayed on this page: ©Wildlife Adventures

Day 1

Arrival in Rome

On the first day of the programme you will arrive either at Rome-Fiumicino Airport or at the train station of the capital. Your private guide will meet you and take you to the small town of Pescasseroli where you can settle into your room at the Hotel Villino Quintilliani before enjoying a regional dinner.

You will also be joined by the Italian representative of our partner who will give a presentation on the special features of the region and our partner's nature and species conservation work. Moreover, you will meet a nature guide from the region, who will also accompany you in the coming days.

Transfer: Transfer from Rome (airport or railway station) to Hotel Villino Quintilliani in Pescasseroli – approx. 1 ½ - 2 hours driving time

Accommodation: Hotel Villino Quintilliani – Standard room with en-suite bathroom

Catering: Dinner and selected drinks included

Activities: Evening lecture on nature and species protection
Day 2

Visit to the bear corridors

Day 2 starts in the early morning hours with an excursion to the nearby valley to observe wolves and other wildlife and to learn more about the prevailing human-wildlife conflict. After returning to the hotel and a hearty breakfast, you will head out to the so-called bear corridors together with our partner's representative:

Here, in the Bear Smart Community Genzana, you can see how the fences and bear-proof litter bins installed so far are helping to create a more relaxed relationship between the impressive mammals and residents of the area. Damage caused by bears has been significantly reduced and acceptance of the animals within the local communities is increasing. As a result of the growing number of interested wildlife tourists, the bears are helping to boost the economy of Pescasseroli and surrounding communities.

After a hearty lunch you will continue your hike to the Bisegna Mountain Refuge, your second accommodation of the trip. Here, accompanied by picturesque views, you can enjoy delicious sundowners and a tasty dinner. Marvel at the stars, with some local wine and cheese, as the day draws to a close.

Accommodation: Bisegna Mountain Refuge – Room with en-suite bathroom

Catering: All meals and drinks included

Activities: Wildlife walk in the morning and a visit to the bear corridors in the afternoon included
Day 3

Mountain hiking and wildlife tracking

The day starts in front of the picturesque Apennines mountain scenery. You will go on a early morning hike in the surrounding area together with your guide, with the chance of wonderful wildlife observations.

You will return to the Mountain Refuge for breakfast, before finally setting off on another lunchtime hike, including an open-air picnic. The hike focuses not only on the beauty and diversity of the Apennines but also on local nature conservation management: you will visit important water points or wells that have been secured to prevent animals from falling into it.

Surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and howling wolves, you can enjoy a final sundowner before heading back to the Mountain Refuge Bisegna – or you can opt for a wilderness sleep-out under the stars.

Accommodation: Bisegna Mountain Refuge – Room with en-suite bathroom or wilderness sleep-out in a sleeping bag

Catering: All meals and drinks included

Activities: Wildlife walk in the morning and afternoon included
Day 4

Pescasseroli tour and wildlife watching in the valley

The day begins with breakfast at the hotel, followed by a walk down to Pescasseroli town. You will meet local entrepreneurs from the area and learn more about the essential role of local wolves and bears.

After a leisurely lunch in the village, you will go to the valley for wildlife watching. Here you will also meet photographer Bruno D'Amicis, who has prepared a two-hour programme for you including captivating stories about the landscapes and wildlife of the Apennines. In the evening you can enjoy a nice farewell dinner with your guides.

Accommodation: Hotel Villino Quintilliani – Standard room with en-suite bathroom

Catering: All meals and drinks included

Activities: City tour in the morning plus wildlife walk and lecture on photography and nature in the afternoon included
Day 5

Departure or onward journey from Rome

Today your five-day hiking tour in Italy's Central Apennines comes to an end. After breakfast you will enjoy a last Italian coffee at the Pescasseroli village square before making your way back to Rome with your guide. From there you can set off on your home or onward journey.

Catering: Breakfast and selected drinks included

Transfer: Transfer from Hotel Villino Quintilliani in Pescasseroli back to Rome (airport or train station) - approx. 1 ½ - 2 hours driving time

1. Apennines

The Apennines is a mountain range of about 1500 km in length in Italy and San Marino, covering a large part of both countries. The Apennines stretch from the northwest of Italy to the very south of the country where they divide into smaller mountainous areas and continue into the mountains of northern Sicily.

With its magnificent landscapes including several excellent national parks, the Apennines are a true paradise for nature lovers. Here they can meet rugged peaks rising almost 3000 metres, ancient forests inhabited by bears, wolves and wild boars, and a sky where eagles, griffon vultures and other birds make their rounds.

The Central Apennines in particular are a refuge for many animals and plants that were once widespread in all of Italy's mountainous areas and can now, with a little luck, be observed at close range in this section of the mountain range.

The Apennines is a mountain range of about 1500 km in length in Italy and San Marino, covering a large part of both countries. The Apennines stretch from the northwest of Italy to the very south of the country where they divide into smaller mountainous areas and continue into the mountains of northern Sicily.

With its magnificent landscapes including several excellent national parks, the Apennines are a true paradise for nature lovers. Here they can meet rugged peaks rising almost 3000 metres, ancient forests inhabited by bears, wolves and wild boars, and a sky where eagles, griffon vultures and other birds make their rounds.

The Central Apennines in particular are a refuge for many animals and plants that were once widespread in all of Italy's mountainous areas and can now, with a little luck, be observed at close range in this section of the mountain range.

Background of the hiking tour in Italy

As in many places in the world, so-called human-wildlife conflicts occur in parts of the Apennines – meaning problems caused by overlapping habitats of humans and animals.

In order to promote the biodiversity of the region, our partner is working on the establishment of so-called wildlife corridors linking several national parks, while at the same time implementing measures for peaceful coexistence between communities within these corridors and the local wildlife.

Instead of fighting wild animals such as bears or wolves because of the damage they cause, local communities should become more aware of the value of biodiversity – also from an economic perspective – as a high biodiversity means flourishing nature tourism and thus a boost for the local economy.

Measures include installing devices to prevent accidents in the wild, building fences or, for the protecting the endemic Marsican brown bear, setting up so-called "Bear Ambassador" units, which are constantly communicating with local communities, manage camera traps and track illegal snares.

During the programme, guests on the five-day hiking tour immerse themselves deep into the picturesque Apennine landscapes, experience animals and plants up close and increase their knowledge of the environment and species conservation.

5% of your booking sum goes to our partner's local conservation organization which supports the flora and fauna on site in the Apennines.