Rewilding the Apennines

The process of “rewilding” helps to restore our nature’s ecosystems and biodiversity, for wildlife to return and thrive, while also combatting climate change by increasing the land’s ability to absorb carbon. During this six-day experience, you will witness the intimate relationship between wild nature and local communities. This is the perfect way to see first-hand the beneficial impact of rewilding and the importance of using wildlife corridors to connect protected areas, thereby supporting the comeback of iconic indigenous species.

The wild and dramatic landscape here is home to chamois, deer, wolves and golden eagles, as well as the rare Marsican brown bear. In addition to wildlife, we experience the region's ever hospitable people and their colourful and authentic culture. Led by highly skilled nature guides and sustained by some of the finest local food and wine, a journey into the Central Apennines is truly is an exploration of Italy's "wild heart".

KEY INFORMATION 

4 nights in a 4-star hotel and 1 night in a mountain refuge

4 days walking (max. altitude 2,200 metres)

Group normally 4 to 8, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs

Travel by private minibus and 4x4 jeeps

Location start: Rome

Location end: Rome

HIGHLIGHTS ❇️

❇️ Experience rewilding in action

❇️ Dramatic natural landscapes

❇️ Italian hospitality and some of the finest local food and wine

Included ✅

✅ Accommodation

✅ All breakfasts, 4 Lunches, and 1 Dinner

✅ Standard transfers

✅ Guide - Tour Leader

✅ Detailed Itinerary (upon booking confirmation)

Not Included ❌

❌ Flights (optional item)

❌ Travel Insurance (optional item)

❌ Single accommodation (available on request for hotel only)

❌ Solo traveller supplement (Where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

❌ Visas or vaccinations

⚠️ Optional items can be added to your travel upon your request

Onsite / Nearby ➡️

➡️ Country/Lakes

➡️ Mountains

➡️ Ski

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Rome; transfer to Pescasseroli

Arrive in Rome, your transfer awaits. You will be driven east; within 3 hours you will arrive in the quaint mountain town of Pescasseroli and check in at the Albergo Villino Quintiliani. After you settled into your room, you will meet the team. We will enjoy a special presentation on rewilding in the area by the Team Leader of Rewilding Apennines, Mario Cipollone, and will be introduced to our Nature Guide for the trip, Valeria Roselli or Andrea De Angelis.We start in Palazzolo Acreide, a maze of narrow streets and baroque churches that was built following an earthquake in 1693 on the site of an ancient Greek colony. The tour leader will give a welcome briefing and, if there’s time, we will do the bike fitting. Depending on the arrival time of the group, we may have the chance to explore Palazzolo Acreide. If not, we look around the town tomorrow morning.

Accommodation: Overnight at Villino Quintiliani Hotel or similar

Day 2 Visit to the bear corridors

After breakfast in the hotel, we enjoy an exclusive visit to the bear corridors with Mario Cipollone who will guide us through the measures being taken here.  In one of the Bear Smart Communities we see how they have dramatically reduced bear damage and increased social acceptance of them through the installation of about 100 electric fences since 2015, along with the deployment of bear-proof waste bins. We also see just why and how these corridors are vital to the protection of the local community as much as the bears themselves as we visit local entrepreneurs, farmers and shepherds in the region to hear their stories about how wolves and bears are part of the area, and of their lives.

Accommodation: Overnight at Villino Quintiliani Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance covered: 4.0 km / 2.5 mile

Total Ascent (m): 300

Total Descent (m): 300

Activity (hours): 2

Day 3 Wildlife tracking; hike to the mountain refuge

An early morning start to look for wolves and other wildlife in the valley and learn about human/wildlife conflict and mitigation. Return to the hotel for a hearty breakfast.

(3h walk - 5km - 300 m ascent – 300 m descent)

After breakfast, we will start our hike to the Mountain Refuge Bisegna. We enjoy dinner with local wines and cheese at the refuge and gaze at the stars before a good night’s rest at the refuge.

 (2h walk - 8km - 400 m ascent)

Accommodation: Overnight at Terraegna Mountain Refuge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance covered: 13.0 km / 8.1 miles

Total Ascent (m): 700

Total Descent (m): 300

Activity (hours): 5

Day 4 Mountain experience and wildlife tracking

Wake up surrounded by mountains and enjoy an early morning mountain experience, hike and wildlife tracking. We have our breakfast back at the refuge before we leave for a midday hike and remote picnic lunch. There are always beautiful views and if there are good weather conditions you can see Gran Sasso d’Italia, Mount Velino and the Majella Massif. During the walk, you will hear tales from local history going back a thousand years. Enjoy a late afternoon coffee and take some time to explore Pescasseroli.

Accommodation: Overnight at Villino Quintiliani Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance covered: 13.0 km / 8.1 miles

Total Ascent (m): 200

Total Descent (m): 600

Activity (hours): 5

Day 5 Wildlife tracking

After breakfast we will go on a hike that offers the most typical and awesome national park landscapes, with rocky walls, deep glacial valleys and beech forests. Walking silently and respectfully, we are likely to see one of the most important populations of Apennine chamois grazing between pastures and rocky walls. After a packed lunch, we'll return to the hotel for some time to relax. In the evening, we'll have our last wildlife-watching session and a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation: Overnight at Villino Quintiliani Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance covered: 13.0 km / 8.1 miles

Total Ascent (m): 200

Total Descent (m): 500

Activity (hours): 5

Day 6 End Rome

Breakfast at the hotel, one last Italian coffee at the village square in Pescasseroli, and we will start our transfer back to Rome or Pescara.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfer Details

Your trip normally starts in our accommodation in Pescasseroli on Day 1 of the itinerary. You can join the group transfer in Rome. Details of how to reach the start point or how to join the group transfer are provided in the Final Joining Instructions