Abruzzo: the Authentic Wilderness of Central Italy - DHABR
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Abruzzo, the Authentic Wilderness of Central Italy
Exploring the 3 National Parks of the Abruzzo: superb nature dotted with cultural highlights
At only a short distance from Rome lays one of the most interesting nature areas of Italy, the Abruzzo, featuring an almost pristine landscape. The mountains of the Central-Italian region are part of the Apennine mountain range and count several peaks over 2000m high, including the Corno Grande in the Gran Sasso massif (2913 m). In this landscape of wild mountains and rolling hills, wolves and bears still roam. Nature here is overwhelming and now protected by three national parks, very different one from the other. You’ll visit the Gran Sasso National Park, the savage Maiella National Park, dotted with remote medieval monasteries and the Abruzzo National Park, one of the oldest protected landscapes in Italy.
During your tour you will walk through all this abundant nature and you have the opportunity to climb up to the very top of the Corno Grande. You will walk through the spectacular Orfento Canyon. You will explore the Lama Bianca Nature Reserve and hike on the Camosciara footpath where you can observe chamois roaming in the wild. During your walks you will cross meadows full of colourful alpine flowers and wild orchids, while hiking in the woods along small torrents you will admire giant century old beech trees.
However, there is more than only nature in Abruzzo. You will walk along medieval villages scattered on the hilltops of the area and visit monasteries with beautiful frescos. You will hike through abandoned hamlets squatting under ruinous castles and you will have the opportunity to eat your lunch in the spot where parts of famous films such as “In the name of the Rose” have been filmed! You will as well stay in the wonderful Sulmona, birthplace of the Roman writer Ovidius and one of the most famous popes, Celestine V, named in Dante’s ‘Divina Comedia’.
This wonderful mix of pristine nature and many often unknown cultural treasures, represent the real authentic character of the Abruzzo Area, not yet discovered by mass tourism, where a traveller is still treated like a welcome guest!
N.B. This tour is also available in German – mit Routenbuch auf Deutsch.
During this tour you can decide independently the skill level of your excursions. Walks follow easy routes without any real technical difficulties and are feasible for all with some walking experience and in a good physical condition. Walking times: approx. 2 to 5 hours a day.
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Day-to-Day Programme
Day 1 Arrival at l’Aquila / Fonte Cerreto in the ‘Gran Sasso’ National Park
After arriving at the airports of Roma or Pescara, you pick up your rental car and head to the capital city, L’Aquila, heavily damaged by the earthqake, but again worth a visit. You then settle in the small mountain village of Fonte Cerreto, wonderfully situated at the foot of the ‘Gran Sasso’ (Big Stone). Possibly you arrive in your own car. After having left your luggage at the hotel you can already make a short walk with view of the imposing rock cliffs of Central-Italy’s highest mountain peak.
Hotel in Fonte Cerreto / Campo Imperatore (in alternative you can opt for a hotel in L’Aquila )
Day 2 Round walk ‘Campo Imperatore’
On your first day in the Abruzzo you make a stunning round walk on the high plateau of the ‘Campo Imperatore’ (Emperor’s Field). You can either drive up or take the cable car up to the plateau. Here you have several options for a rewarding round walk, depending on your level of fitness and the weather conditions, ranging from really challenging to less difficult or easy walks. You can opt to follow the ridge towards the highest top Corno Grande (2913 m.), or you can opt for a round walk along the vast high plain of ‘Campo Imperatore’, also known as ‘Little Tibet’. After the walk you drive along a wonderful panoramic road over the ‘Campo Imperatore’ down to the beautiful village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
Total walking time: around 3,5 hours/ 8 km. + sightseeing time (4,5 hours/ 10 km. with extra option).
Hotel in Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Day 3 Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Rocca Calascio
After breakfast this morning you start with a stroll through the village. This once abandoned splendid medieval village recently is being completely restored, with great respect for the original architecture. Do take your time to explore the quiet peaceful back alleys of the village, before starting the wonderful, but easy walk through the mountains, to the dramatically scenic Rocca di Calascio, Italy’s highest village at 1460 m, boasting an impressive castle and a wonderful church, set in a stunning scenery. Views are grand to say the least! On your way you can enjoy a picnic lunch. You should of course take some time to wander around in the small hamlet of Rocca di Calascio, now mostly abandoned. Then you walk down to the ‘new’ (which in Italy still means medieval!) village of Calascio and back to Santo Stefano (optional local bus). There is time to enjoy a drink along the lake, before settling into your hotel and then wander through the old town centre looking for a nice restaurant to have dinner.
Total walking time: around 3,5 hours/ 9 km. + sightseeing time (5 hours/14 km. if walking back to S. Stefano).
Hotel in Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Day 4 To Caramanico – Hermit Caves & Sanctuaries
This morning you drive along a beautiful road to the spa town of Caramanico Terme situated in the middle of the Maiella National Park. But first you’ll discover some stunning places, linked to the Mythical figure of Pope Celestine V, drenched in spirituality. By car you first drive to the charming small town of San Valentino and then to the stunning Convent of Santo Spirito. Then you make a wonderful walk along some of the many monasteries in the area. First you walk through an open landscape, dotted with several ‘tholos’, strange stone buildings that seem to be prehistorical, but were used by shepherds until only a few decades ago, towards the canyon. Here you’ll visit the beautifully located monastery of St. Bartholomew, one of the most scenic little churches of the region. The daring walkers can also visit the isolated cave church of San Giovanni and the small hamlet of Decontra at the other end of the canyon. Then, always through pleasant mountain scenery, and drive on to Caramanico.
Total walking time: around 5 hours/ 15 km. + sightseeing time (shorter option: 4 hours/12 km.).
Hotel in Caramanico Terme
Day 5 Walk through the Orfento Canyon
Today the walk starts directly from your hotel. After a short visit to the natural history museum you walk directly into the impressive canyon of the river Orfento. Although the landscape is spectacular and wild, the walk is not difficult. You can have a nice picnic lunch somewhere half way, and then descend along the river. At the end of the canyon you walk through a surrealistic landscape of waterfalls and grotto’s, before returning to the village of Caramanico. You then climb up to the old town of Caramanico and make a walk through the historical centre, beautifully located on the ridge above the river. The late afternoon is at leisure for a stroll or a drink in the old town. In alternative a longer – challenging!- walk is also available.
Total walking time: around 3,5 hours/ 8 km. + sightseeing time.
Hotel in Caramanico Terme
Day 6 The Orta Valley and Sulmona
This morning after breakfast, you make a short scenic ride through the Orta valley, which separates the two main ridges of the Maiella National Park. There are several shorter and longer walks possible in this area. A recommended stop is Rocca Caramanico, a small hamlet towering on a lonesome rock dominating the valley. From here you can start your walk along the edge of the mountain range, a scenic walk, without much climbing. Then you start the steep descend towards the medieval village of Pacentro, a very scenic village at the edge of the mountain chain, dominated by the impressive towers of its medieval castle. Take your time to walk through the whole historical centre! Then you continue down to Sulmona, a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains, and well worth exploring. Our hotel here is located in the very heart of the city, which gives you the opportunity to walk around and breathe its nice atmosphere. In the evening you can go out for dinner in a nice restaurant, which serves some superb local cuisine or opt for a nice pizza on the square.
Total walking time: several shorter walks: around 2,5 hours (Roccacaramanico) + 1 hour in Pacentro + sightseeing time + extra optional walk in Lama Bianca (2 hours).
Hotel in Sulmona
Day 7 Scanno and the Abruzzo National Park
Today you drive by car through the canyon of the Sagittario Valley towards the third and maybe most famous of the national parks in the area, the Abruzzo National Park. A number of places along the road are worth stopping: Anversa degli Abruzzi, and the tiny hamlet of Castrovalva, nestled on the ridge like an eagle’s nest. From here you can make a beautiful walk along the ridge, through a nice open landscape of mountain meadows and bits of forest, with spectacular views on the canyon. Then you drive on to the village of Scanno, may be the most picturesque village of the Abruzzo range, famous for its traditional dresses of the women, immortalised by the photographer Cartier-Bresson. Take your time to stroll through its characteristic streets and may be have lunch or a drink on a terrace. In the afternoon you make a very scenic drive along the Passo Godi, towards the small village of Civitella Alfedena, and then on to Opi or Pescasseroli in the very heart of the park, where you will stay for the last two nights.
Total walking time: several shorter walks: around 2 hours (Castrovalva) + 1,5 hours in Scanno + sightseeing time + extra optional walk around Passo Godi (1-3 hours).
Hotel in Civitella Alfedena (Opi)
Day 8 The heart of the Abruzzo National Park
Today you have the time to explore the Abruzzo National Park. A number of wonderful round walks can be made here, ranging from more easy to difficult. A wonderful walk brings you through the lower mountain, high above the lake, to the beautiful medieval village of Barrea. Along the lakeshore you then walk back. A good alternative option can be one of the most famous trails of the National Park, the Camosciara, where it’s possible to see the chamois freely wandering or in alternative the Val di Rose walk, which start directly from Civitella. The real hikers can opt for a challenging round walk to the Monte Greco. If instead you want to relax you can opt for an easy walk along the lake, to Villetta Barrea to spot some deer, combined with a visit the museum dedicated to the wolf, an animal which still populates the mountains of this area.
Total walking time: Many possible options, ranging between 1 – 7 hours. Possibility to combine a few shorter walks.
Hotel in Civitella Alfedena (Opi)
Day 9 End of your tour
Your tour ends after breakfast.
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
All nights are spent in beautiful hotels (generally 3-star). All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Most dinners are included in the tour price (see programme). On the other evenings you have an ample choice of good typical restaurants in the towns where you are staying.
No picnic lunches are included in the tour price, but these can be prepared for you by the accommodation holders, or materials for picnics can be purchased in the villages where you will be passing through.
INCLUDED
• Accommodation for 8 nights – including breakfast
• Dinners according to programme
• Extensive route notes, with description of the route & tourist information
• Maps at 1 : 25.000 scale (or better)
• 24/24 h local assistance
NOT INCLUDED
• Departure taxes & Visas
• Travel Insurance
• Drinks and meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional additional tours or activities
• Tips
• Car rental
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
Easy/moderate (2/3): Easy to moderate walks without any real technical difficulties. Remember you decide yourself the level of difficulty of your excursions. In early spring and late autumn temperatures can be cool.
Fitness: All walks are feasible for all with some walking experience and in a good physical condition. During summer you should be able to walk for some hours a day also in hot dry weather conditions.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
Arrival: The tour starts in FONTE CERRETO. By car you reach the village from Rome (daily flights, also low-cost, from all major European cities) and from Pescara (daily low-cost flights from several major European cities) in around 1,15 hours.
Departure: The tour ends in CIVITELLA ALFEDENA. From here you can reach Rome and Pescara in around 2 hours.
N.B. Prices vary with the choice of itinerary and the choice of accomodation. Our standard 9-day programme is based in good 3-star hotels. Upon request we can book different accommodations, and of course, according to your interests we can adapt the programme to your demands. More mountains, more sea, more culture, more relax…. You decide!
Please contact us for a personalised offer!
| Trip season | Tour price |
Single suppl. |
Solo traveller |
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01 April - 15 June 2025 | € 760 | € 250 | - - - | 
| RESERVE YOUR PLACE |
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16 June - 31 July 2025 | € 780 | € 260 | - - - |
| RESERVE YOUR PLACE |
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01 August - 31 August 2025 | € 820 | € 270 | - - - |
| RESERVE YOUR PLACE |
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01 September - 31 October 2025 | € 780 | € 260 | - - - |
| RESERVE YOUR PLACE |
| You can book this tour with a minimum of 1 person. |
 | There are a very limited number of available places on these dates. Immediate booking is recommended. |
 | Availability and prices on request. |
- Prices are per person and based on the season within which the first night of the tour falls.
- Prices are based on 2 people sharing double or twin accommodation. Single rooms (double rooms – single) are available on most trips however the supplements listed apply.
- If you are travelling alone then on some trips (which include taxi transfers) a ‘Solo Traveller Supplement’ will be applied instead of the normal single supplement.
- Prices are expressed in Euro’s. There will never be a currency surcharge.
- Actual exchange rates: GB £ - US $ - CAN $ - CHF - DKK - SEK - NOK - Other currencies.
TOUR VARIATIONS
One of the main characteristics of a Genius Loci Travel ‘Drive & Hike, Walk & Discover’ Tour is the freedom you have in putting together not only your own daily programme, but also the length of the tour and the places to visit. The above programme is only an example of what is possible. It is a well-balanced programme, which shows you the great variety of this part of Central Italy, with the accent on the National Parks and the authentic inland areas. However, according to your interests we can easily adapt the programme to your demands (perhaps including as well the stupendous coastline). More mountains, more sea, more culture, more relax…. You decide!
EXTRA NIGHTS
It is possible to include extra nights in any of the towns en route. We strongly recommend an extra day to explore also l’Aquila, as well as an extra day in the beautiful hilly coastal region, to stroll through the vineyards and explore beautiful small towns like Atri, Penne, and Civitella del Tronto.
Extra walking or sightseeing options can be provided as indicated in the day-to-day programme.
‘PREMIERE INN’ LUXURY VERSION
A luxury version of this tour is also available, with stays in the most authentic luxury hotels of the area. We can offer you a nice selection of ‘Premiere Inns’, very good hotels, many among the world’s best hotels, as acclaimed from Condé Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure and many others.
An example of a beautifully restored, unique boutique hotel is Sextantio in Santo Stefano. Genius Loci Travel, as the leading adventure travel company in Italy, can book your room in any hotel you could dream of!
Details and prices on request. Please contact us to make you an offer.
EXTRA NIGHTS
It is possible to extend your tour with a few days at Rome or any other town in Central-Italy or elsewhere in the country. Details and prices on request.
