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Abruzzo- Majella N. P. hike
- Incontaminate, natural and wild habitat
- Incredible biodiversity with over 25.000ha of complete wilderness, 2100 different plant species, 140 endemic
- Hundreds of caves, gorges, rivers and peaks above 2000 meters a.s.l.
- Historical, archaeological and architectural treasures
- Strong link to old customs and traditions
From: 555 €
Tripcode: ITSW170
3.5 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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2 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 7 days
Details
Moderate trail walk through the northern part of Majella National Park
The 74.095 ha Majella National Park, located in the Italian Abruzzo region, is an impressive limestone massif with over 25.500 haof wilderness; it is a little unknown area not far from Rome and the Adriatic coast suitable for nature lovers and families alike. Clear streams, mountain meadow with flocks of sheep, endless beech forests, ancient attractive villages, Romanesque monasteries and solitary hermitages fill the scenery. In the Majella National Park you can still find wildlife that has become rare elsewhere inEurope. Otters play in the clear water while brown bears, wolves, lynx, Apennine Chamois,red deerand roe deer still wonder through their natural habitat while the Royal Eagle soars above.
The Majella National Park is a unique example of mountainous wilderness in the heart of the Appenine range and consists mainly of a limestone massif with hundreds of caves, gorges and rivers and 30 peaks above2000 meters. The park is home to 22% of all European flora and lies at a crossroads of climates making it the most Southern Alpine range with over 2.100 different plant species of which 140 are endemic.
This trek crosses the Majella National Park from North to South East passing through a variety of habitats, from the peaks of Mt. Majelletta down to the Plain of Sulmona. In between, you walk through the Orfento valley crisscrossing the river many times, visit ancient churches and hermitages clinging to the cliff face and make your way through shady forests that open onto high pastures with incredible panoramas. Along the way there are plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities.
What is a PAN Park
PAN stands for Protected Area Network. A PANParkmeans you-can visit the last true wilderness boarding Europe. A PANParkis for real and strictly protected, pristine wilderness, high quality tourist facilities and a sustainable development of the local economy. MajellaNational Parkis member of the PAN Parks network, which ensures that you are visiting a park also encompassing the best of Europe’s wilderness.
The park has been recognized by the PAN Parks Foundation as an excellent European protected area which offers wilderness: a huge territory with untouched nature!
By Participating in this trip you Will Contribute to protect the last great natural areas inEurope.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrive in Pretoro
Arrive in Pescara or Roma airports and take a train to Chieti. From Chieti a private transfer takes you to your accommodation in Pretoro. If you arrive early, take a stroll in the tiny streets of this nice medieval village, located at 600m altitude on the slopes of the Majella Massif. Enjoy having a glass of wine sitting on the bench of the panoramic terrace in front of the accommodation. Dinner on your own.
Villages along the way: Pretoro
Day 2: San Liberatore Abbey walk and afternoon faunal introduction activity
Short transfer to the start of the day’s walk to the impressive San Liberatore Abbey of the 11th century, one of the oldest and most beautiful of Abruzzo. Visit the church and the peaceful surrounding grounds and make your own back to Pretoro afterwards. In the afternoon, faunal introduction activity at the “Grande Faggio” Educational Centre in Pretoro with an expert English speaking local guide. Dinner at the accommodation.
Challenge: 11,2 km - climbing 550m - descending 600m
Villages along the way: Serramonacesca, San Liberatore Abbey, Pretoro
Day 3: Walk from Pretoro to Passo Lanciano and faunal observation at sunset
Morning transfer to the start of the walk near Pretoro (near Colle Tondo or Colle Faggio, depending on how long you want to walk). The route is well marked but the trail is sometimes hard to see. You come out on an open level with great views of the Maielletta Mountains. You stay in a good hotel in Passo Lanciano, a small ski hamlet in the beech woods, uninspiring in summer, but the only place where you can overnight. At sunset, you are picked up from the hotel and taken to Piane di Tarica for the faunal observation with a local guide. This guided excursion takes about 1.5 -2 hours. Dinner at the hotel.
Challenge: 8,5 or 15,7 km - climbing 650m or 780m - descending 100m or 200m
Villages along the way: Passo Lanciano
Day 4: Walk from Santo Spirito to Decontra with short extension to the San Bartolomeo Hermitage
Short morning transfer to Santo Spirito, where the day’s walk starts. Today’s highlight is the surprisingly well camouflaged San Bartolomeo Hermitage, clinging to a cliff above a water filled hollow where various types of amphibians live. As you descend, through forest trails and then on vast prairies dotted with stone mounds collected by shepherds through the ages, you come across the ruins of ancient stone farmhouses typical of the area. Today’s destination is the hamlet of Decontra a charming and magical place that seems unaffected by time. Dinner at the accommodation.
Challenge: 10,7 km - climbing 150m - descending 650m
Villages along the way: Passo lanciano, Santo Spirito and San Bartolomeo Hermitage, Decontra di Caramanico
Day 5: Walk from Decontra to Caramanico Terme through the Orfento Valley
Soon after leaving Decontra you plunge into the deep and narrow Orfento Valley formed by the erosive action of the river through the millennia, that has contributed to the creation of one of the most singular and spectacular areas in the Apennines, both from an aesthetic and naturalistic point of view. Because of its natural characteristics the valley is a protected and restricted area. Today you can choose to make a short or long walk along the river before climbing out of the valley at Caramanico Terme, a well known spa town where the cold sulfurous waters are used to treat breathing and skin problems. Dinner on your own.
Challenge: 9 km - climbing 150m - descending 350m
Villages along the way: Decontra, Orfento Valley, Caramanico Terme
Day 6: Walk from Lama Bianca to Pacentro via the San Leonardo Pass
A short transfer takes you to Lama Bianca where the day’s walk to Pacentro starts. The walk is a gradual climb predominated by the spectacular views of and from the Morrone Mountain that sits majestically behind Caramanico Terme. All along the walk, on forest trails and mountain pastures, you have great views of the soaring peaks of the Majella massif, the Gran Sasso (2800mt), the highest mountain outside the Italian Alps and the Monti della Laga.
Once over the San Leonardo Pass, a steep descent down to the tower of the medieval village of Pacentro that offers great views on the mountains of the Abruzzo National Park and the town of Sulmona. In Pacentro, take the local bus to the bustling small art city worth visiting of Sulmona.
Challenge: 10,9 km - climbing 150m - descending 900m
Villages along the way: Passo San Leonardo, Pacentro, Sulmona
Day 7: Departure from Sulmona
The trip and our services end after breakfast. Make your own way to the airport by public transports. Arrivederci!
Villages along the way: Sulmona
Practical info
Included:
Accommodation and Meals
- 1 night at B&B Casa Milà in Pretoro on breakfast basis
- 1 night at B&B Casa Milà in Pretoro on half board basis (drinks included)
- 1 night in Passo Lanciano on half board basis (drinks excluded) + packet lunch on Day 4
- 1 night in Decontra di Caramanico on half board basis (drinks included)
- 1 night in Caramanico Terme on breakfast basis
- 1 night in Sulmona on breakfast basis
People and Luggage transfers
- Arrival transfer from Chieti Scalo Train Station to Pretoro
- Transfer from Pretoro to the start of the walk to the San Liberatore Abbey on Day 2
- Transfer from Pretoro to the start of the walk to Passo Lanciano on day 3 (it can be near Colle Tondo or in Colle del Faggio)
- Transfer from Passo Lanciano to Santo Spirito on Day 4
- Transfer from Caramanico Terme to Lama Bianca on Day 6
- Luggage transfer from Pretoro to Sulmona from Day 3 to Day 6
Miscellaneous
- Afternoon faunal introduction activity with an expert English speaking local guide on day 2
- Faunal observation at sunset with an expert English speaking local guide on day 3
- Road book in English
- Official Tourist Map 1:50.000 of the Majella National Park
- 24h/7 day help telephone line
- Pan Parks Foundation Donation
Not Included:
- All kind of public transport (flight, train, busses)
- Car rental
- All transfers not mentioned in the included section
- Lunches on day 2, 3, 5 and 6 are not included
- Dinners on day 2, 5 and 6 are not included
- No beverages (no aerated & alcoholic beverages, or bottle water, or tea or coffee)
- Sightseeing or entrance fees of any kind not specified in the program
- Items of personal nature
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal travel insurance (mandatory)
Optional Services:
- Transfer from the airport (Pescara or Rome) to Pretoro on day 1. In this case you only pay the price difference from the airport (Pescara or Rome) to Chieti, since the transfer fromChieti to Pretoro is already included in the trip.
- Transfer from Sulmona to the airport (Pescara or Rome) on day 7
- Extra nights along the way or in other destination in Italy
- Pre or post tour in Rome or at the beach
- Hiking guide throughout the trip for small parties
Reviews
Start: Pretoro
Finish: Sulmona
Dates & prices
Trip availability: From 17th May to 31 October
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 555 €/person |
| twin room: | 780 €/person |
| double room: | 780 €/person |
| single room: | 875 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 1135 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 570 €/person |
| twin room: | 800 €/person |
| double room: | 800 €/person |
| single room: | 895 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 1150 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 555 €/person |
| twin room: | 780 €/person |
| double room: | 780 €/person |
| single room: | 875 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 1135 €/person |
Other prices
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| People and luggage transfer Pescara Airport-B&B Casa Mil: | 97 € |