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Wilderness Trek through the Majella Nat. Park
Price on request
Tripcode: ITSW173
3 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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3 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
Demanding Inn to Inn Wilderness Trek through northern Majella
The74.095 haMajella National Park, located in the Italian Abruzzo region, is an impressive limestone massif with over25.500 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 theMajellaNational Parkyou 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.
TheMajellaNational Parkis a unique example of mountainous wilderness in the heart of the Apenine 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.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrive in Pretoro
Arrive in Pescara Airport or Chieti train Station and take a public bus to Pretoro, unless you have booked an optional transfer.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 is on your own.
Villages along the way: Pescara, Pretoro
Day 2 : Walk through the Foro Valley and afternoon faunal introduction activities with a local guide
The day’s walk takes you into the deep wooded Foro Valley. Along steep cliffs you reach an undulating terrain with overgrown land (meadows, fields and orchards). From this semi-open area, you have great views of the Majella and GranSasso Peaks(2.912m), which is the highest peak inItaly outside the Alps.After the walk, on the way back to Pretoro, you pass the Wolf Study and Environmental Education Centre “Il Grande Faggio”, where you are given an introduction of 1.5-2 hours of the PAN Park Association, the wolves and other animals that live in theMajellaNational Park.
Challenge: 10.6 km, 500m ascent, 500m descent, 4.5 hrs
Villages along the way: Pretoro
Day 3: Walk from Pretoro to Passo Lanciano and wildlife observation at sunset
From Pretoro walk up the village (or optional transfer) and begins a steep climb. First through half-open terrain, then through a dense forest. The route is well marked but the trail is sometimes hard to see. You come out on an open level with great views of theMaiellettaMountains. 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, faunal observation with local expert guide near Passo Lanciano. This guided excursion takes about 1.5 -2 hours.
Challenge: 17km, 950m ascent, 200m descent, 7 hrs OR
Challenge: 15.7km, 780m ascent, 200m descent, 6.5 hrs
Villages along the way: Passo Lanciano
Day 4: Walk from Passo Lanciano to Decontra
Challenge: 16km, 575m ascent, 1075m descent, 6.5 hrs OR
Challenge: 17km, 450m ascent, 950m descent, 6 hrs
Villages along the way: Decontra
Day 5 : Walk from Decontra to Caramanico Terme through the Orfento Valley
Through scenic trails, you plunge into the deep and narrow Orfento Valley, formed by the erosive action of the homonymous 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. Climbing up the valley, you reach Caramanico Terme, the well known spa town. Here you can stop for lunch and for a visit of the Park Information Centre. In the afternoon walk up back to Decontra.
Challenge: 11.7km, 450m ascent, 450m descent, 4.5 hrs
Villages along the way: Caramanico Terme
Day 6 : Walk from Sant’Eufemia to Pacentro via Lama Bianca and the San Leonardo Pass
A short transfer takes you to the start of the walk in the village of Sant’Eufemia or, if you want to shorten the walk, in Lama Bianca or Passo San Leonardo. 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 magnificent 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 the steep descent down to the tower filled medieval village of Pacentro offers great views on the mountains of the Abruzzo National Park and the town of Sulmona.
Challenge: 17km, 650m ascent, 800m descent, 6.5 hrs
Villages along the way: Sant’Eufemia, Lama Bianca, Passo San Leonardo
Day 7 : Departure…Arrivederci!
The trip and our service end after breakfast with a private transfer to Scafa train station where you take a public train to the airport.
Practical info
The Price Includes:
Accommodation and Meals:
- 2 nights at B&B Casa Milà in Pretoro on breakfast basis
- 1 night in Passo Lanciano on half board basis (drinks excluded) + packet lunch on Day 4
- 2 nights in Decontra di Caramanico on half board basis (drinks excluded)
- 1 night in Pacentro on breakfast basis
People and Luggage transfers:
- Luggage transfer from Pretoro to Pacentro from Day 3 to Day 6
- Transfer from the hotel in Passo Lanciano to the observation spot in Piane di Tarica on day 3
- Transfer from Decontra to the start of the walk in Sant’Eufemia (or Lama Bianca or Passo San Leonardo) on Day 6
Miscellaneous:
- Day 2: Afternoon faunal introduction activity with expert English speaking local guide. Snack and coffee included.
- Day 3: Faunal observation at sunset with expert English speaking local guide
- Road book in English
- Official Tourist Map1:50.000 of theMajellaNational Park
- 24h/7 day help telephone line
- Pan Parks Foundation Donation
The Price Does Not Include:
- All kind of public transport (flight, train, busses)
- Car rental
- All transfers not mentioned in the “included” section
- Lunches on day 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 are NOT included
- Dinners on day 1, 2, 3 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)
- PossibleCITYTAX to be paid in cash on the spot (it varies depending on the city and on the hotel’s category)
Optional Transfers to be booked in advance:
- Arrival transfer fromPescaraAirportor Chieti Train Station to Pretoro
- Transfer from Pretoro to the start of the walk to Passo Lanciano on day 3 (you can ask for it on the spot as you go with the luggage transfer supplier).
- Transfer from Passo Lanciano to Mamma Rosa on Day 4 (you can ask for it on the spot as you go with the luggage transfer supplier).
- Transfer from Pacentro to Sulmona train station on day 7. You can also take a taxi and pay for it on the spot.
Transfer from Pacentro to the airport (Pescara or Rome) on day 7
Best arrival & departure airport : Pescara or Rome airports
Best arrival & departure stations: The nearest train station to Pretoro is Chieti Scalo
Reviews
Start: Pretoro
Finish: Pacentro
Dates & prices
Trip availability: Any day from end of May to beginning of November
Price on request