Italian Apennines: Walks & Wildlife

Discover the wild heart and beautiful landscapes of Italy

The rewilding process helps to restore 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, we 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, 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 an exploration of Italy’s wild heart.

This trip visits the area that is being rewilding in partnership with Rewilding Apennines, through our Nature and Carbon Corridors project. All profits from the sale of this trip will go to Rewilding Apennine's vital biodiversity restoration work.

On this tour, you will have a VIP leader from the Rewilding Apennines team.

Our local Nature Guide may be Valeria Roselli or Andrea De Angelis.

The area we visit on this trip is now part of a designated Wildlife Heritage Area.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. To read more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice, click here, and to find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation click here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food, and the support of other local enterprises.
• This trip helps engage local communities in rewilding and conservation of the landscapes around them by developing nature-based economic and employment opportunities through ecotourism.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• This trip enables you to explore some of the area being rewilded through our Nature and Carbon Corridors project, in partnership with Rewilding Apennines.
• The trip supports rewilding, wildlife conservation and the restoration of precious ecosystems by helping develop ecotourism in the area, building important community and financial support for this work. Our local partner also contributes to Rewilding Apennines’s work directly.
• In addition, we have committed to rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) of the Italian Apennines for every passenger who travels with us, across this and any Exodus trip, through our Nature and Carbon Corridors project.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment. Part of the itinerary is off the beaten track and we stay one night in a mountain refuge.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for reusable bottles.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about Exodus Travels’ climate action here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.
• Use of transport on the trip is minimal – you are mostly using your feet!
• We have selected smaller, locally run accommodation to minimise the impact on the surrounding environments.
• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary prioritise the use of locally sourced food that has not been transported long distances.
• Vegetarian and vegan options are available at all accommodation and restaurants.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.

Take the train: Consider taking the train to this trip. Not only will it significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your trip versus flying, it also extends your adventure! Read more about which train journeys we can book, or how to book your own, here.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.

This itinerary includes four days of walking in mountainous terrain with transport to and from the start/end points of the walks. Some days are quite long, sometimes involving an ascent of 2,295ft (700m) followed by a similar descent. This means steadily walking uphill for a few hours and then the same down again. The paths are rocky and steep in sections but generally well maintained. Due to the quality of the trails, the general ‘civilisation’ of the area and the relative shortness of the trek, we rate it as an Activity Level 3 (Moderate). Previous walking experience is an advantage; however, the trek should be within the capabilities of anyone in good health and who is reasonably fit as walking takes place on recognised trails. Some walks take place at altitudes up to 7,220ft (2,200m), where temperatures can be cool and there are high levels of humidity. Please ensure you pack appropriate clothing.

Walking hours stated are given as approximates only and include lunch and photo stops and will vary depending on the group’s pace. Typically, days average about two to five hours and up to 8mi (13km). This trip is not advised for severe vertigo sufferers.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Food & Drink

Each morning you will enjoy a hearty breakfast of cakes, biscuits, cereals, yoghurt, fresh bread and jams as well as a savoury breakfast of eggs and cheese for extra energy on the mountains.

Packed lunches from the guesthouse or local shops and bakeries will be provided each morning to take with you on the days adventure.

Each evening you’ll be tucking into traditional Italian dishes including maccheroni alla chitarra – a special type of spaghetti, soup with orapi (wild spinach) and beans, gnocchetti and grilled meat. The region has a strong sheep rearing culture, so plenty of local dairy products are available such as pecorino, ricotta, caciocavallo and a rare goat’s cheese called Marzolina. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for.

We use a minivan for most of the trip. Some experiences can be supported by off-road vehicles on dirt or secondary roads.

Weather

The climate of the highest section of the Apennines is continental (as found in the interior of Europe) but made more pleasant by Mediterranean influences. Snowfalls are frequent, with cold winters and hot summers. Average summer temperature is 24C-35C (75F-95F) and average rainfall is 39in-78in (1,000mm-2,000mm) per year, which is higher on the Tyrrhenian slopes than on the eastern, or Adriatic, side of the Apennines.