Eight days (6 of excursions) with snowshoes visiting the National Parks of Abruzzo and the most interesting medieval villages.
Moving with a private minibus for hire.
The opportunity for a white week different from the usual: all in snowshoes !!!
- 3 excursions in the Gran Sasso National Park
- 1 excursion in the Sirente Velino Regional Park
- 2 excursions in the Majella National Park
staying in b&b at the Gran Sasso and in Hotel *** at the Majella.
A week with the guide that will make you discover the little known corners of Abruzzo in winter.
All completed by the excellent local gastronomy!
Program
- GRAN SASSO AND MONTI DELLA LAGA NATIONAL PARK
- 1st Day
Meeting in L'Aquila with the guide and transfer by private minibus in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park.
Calascio Location m.1250. 45 min by car from L'Aquila. Dinner and overnight. B&BCalascio and typical restaurant dinner.
- 2nd Day
Excursion to the Piana del Voltigno; great karstic plateau that can be reached through majestic beech forests. Gap + 450m. Round trip. Hours of walking 6:00.
Dense beech forests and wild canyons characterize these mountains.
In the afternoon visit with a local guide in the village of Castel del Monte and its small museums that tell the story of the life of the past.
B&B Calascio and typical restaurant dinner.
- 3rd Day
From Santo Stefano di Sessanio m.1250 (15 min minibus transfer) to the Altopiano delle Locce and delle Condole typical for its ancient pastoral settlements.
Total gap 300m. Round trip. Walking hours 5.00.
Medieval countries, ancient pastoral settlements and high altitude pastures: characteristics of these places remained intact over time. Visit to one of the "most beautiful villages in Italy": Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
Return to Calascio. B&B Calascio and typical restaurant dinner.
- 4th Day
Excursion from Castel del Monte to Cima di M.Bolza. A beautiful and panoramic excursion with a breathtaking view of the Campo Imperatore plateau and the whole Gran Sasso chain. Ring route with departure and arrival in Castel del Monte one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Visit in the afternoon to the medieval watchtower of Rocca Calascio, symbol of Abruzzo.
Total gap: ascent m.600 – descent m.600 Walking hours: 5.
Return to Calascio. B&B Calascio and typical restaurant dinner.
- SIRENTE-VELINO NATIONAL PARK
- 5th Day
Transfer by minibus 1h to the Campo Felice plateau in the Velino Regional Park. Hike in the forest with a stop at the shelter with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Gap 400m. Hours of walking 4:00.
Alternatively possibility of excursion up to the ridge of Monte Cagno (gap 650m - hours of walking 6).
Transfer after the excursion to Caramanico Terme in the Majella National Park. Transfer minibus 2 hours.
Accommodation in hotel for dinner and overnight.
- MAJELLA NATIONAL PARK
- 6th Day
Excursion from San Nicolao di Caramanico to Rifugio Barrasso at the base of Monte Rapina with views on the Orfento Valley. It is one of the first peaks of the Majella mountain with a spectacular view over the whole of Abruzzo.
Gap 500m. Hours of walking 5:00.
Visit in the afternoon at the Hermitage of San Bartolomeo.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
- 7th Day
Transfer by minibus to the pass Passo San Leonardo about 30min. The Majella so-called "the Mother Mountain" is the sacred mountain for the Abruzzo people. Excursion under the imposing summit of Monte Amaro and in the majestic beech woods of Lama Bianca.
Gap 500m. Hours of walking 5:00.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
- 8th Day
Breakfast and departure.
The guide will accompany you throughout the tour even for visits to the countries and will also be the driver of the minibus from arrival to departure. The minibus is private owned by the guide. In case of group greater than 8 people will be available for the transfer another car or minibus with driver only for transfers (only driver not guide).
No transfer is scheduled by bus.
Note:The program can be changed according to the guide according to the weather conditions and the capacity of the participants.
Special features of the trip
- excursions in unique environments
- wide and different views
- visit of the medieval countries
- dinners in small restaurants based on typical products
Room and board
- 4 nights in a small B&B (no TV but free wifi available) in the historical center of the medieval town of Calascio (AQ). Comfortable rooms with bathroom in restored ancient houses maintaining the characteristics of the stone and the old terracotta bricks.
- Last 3 nights in 3-star Hotel Ede in Caramanico (PE) where all double and single rooms are with bathroom and TV. The hotel also offers a small wellness center with sauna and Jacuzzi.
- International buffet breakfast with local products: fruit, cereals, bread, yogurt, fruit juice, milk, coffee, tea, homemade desserts as well as typical cheese and cold cuts, and hard-boiled eggs.
- Dinners in small restaurants based on homemade pasta (first 4 nights), lamb meat, wild boar, pecorino cheese and locally produced ricotta. Dinners, always based on local products in the hotel restaurant during the last 3 evenings.
Equipment
Snowshoes and poles are provided directly by the organization.
- Backpack 40 lts maximum
- Scarponi invernali impermeabili
- Gaiters
- Telescopic poles (at your discretion)
- Snowshoes (at your discretion)
Clothing:
- Sunglasses
- Wool hat
- Gloves
- breathable T-shirt (2 at least)
- Fiber turtleneck sweater
- Windstopper or fleece jacket
- Waterproof jacket (ex: Gore-tex, pac-lite, conduit…)
- Mountain pants
- Mountain socks (several pairs)
Inside the backpack [40 lt maximum]:
- Personal pharmacy kit (compeed patch, aspirin, high protection sunscreen, ...)
- Camera
- 1 lt bottle or Thermos
- Paper towels
- Multi-purpose pocket knife
Obviously small suitcase with a spare and the necessary for personal hygiene.
Included
- organization
- guide's fee
- local transfers by bus shuttle
NOT Included
- half board in a double room (58€/night)
- sandwiches/packed lunch
to be paid to the accomodation facility. And anything not specified in the issue "Included".
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