Contact me by info@molisetrekking.com for a date
The tour of the “Amazing Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park” gives you the chance to experience a high-quality, historical-cultural, nature-based vacation. Starting from a farmhouse in a valley close to the Mainarde Mountains, we explore the beautiful trails of this National Park.
Duration: 4 walking days, 5 nights, 6 days overall.
Destination: Alfedena and Molise mountainside, in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park.
Trail type: mountain trails.
Accommodation: farmhouse.
Where we eat: farmhouse.
Group size: 8-12 people. Extra charge for a small group until to 4 people.
Difficulty: medium
Contains challenging climbs and descents. In the first two days the total elevation change exceeds 1000 meters (3300 ft). In the second two days the elevation changes are 380 and 560 meters (1246 and 1837 ft). The routes do not present any technical difficulties (use of mountaineering equipment). The excursions are accessible to all abilities, even if you need to be trained in hiking. The excursions are on foot. The trip has a fixed base and you always sleep in the same farmhouse. There are short journeys by motorized vehicle. Overnight stays are comfortable.
Total length of trip: 58 km (36 mi)
Total altitude gain: +3090 m (+10100 ft)
Total altitude loss: -3090 m (-10100 ft)
Beautiful atmospheres in the medieval historical centers of Alfedena, Castelnuovo al Volturno, Montenero Valcocchiara, Castel San Vincenzo, e Pizzone, very small villages full of artistic history with palaces, churches, fountains, crossroads, gardens, and more. The ghost town of Rocchetta Alta is another notable stop along this journey.
The archaeological area of San Vincenzo al Volturno, the most important Benedictine monastic complex in Europe in the 8th-9th centuries, with the notable crypt dell’abate Epifanio. The beautiful hermitage of San Michele a Foce, set in a rocky wall. The paths of the Italian Liberation Corps, operating in these mountains after the Italian armistice during World War II.
The Mainarde Mountains are part of the Molise area of the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park, among the oldest parks in Italy. They make up a wild and solitary mountain range, where it is possible to come across a variety of wild animals: from deer to chamois; from wolves to Marsican brown bears. Additionally, you will pass through lush beech woods and get to admire remarkable views.
Your journey will be enriched by the delicious traditional cuisine of Abruzzo and Molise and its excellent drinks. Traditional products and dishes, often handmade and old-fashioned, brighten the evenings of walkers. You can taste cheeses such as caciocavallo, pecorino, burrata, and manteca and try cured meats like soppressata, ventricina, capicollo, and rolled up ventresca. You can eat white and black truffles and can drink Moscato white wine and Tintilia red wine.
In moments of rest, you will meet local experts, who tell stories and traditions of Molise. The trip is also characterized by an intimate, informal, and welcoming atmosphere and by the constant presence and help of the guide.
Day 1
Arrival at Isernia and meeting with professional nature and interpretative guide.
Transfer to Rocchetta a Volturno by motorized vehicle.
Accommodation and explanation of the journey.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
Day 2
After breakfast, we transfer by private motorized vehicle to Pianoro Le Forme and we start the hike to Mount le Meta (2242 meters (7355 ft) above sea level).
Packed lunch
We transfer by private motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Overnight in the farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
Located in a truly remarkable and peaceful natural setting, Le Forme plateau is surrounded by mountains and woods. Crossing it, we go up the mountainous side through the beautiful beech forest of Val Pagana. We exit the forest into the Pagano Valley and the view is truly impressive, encompassing Monte la Meta (2242 meters (7355 ft) above sea level), Metuccia (2102 meters (6896 ft) above sea level), and Monte a Mare (2160 meters (7086 ft) above sea level). We arrive at the Passo dei Monaci (1967 meters (6453 ft) above sea level), a place of passage for the Benedictine monks to come and go between the monasteries of Montecassino and San Vincenzo al Volturno, the view continues to improve, opening onto the Lazio side of the valley. From here we go up to the top of the mountain. Descending, we cross the beautiful Biscurri valley, overlooking one of the Park’s integral protection areas and the breathtaking Mount Tartaro (2191 meters (7188 ft) above sea level) and Mount Altare (2174 meters (7132 ft) above sea level). Crossing the beech forest again, we arrive at the Campitelli plateau and, subsequently, again at Le Forme plateau.
Technical Information
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 13 km (8 mi)
Total elevation gain: +1050 m (+3444 ft)
Total elevation loss: -1050 m (-3444 ft)
Difficulty: moderate
Day 3
After breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle to Castelnuovo al Volturno and start the hike, “The Ring of Monte Marrone (1805 meters (5921 ft) above sea level), of Monte Mare (2020 meters (6627 ft) above sea level), and of Monte Ferruccia (2005 meters (6578 ft) above sea level).”
Packed lunch
We transfer by motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at the farmhouse
Overnight in the farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
The trail of this loop goes up the Viata Valley, winding through a beautiful beech forest. As we leave the forest, La Ferruccia plain opens up towards Monte Marrone (1805 meters (5921 ft) above sea level), Monte Ferruccia (2005 meters (6578 ft) above sea level), and Monte Mare (2020 meters (6627 ft) above sea level), which we cross until you reach an old rustic farmhouse. From here we go up to the Tagliola Pass and on to Monte Mare and Monte Ferruccia. We go back down to the valley floor below, and up to the top of Monte Marrone. We then go down to the hut that housed a French painter, Charles Moulin, who lived a good part of his life in these mountains. Finally, we follow the same path back through the beech forest of the Viata Valley. This journey is characterized by remarkable views and is enriched by the reading of the letters of the Italian Resistance sentenced to death, which started in these places, and by the stories about the battles of the Italian Liberation Corps, which took place on these mountains in the March 1944, as well as from the life of the French artist.
Technical Information
Duration: 7 hours (rest times not included)
Length of the trek: 15.5 km (9.6 mi)
Total elevation gain: +1100m (+3608 ft)
Total elevation loss: -1100m (-3608 ft)
Difficulty: challenging
Day 4
After breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle to Castel San Vincenzo and we start the hike to the Valle di Mezzo and the hermitage of San Michele a Foce up to Pizzone and Castel San Vincenzo.
Packed lunch.
We transfer by private motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Overnight in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From the village of Castel San Vincenzo, we enter the gorge of the Foce, between open spaces on the Castel San Vincenzo lake and the Mainarde Mountains. We go up to the hermitage of San Michele a Foce, a sacred place of great beauty, set in the rocky wall. Going back down the valley floor, we go up into the beech forest to get to Casone del Medico. From here we go down to the town of Pizzone and then back to Castel San Vincenzo.
Technical Information
Duration: 5 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 15.5km (9.6 mi)
Total elevation gain: +380m (+1246 ft)
Total elevation loss: -380m (-1246 ft)
Difficulty: medium
Day 5
After breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle to Castel San Vincenzo and we start the excursion “Ring of the lake of Castel San Vincenzo and of the Rocchetta mountain (972 meters (3188 ft) above sea level).”
Packed lunch.
We transfer by motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Overnight in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From the asphalted road that runs along the lake of Castel San Vincenzo, we go along a gravel road that goes around the Monte della Rocchetta (972 meters (3188 ft) above sea level) and arrives at the semi-abandoned town of Rocchetta Alta. After visiting the beautiful ruined village, we go down to the Capo Volturno spring, a place where the most important river in southern Italy is born: the Volturno. Admiring the large breeding area of various water birds, we walk along the first kilometers of the waterway, between a rich riparian wood and a wide view of the Mainarde chain, up to the archaeological area of the largest monastic complex in the Mediterranean Europe in the Early Middle Ages: San Vincenzo al Volturno. From here, we go up towards the lake of Castle San Vincenzo. Arriving at the dam, we follow the dirt road that runs along the lake until you reach the starting point again.
Technical Information
Duration: 4 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 14 km (8.7 mi)
Total elevation gain: +560m (+1837 ft)
Total elevation loss: -560m (-1837 ft)
Difficulty: easy
Day 6
Time to say goodbye and go back.
After a quick breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle to the Pantano della Zittola and have a short visit of quagmire and the village of Montenero Valcocciara.
After the visit, we transfer by motorized vehicle to the train station or bus station of Isernia.
In a group from 8 to 12 people. Extra charge for small group until to 4 people.
What’s included
What’s not included
Notice: This program may be to change, before and during the journey. Changes are based on the climate, the needs of travelers and the people that host the group of travelers.
