Next departure: 6 May 2023
The tour “Amazing Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park” gives the chance to experience a high-quality naturalistic and historical-cultural holiday. Starting from a farmhouse in a valley close the Mainarde Mountains, we move along some beautiful paths 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.
Typology: mountain path.
Features: centre-based; cultural and historical; experiential; natural; food and wine.
Accommodation: farmhouse.
Where to eat: farmhouse.
Group size: 8-12 people.
Medium Difficulty
Presence of challenging climbs and descents. In two days the total uphill and downhill gradients exceed 1000 meters. In two days they are between 380 and 560 meters. The routes do not present any technical difficulties (use of mountaineering equipment). The excursions are accessible to everyone, even if you need to be trained in mountain walking. 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.
Length of itinerary: 58 km.
Total height difference, uphill: +3090 m.
Total height difference, downhill: -3090 m.
Suggestive atmospheres in the medieval historical centers of Alfedena, Castelnuovo al Volturno, Montenero Valcocchiara, Castel San Vincenzo e Pizzone, very small village with their examples of artistic beauty with palaces, churches, fountains, crossroads, gardens and more. Very interesting is also the ghost town of Rocchetta Alta.
The archaeological area of San Vincenzo al Volturno, the most important Benedictine monastic complex in Europe in the VIII-IX centuries, with the relevant crypt of the abbé Epifanio. The suggestive 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 the World War II.
The Mainarde are part of the Molise area of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, among the oldest parks in Italy. A wild and lonely mountain range, where it is possible to meet different wild animals: from deers to chamois; from the wolf to the Marsican brown bear. In addition, you will pass through lush beech woods and admire remarkable views.
The journey is enriched by the excellent traditional cuisine of Abruzzo and Molise and its excellent drinks. Typical products and traditional dishes, often handmade and old-fashioned, cheer up the evenings of walkers. You can taste cheeses such as caciocavallo, pecorino, burrata, manteca and others; cured meats like soppressata, ventricina, capicollo, rolled up ventresca, etc.; white and black truffles. You can drink Moscato white wine and Tintilia red wine.
In moments of rest, you will meet a local expert, who tells stories and traditions of Molise. The trip is also characterized by an intimate, informal and familiar atmosphere and by the constant presence of the guide.
Arrival at Isernia and meeting with Professional Nature and Interpretative Guide.
Transfer to Alfedena by motorized vehicle.
Accommodation and explanation of the journey.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After breakfast, private transfer by motorized vehicle to Pianoro Le Forme and start of the excursion to Mount La Meta (2242 meters above sea level).
Packed lunch.
Private transfer by motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Overnight in farmhouse, in double rooms with private bathroom.
Located in a truly remarkable and silent natural setting, the 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. Once out of the forest, we are in the Pagano Valley and the view is truly impressive, encompassing Monte la Meta (2242 meters above sea level), Metuccia (2102 meters above sea level) and Monte a Mare (2160 meters above sea level). Arriving at the Passo dei Monaci (1967 meters above sea level), a place of passage for the Benedictine monks to go and return between the monasteries of Montecassino and San Vincenzo al Volturno, the panorama acquires further value, also opening onto the Lazio side. 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 interesting Mount Tartaro (2191 meters above sea level) and Mount Altare (2174 meters above sea level). Crossing the beech forest again, we arrive at the Campitelli plateau and, subsequently, again at the Le Forme plateau.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 13 km.
Total difference in height (up): +1050 m.
Total difference in height (down): -1050 m.
Difficulty: moderate.
After breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle to Castelnuovo al Volturno and start of the excursion “The ring of Monte Marrone (1805 meters above sea level), of Monte Mare (2020 meters above sea level) and of Monte Ferruccia (2005 meters above sea level)”.
Packed lunch.
Transfer by motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at the farmhouse.
Overnight in a farmhouse, in double rooms with private bathroom.
The path for this ring goes up the Viata Valley, winding through a beautiful beech forest. Leaving the forest, the La Ferruccia plain opens up, subjected to Monte Marrone (1805 meters above sea level), Monte Ferruccia (2005 meters above sea level) and Monte Mare (2020 meters above sea level), which we cross until you reach an old ruined farmhouse. From here we go up to the Tagliola Pass and, then, to Monte Mare and Monte Ferruccia. Going back down to the floor below, we go up to the top of Monte Marrone. Then we 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 down the same path in the beech forest of the Viata Valley. The excursion is characterized by remarkable views and is enriched by the reading of the letters of the Italian Resistance sentenced to death, which started from 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 transalpine artist.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 7 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 15.5 km.
Total difference in height (up): +1100 m.
Total difference in height (down): -1100 m.
Difficulty: challenging.
After breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle to Castel San Vincenzo and start of the excursion to the Valle di Mezzo and the hermitage of San Michele a Foce up to Pizzone and Castel San Vincenzo.
Packed lunch.
Private transfer by motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Overnight in farmhouse, in double rooms with private bathroom.
From the village of Castel San Vincenzo, we enter the gorge of the Foce, between open spaces on the lake of Castel San Vincenzo and the Mainarde. 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 to 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 features of the journey
Duration: 5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 15.5 km.
Total difference in height (up): +380 m.
Total difference in height (down): -380 m.
Difficulty: medium.
After breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle to Castel San Vincenzo and start of the excursion “Ring of the lake of Castel San Vincenzo and of the Rocchetta mountain (972 meters above sea level)”.
Packed lunch.
Transfer by motorized vehicle to the farmhouse for rest.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Overnight in farmhouse, in double rooms with private bathroom.
From the asphalted road that runs along the lake of Castel San Vincenzo, we go along a cart track that goes around Monte della Rocchetta (972 meters above sea level) and arrives at the semi-abandoned town of Rocchetta Alta. After visiting the suggestive ruined village, we go down to the Capo Volturno spring, a suggestive 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 watercourse, 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 Castel San Vincenzo. Arriving at the dam, we follow the dirt road that runs along the lake until you reach the starting point.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 4 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 14 km.
Total difference in height (up): +560 m.
Total difference in height (down): -560 m.
Difficulty: easy.
Time to say goodbye and go back.
After breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle to the Pantano della Zittola and short visit of quagmire and the village of Montenero Valcocchiara.
After the visit, transfer by motorized vehicle to the train or bus station of Isernia.
In a group from 8 to 12 people.
| Start | Finish | Availability |
| 06/05/23 | 11/05/23 | Available |
| 26/08/23 | 31/08/23 | Available |
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.
