Contact me by info@molisetrekking.com for a date
This tour gives you the opportunity to discover the beauties of the most important mountain range of Samnite Appenine, rich in history, art, and villages. The landscapes you will traverse here are superb, full of marvelous woods, deep caves, breathtaking views, complex rocky environments, Apennine peaks, deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers, and evocative canyons.
Duration: 5 days walking, 6 nights, 7 days overall
Destination: from Piano dell’Olmo district (Sepino) to Basilica Minore dell’Addolorata (Castelpetroso).
Trail type: mountain hiking
Features: itinerant; cultural and historical; experiential; natural food and wine.
Accommodation: 1700s countryhouse, farmhouse, hotels, and albergo diffuso (restored houses for tourism)
Where to eat: restaurants and farmhouses.
Group size: 8-12 people. Extra charge for small group until to 4 people.
Difficulty: challenging
Includes difficult uphills and downhills as well as flat stretches. Guardiaregia-Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia) and Campitello Matese (San Messimo)-Roccamandolfi include very demanding stretches, which require adequate physical and mental preparation. Every day the total height differences are approaching or exceeding 1000 meters (3280 ft), both uphill and downhill. The trek is accessible to suitably trained people who are used to hiking in mountains and, therefore, to long ascents and descents. However, the trails are not technical routes and mountaineering materials are not necessarily required, though hiking equipment is needed. The journey is on foot and overnight locations change. Short transfers are required by motorized vehicle. The overnight stays are comfortable.
Length of the itinerary: 89 km (55 mi)
Total elevation gain: +4645 m (+15239 ft)
Total elevation loss: -4670 m (-15239 ft)
We visit many small villages, perched along the first mountain hikes: Guardaregia with its Medieval village and the ravine of Quirino stream; Roccamandolfi, with the castle on the top of the hill, its history of the Brigandage and its beautiful historic center.
The trails are characterized by the ascent to some of the different peaks of Matese. Monte Mutria (1823 meters (5980 ft) above sea level) is characterized by the presence of lush woods, steep and rocky slopes, a great panoramic ridge line, and a wide peak separated by several crevices with small rocks jutting out. La Gallinola (1923 meters (6309 ft) above sea level) is the other peak of the journey and is characterized by being a rocky mountain without arboreal vegetation, especially in the highest part, with an extensive and elegant ridge. Finally, Monte Miletto (2050 meters (6725 ft) above sea level), the highest summit of Matese, stands majestic with an austere appearance. From all the peaks you can see the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas at the same time.
During our breaks we meet many local people. They tell stories and traditions of the rural and pastoral culture of Molise.
Matese is a mountain range with much historical and cultural significance. Along our journey we visit the archaeological areas of Saepinum (Roman city), San Pietro di Cantoni (Samnite temple and Medieval church), the Conventino (Franciscan convent), and Saipins (Samnite village). We visit a variety of places with a history of transhumance, Regio Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela, we admire the amazing neo-gothic sanctuary of Basilica Minore of Castelpetroso. Finally, there are numerous ways the mountains were used historically: the phenomenon of banditry stands out in particular.
Your journey will be enriched by the delicious traditional cuisine of 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 local seasonal vegetables and legumes and can drink Moscato white wine and Tintilia red wine.
The Nature Reserve of Guardiaregia-Campochiaro, which contains the second largest Italian oasis of the WWF (3135 hectacres), highlights the high naturalistic quality of this route. In this protected area we’ll be able to access two of the deepest caves of the peninsula: Pozzo della Neve and Cul di Bove. In addition, we’ll get the great chance to admire the mountainside of Roccamandolfi of Monte Miletto, awe-inspiring and wild, which starting at 1200 meters shows signs of ice erosion, between steep valleys, canyons, overhanging rocks, glacial cirques, moraines, and rocks. The journey becomes even more beautiful while crossing the gorge of the Callora stream.
Day 1
Arrival at Bojano and meeting with professional nature and interpretive guide.
Transfer by motorized vehicle to Piana dell’Olmo district (Sepino).
Accommodation and explanation of the journey.
Dinner in a 1700 countryhouse and meeting with the owners.
The night will be in the same structure, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
If needed, there is the possibility to sleep in the nearby villages, in a farmhouse or in a bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
Day 2
After breakfast, we start the hike from Piana dell’Olmo (Sepino) to Guardiaregia.
Packed lunch.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in different bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
If needed, in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
A day dedicated to archaeology and history.
From the 1700s countryhouse we reach Regio Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela (ancient track for transhumance) and we set off towards the Roman city of Saepinum, before moving on to the Italic temple and then the medieval church of San Pietro di Cantoni, to Conventino (Franciscan convent), and we arrive at the Samnite village of Saipins. After passing the last excavation, we go up towards the mountain cottage called Casino Albanese. From here we go down to the village of Guardiaregia, amongst vast views of the underlying plain of Bojano.
Technical Information
Duration: 6.5 hours (rest times not included)
Length of the trek: 19 km (12 mi)
Total elevation gain: +720 m (+2362 ft)
Total elevation loss: -72 0m (-2362 ft)
Difficulty: moderate
Day 3
After breakfast, we start the hike from Guardiaregia to Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia).
Packed lunch.
At the end of the day, we transfer by motorized vehicle to a farmhouse.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
We enter the Regional Reserve of Guardiaregia-Campochiaro, a WWF oasis as well, and admire the ravine of the Quirino stream and the monumental beech trees of “Tre Frati.” We then keep going, first climbing Monte Palumbaro (1552 meters (5091 ft) above sea level), characterized by a rocky peak and by the beautiful view over the valley of the village of Pietraroja, and then Monte Mutria. Once we reach the summit, we go down again on the opposite side of Sella del Perrone, through the “dwarf beech forest,” admiring the beautiful lake of Matese and panoramic views on Monte Mutria.
Technical Information
Duration: 7 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 19 km (12 mi)
Total elevation gain: +1270 m (4166 ft)
Total elevation loss: -810 m (2657 ft)
Difficulty: challenging
Day 4
After breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle from the farmhouse to Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia).
Then, we start the hike from Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia) to Campitello Matese (San Massimo).
Packed lunch.
Dinner in restaurant.
Night in different hotel, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Sella del Perrone we will follow the path that leads to the Cul di Bove caves first and then to Pozzo della Neve II and Pozzo della Neve. Then we walk up to Sogliette degli Abeti, and reach Piano della Corte. From here we start climbing up to the top of La Gallinola (1923 meters (6309 ft) above sea level). Once we reach the summit, we go down the other side and arrive at Campitello Matese.
Technical Information
Duration: 5.5 hours (rest times not included)
Length of the trek: 17.5 km (11 mi)
Total elevation gain: +945 m (3100 ft)
Total elevation loss: -780 m (2559 ft)
Difficulty: challenging
Day 5
After breakfast, we start the hike from Cmpitello Matese (San Massimo) to Roccamandolfi.
Packed lunch.
Dinner at restaurant.
Night in hotel, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
If needed, in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Campitello Matese we climb up to the top of Monte Miletto. Once we reach the summit, we go down towards Roccamandolfi, through the beautiful, breathtaking Fondacone valley, where erosion has given life to two very characteristic rocky spurs: I Campanarelli (shaped like small bells). The woods surrounding the two peaks makes it even more gorgeous.
Technical Information
Duration: 6.5 hours (rest time not included)
Length of trek: 16 km (10 mi)
Total elevation gain: +760 m (2493 ft)
Total elevation loss: -1380m (4527 ft)
Difficulty: difficult
Day 6
After breakfast, we start the hike from Roccamandolfi to Basilica Minore dell’Addolorata (Castelpetroso).
Packed lunch.
At the end of day, we transfer by motorized vehicle to Isernia for rest.
Dinner in restaurant.
Night in albergo diffuso (restored house for tourism), in twin rooms with private bathroom.
If needed, in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Roccamandolfi we cross the gorge of the Callora stream, characterized by waterfalls and pools. Once across the water course, we wander through the two mountains, Colle di Mezzo and La Difenzola on a comfortable gravel road. Then we pass under Monte Patalecchia (1400 meters (4593 ft) above sea level) and we get to the place of the apparitions of Beata Vergine and Cristo Morto, and then keep going down to the Neo-Gothic sanctuary below, dedicated to the Madonna.
Technical information
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 17.5 km (11 mi)
Total elevation gain: +950 m (+3116 ft)
Total elevation loss: -980 m (-3215 ft)
Difficulty: medium
Day 7
Time to say goodbye and go back.
After breakfast, we visit Isernia and the important archaeological area of the Paleolitico La Pineta Site of Isernia, dating back to 700,000 years ago.
Afterwards, we transfer to the train station or bus station.
For groups of 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.
