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Rewilding in the Central Apennines: Italy

Contact an expert to book or discuss this tour

Email us to book or discuss

+44 (0)204 587 5024

23 September 2024 – 6 days for £2,795

Journey into Italy’s Central Apennines region and discover a fascinating introduction into the concept and practicalities of rewilding. Spend time tracking wildlife on foot in the company of a specialist nature guide, while learning more about the Rewilding Italy project. In addition to wildlife, experience the region’s ever hospitable people and their culture and delicious cuisine.

Explore the region accompanied by Mario Cipollone from the Rewilding Italy team who will introduce you to the Rewilding projects in the area. Their aim is for the Central Apennines to be a wilder place, with fully functioning coherent ecosystems and abundant wildlife, where natural processes and complete trophic chains play key roles in the regeneration of the landscape.

Large beech forests, many of which are centuries-old and probably among the oldest in Europe, cover the mountain slopes. Among the huge trees and their mossy stems live large populations of wild herbivores like red deer, roe deer and wild boar. These species in many places share their habitats with large herds of semi-wild horses and cattle and together represent the main prey for the wolves, whose density in some Apennine areas is possibly the highest in Europe. The most charismatic and famous inhabitant of the mountain forests here is the Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies to this region.

The group size will be limited to a maximum of 14 and you will be accompanied locally by a tour leader and highly skilled local guides.

In partnership with The Ultimate Travel Company.


DAY 1: ROME TO PESCASSEROLI

You will be met on arrival into Rome Airport. From here, journey to the quaint mountain town of Pescasseroli, a journey time of around three hours. Check into to the 4-star Albergo Villino Quintiliani, where three nights are spent. Located in the heart of the village on the edge of Abruzzo National Park, this restored 1920s mansion is surrounded by pretty landscaped gardens and has an excellent traditional Italian restaurant with a terrace where you can dine al fresco overlooking the national park.

Lunch will be under your own arrangements.

The remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Before dinner, enjoy a presentation by Rewilding Italy, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote nature conservation through rewilding measures in Italy. Learn about their work in the Central Apennines region, the second main mountain range of Italy, characterised by a rich diversity of ecosystems and wildlife species and important habitats including beech woods, open hillsides and alpine grasslands.

Afterwards, enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

DAY 2: VISIT PETTORANO SUL GIZIO - THE FIRST BEAR SMART COMMUNITY

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Pettorano sul Gizio, the first bear smart community in Italy to learn about how bears and local communities can coexist. By reducing the damage caused by the bears, and by allowing communities to benefit from it, local people will become ambassadors for the area’s wild nature. Rewilding Italy are focused on reducing bear mortality and conflict, supporting nature-based enterprises in and around corridor areas, and raising awareness amongst local communities and people visiting the area.

Here, you will be guided through the measures being taken. You will see how they have dramatically reduced bear damage and increased social acceptance of them through the installation of about 100 electric fences since 2015, along with the deployment of bear-proof waste bins. See just why and how these corridors are vital to the protection of the local community as much as the bears themselves as we visit local entrepreneurs, farmers and shepherds in the region to hear their stories about how wolves and bears are part of the area, and of their lives.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

You will have a unique opportunity to see an active camera trap located in the beautiful Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Reserve and some of its previous data which has hopefully captured some footage. Late afternoon, you will return to your hotel for dinner.

DAY 3: ABRUZZO NATIONAL PARK

In the early morning, you will visit Abruzzo National Park to look for wolves and other wildlife in the valley. Here, you will learn about the human and wildlife conflict in this region and the processes being taken to mitigate this. The Apennine chamois, the Marsican brown bear, the griffon vulture, the Italian wolf, the European otter and the whiteclawed crayfish are some of the key species whose comeback and spread would enhance the restoration of trophic chains and boost natural processes.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, transfer to Civitella Alfedena to visit the Apennine wolf museum to learn about the wolf and its habits. There will be time to relax this afternoon before another wildlife walk in the evening to visit a local bear smart enterprise. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 4: VIST BEAR SMART COMMUNITY – ORTONA DEI MARSI

Today, you will visit another of the regions bear corridors at the Bear smart community of Ortona dei Marsi accompanied by a Rewilding Apennines expert for insight into the project. Witness the work being done to reintroduce the Marsican brown bear into these areas, ensuring bears and humans can coexist peacefully.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit a local cidery to learn more about the processes required and sample some of the different ciders produced. Transfer to Barisciano and check-in to the 3-star Convento di San Colombo Hotel, where you will spend the next two nights.

DAY 5: GRAN SASSO NATIONAL PARK

In the morning, you will depart to one of the Gran Sasso the Bear smart communities, where the first male bears are expanding towards. Focus on how different bear smart community perceive bears.

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to explore Gran Sasso National Park, one of the largest protected and most biologically diverse areas of Europe, which centres around the Gran Sasso mountain peak which, at 2,912 metres (9,554 feet), is the highest peak in the Apennines. Gran Sasso National Park is covered by woods of beeches, firs, turkey oaks and chestnuts, The park contains more than 2,000 plant species, some found exclusively in this area, such as the Abruzzo Edelweiss.

In the afternoon, visit the small fortified market town of Capestrano. The historic town is dominated by the 13th century Castello Piccolomini which was built in a strategic position on the hill overlooking the Tirino River. Continue to the enchanting medieval village of Navelli, known for its saffron production and narrow winding streets with steps carved directly into the rock.

Return to the hotel for a final meal with the group.

DAY 6: PESCASSEROLI TO ROME FOR DEPARTURE

In the morning, depart Pescasseroli and drive to Rome, a journey of around three hours.

On arrival into Rome, you will be transferred to the aiport. Alternatively, you can extend you time in Italy with a couple of days exploring Rome. Please speak to one of the team at the Ultimate Travel Company for suggestions. 

Contact an expert to book or discuss this tour

Email us to book or discuss

+44 (0)204 587 5024

Contact an expert to book or discuss this tour

Email us to book or discuss

+44 (0)204 587 5024

Highlights

  • Learn how the rewilding process helps to restore nature’s ecosystems and biodiversity so that wildlife can return and thrive.
  • Discover firsthand the beneficial impact of rewilding and the importance of using wildlife corridors to connect protected areas, thereby supporting the comeback of iconic indigenous species.
  • Learn about how bear corridors work, as well as how the Rewilding Appenines project is managing conflict between bears and local people.
  • Discover the flora and fauna of Italy's beautiful Abruzzo national park.
  • The group size will be limited to a maximum of 14.
  • Accompaned by english speaking tour leader throughout.

Meet the expert

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Mario Cipollone

Mario Cipollone was born in Pescara, Italy, on 18 March 1981. He has always been passionate about nature and has volunteered for environmental organisations since childhood. In 2008, Mario graduated in International Political Science. In 2012, following growing concern about the decline of the Marsican brown bear, Mario became the co-founder of Salviamo l'Orso with the goal of preserving the endangered brown bear subspecies endemic to the central Apennines. His commitment to wildlife, the natural environment and bear conservation has earned Mario and the organisations he is part of numerous awards, publications and contributions both nationally and internationally.

Since 2018 Mario has been the team leader of Rewilding Apennines, where his main tasks include planning and managing actions to rewild ecosystems and trophic chains. His ecological experience and passion for wildlife perfectly reflect Rewilding Europe's philosophy and policies. As a bottom-up environmentalist, Mario is aware that rewilding goals can only be achieved through the involvement of local communities in the process of conservation, raising awareness of the value of biodiversity and natural heritage, and developing nature-based economies.

Andy Bunten - Tour leader

Andy previously worked for many years in the field of nature conservation for wildlife trusts, local government and, for 26 years as Regional Director for the RSPB. He has been passionate about wildlife and nature conservation for as long as he can remember. Now an independent tour leader and lecturer who delights in leading Ultimate Travel’s travellers. He is well travelled, too, having worked in the Seychelles, Burma and Sierra Leone helping local people solve their local conservation issues and having led groups to places as far afield as Iceland, Poland, Austria, Brazil, Costa Rica, Romania and Ethiopia.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • The company and insight of rewilding expert.
  • An English-speaking tour leader throughout.
  • Daily breakfast, as well as four lunches and five dinners.
  • All entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation listed in the itinerary.
  • Water, limited wine and tea/coffee with included meals.
  • Talks and walking seminars from members of the Rewilding Italy team.
  • All accommodation and internal transport.
  • Gratuities for drivers, local guides and restaurant staff.
  • 24-hour support.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Travel insurance.
  • International flights.
  • Single supplement £250
  • Items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls/laundry etc.).

HOW TO GET THERE

The tour begins and ends in Rome. Please speak to Ultimate Travel who can offer flight advice and book flights for those travelling from the UK.

PACE AND PHYSICALITY

A lot of the itinerary requires walking at the sites, and you may encounter cobbled streets when in Rome and stairs in some locations. As such, a moderate level of fitness is required, along with the ability to walk for a total of about 2-3 hours each day.

SOLO TRAVELLERS

All of our tours, cruises, expeditions and weekenders are perfect for solo travellers. If you want your own room, you will need to pay a solo supplement of £250 for this tour. However, if you are happy to share a room with a fellow guest of the same sex, we will do all we can to match you with another guest so you do not have to pay the solo room supplement.

Accommodation

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Albergo Villino Quintiliani, Pescasseroli

Albergo Villino Quintiliani is a 4-star property set in the Pescasseroli region located close to  the National Park of Abruzzo. The accommodation is surrounded by river and mountains and offers all the standard modern facilities including ensuite bathrooms, wifi throughout and an onsite restaurant.

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Convento di San Colombo Hotel, Abruzzo

A former 16th century Franciscan convent, this peaceful historic hotel is immersed in a centuries-old forest and is also home to the Apennine Floristic Research Centre and has a beautiful Botanic Garden. Dinner at a local restaurant.