Abruzzo's National Parks

Abruzzo is famous for its pristine environment. Home to three national parks, 35% of its total land area is protected, making it one the greenest places in Europe. On this 7-day tour, experience some of the best of Abruzzo with energizing walks through three national parks, a natural reserve, and picturesque mountain villages, and favorite flavors of the region.

See here for more info on Abruzzo and Molise regions.

Dates & Pricing

DATES (7 days)

For dates, info and availability please contact us.

TOUR PRICE

Per person in double occupancy: from $3,690

Single Supplement: $690

For travel in 2021 and beyond, your tour is carbon neutral! In addition, we donate more than 1% of your trip price to food-literacy and environmental non-profits that share our values. (Details here)

Tour Highlights

Explorations of the three famed national parks of Abruzzo (National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise; National Park of Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga; and National Park of Majella) and one state reserve (Natural Reserve of Orfento Valley)
Visits or stays at four of the Borghi più belli d’Italia (Most Beautiful Villages of Italy): Scanno; Caramanico Terme, Santo Stefano di Sessanio; Castel del Monte
Optional walks and hikes through pristine landscapes: beech forests; meadows; alongside rivers
Experience authentic Abruzzese cuisine featuring farm fresh, seasonal ingredients
Visits and tastings to two local foodmakers: sugar-coated almond confectioner; cheesemaker
Visits to local artisans (in Scanno)
Stay in an albergo diffuso ("dispersed hotel"), as services and accommodation are spread across different, existent structures all within the same area
Traditional, local recipes to bring home with you!

What's Included

6 nights of accommodation in 3- or 4-star hotels and masserie (farm stay)
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 4 dinners (either a 3- or 4-course menu)
Daily hikes and walking opportunities (2 with local certified guides)
2 visits to local foodmakers (cheese & cured meat and almond confectioner)
1 visit to local artisans (jewelry and/or costume)
Explorations of 4 of Abruzzo’s Borghi più belli d’Italia (“Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”): Scanno, Caramanico Terme, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Castel del Monte
Full immersion in three of Abruzzo’s national parks and a natural reserve
Bilingual, professional Tour Leaders
Comfortable 8-seat vans for transportation
1 group transfer from hotel in Rome to Pescasseroli
1 group transfer from Santo Stefano di Sessanio to Rome airport or hotel
Local taxes & gratuities for luggage porters and restaurants servers during tour

What's Not Included

4 lunches and 2 dinners on your own
Alcoholic beverages at group meals (including wine, beer and spirits)
Round-trip airfare and expenses to/from the tour
Trip cancellation, baggage loss or travel delay insurance (this optional coverage is highly recommended. (See info here)
Gratuities for your Tour Leaders. (See info here)
Personal expenses, such as, but not limited to, phone calls, laundry, emails, snacks, gifts

Itinerary

Pre-Tour Night in Rome
Day 1 & 2 – Rome to Pescasseroli and the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise

The morning of Day 1, catch our 2.5-hrs private transfer from Rome to your hotel in Abruzzo.

On these first days, experience life in the village of Pescasseroli and explore the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise where you can enjoy the breathtaking views of pastures and roaming animals and learn about "tratturi" (wide footpaths used by pastoralists practicing transhumance).

Highlights feature a stop by the visitor center and meals in restaurants and local trattorie, a kind of tavern serving traditional Abruzzesi food and wines.
Day 3 & 4 – Caramanico Terme and Majella National Park

We drive into the Majella National Park after a visit to Sulmona and to the quaint village of Scanno, one of the Borghi Piú Belli d'Italia ("Most Beautiful Villages of Italy"). This project promotes the great heritage of history, art, culture, environment, and traditions found in Italy's small towns, off the beaten path.

On these days, we overnight in Caramanico Terme (another of the Borghi piú Belli d'Italia) and enjoy the cozy and authentic atmosphere of being nested in the Apennines. Caramanico Terme is famous for its hot springs (awarded best in Europe for their healing properties). Do not miss an informative visit to the local natural reserve followed by a walk with a local certified guide.
Day 5 & 6 – Santo Stefano di Sessanio and the National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga

Today we reach the National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga and start our exploration with a hike to Rocca Calascio to see its castle ruins. (These ruins feature in the films “Ladyhawke” and “In the Name of the Rose”).

Our base for the next two nights is Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Here, we stay in an albergo diffuso ("dispersed hotel"), a concept born in the 1980s when Giancarlo Dall’Ara sought to rescue semi-deserted towns through new hotels—constructed not by demolishing old buildings to erect something new, but by renovating existing buildings and placing hotel services within them. It’s “dispersed" because you might find the hotel reception in one building, dining room in another, and bedrooms "scattered" in others, all within easy walking distance of one another and all woven into the fabric of the local community.

Visits and tastings of local products such as the Canestrato cheese of Castel del Monte, the lentil of Santo Stefano di Sessanio (both local Slow Food presidia), and saffron are just some of the renowned delicacies we'll taste in this area.
Day 7 – Santo Stefano di Sessanio to Rome

To request the itinerary as a PDF or to ask us any questions please contact us today!