After arriving in Rome, journey to the quaint mountain town of Pescasseroli (three hours' drive, read the Joining Instructions for more information) and check into the Villino Quintiliani Hotel. After settling into our rooms, we enjoy a special presentation on rewilding in the area by the Team Leader of Rewilding Apennines, Mario Cipollone, and are introduced to our Nature Guide for the trip, Valeria Roselli or Andrea De Angelis. Stay: Villino Quintiliani Hotel (or similar) (D).
After breakfast at the hotel, we enjoy an exclusive visit to the bear corridors with our Rewilding Apennines guide, who leads us through the measures taken here. In one of the Bear Smart Communities, we see how they have dramatically reduced bear damage and increased social acceptance of the animals through the installation of about 100 electric fences since 2015, along with the deployment of bear-proof waste bins. We also see why and how these corridors are vital to the protection of the local community as much as the bears themselves. Stay: Villino Quintiliani Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D).
We have an early morning start to look for wolves and other wildlife in the valley and learn about human-wildlife conflict and mitigation. After, we return to the hotel for breakfast. (Three-hour walk; 3mi/5km; ascent: 985ft/300m; descent: 985ft/300m) After breakfast, we start our hike to the Mountain Refuge Bisegna. We enjoy a hearty, fresh dinner with local cheese at the refuge and gaze at the stars before a good night's rest. (Two-hour walk; 5mi/8km; ascent: 1,310ft/400m) Stay: Terraegna Mountain Refuge (B/L/D).
Wake up surrounded by mountains and enjoy an early morning mountain experience, hiking and wildlife tracking. We have breakfast back at the refuge before we leave for a midday hike and remote picnic lunch. There are always beautiful views and if there are good weather conditions you can see the peaks of Gran Sasso d'Italia, Monte Velino and the Majella Massif. During the walk, we hear tales from local history going back 1,000 years. Enjoy a late afternoon coffee and take time to explore Pescasseroli. Stay: Villino Quintiliani Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D).
After breakfast, we go on a hike that offers sensational national park landscapes, with rocky walls, deep glacial valleys and beech forests. Walking silently and respectfully, we are likely to see one of the most important populations of Apennine chamois grazing between pastures and rocky walls.
After a packed lunch, we return to the hotel for time to relax.
In the evening, we have our last wildlife-watching session and a delicious dinner a local restaurant. Stay: Villino Quintiliani Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D).
Breakfast at the hotel, enjoy one last Italian coffee at the village square in Pescasseroli, and we start our transfer back to Rome (B).
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