Timetable & Prices
The next walking season will begin in March 2008. Full day walks will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, with half day walks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each day will include lunch in various family-run restaurants giving you the chance to sample typical Abruzzan cuisine.
The price for this 5-day walking tour is £150 per person and assumes you have your own transport as two of the days will necessitate you driving, following your guide, to the start point of your walk.
Details of Walks
Day 1
Half Day Trip
Excursion to the source of the river Fino and to the 'Gole della Inferno Spaccato' gorge set high up in the mountains. 2 hour walk to destination, 2 hours back. Lunch in a family-run restaurant. Difficulty rating **
Day 2
Full Day Trip
Excursion to the spectacular 'Fondo della Salsa', a glacier-like formation located high up in the mountains. 2 hour walk to destination, 2 hours back. Lunch in a family-run restaurant. Difficulty rating ***
Day 3
Half Day Trip
Walk to the old mill of Francesco where you can see how flour was once worked using old millstones. Demonstration of how flour and pasta are made using traditional methods.
Walk through the woods of Arsita. Lunch in a family-run restaurant.
Day 4
Full Day Trip
Excursion to the Fonte Torrecella refuge and to Monte Coppe within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national parks where you may be able to glimpse the camosco bears of Abruzzo.
Lunch in a family-run restaurant. Difficulty rating ***
Day 5
Half Day Trip
Excursion to the 16th Century church of San Pietro situated on a hilltop overlooking the Val Fino valley. Marvel at the Gran Sasso mountain range on your left and the area known as 'Little Tibet' and to your right, a spectacular view of the rolling hills gently descending into the sea in the distance. 1.5 hours there and 1.5 hours back. Difficulty rating **
Return to Arsita for a lunch of oven cooked pizza and breads along with local delicacies.
Difficulty Rating:
*Easy
**Moderate
***Lighty Challenging
****Challenging
*****Difficult
Equipment
It is recommended you be in reasonably good health and bring along with you a good pair of walking boots, a lightweight waterproof jacket, a sun hat, sun block of no less than 30 and a container for water.
Alternative Tours
Check out these stand-alone activities which can be added to or taken instead of a walking tour:
Option 1
Leisurely half day walk through the surrounding countryside with a picnic en route.
Setting off from the village at around 9.30, your English speaking guide will take you on a gentle walk through some of the unspoilt and spectacular local scenery, following riverbeds, past long abandoned old stone country houses and stopping at picturesque viewing points along the way. Lunch will be provided in the form of a typical Abruzzan picnic. £20 per person*.
Option 2
Visit to a local cheese factory.
An educational trip offering visitors the opportunity to learn more about the cheese- making process. You will be able to sample some of the cheeses made on site and to ask questions about its production. £20 per person*.
Option 3
Visit to a local wine producer.
Teramo is renowned for its production of Montorio wine. On this trip, you will be taken on a tour of the wine producing factory where you will be able to see first hand how the process of wine-making takes place from start to finish. No visit to a winery would be complete of course without a little sample at the end. Opportunity to purchase wine too. £20 per person*.
Option 4
Wicker Visit
A tour of the village wicker workshop where you will see weird and wonderful shapes created out of wicker. Giovanni will then show you how he creates his works of art before letting you try out this traditional process yourself. £20 per person*.
Option 5
Lunch or dinner with a local Abruzzan family
Experience a typical Abruzzan lunch or dinner with a local family (we advise you not to eat for at least 24 hours beforehand!). You can be assured of a feast of carefully prepared home-made dishes. The meal also includes wine and liqueurs. As well as sample the local culinary delights, this is a wonderful opportunity to speak to the locals and learn first hand about their culture and everyday life. Italian not up to scratch then an Italian/English speaker will accompany you to interpret at no extra cost. £20 per person. Children 14 and under £10 each.
Option 6
Olive picking and visit to local oil press (seasonal – Autumn)
Hands-on olive-picking followed by a visit to the local olive press to see first hand how the oil is extracted from the fruit along with a tasting of the final product. Tesco’s olive oil will never be good enough for you in future after this trip! A fascinating insight into the process. £25 per person*.
Option 7
Making home-made liqueurs
Ever considered trying your hand at producing home-made Italian liqueurs. This half day workshop will show you how a few simple ingredients can be transformed into delicious and impressive liqueurs typical to the area of Abruzzo. You’ll never have to buy another liqueur again. Show off to your guests in future by whipping out a bottle after dinner and announcing ‘here’s one I made earlier!’. Of course sampling is obligatory on this course. Participants will receive a list of recipes along with a bottle of home-made liqueur as a souvenir. £20 per person*.
Option 8
A selection of half-day guided tours of the local historic town. Priced at £25 per person, children 14 and under £10 each:
Castelli - Renowned for its ceramic and pottery production. Visit the workshops and browse the dazzling array of ceramics offered for sale in the traditional cellars of the town.
Atri - Visit this former Roman colony dating back to AD260, a historic hilltop town with its museums, cathedrals and wonderful frescoes. Marvel at the Palazzo Ducale, a fortress built on the highest point of the town, the Museo Capitolare and the Church of San Francesco, with its beautiful Baroque flight of steps.
Loreto Aprutino (pictured here) - An 11th century fairytale village built on a steep hillside and centred around a castle and Benedictine abbey. Lose yourself in this timeless scenery exploring the tiny winding cobbled streets and taking in the breathtaking surrounding views of the olive groves and rolling hills.