Nature and Trekking
Holiday in the green
6 days where nature is the indisputable protagonist of these itineraries: Discover the nature trails that Garfagnana has to offer.
Trip details
Late morning arrival in Garfagnana, by own means. Meeting with the guide in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana where the tour begins. Check-In. Accommodation in the reserved rooms. In the afternoon [ outdoors only ] visit to the Rocca Ariostesca of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, which dominates the centre of the village and which in the 16th century hosted the poet Ludovico Ariosto for three years, who had been named governor of the province of Garfagnana, then under the rule of the Este family. Walk through the streets of the centre of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. Possibility to buy local products in the shops. Followed by a visit to the Fortress of Mont’Alfonso. Presentation of the programme by one of our representatives. Typical “Garfagnana” dinner with a tasting of local products. Overnight stay.
In the morning guided excursion to Fornovolasco to the Grotta del Vallisneri known as the “Screaming Cave”. Thanks to its easy access, it is a fascinating “journey to the centre of the earth”, in the heart of the Apuan Alps, to discover the most evocative underground environments. Move on to Calomini to visit the hermitage of the same name: a mystical monastery set in a vertical rock face. Free lunch. In the afternoon we discover the underground world of the Grotta del Vento, one of the most complete caves in Europe. An exciting excursion in the centre of the Natural Park of the Apuan Alps to discover a hidden and fascinating world with an extraordinary variety of phenomena. Easy paths will allow you to admire a marvellous underground reality: from living and shining stalactites and stalagmites to polychrome flows and crystal-encrusted lakes. Dinner. Overnight stay.
In the morning, availability permitting [ for safety reasons ], we will take you to visit Vagli di Sotto [ GUIDED TOUR, PAY ON PLACE ] one of the most famous white marble quarries in the world, [ marble also used for the Sala Nervi in the Vatican ], located in the splendid Arnetola Valley. We will experience first-hand the reality of the quarrymen, we will understand how work in the quarry has been transformed over time, [ we recommend wearing comfortable, sporty clothing and shoes with sturdy soles ]. If it is not possible to do as described above, an alternative is to visit the Lipu Oasis of Campocatino: a primitive bassin overlooking the valley. Free lunch and relaxation on the shores of the lake. In the afternoon visit to the new cable-stayed bridge and to Lake Vagli, which, when emptyed for maintenance work, resurface as if by magic the ghostly ruins of a ghost town: Fabbriche di Careggine. On the way back “from the stable to the table”: a visit to a dairy. The producer opens the doors of his dairy and shows us the process of processing milk. We devote ourselves to tasting the different cheeses of their own production, accompanied by bread and honey. Possibility of buying products. Dinner. Overnight stay.
In the morning visit to the Orecchiella Park. The Orecchiella Park is a protected natural area, part of the Appennino Tosco Emiliano National Park. The park is organised and divided into three nature reserves managed until 2016 by the State Forestry Corps: Orecchiella, Pania di Corfino and Lama Rossa. The Visitor Centre houses the Nature Museum and the Museum of Birds of Prey. Visit to the Visitor Centre with its facilities: the Nature Museum, the House of Raptors and the Mountain Garden. The park has many paths with various levels of difficulty, including the “Giardino dei fiori di Montagna” (Mountain Flower Garden), which is truly splendid when in bloom. Other very easy trails are the “Sentiero del Fontanone”, the “Sentiero degli Orsi” and the “Sentiero dei Cervi” …… We suggest: the Bear Path, 1020 meters long among brooms, ferns and dog roses, which allows you to approach the plantigrades, separated from visitors by a strong structure, in a natural environment and with a splendid view of the Apuan Alps. Lunch Box with sandwich bag menu. In the afternoon visit to the botanical garden situated higher up at the foot of the cliff of Pania di Corfino. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Free lunch. In the morning canyoning at the Botri Gorge. Experience a breathtaking adventure! A four-hour extreme journey into the deepest part of the Orrido di Botri gorge, where you can admire the walls that dominate the path of the stream. Let yourself be carried away by the water, dive into the beautiful natural pools and swim through the narrow meanders. Immerse yourself in primordial nature: a spectacular limestone gorge on the slopes of the Rondinaio and Tre Potenze mountains with steep walls carved deep by the cold waters of the Mariana and Ribellino streams, which then join to form the Rio Pelago. Inside, the vegetation is distributed according to a vertical stratification, with the wettest and coldest levels at the base where mosses and ferns predominate, replaced as one ascends to the top by the more temperate levels, where we can find columbines and silene plants in the middle of extensive beech forests
Notes:
it is necessary to know how to move between the boulders of the torrent entering and leaving the water, trekking poles are not recommended. Inside the canyon it is mandatory to wear a protective helmet and trekking shoes (NO SANDALS, NO SUPERGA, NO SHOES). Recommended: shorts and a sweatshirt, also bring a complete change of clothes to use when necessary.
Dinner. Overnight stay.
Check-Out. Departure for the retunr to the original destinations.
Details
Travel notes
This programme may be subject to change, both before and during the trip, depending on the weather, the needs of the travellers and the people hosting the group of travellers. All the visits are guaranteed, but they may be subject to change, on site, respect to the order listed above, at “our” discretion, for the sole purpose to ensure the best success of the tour, but without changing the substance of the visits [ The visits may be reversed depending on the opening times of the museums or for technical reasons, but the programme remains unchanged ].
Special requests
When defining and accepting the travel contract, it is necessary to indicate the presence of people requiring special diets and with reduced mobility in order to be able to verify the services and the possibility of assistance.
These are necessary
For all journeys on foot, you will need hiking boots, a water bottle of at least one litre, a kway or poncho, a rucksack of at least 20/30 litres. Spare socks or T-shirt are recommended, as well as food or energy supplements.
Level of difficulty of walking trips
The trip is suitable for people who can walk, not necessarily trained but in good health. It is not suitable for children.
The price includes
- Overnight stay with accommodation in the agreed facility: hotel/farm/ B&B/holiday house
- Half board: breakfast and dinner in a restaurant, or hotel
- Lunches indicated in the programme
- Drinks at meals
- Guided tours and excursions as provided in the programme
- Tastings, provided for in the programme
- Entrances, if included in the programme
- Train tickets, provided for in the programme
- Taxes and service charges
- One Assistant/Companion for the duration of the tour
Not Included
- Transfers from/to places of residence
- Transfers during the tour
- Transfers to/from train stations
- Meals not mentioned or defined as free
- Optional visits and excursions
- Entrances not specified
- Medical and baggage insurance and cancellation insurance
- Optional insurance
- Local tourist taxes, where applicable
- Tips and extras of any kind and of a personal nature
- Anything not expressly indicated under "The price includes".
Methods of payment
- DEPOSIT: € ___, within 7 days of enrolment
- BALANCE: no later than 21 days before the date of departure: € ___, by ___________
Cancellation
CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELLER:
FOR ANY VOLUNTARY CANCELLATIONS THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES WILL APPLY:
- CANCELLATIONS UP TO 15 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE: 50% PENALTY
- CANCELLATIONS FROM 14 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE: 100% CANCELLATION FEE
CANCELLATION WITHOUT PENALTY: within ___________
Price
FROM
800 €
Book A Holiday Idea
TOUR 6 days/5 nights
DEPARTURES
Periodo 01.05.2021 / 15.10.2021
- Dates on request
SELECTED STRUCTURE
- To be selected
SUPPLEMENTS
- Tourist tax is not included in the rates and will be paid directly on site
- La tassa di soggiorno non è inclusa nelle tariffe e sarà pagata direttamente in loco
REDUCTIONS
- Third bed for adults: on request
- Children sharing a room with two adults: on request
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