Hike, Bike and Canoe in Abruzzo
Head to Italy to adventure your way through the lunar landscapes, mountain meadows and wooded riverbanks of the Central Apennines
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with local, English-speaking expert guidesHotel & Lodge
2 nights in an ecolodge, 2 nights in a hotelMeals
All breakfasts and 4 dinnersTransfers
Transfers to and from Rome Airport, and everything in betweenEquipment
Fathom Giant e-bike and helmet plus all canoeing gear including life vest, paddles and a waterproof bagSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Hike through the imposing peaks of Italy's great wilderness, known as the 'green lung' of Europe
Scramble to the teetering summit of Corno Grande (2912m), the highest mountain in the Apennines
Canoe the crystalline Tirino River and pedal across the remote Campo Imperatore plateau on e-bikes
Key Information
Day 1
Into the wild
Driving
Hiking
Meet your host at the airport and enjoy the scenic drive to Roccamorice, an ancient stone village nestled within the picturesque Maiella National Park in Abruzzo. Still largely undiscovered, the region of Abruzzo undoubtedly deserves the title of 'Europe’s green lung' thanks to its three national parks and 37 nature reserves. Check into your ecolodge and meet up with your guide, who will brief you on the adventure to come. Then head out for an easy afternoon hike to get your first taste of Abruzzo's natural beauty, walking through the scenic Giumentina Valley and amongst ancient sacred hermitages carved into the rock.
Day 2
Walking on the moon
Hiking
Fuel up on breakfast ready for a challenging trek along the rocky peaks of Maiella National Park. Starting from Pomilio Refuge, you'll climb to Anfiteatro Murelle (2596m), hiking through dense pine scrub and the endemic plant species which miraculously survive in this lunar landscape. If you’re lucky you may even spot the endangered Marsican bear, wolves, Apennine chamois, deer or golden eagles as you look out over the peaks. Reach the imposing rocky amphitheatre of Murelle and enjoy jaw-dropping views over a barren, desolate, moon-like environment. On a clear day, the sea is even visible in the distance. Head back down to the valley, where a beer and a well-earned meal awaits.
Day 3
Italy's 'Little Tibet'
Canoeing
E-bike
Drive to Capestrano where you'll find the azure waters of the Tirino, Europe’s clearest river. In canoes, paddle gently upstream toward the source of this peaceful and serene river, then tuck into lunch at a local agriturismo. In the afternoon, head to Gran Sasso – one of the largest protected areas in Europe – where you'll set out on a sunset e-bike ride across the remote Campo Imperatore plateau. This boundless karst plain, surrounded by mighty peaks, is nicknamed Italy's 'Little Tibet'. Afterwards, enjoy a tasty dinner and get some rest ready for tomorrow's epic summit hike.
Day 4
Summit Corno Grande
Hiking
After breakfast, drive to the trailhead for the hike to summit Corno Grande (2912 m) - the highest mountain in the Apennines. Setting off from Campo Imperatore, the path quickly climbs up towards the saddle of Monte Aquila with views of the karst plateau and the peak's limestone walls in the distance. Tackle some steep exposed sections and scramble closer to the top of Corno Grande for a view of Europe's southernmost glacier down below. Once at the summit, enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and views of a lifetime. Descend steeply into the valley and celebrate your achievement with a hearty meal. You made it!
Day 5
Calascio and the fortified stronghold
Hiking
Driving
Spend your last morning in Abruzzo on a leisurely hike to the fortified hamlet of Rocca Calascio, exploring the ruins of the castle (which featured in the fantasy film Ladyhawke) and passing the octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà, surrounded by fields of colourful crops. Savour a last local lunch in the picturesque village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio before bidding farewell to Abruzzo and heading back to Rome. Arrivederci!
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3 – Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Breakfasts will be a classic international affair with cereals, bread, pastries and regional products.
Lunches are not included. On Day 2 and Day 4 you will be able to buy packed lunches from either the guesthouse or local shops to take with you on the trek. On Day 3 and Day 5 you will have the chance to try some delicious local restaurants and an agriturismo.
Evening meals are included at your accommodation and you'll be tucking into traditional Italian dishes such as maccheroni alla chitarra (a special type of spaghetti), soup with orapi (wild spinach) and beans, gnocchetti and grilled meat. The wider region has a strong sheep-rearing culture, so plenty of local dairy products are available such as pecorino, ricotta, caciocavallo and a rare goat's cheese called marzolina.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request this on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Roccamorice
For the first two nights you'll stay at Dimore Montane in the municipality of Roccamorice, an ancient and picturesque stone village nestled within Abruzzo's Maiella National Park. This comfortable ecolodge provides warm Italian hospitality and cuisine, making it a magical spot to rest in the mountains.
Castel del Monte
The final two nights will be spent in Castel del Monte, a small hamlet which ranks amongst Italy's most beautiful villages. Here you'll stay at the comfortable 3-star Hotel Miramonti (or an alternative of a similar standard), with twin-share or double rooms, a restaurant, a bar, and free WiFi.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge (subject to availability). See Optional Extras for the price.
This trip has been rated as Challenging
This trips requires a good level of fitness and is ideal for steady-footed, keen hikers with a head for heights: there are some narrow, exposed sections to contend with on Day 4. The hikes on Days 2 and 4 are of moderate to challenging difficulty with steep, loose sections and although the distances are not too great, the amount of ascent and descent is considerable. However, the views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile! No previous experience is required for canoeing and e-biking as these activities will be conducted at a more leisurely pace and for shorter durations.
What will I need to carry?
You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you, and then a small daysack to carry personal items during each day of hiking.
Temperatures in the Abruzzo Mountains in the summer months average 20° / 68°F. May and October will be cooler, with averages of around 15° / 59°F. Rainfall is lowest in July and highest in May and October, so be sure to pack a rain jacket, though the region gets a lot of unbroken sunshine in the summer. When high up in the Apennines, especially in early and late season, the weather can be rapidly changeable and cold mountain conditions are possible. Before you arrive, feel free to ask your host what to expect for your specific trip dates.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, Rome
11:00 on Day 1
Ends
Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, Rome
16:00 on Day 5
Transfers
On Day 1 you will be collected from Rome Fiumicino airport. Your host will inform you about exact pick-up logistics and timings prior to your trip, but please make sure you book a flight that lands by 11:00 at the latest. You will then be transferred to your hotel in the town of Roccamorice, approximately three hours away from Rome.
On Day 5, your host will drive you from the village of Castel del Monte to the airport in Rome, for onward flights departing after 18:00.
Travel options
Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome is well connected via numerous flights across the UK and Europe. US travellers can fly direct to Rome from various major US airports including New York, Miami and LA.
Train travel to Rome is an easy and enjoyable alternative for those looking to avoid flying on this trip. Rome Termini Railway Station is well connected to various major hubs across Italy and in neighbouring France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Travellers from the UK can take the Eurostar to Paris, followed by the TGV to Turin and then a Frecciarossa (Italian high-speed train) to Rome, all in a single day (or with overnight stays in Turin or Milan).
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What do I need to bring?
BAGS
- Soft duffel bag or rucksack
- Daypack (20-30 litres)
- Waterproof liner for rucksack
CLOTHES
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Fleece jacket or similar
- Down jacket
- Hiking trousers
- Lightweight trousers with pad
- Technical t-shirts
- Hiking boots (worn in)
- Running shoes for the ebike and canoe
- Warm hat
- Thin gloves
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
OTHER
- Universal travel plug adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel insurance documents
- Ear plugs
- Insect repellent
- Suncream
- Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper out to dispose of)
- Quick-dry towel
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Reusable water bottle(s) - 2 litre
- Biodegradable wet-wipes
- Energy bars and snacks - read our article on Best Hiking Snacks
Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
… Per Person
Amazing, well organised adventure!!
Amazing adventure in Abruzzo
Honestly such a great adventure. The guides Umberto and Lorenzo were super professional and friendly. Days were full of challenging hikes and the evenings featured authentic three-course Italian meals. Accommodation was spacious and situated in really cool areas. Had such a blast and can highly recommend this trip.
An amazing experience
Abruzzo is an amazing region with stunning natural beauty and wildlife. Our guides, Fillipo and Francesco were very passionate about the area and we benefited from their extensive knowledge. The hikes were reasonably challenging but doable for anyone with a decent level of fitness. The canoe and mountain biking day were a nice break from the hiking and the biking in particular was great fun. The accommodation was very comfortable and the food was simply fantastic.
Incredible Italian Mountain adventures
It had everything. Well organised. Relaxed and friendly crew with a super group of 20-50s age category. Mountains, rivers, caves, castles, medieval cities.
Great group and guides
Our guides Filippo and Francesco were great - really knowledgeable biologists who really elevated our walks with their explanations. They were people and safety orientated and planned back-up routes in case of inclement weather. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience in beautiful Abruzzo.
Exceeded our expectations!!
Me and my partner went on this trip a couple of weeks ago and i can honestly say it was amazing. Both the group and our 2 guides were lovely people who took the trip from what was already a 9/10 to a 10/10. The activities were what we expected in terms of difficulty and the scenery absolutely below us away, it was much better than expected - see the pictures for proof! Both the hotels we stayed in were very nice, clean and cosy. The food was even better! I couldn’t fault either of the hotels. I would 100% recommend this trip and MBA to anyone, the service before and after from MBA has been great and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to MBA and to our guides for making this such a good trip, well worth the money! 😊
A great way to see a beautiful part of Italy. Guides are very passionate, knowledgeable and engaging. Accommodation is well picked in good locations for the activities. Recommended for anyone looking to build confidence or want the details taken care of.
It’s a challenging, you have to be fit for 4 hours ascent and 4 hours descent hiking
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 123kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.
Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.
What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.
E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular across Europe and on this trip you'll get the chance to test one on a short ride through Campo Imperatore. Generally speaking, e-bikes are bicycles with a battery-powered assistance that comes via pedalling. When you push the pedals, a small motor engages and gives you a boost to help you tackle more challenging climbs or rough terrain. It very much feels like a natural extension of a rider's own pedalling power. They have a max speed limitation and you can also opt to use your e-bike without any support to feel your legs burn, if you prefer!
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion and are non-compulsory on this trip. Of course, if you feel that your guides provided an exceptional experience then you are welcome to tip as much as you feel is appropriate.
The tap water in this part of Italy is safe to drink. Please bring along a reusable bottle or two to take with you on the wildlife tracking excursions.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
Got questions? We've got answers
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DEPARTURE DATES
Wednesday • 2nd October 2024
to Sunday • 6th October 2024
