From $5,750 AUD Single $6,440 AUD Twin share $5,750 AUD 10 days Duration Europe Destination Level 4 - Challenging Activity Abruzzo, Italy small group walking tour for Senior or Mature traveller 08 Aug 18 to 17 Aug 18 Abruzzo, Italy small group walking tour for Senior or Mature traveller The Abruzzo, Italy small group walking tour for Senior or Mature traveller is a walking program that rises and falls across the Apennines. It traverses extraordinary landscapes with an amazing historical context. This is a 10 day walking tour. Professional guides share their knowledge of the local history and landscapes passed through. Each day the group covers between 7 to 16 kilometres, rising up to about 800 metres in altitude. Both the scenery and the 10-Jan-2018 1/8
insights on this active tour combine to make this tour an unforgettable experience. During this walking tour we visit at the start of program Villa D este and Hadrian s Villa Adrianna. The Walking tour of Abruzzo, Italy also visits the medieval capitals of L Aquila, Teramo, Ascoli Piceno and Sulmona. The program leader with the local guides tend to know where to enjoy the best local food and wine after a day s walking. This program goes from east to the West of Italy visiting 3 national parks along the journey. The Abruzzo, Italy small group walking tour for Senior or Mature traveller is suitable for a couple or the solo traveller. Tour Details We recommend a good level of fitness (Odyssey fitness level 4). You will need walking boots, extra layers of warm clothing, a windbreaker/waterproof layer, sunhat, water bottle and lunchbox carried in a daypack. Optional equipment (advised): gaiters, walking stick(s), mobile phone, sunglasses, and binoculars. Your tour leader will carry first aid, maps and compass, mobile phone, and a locator beacon. The weather usually settles in Italy in the summer/autumn period. However, the program is dependent on good weather in the mountains and may be amended if weather forecasts advise against walking high in the mountains. In that case, an alternative lowerlevel walking program is available. Safety is paramount and one must always be ready for changing weather in mountainous environments. Odyssey will also provide a 20 week program for participants who 10-Jan-2018 2/8
need to get their levels of fitness to a reasonable level as part of the total program experience. Odyssey Traveller offers a collection of walking tours that visit some of the Best British and European landscapes. The walking tours are designed for the mature traveller, over 50, 60 or 70 years of age. For more details, click the Top 5 or Itinerary buttons above! If you re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page. Top 5 1. Visit the medieval castle of Rocca Calascio with views of the Corno Grande and the Majella and Sirente mountain parks. 2. Enjoy local food and wine. Abruzzo is a renowned pasta region for its pecorino and ricotta. 3. Explore the remote high Abruzzo mountains and limestone gorges of the Central Apennini in 3 national parks. 4. Visit Hadrian's Villa Adriana and the gardens of the Villa d'este. 5. Explore the medieval provincial capitals of L'Aquila, Teramo, and Ascoli Piceno, as well as the historic town of Sulmona. Itinerary Day 1 Locations: Rome Overview: Upon arrival in Rome we will transfer to the Donna Laura 10-Jan-2018 3/8
Palace hotel and enjoy dinner. (D) Accommodation: 1 night at Donna Laura Palace Hotel. Day 2 Locations: Sulmona Overview: After a continental buffet breakfast, we take a coach to Tivoli, about 30 kilometres east of Rome, where we will visit the World Heritage Site of Emperor Hadrian s Villa. The Villa Adriana (at Tivoli, near Rome) is an exceptional complex of classical buildings created in the 2nd century A.D. by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It combines the best elements of the architectural heritage of Egypt, Greece, and Rome in the form of an "ideal city." After this, the small group visits the palace and garden of the Villa d Este. We travel on to Sulmona Hotel Santacroce Ovidius in the afternoon. Late afternoon we have the opportunity to explore medieval Sulmona. We finish the day with dinner. (B,D) Accommodation: 4 nights at Hotel Santacroce Ovidius. Day 3 Locations: Sulmona Overview: After a continental buffet breakfast, we take a coach to Passo San Leonardo, in Majella National Park via Pacentro. Our first full day walk is to Monte Morrone, a 16 kilometre walk with 900 metres of ascent to reach the summit at 2061 metres. The Morrone chain comprises half of the Majella massif. It forms the impressive northeastern wall of the Sulmona basin. It is our first full day walk to Monte Morrone. From the summit we will experience views of Sirente to the east, Monte Amaroto the west, and the high point of the Majella massif. The circular route passes through beech forest 10-Jan-2018 4/8
and on to a broad ridge to the summit and returns via the village of Roccacaramanico. We return to Hotel Santecroce Ovidius, Sulmona and spend the evening in Sulmona. We make our own arrangements for dinner. (B) Accommodation: Hotel Santacroce Ovidius. Day 4 Locations: Sulmona Overview: Today we have a slower paced day to recover from the previous 2 days. We enjoy a continental buffet breakfast, then travel to Sagittario Gorge and to Lake Scanno, and the medieval town of Scanno on the edge of the Abruzzo National Park. There is an opportunity to explore the town and/or walk along the lakeshore. Today we have a group lunch in Scanno. This afternoon we drive to Cellano Gorge, Sirete-Vellino Regional Park. There is some easy walking through the narrow limestone canyon with a little boulder hopping (approx. 3 hours). Vultures and eagles may be seen as highlights of the day. (B,L) Accommodation: Hotel Santecroce Ovidius. Day 5 Locations: Sulmona Overview: After a continental buffet breakfast, we take a coach through the Aterno gorge to Sirente-Velino Regional Park. We walk to Monte Sirente (2349m). Our second full-day walk begins through beech forest, but then the craggy limestone above provides a dramatic contrast to the Majella massif of day 3. From the summit, we will experience the views of Corno Grande and the Gran Sasso to the north, Monte Velino to the west, and the Celano Gorge to the 10-Jan-2018 5/8
south. (B) Accommodation: Hotel Santecroce Ovidius. Day 6 Locations: L'Aquila Overview: After our continental buffet breakfast, we take a coach to the Gran Sasso National Park to explore the beautiful village of Castel del Monte and the castle Rocca Calascio. The castle is the highest (1460m) in Italy and commands views to the Majella massif to the south and Corno Grande to the north. We have lunch in the medieval village of Santo Stefano. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to explore L'Aquila. We have a group dinner at the hotel. (B,D) Accommodation: 1 night at Hotel San Michele, L'Aquila. Day 7 Locations: Teramo Overview: We have a continental buffet breakfast, then take a coach to Fonte Cerreto, Gran Sasso National Park. We take a cable car to Campo Imperatore Hotel. Our third full-day walk takes us up the west ridge to the summit of the rock pyramid that is Corno Grande, the high point of the Italian Apennines at 2912m. The straightforward 800m ascent involves a few rock scrambles that from part of the track. Views include the Calderone glacier (Europe's most southerly), the central and east peaks, and the Corno Piccolo 1 kilometre to the north. (B,D) Accommodation: 1 night at Hotel Gran Sasso, Teramo. 10-Jan-2018 6/8
Day 8 Locations: Ascoli Piceno Overview: After a continental buffet breakfast we take a coach to Ripe and walk in the Salinello Gorge with a visit to the Grotto San Angelo. We spend the afternoon and evening in Ascoli Piceno, and enjoy a group dinner at the hotel. (B,D) Accommodation: 2 nights at Hotel Palazzo Guiderocchi, Ascoli Piceno. Day 9 Locations: Ascoli Piceno Overview: We take a coach to Forca di Presta, Sibillini National Park after breakfast. Today we take our fourth full-day walk to Monte Vittore, the highest peak in the park (2476m). This 7-kilometre, 950metre ascent reveals views east to the Adriatic and southeast to Corno Grande. We drive to Hotel Palazzo Guiderocchi, Ascoli Piceno and enjoy a group dinner this evening. (B,D) Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo Guiderocchi, Ascoli Piceno. Day 10 Locations: Rome Overview: After a continental buffet breakfast, we have the opportunity to explore Ascoli Piceno in the morning. In the afternoon the coach returns us to Rome where the tour ends. (B) Accommodation: Inclusions / Exclusions What's included in our Tour 10-Jan-2018 7/8
9 nights of hotel accommodation. 9 breakfasts,1 lunch, and 6 dinners. Transport, and field trips as indicated. Applicable entry fees and services of local guides. Service charges and gratuities. Services of a Tour Leader. Detailed tour information booklet. What's not included in our Tour International airfares including taxes. Airport transfers. Comprehensive International Travel insurance. Items of a personal nature. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any requests for further information about this tour or any others offered by Odyssey Travel. 10-Jan-2018 8/8