Dates for 2005

At request, for private groups

Outline and Other Tour Information >

“This is a Moderate to Stenuous 10 days Trekking Tour in the area of the Garfagnana.

7 days Trekking on the Alpi Apuane and Appennines -  Point to Point.

Mountain refuges will be used as well as local Agriturismo Lodges.

A hugely varied Trek incorporating all the main points if interest.

Marble quarries of Carrara to The Canyon of Orrido and the Lake of Saints.”

The Trekking:

Trekking will be on a wide range of terrain. From the high level rolling mtns of the Appenines to the jagged peaks of the Alpi Apuane. Walk days will be long days with some scrambles in ascent in the stages in the Alpi Apuane. It is required a good level of fitness to undertake the tour and good ability to sleep in a variety of refuges with varying but good conditions.

The overall trip is a C graded tour, difficult and for fit and seasoned walkers.

Guides:

Will be provided by Garfagnana Adventures for the duration of the tour. Fully qualified with mountain first aid and mountain leadership skills. One guide will stay with the group for the duration of the tour.

Itinerary Outline:

Day 1:   

Arrive in Pisa and transfer to the Garfagnana, for pm  at Hotel & dinner

Day 2:   

Transfer from lodge to start of trek at the Orido di Botri  to the warmth of the Rifugio and the beautiful lakes of Lago Baccio and Santo.

Overnight in Refuge

Day 3:  

From Lago Santo  we head up to Monte Giovo to  finish up in the quaint village of San Pellegrino 1524m

Overnight in small local Albergo

Meet with bags for clothes change.

Day 4: 

From San Pellegrino, we cross over the Passo Radici , before rejoining the main ridge and the highest peak in Tuscany, Monte Prado. From here descend to Refuge at Lamalite

overnight in refuge.

Day 5: 

From the refuge we ascend Monte Cusna at over 2100m and then continue our walk along the main ridge line to Passa Pradarena and the end of this section of the walk.

Overnight in Lodge

Day 6:

Free day at Lodge in Garfagnana, possible side excursion to Lucca

Day 7 :

Transfer to Orto di Donna for walk through this lovely valley crossing pass to Foccolaccia a scenic marble quarry and to acscend the peak Monte Tambura and then descend to  refuge for night at Rifugio Conti

Overnight rifugio

Day 8:

From the refuge we climb back onto the ridge line to descend slightly to cross to Monte Sella and the town of Arni, to climb back onto Altissimo and Rifugio del Freo behind the dead man of the Garfagnana, This is one of the longest days of the trek.

Overnight Refuge

Day 9:   From Rifugio we climb up to the Pania della Croce and then descend to the delightful rock arch at the top of Monte Forrato, before beginning our descent to the Village of Fornolovasco and our pick up point.

overnight Lodge

Day 10: End of tour Departure

Detailed Outline of Tour Itinerary

Day 1 :               

Arrive Pisa and transfer to lodge nr Castelnuovo for an afternoon free to explore the area.

Night : Hotel

Meals : D                                         

Day 2:                

Transfer from Hotel to the Orido di Botri in the Appennine range north of Bagni di Lucca, and start trek. Walk through the Orido di Botri Canyon following the course of the Rio Pelego river, one of the most picturesque locations of the area. we criss crossing many ridges and streams hitting our highest point of 1870m as we pass Monte Rondinaio and head towards the beautiful Lakes of Lago Baccio and our destination Lago Santo. The warmth and cosy Mountain Refuge awaits at Rifugio Alpino Vittoria

Length of walk : 7 hrs

Night : Refuge

Meals : B;L;D

Day 3:                

Lago Santo is a beautiful mountain lake at 1501m surrounded by the Apennine peaks of Monte Giovo and Monte Nuda, from here we climb up to the top of Monte Giovo 1991m and walk along the ridge, affording amazing views of the peaks of Apennines and Alpi Apuane , plus the valley below. From Giovo we cross over a few lower peaks descending down towards the picturesque finish of San Pellegrino 1524m. Located on an open spur looking down across the whole of the Garfagnana it is a wonderful spot, there is also the medieval church  here that houses the mummified bodies of Santo Bianco and Santo Pellegrino.

Length of walk : 7.5 hrs

 Night : Hotel

Meals : B;L;D

Day 4:           

From San Pellegrino we cross over the Passo Del Radici and head into the beach and chestnut forests before rejoining the ridge line again at Passo Forbici and then the ridge line along to Monte Vecchio with great views as we approach Prado, the highest mountain in Tuscany,  and Cusna in the distance our peak for tomorrow. Here we head off the ridge and down to the refuge at lamalite 1710m and the warth and hospitality of roberto.

 Length of Walk : 7 hrs

Night : Refuge

Meals: B;L;D

Day 5:

From the refuge we ascend monte cusna, one of the highest peaks of the area at over 2100m.  once at the  top we have great views into emilia Romagna and and the far distant view of the apuan alps. from cusna we descend to the river in the valley below to climb out and back up to the main ridge line to continue our walk along the appenine chain to passo pradarena and out collection point.

Length of Walk : 7 hrs

Night : Lodge

Meals: B:L:D

Day 6:    

This is left as a free day to take in the sights of the Garfagnana ( or a city if you wish). Time to sit and relax and enjoy the views of what you have just conquered and where you are going to go !! use of pool and golf, walks in the valley etc

 

Day 7:                

 Transfer out from the hotel for 45min to take us to the northern most valley of the garfganana, and the valley of orto di donna, in the shadow of monte pisanino 1965m the highest of the alpi apuane. From here out walk takes us up on to the ridge line at giovo via some of the local marble quarries. continuing along the ridge line we head to passo cardeto and our exit out of the orto. traverse across to pass of foccolaccia and then ascend the peak of monte tambura 2nd highest at 1895m. after breathtaking views, we descend  tambura to our refuge for the night just off the via vandelli medieval road.

Length of walk : 8 hrs

Meals : all

Night : refuge

Day 8:               

From refuge we climb back onto the ridge to cross to monte sella & a possible via ferrata section. this takes us across sella to then descend to arni and the spectacular peak of altissimo with great paths & wooden track ledges taking us round the peak. from here we continue onwards to our refuge in the shadow of the dead man of garfagnana.

length of walk : 8 hrs plus

meals : all

night : refuge

Day 9:            

 From refuge, an early morning climb up to the pania della croce the top of the dead man of garfagnana to a great view of all garfagnana and the coastline. here one will be able to see all of what we have already conquered in the past days. from the dead man, we descend slightly via a great traversing path taking us down to the rock arch of monte forato, a great natural rock arch. from here we continue to descend to the lower valley and our finish point at the quaint village of fornolovasco, and pick up to go to hotel for night.

 length of walk : 8hrs

meals : all

night : lodge

Day 10:     

 Breakfast and am transfer to Pisa, end of Tour.

Meals : Breakfast

 

OTHER INFORMATION 

Mountain Refuges:

They provide all food and meals at a very good standard and cook all the good standard local dishes. Most are dormitory style and provide blankets there, a bed sheet needs to be taken to be used on the bed. Can wash and shower at some at a slightly extra cost for the hot water. They do offer drinks and have bars and option to buy snacks and other extra food.

 

Food:

Breakfast is normally cereal / bread / jams / fruit / tea & coffee

Lunch will be packed rolls and sandwiches made by the refuges

Dinner will be 3 course meals, a pasta / soup – meat dish – dessert  and coffee etc

All are of good high quality and are local dishes.

 

Transport :

will be by mini bus and luggage will be left at the same hotel - lodge that we use 4 times so change of clothes can be made at the same place for easiness. Transfers will be provided for the station on the free day and lifts to town. If necessary bags can be moved to points to aid clients when stays overnight are at accessible spots like day 3.

 

Accommodation:

Primarilly the lodge to be used is that of the lodges at Le Casine di Braccicorti, once again Twin share rooms and bar and food provided here, with the added use of the pool and golf course.

 

Walking :  Will vary from transfer days of 5-6 hrs to longer days between 7-8hrs per day, all on  waymarked routes of the Club Alpino Italia, some scrabbling and use of handrails, no one with vertigo at all, as there will be some exposure in places!!!!, otherwise good tracks some quite rocky and shaley. Going from woodland to open rocky ridges. Experience necessary or good level of fitness, there will be a possibility of taking people off the route  if they need to and down to lodge and miss out days, transfers to do this will be paid as a taxi pick up.

--------Size of groups will be max 14 pax and min 5 pax.-------