Easter among wolves, a journey into the wilderness of the Central Apennines

The full moon guides us to magical places in the lesser known parts of the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park. The panorama of the Mainarde mountains is unique, for its natural features, for the vision of luminous peaks and for the incomparable silence and solitude of the valley. The Giovenco valley with the villages of Ortona dei Marsi, Bisegna and San Sebastiano dei Marsi is the new frontier of rewilding, with small communities immersed in protected and flourishing nature. These places are home to chamois, red deer, wolves and golden eagles and often free from any sign of chaotic development.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – The Abruzzo Park, Italy’s oldest protected area

Meeting with guides at the Avezzano Bus Terminal at 2 p.m. Transfer to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park and accommodation of participants in the hotel. At 16:00, departure for a first easy hike until sunset. In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

2 hours’ walking · 4km · 200 m climb · 200 m descent

DAY 2 – Wolf hunter or park ranger, the wolf in the collective imagination

At dawn, a session of wildlife watching. After breakfast, departure for a panoramic hike and to seek out signs of the presence of wolves. Possibility of observing grazing red deer, roe deer and chamois. Packed lunch and transfer to Civitella Alfedena, visit to the Museum of the Apennine Wolf and history of its conservation in Italy. In the afternoon, settling in at hotel and short evening excursion in the hopes of hearing wolves howling. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

5 hours’ walking · 9km · 400 m climb · 400 m descent

DAY 3 – Living as wolves in a man’s world

Dawn will find us in the splendid scenery of Pianoro Le Forme at the foot of Monte Meta, a place of strong emotional impact, with rugged, wild mountains. The day will continue in the Val Pagana, to then reach Passo dei Monaci from where you can admire the entire chain of the Mainarde mountains in Lazio and Molise. Return to the valley in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

6 hours’ walking · 13km · 400 m climb · 400 m descent

DAY 4 – From the magic of sacred waters to the return of wild nature

On our last day, we explore the Giovenco valley. From the beautiful and variegated apple orchards of Ortona dei Marsi, we will visit the areas connecting the Central Apennine national parks, where local communities are working daily to achieve peaceful coexistence with returning wildlife. Return to the valley in the afternoon and last transfer of participants to the Avezzano Terminal Bus.

6 hours’ walking · 9km · 300 m climb · 300 m descent

Due to possible adverse weather conditions during this travel day, we ask that you DO NOT book train or bus out of Avezzano Terminal Bus any earlier than 3 pm.

Highlights

The Central Apennines represent one of the most important regions for the conservation of the Canis lupus italicus, where the species has returned to a stable presence after centuries of persecution.
Accompanied by naturalists and certified local guides, participants learn to identify signs of wolf presence—tracks, scent marks, howls, and predation—using non-invasive wildlife monitoring techniques.
The return of the wolf is restoring key trophic dynamics essential to the biodiversity of mountain ecosystems. Wolf tracking allows direct observation of these processes and highlights the importance of large predators as keystone species and indicators o

Costs

from 620,00 €

What's included

Expert local Naturalist Guide
Internal transfers
Hotel stay, double occupancy
Dinner and breakfast
Hot drink service with coffee, chocolate and tea
Personal binoculars (Nikon 8x42)
Spotting scope (Nikon and Leica)
Snowshoes and poles

What is excluded

Lunches
Extra and personal expenses
Travel insurance

In Italy, wildlife is particularly elusive: spotting animals requires respect, silence, and patience. Most species are active at dawn or dusk, when human disturbance is at its lowest. It's essential to adapt to early starts, changing weather conditions, and long periods of silent waiting.

Some species require a more active approach, with several hours of hiking needed to reach the best observation areas. Carefully following your guide’s instructions is key—not only for safety, but also to increase your chances of a meaningful encounter. Moving quietly, keeping your distance, and leaving no trace allows for a truly authentic and respectful experience, with minimal impact on the environment and the animals.

Essential tips and useful details for a smooth and enjoyable stay

Daypack (25+ litres)
Raincover
Waterproof jacket with hood
Fleece jacket or similar
Warm jacket
Hiking trousers
Technical t-shirts
Hiking boots
Warm hat
Thin gloves
Waterproof overtrousers
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
Water bottles or water bladder

Whether you are going on a day hike or a multi-day trip, it is essential to prepare properly to ensure your safety and enjoyment. See our guidelines on how to equip yourself for each season.

Accommodation is pre-arranged by our tour leader in a small, charming, family-run hotel, in shared double rooms.

Lunch is not included, you will buy packed lunches each morning from the guesthouse or local shops and bakeries to take with you. For dinner you'll enjoy traditional Italian dishes such as maccheroni alla chitarra - a special kind of spaghetti, soup with orapi (wild spinach) and beans, gnocchetti and grilled meat. The region has a strong sheep-farming culture, so there are many local dairy products such as pecorino, ricotta, caciocavallo and a rare goat's cheese called marzolina.

Requests for vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for: please do not forget to advise us of these preferences at the time of booking.

This trip generates an average of 79,2 kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities and guides.

But what does that mean?

Is it still difficult to understand your impact on the planet? To get a fuller picture:

Driving 1000km in an average car is equivalent to about 300kg of CO2 (or 150kg per person if there are two of you).
A return economy class flight between London and Rome Fiumicino is equivalent to about 670 kg per person.
It is estimated that 10 trees in a temperate forest remove about 250kg of CO2 from the air over a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing?

We are working with all our partners and suppliers to develop long-term carbon reduction plans. We are working with Rewilding Apennines to ensure that this journey achieves net zero emissions by supporting their programmes and ensuring the protection and restoration of natural environments outside protected areas.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Of course, a good percentage of the participants to the Easter with wolves in Abruzzo are single travellers.

Our tours are usually made up of singles, couples and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, most of whom are between 25 and 50 years old. These adventures are suitable for solo travellers and attract people with a common mindset: a love of nature, a desire to go further and meet like-minded people.

We regret that we cannot accept dogs at the Easter with wolves. If you love your dog, you certainly love wild animals. To protect them and not to disturb them, certain precautions are necessary. For this reason, in the National Parks of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise and in many other protected areas, there are paths and areas of integral reserve where our pets cannot accompany us.

This activity is especially designed for adults as we need to spend four days in high mountains and wait silently a few hours. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

Obviously some day could be cold or rainy: our guides will study alternative propose to offer you the best experience. Be sure to be well equipped for each weather condition. Before you arrive, feel free to ask your guide what to expect for your specific trip dates.

Ask for a private Easter with wolves in Abruzzo tour if you need an exclusive experience. Whether you are a wildlife lover, photography enthusiast or simply in search of moments of peace and contemplation, our tailor-made itineraries will allow you to discover hidden corners and breathtaking landscapes in a unique and unforgettable experience.

We are a fully licensed tour operator, and all our guides are qualified professionals with professional indemnity insurance. It is easy and quick to take out additional travel insurance with major insurance companies. In addition to medical, baggage, and personal accident cover, you can also add cancellation cover travel insurance. Contact us for more information.

We understand that life can sometimes be unpredictable and we are here to help you in any way we can. We strongly recommend that you take out an additional insurance policy that includes a cancellation option. This can also be requested at the time of booking.

Day Tours
- Cancellation is free up to 48 hours prior to departure. Cancellations made after this time will incur a 100% cancellation fee and will not be refunded.

Multi day tours
- Up to 30 days prior to arrival, no charge.
- 29 to 15 days prior to arrival, 50% cancellation fee.
- Less than 14 days before arrival or no show, 100% cancellation fee.

The tour includes a series of internal transfers, starting from the Avezzano bus station, where our guide will pick you up at 2 pm. If you are coming from Rome, please consult the timetables of the Prontobus and LineaRoma companies, which provide connections from Rome Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino airports or from Rome Tiburtina railway station to Avezzano railway station. For any assistance in organising your trip, please contact us.

For those who want to travel independently Pescasseroli is the most important village of Abruzzo National Park, the oldest Italian protected area. It has guaranteed a life in harmony with nature for almost a century. You can easily reach it by car through three access points.

FROM ROME (Highway A24 Rome – L’Aquila): from Rome highway A24 until Pescina exit, proceed on SR83 or on SP17 until Pescasseroli. FROM PESCARA (Highway A25 Roma – Pescara): from Pescara highway A25 until Pescina exit, go on towards SR83 or towards SP17 until Pescasseroli. FROM NAPLES (Highway A1 Naples – Rome): from Naples highway A1 until Caianello exit, enter SS85 towards Venafro and then proceed on SR83 until Pescasseroli.

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Do you have any other questions? Write to us now!