Rewilding Weeks in Central Apennines

All dates available

Browse the calendar

July 9, 2025
October 15, 2025

Open the map Request information

What is the best way to discover rewilding if not by directly living it, with a series of field experiences especially designed to put people in contact with wild nature and the local communities living along side with it.

The Rewilding Week program aims at deepening the understanding of human-wildlife interaction themes in Central Apennines by spending 5 days on the field together with the Rewilding Apennines team, and learning side by side how to implement co-existence practices in this territory.

During this journey, we will meet the real keepers of these lands, who chose to embrace our philosophy and to help us in designing this unique experience. During the stay we will visit small mountain villages, local enterprises, natural monuments, and we will traverse some of the most remote areas in Central Apennines.

The Rewilding Weeks are carried out based on a schedule defined by the Rewilding Apennines team. Every season will be characterised by different field activities and priorities included in the experience.

DAY 1 – The Bear Smart Community Genzana Alto Gizio

Arrival at the Pratola Peligna train station, afternoon settling at the hotel and presentation of the guide and Rewilding Apennines team. Visit to the Bear Smart Community of Pettorano sul Gizio.

1 hours’ walking – 100 m ascent – 100 m descent

DAY 2 – Call to action for a more nature-rich Europe

After breakfast we will take action with the Rewilding Apennines team to contribute to habitat-restoration by the removal of small unauthorized rubbish dumps or of decades-old abandoned barbed wire in the mountains, that constitutes both an aesthetic and ecological deterrent for man and wildlife movement. Possibility of observing grazing red deer, roe deer and different birds of prey. Packed lunch and transfer to Ortona dei Marsi, visit to the apple cider brewery Melagusto and tasting of local products. In the evening, brief excursion and wildlife watching activity. Return to Pettorano sul Gizio, dinner and overnight stay.

3 hours’ walking – 250 m climb – 250 m descent

DAY 3 – Bear-living in a men’s world

Breakfast and meet with the Rewilding Apennines team. In the morning, we will contribute to the installation of electric fences and bear-proof doors as tools for preventing bear-made damages to small farms, in the name of conflict mitigation. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to visit a Bear Smart Community for better understanding the human actors of the corridors, such as residents, small entrepreneurs, students and volunteers, for listening to their co-existence stories but also for tasting some local products. Dinner and overnight stay.

2 hours’ walking – 200 m climb – 200 m descent

DAY 4 – The Monte Velino Nature Reserve

After breakfast the Rewilding Apennines team will guide us during a wildlife monitoring activity based on direct observation at sunrise or aid by the use of camera traps. Our day will go on with a focus on the griffon vulture and the activities that the team carries out in the context of the collaboration between the Reparto Carabinieri Biodiversità di Castel di Sangro (environmental law enforcement agency) and Rewilding Apennines. In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

5 hours’ walking – 400 m climb – 400 m descent

DAY 5 – Active conservation of the Freshwater Crayfish

Our last day on the field will be dedicated to the discovery of two more corridor areas and of the Freshwater Crayfish, a key species in freshwater ecosystems whose numbers are declining in most of Europe. The small excursions planned will moreover allow to visit sites of naturalistic and historical relevance for the opportunity of taking back an unforgettable postcard of this experience! During early afternoon end of activities and departure of the participants.

5 hours’ walking – 300 m climb – 300 m descent

Highlights

Field actions. Join us on the field and give your contribution to rewilding!
Immersion in nature. Walk across the wild mountains of Central Apennines and discover its wildlife through sings of presence and direct observations.
Encounter with local producers. Meet and exchange experiences with the communities that daily co-exist with wildlife.

Costs

from 840,00 €

What's included

Guide and organisation
B&B accommodation
Lunch and breakfast
Nikon Prostaff 8×42 binoculars
Internal transfers
Professional indemnity insurance

What is excluded

All dinners
Personal travel insurance
Extras and personal expenses

I partecipanti devono essere in grado di camminare senza difficoltà su sentieri di media difficoltà e di restare in silenzio nei momenti di attesa e osservazione. Le singole prevedono una buona attività fisica è quindi consigliabile vestirsi a strati per avere la possibilità di potersi alleggerire durante la giornata. Al tramonto, anche in piena estate, sono necessari indumenti caldi e antivento.

What to bring

Soft duffel bag or rucksack, 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, water b

Accommodation is pre-arranged by our tour leader in a small b&b, in shared double rooms.

Packed lunches are included: every morning we will be able to pick up a packed lunch from local shops and bakeries in order to optimise the days spent observing wildlife. Vegetarian, vegan or special dietary requirements can be catered for: please remember to indicate these preferences when booking.

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, the polenta rognosa, which can be accompanied by bacon, pork ribs and sausages, mushrooms, truffles, mugnoli. The region has a strong sheep and goat breeding culture, so there will be the opportunity to taste many other local dairy products such as Bianco Majella, Cacio Morra or Stagionata del Morrone cheese.

This trip generates an average of 103 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.

Reviews

Amazing experience discovering the world of rewilding & conservation in the beautiful Central Apennines

May 2, 2025

The wildlife adventures webpage states that the rewilding experience week is one “combining tourism with rewilding practices”, which it does, but that really understates what you get from it. Very quickly you are immersed with the team from Rewilding Apennines, meeting the full-timers and the lovely volunteers (from all over Europe), and getting straight into the activities. Within 30 minutes of arriving we were up to an observation point looking at deer, eagles and keenly looking for bears. And...

Roland Dunn

Wonderful experience week

October 29, 2024

The Rewilding Week end of October 24 was a wonderful and unforgettable experience: Hiking and exploring the wonderful natural and wild landscapes, very nice and experiencend leaders with a lot of knowledge, and interesting informations about the work of Rewilding Apennin. We had the opportunity to join some of their activities, which...

Sibylle Möbius

Fantastic experience of rewilding

July 15, 2024

The five days provided a unique insight into the work of the rewilding Apennines team, with hands on experience alongside informative discussions and teaching materials and fun quizzes. We enjoyed all of it! I highly recommend this rewilding experience to all ages

Jean Clark

FAQ

Of course, a good percentage of the participants at the Rewilding Week in Central Apennines 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 Rewilding Week in Central Apennines. 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 five days in high mountains and wait silently a few hours. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

The climate is typically Mediterranean, with pleasant temperatures and beautiful sunsets in the spring and autumn months. Of course, it is possible to have a day of bad weather, which can have an impact on the single excursion. Our guides will adapt the itinerary to the weather conditions to ensure the best possible experience.

Remember to bring all the necessary equipment and recommended clothing and before you arrive, feel free to ask your guide what to expect for your specific trip dates.

Ask for a private Rewilding Week in Central Apennines if you need an exclusive experience for a group. 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.

This tour includes a series of internal transfers starting from the Sulmona-Pratola Peligna Bus Terminal where our guide will be waiting for you at 3 p.m. It is possible to reach the terminal by bus. Those coming from Rome can consult the Prontobus timetable, which provides connections from Rome Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino airports or from Rome Tiburtina station to the Sulmona-Pratola Peligna Bus Terminal. For any support requests on organising your trip, please contact us.

For those who wish to move by car, Pettorano Sul Gizio is the main centre of the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Regional Nature Reserve.

It can be easily reached by car through three access points. FROM ROME (A24 Rome-L'Aquila) By car from Rome take the A24 motorway to the Sulmona-Pratola Peligna exit. Continue along the SS17 to Pettorano sul Gizio. FROM PESCARA (A25 Rome-Pescara) By car from Pescara take the A25 motorway to the Sulmona-Pratola Peligna exit. Continue along the SS17 to Pettorano sul Gizio. FROM NAPLES (A1 Naples-Rome) By car from Naples take the A1 motorway to the Caianello exit. Take the SS85 to Venafro and continue along the SS17 to Pettorano sul Gizio.

Buy now

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