Walking among bears

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August 3, 2025
August 24, 2025

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An opportunity for awareness and a moment of reflection, a journey to rediscover the rhythms of nature, the measure of time, the silence. To look at life from a different perspective, just like when you look at the landscape from a mountain top… It is a philosophy of travelling different from the one of an organised trip. Long walks in the mountains lead us to remote places where friendships and our self-esteem are fueled. We camp out in a tent or in a cabin, warm up by the fireplace and are cradled by the starry sky.

Traffic, daily life, the hammering work rhythm, deadlines, the whirlwind of passing time. It is not uncommon to feel that everything seems to slip through our fingers – sometimes we would like to pull the plug, take off and regain the control over our lives. Those that choose to get on this road know that there will be obstacles, unforeseen events. They know that it takes physical efforts. That they will have to relate to others and leave frustrations and worries behind them; that only like this they will be able to enjoy the journey.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Italy’s oldest National Park

Appointment in the town centre of Pescasseroli. Meeting the guides, check of our backpacks and transfer by car to the starting point of the trail. The trip starts off from Barrea a small village that guards, from its high position, the ancient Vallis Regia. Walking near the Rio Torto river we reach the plains of Campitelli, a large basin embedded between the austere walls of Monte Meta and the Mainarde range. Accommodation in a mountain hut, dinner and overnight stay.

5 km · 3 hours' walk · 300 m climb

DAY 2 – Sacred and profane, mountains and summits

After breakfast the route continues inside the beech forest, characterised by unique, tall trunks; seemingly silent, it comes to life by the voice of the water springs and the sound of the wind sneaking into the valley. The forest gives way to large karst sinkholes, overlooked by moraines and ledges of the impressive Monte Meta. Just steps away is the panoramic Passo dei Monaci. In the afternoon we continue on a long and steep downhill towards the Valle del Canneto, a fascinating place of worship with very interesting nature. In the evening, dinner and overnight accommodation in a tented camp.

12 km · 6 hours walk · 720 m climb · 1100 m descent

DAY 3 – Sunrise with the bears

After breakfast, we go up to the valley characterised by water features and small waterfalls. After we have left the river gravel bed of the Melfa stream, the route continues uphill towards the pass of the Tre Confini and until the historic Rifugio di Forca Resuni. In the afternoon we will be watching the Camosciara from above, with its rocky slopes, the centuries-old black pines and many endemic flowerings. The view opens on the spectacular Val di Rose and towards the quaint village of Civitella Alfedena. Dinner and overnight stay in a small hotel.

14 km · 8 hours walk · 1000 m climb · 920 m descent

DAY 4 – Wolves at night

Immediately after breakfast, we walk through wide meadows on the border between the protected area and the Sagittario Valley. As we look out over the glacial basins of the Marsicano, let us pause to breathe in this intimate and wild landscape. The atmosphere of the sunset accompanies us towards the Rifugio Terraegna, a place closely linked to the life of wolves and shepherds who for centuries have walked these paths to escape misery and hunger. A good Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and the warmth of the refuge will accompany us for dinner.

15 km · 6 hours walk · 600 m climb · 450 m descent

DAY 5 – Root of patriarchy

After a lavish breakfast and after having packed our backpacks, we get on or way, following a route characterised by very old trees, the patriarchs, and undulating meadows. The trees in this area, born before the end of the Middle Ages, were found to be the oldest beech trees in Europe. Lights and shadows intertwining, crickets singing, and wild strawberries will all lead to discovering the Prato Rosso valley, to then go down to Pescasseroli. In the evening, accommodation in a B&B, dinner in the city centre and end of activities.

12 km · 6 hours walk · 200 m climb · 600 m descent

DAY 6 – Epilogue

After breakfast departure of participants.

Highlights

Beautiful scenery in intimate and wild places, among large beech forests and rare blooms, to rediscover nature’s essence
Bookend long days in the wilderness with classic Italian food and tasty local wines in genuine mountain villages
In cammino tra gli orsi is a trek freely inspired by Luigi Colantonio's book. Many years later, we retrace his footsteps to lose ourselves in nature and find ourselves again.

Costs

from 710,00 €

What's included

Local nature guide
Accommodation in mountain hut, tents, b&b
Dinner and breakfast
Internal transfers

What is excluded

Lunches
Extra and personal expenses
Travel insurance

The trek is not technically challenging but you must be fit to walk with a backpack for up to 15 km a day for several days. You will be camping overnight in shared accommodation.

What to bring

Temperatures can range from +5 °C to +24 °C. We recommend bringing easily removable rainwear, allowing you to stay comfortable and adaptable throughout the tour.

CLOTHING
Waterproof jacket
Down jacket
Fleece or sweatshirt
Extra T‑shirts
Long trekking pants
Waterproof over‑pants
Spare socks
Trekking boots
Woollen hat
Light gloves

EQUIPMENT
Mountain backpack (40+ L)
Rain cover for backpack
Water bottle or thermos (at least 1 L)
Headlamp
Sunscreen
Hand sanitizer gel
Toothbrush and toothpaste
First‑aid kit (Compeed®, plasters, medications)
Flip‑flops for relaxing moments
Comfortable T‑shirt and trousers for sleeping
Earplugs (recommended)

For tent camping, basic equipment is supplied (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag), but you’ll need a personal sleeping sheet liner.

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.

The Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park is an enchanting place where wild nature reveals itself in sometimes unexpected shapes and colours. It is a place that, more than any other, jealously guards its origins, rejects all that is noisy, and still embraces that ancient bond between man and nature. A trip to this region can be unforgettable in many ways, but without a shadow of a doubt, it can help us rediscover a fleeting inner peace.

During this trip, accommodation alternates between small family-run hotels, mountain huts, and tents. Beds in the huts and tents are shared and offer only basic services. Long days in the mountains are interspersed with moments of relaxation in the valley and more comfortable facilities.

You will need to purchase your own ingredients for lunch, while dinner and breakfast are always provided in the huts and hotels.

Requests for vegetarian, vegan, or other special dietary requirements can be accommodated: please remember to indicate these preferences when booking

This trip generates an average of 36,1 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

Of course, a good percentage of the participants in the trip Italy's Big Five through the most interesting areas of the Abruzzo National Park 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.

This trip is specifically designed for adults (18+). We want to bring people together who are driven by common needs in the great outdoors.

We regret that we cannot accept dogs at the Walking among bears. 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.

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 Walking among bears 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.

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.

You can arrive by bus thanks to daily connections from Castel di Sangro and Avezzano. Check the timetable on Tuabruzzo. Connections by train are only until Avezzano station. For those who come from Rome it is possible to check the timetable of LineaRoma or Prontobus company that connects Roma and Ciampino airports to Avezzano.