PERIOD
April-November
DURATION
7h
LOCATION
Alfedena, Abruzzo
GROUP SIZE
15 people
LENGTH
13 km roundtrip
ELEVATION GAIN
840 m
DIFFICULT
Moderate
You need a good level of fitness, because the itinerary is long and there is a significant altitude difference.
When you get closer to Monte Meta, you will be enchanted and fascinated by the beauty of the landscape. The woody slopes give way to green Karst fields and steep rocky hills. A rugged and wild environment, even more special because of the rock partridge’s song and the silent flight of the Golden eagle. On the peak, your breath will stop and the view will become spectacular. You will overlook the main mountain ranges of the Apennines and, on clear days, looking past Monte Cassino, you might be able to see the sea.
The Apennine Chamois, together with the Marsican brown bear and the Wolf, is the most precious fauna of the Park and all of the Apennines. The population present in the area of Monte Meta has been the object of particular protection by the Park Authority in order to safeguard it. Access to the area of Monte Meta will be allowed exclusively through the trails L1-M1-N1. Access to these itineraries will be allowed exclusively in groups with a guide during the summer season.
Roundtrip hike offers the most typical and awesome National Park Landscapes: gorgeous rocky walls, deep glacial valleys, beech forests
Walking silently and respectfully one can see one of the most important population of Apennine chamois, meekly grazing between pastures and rocky walls.
Gli zoccoli del camoscio sono le quattro dita del violinista. Vanno alla cieca e non sbagliano millimetro. Schizzano su strapiombi, giocolieri in salita, acrobati in discesa, artisti da circo per la platea delle montagne.
Appointment in Alfedena in the morning. Meeting with the guides and a short trip by car to reach the Pianoro di Campitelli, on the Abruzzo side of the Park. The trail immediately plunges into a beech forest, characterised by high-trunk trees. It is in some places steep and stony, and with little twists and turns you get to the highest border of the forest, where the massive rock wall of the Monte Meta appears. Here, mountain pastures and morainic stones guide us to the Passo dei Monaci, and the landscape opens onto the Lazio and Molise parts of the Park. At the pass the last part of steep ascent awaits us, by which you can reach the peak. Packed lunch at high altitude and return across Val Pagana, concluding this beautiful ring route.
Prices
€ 20 / per adult
€ 10 / per young (10-14 year-old)
What’s included
Guide and organization
What is not included
Packed lunch
Any transports
Extra and personal expenses
Travel insurance
During wintertime Monte Meta becomes a challenging alpinistic ascend, normally, it’s possible to climb it between April and November. April and May is when little chamois start discovering their mountains jumping on the rocky walls. Wonderful endemic flowers bloom everywhere. In the late summer, deers and chamois in love are kings of mountain pastures.
See booking calendar for available dates.
Temperatures depend on season and time, warm clothes and dress up in layers is recommended: at 2.000 mt above sea level, in summertime too, it could be very cold. You must have hiking boots.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
Rucksack (25-35 litre)
Waterproof jacket with hood
Warm jacket
Technical walking trousers
Technical t-shirts
Hiking boots
Warm hat
Thin gloves
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
Water bottles or water bladder (at least 2 lt)
Sure can! Over 30% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
This hiking is designed for adults and young 10+, with a good level of fitness and some previous experience in hiking in mountains.
Ask for a private tour if you need an exclusive experience. Send us an e mail and we’ll answer you back with the quotation.
Refreshment point and toilet services are not available during this hike, you will eat your packed dinner and you may go in the forest… looking for your private toilet.
Outdoor activities are weather dependent. If we are forced to cancel an activity due to extreme weather conditions, an alternative date, activity or full refund will be provided. Please note that changes may occur at a short notice, even on the same day.
Our guides are registered in Collegio Guide Alpine Abruzzo and subscribed a professional insurance.
We suggest you to book on line activity insurance with World Nomads. They offer insurances designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.
Alfedena is one of the 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 Alfedena. FROM PESCARA (Highway A25 Roma – Pescara): from Pescara highway A25 until Pescina exit, go on towards SR83 or towards SP17 until Civitella Alfedena. FROM NAPLES (Highway A1 Naples – Rome): from Naples highway A1 until Caianello exit, enter SS85 towards Venafro and then proceed on SR83 until Alfedena.
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 Flixbus or Prontobus company that connects Roma and Ciampino airports to Abruzzo.