SloWays • Abruzzo - Majella National Park

Not far from Rome and the Adriatic coast, this untamedly beautiful place offers limpid streams and Alpine meadows filled with flocks of sheep, endless beech forests, ancient hamlets, Roman monasteries and solitary hermitages. It’s the Majella National Park, in the Abruzzo region, the perfect place for nature lovers and their families.

Here animals - even the wild ones, among the rarest in Europe - still feel safe: in few others places you’d be able to spot otters playing in the water, Apennine chemises, red and roe deers running through the trees, golden eagles flying on top of your head. Some are even more rare, more cautious - black bears, wolves, lynxes - but their presence is well perceptible, part of the soul of this place, wild and free.

Nature here is queen: it is rigorously and passionately protected, she imposes her rhythm and rules. The park hosts the 22% of the whole European flora, more than 2100 plant species of which 140 are endemic - coloring this place of all the shades of green you may (or may not) be able to imagine and turning in endless tones of gold and red in fall.

Route

Day 1: Arrive in Pretoro

Day 2: From Pretoro to Passo Lanciano, 14 km

Day 3: From Majelletta to Decontra, 11 km

Day 4: Orfento Valley loop, 10 km

Day 5: Giumentina valley loop, 14 km

Day 6: From Sant'Eufemia to Pacentro, 17,5 km

Day 7: Arrivederci Pacentro!

Day 1: Arrive in Pretoro

Arrive in Pescara or Roma airports and take a train to Chieti. If you arrive early, take a stroll in the tiny streets of this nice medieval village, located at 600m altitude on the slopes of the Majella Massif. Enjoy having a glass of wine sitting on the bench of the panoramic terrace in front of the accommodation.

Day 2: From Pretoro to Passo Lanciano, 14 km

A morning transfer to the start of the walk near Pretoro (near Colle Faggio). The route is well marked but the trail is sometimes hard to see. Along the walk you will encounter several dry stone “tholos” hut. You come out on an open level with great views of the Maielletta Mountains. In the higher section of the itinerary you walk through beeches and coniferous forests. If you are lucky you can spot deer, foxes and wolves You stay in a good hotel in Passo Lanciano, a small ski hamlet in the beech woods.

Distance: 14 km

Elevation gain: +1081/-349 m

Day 3: From Majelletta to Decontra, 11 km

Today’s destination is the hamlet of Decontra a charming and magical place that seems unaffected by time. You will walk along the ridge enjoying spectacular views over the Majella mountains and the surrounding valleys.

Distance: 11 km

Elevation gain: +590/-1028 m

Day 4: Orfento Valley loop, 10 km

Soon after leaving Decontra you walk along an old panoramic mule track that plunge into the deep and narrow Orfento Valley formed by the erosive action of the river through the millennia, that has contributed to the creation of one of the most singular and spectacular areas in the Apennines, both from an aesthetic and naturalistic point of view. Because of its natural characteristics, the valley is a protected and restricted area.

Distance: 10 km

Elevation gain: +403/-403 m

Day 5: Giumentina valley loop, 14 km

The day’s route runs along the Giumentina Valley's on dirt roads through wide pastures and fields with breath-taking views. It is possible to make a detour to visit the charming S.Bartolomeo Hermitage; it is also possible to visit the ancient graves named "Tholos" which have been recently recovered.

Distance: 14 km

Elevation gain: +427/-427 m

Day 6: From Sant'Eufemia to Pacentro, 17,5 km

A short transfer takes you to Sant’Eufemia where the day’s walk to Pacentro starts. The walk is a gradual climb predominated by the spectacular views of and from the Morrone Mountain that sits majestically behind Caramanico Terme. All along the walk, on beautiful mature beech forests and high altitude pastures, you have great views of the soaring peaks of the Majella massif, the Gran Sasso (2800m), the highest mountain outside the Italian Alps and the Monti della Laga. Once over the San Leonardo Pass, a steep descent down to the tower of the magnificent medieval village of Pacentro that offers great views on the mountains of the Abruzzo National Park and the town of Sulmona.

Distance: 17,5 km

Elevation gain: +727/-879 m

Day 7: Arrivederci Pacentro!

The trip and our services end after breakfast. Make your own way to the airport by public transports unless you have pre-booked a private transfer with us.

accommodation

6 nights in double rooms in 3* hotels, B&B and agriturismi with breakfast and 3 dinner

B&B Casa Milà - Pretoro

B&B Casa Milà is located in Majella National Park at 602 meters above sea level. Rooms are clean, well-furnished and welcoming with private bathroom, free Wifi and TV. Breakfast is very good both savoury and sweet. Owners are kind and courteous.

www.bebmila.it

Hotel La Maielletta - Pretoro

Hotel La Maielletta is centrally located in Majella National Park in Passolanciano area and 100 meters from the Panoramic ski slopes. Rooms have a mountain style with a simple furniture. These aren't spacious. Breakfast is good. The Hotel has a SPA too. Staff is courteous.

lamaielletta.it

Agriturismo Pietrantica - Decontra di Caramanico

Agriturismo Pietrantica is an organic farmhouse since 2000 promotes a local development project with sustainability in the Majella National Park. Rooms are spacious, bright and relaxing. The cuisine proposes dishes from Abruzzo and breakfast offers natural products. Staff is welcoming and kind.

www.agripietrantica.com

B&B In Centro a Pacentro - Pacentro

This B&B is centrally located in Pacentro. It offers clean, quiet and comfortable rooms with TV, free Wifi. Owners are very welcoming and helpful. Breakfast is served on panoramic terrace on warmer months and it's rich and various.

www.incentroapacentro.it

practical info

You can find more information in the "accommodation" section: we always select your accommodation for their character and comfort. You will always be booked in a private, en-suite room, with breakfast included.

Luggage transfer (max. 20 kg) from one hotel to the hotel is included in the price.

Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Rome Ciampino (CIA) airports are 240km from Pretoro. If you fly to Rome (Fiumicino FCO or Ciampino CIA), take a train to Rome Termini train station and then a train to Chieti Scalo. In Chieti get on the bus to Pretoro.

Pescara airport (PSR) is 40km from Pretoro and 70km from Sulmona. If you fly to Pescara Airport (PSR), take a bus to Pescara train station and then a train to Chieti Scalo. In Chieti get the bus to Pretoro.

From Pacentro take a taxi or a public bus to Sulmona and from Sulmona you can travel by train or public bus to Pescara or Rome airports. For more information please visit www.trenitalia.com.

Thanks to our special APP, you will be able to follow the track of the whole trip on your mobile phone, with no need for internet. GPS tracks are available on request.

Included

What is included

6 Nights in double room in *** hotels , B&B and agriturismi with breakfast
4 dinners
1 packed lunch
luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
Map of the Majella National Park
Transfers as described in the program
maps and detailed description of the itinerary
Medical and luggage travel insurance
24h phone assistance

What is not included

Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
visits and entrance fees - tips
personal expense
possible sojourn taxes
everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

Single room supplement
cancellation insurance
Transfers to reach the starting location or to leave the arriving location of the tour, which will be quoted on request.

Is this trip for me?

This trip is perfect if you love the great outdoors, untamed nature, animals and forests. It's an enchanting landscape of remote places and wild animals that, with any luck, you may be able to spot. It's the right trip for you if it's not your first walking holiday - the excursions are quite challenging and the landscape beautiful but remote.

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