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Walking in the Apuane Alps

Walking in the Apuane Alps

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~~$1238~~

$1177

Walking in the Apuane Alps

8 Days Starting and ending in Fornaci di Barga

Visiting: Italy

Tour operator:

Walkers' Britain

Tour code:

JAA

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 20

Physical rating:

moderate to challenging

From:

$1238

$1177 (USD) The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$62

Tour Overview

The Apuane Alps are a remote area of northern Tuscany - a world away from the towns and rolling hills of the south. There are few other walkers and the villagers make you feel truly welcome. This walk has many attractive ingredients, from wide mountain vistas, to remote hamlets surrounded by forest and mountain scenery. From the small unassuming town of Fornaci di Barga you'll enter the Apuane forests, climbing up through chestnut woods and dropping down through vineyards to the ancient village of Verni, home to an impressive series of limestone massifs rising up to 2000m. The Apuanes are famous for their scenery of white marble towers, abysses and the largest cave system in Italy. During the walk you'll explore remote chapels, climb Monte Forato (1223m) and visit the 'Grotta del Vento' with its subterranean lakes. You'll also have the option to ascend Pania della Croce (1860m) before visiting the hermitage at Calomini.
NB : On this tour there is a maximum of 2 single rooms available.

Highlights

Mountain Walking in Tuscany
Remote Unsophisticated Tuscany
Hike on Limestone Summits

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Commence Fornaci Di Barga

Meals Included: D

Make your own way by train from Pisa to Fornaci di Barga meaning “The cave of clay”. The small town derived its name from the solitary brick kiln, which existed in the area before 1915. From here catch views of Monte Penna, Gragno and Cardoso. Today the town is more famous for its copper works.
Accommodation: Stay in a small old style 2* hotel, centrally located and about 5 minutes walk away from the train station. It is simply furnished, but very clean and all rooms are en-suite.

Day 2 : Fornaci To Verni 15.7 Km/10 Miles, 5.5 H

Meals Included: B, D

An early morning start for your walk today, which will take you mostly through woods from Fornaci to Verni. Passing the River Serchio, you ascend to Cardoso, a medieval hamlet with a beautiful Roman church. As the footpath climbs, the vegetation changes from oaks to chestnuts. Just after the grotto of Casteltendine there is a superior vantage point from a rock with a cross, which affords a wonderful view of the highest summits of the Apennines, including Giovo, Rondinaio and Tre Potenze. Passing a little shepherd's hamlet, you make your way to Verni (732m) a very charming and picturesque hilltop home to a mere 80 inhabitants, who are spoilt for choice with no less than four churches and many little chapels, which bear testimony to its rich past. Overnight near Verni. Perhaps visit the old ruins of a castle from where there are splendid views. There are some authentically intact old streets. Ascent 1005m / Descent 515m.
Accommodation: This is spent in a lovely family run farm house near Verni, these are apartments with their own bathroom. There is a swimming pool, a sauna and a patio or balcony with amazing views.

Day 3 : Verni To Fornovolasco 16.4 Km/10.9 Miles, 6 H

Meals Included: B, D

This is a beautiful walk, taking in the historic hilltop town of Trassilico where you can admire the views from the castle walls across the valley and down to Verni. Having descended through the village, and perhaps having an ice cream, pick up the undulating trail that strikes along the hillsides past abandoned farms, eventually leading to the mountain village of San Pellegrinetto; a great place for a picnic. You overnight in the typical Apuane village of Fornovolasco where you have three nights. Ascent 674m / Descent 694m.
Accommodation: The next 3 nights are spent in a typical small hotel. 2 bathrooms are shared by the 5 rooms. The very friendly owner serves delicious food in his welcoming little restaurant.

Day 4 : Circular Walk To Monte Forato 9.4 Km/5.8 Miles, 6 H

Meals Included: B, D

Today’s walk is a long climb up to Monte Forato (1223m) and its amazing views of the Versilia region and towards the Mediterranean, the woods and Apuane villages below. There are two options from here: either an easy ascent or a longer footpath to Monte Forato, a splendid natural arch. There is a great view of Procinto with its perpendicular rock-face and Monte Nona from here. Continue until just under the Pania, which from below is rather breathtaking, then descend along a footpath by abandoned houses to Fornovolasco. Ascent 790m / Descent 790m.

Day 5 : There And Back Walk To Grotta Del Vento 3Km / 2 Miles , Allow 4 Hours

Meals Included: B, D

Begin the day with a short walk around Fornovolasco, then onward to visit the famous Grotta del Vento, with its internal lakes, stalagmites and stalactites. After lunch you could use the maps to follow an easy strada bianca offering gorgeous views of the Turrite river, and Trassilico. Return to Fornovolasco. Distance varies depending on where you go, but it is meant to be an easy day because tomorrow is the hardest day.

Day 6 : Fornovolasco To Eremo Di Calomini 27 Km /16.6 Miles, 9-11 H

Meals Included: B, D

If the weather is good and you are up for a hard day we recommend the ascent of Pania della Croce (1860m), with a 1400m difference in altitude. This 9-11 hour walk involves a reasonably tough ascent, but the reward is definitely worth the effort in the view over the sea, the marble quarries, the Apennines and the Apuanes. This view is yours only if you reach the summit (and the weather is kind)! The way winds up on a good footpath with sometimes stunning views; it makes its way up through pleasant woods to Piglionico, which has a chapel dedicated to the Partisans who fell in the area during World War 2. A footpath takes you to the beech forest boundary, where, in a basin between the two summits, Pania Secca and Pania della Croce, you find Rifugio Rossi. Another hour’s walk will take you to either of the two summits, but the view from Pania della Croce is much more pleasing. Descent to Rifugio Rossi and onto the 11th century hermitage of Eremo di Calomini, with its community of monks. Ascent 1500m / Descent 1649m. As part of the route up and down is the same this day can readily be shortened tp 11km especially if the weather is closing in. There is also a shorter alternative today following the Valley of the Turrite River, once again with good views.
Accommodation: Tonight is spent in an Agriturismo,100m from the monastery.The comfortable rooms are en-suite. A tasteful dinner is served in the restaurant which boasts panoramic views.

Day 7 : Eremo Di Calomini To Gallicano (Then To Fornaci Di Barga) From 6.2Km/4 Miles, 2 H

Meals Included: B, D

You will pass through Gallicano. Although perhaps not as attractive as the other villages on the route, there is a neo-gothic aqueduct and a beautiful Roman church worth a visit. Some people have taken the bus from Gallicano to the attractive town of Barga and then walked back to Fornaci di Barga. (approx 6 km extra). Or they have taken the bus or train from Gallicano to Fornaci de Barga. Options are provided with your route notes.
Accommodation: Return to the same hotel used at the beginning of the tour.

Day 8 : Arrangements End After Breakfast Or Extension To Lucca

Meals Included: B

After breakfast make your way to the train station for your onward journey.
If you are extending to Lucca, make your way to the train station with your luggage and catch the train to Lucca.

What's Included

Accommodation
7 nights in 2 star hotels & pensions
7 breakfasts, 7 dinners
7 nights accommodation in a 3 star hotel & pensions on a twin share basis
Ensuite facilities where available
Luggage transfers from Inn to Inn
Full route notes and map package
Emergency hotline
GPX files to cover the main routes
7 nights accommodation in a 3 * hotel & pensions on a twin share basis

What's Not Included

all lunches & beverages
Entrance fees
Travel insurance
Travel to the start and from the end point of the trip
Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
Unscheduled transfers required during the trip
City Tax 2-4 Euros per day, per person locally payable to the accommodations
Guide - this is a self guided holiday
A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
Excess Luggage

Accommodation

7 nights in 2 star hotels & pensions
The hotels described are our usual choice of accommodation, however if these are not available then alternatives are used and if these are of a different standard you will be informed at the time of booking. Baths/showers: Many rooms with ensuite/private facilities have a shower rather than a bath, usually because of limited space. Some hotels/guesthouses may however have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests.
NB : on this tour there is a maximum of 2 single rooms available.

Grading

This trip is graded moderate to challenging.This self-guided tour traverses rugged and remote terrrain and is therefore not available to solo travelers for safety reasons. Clients should be in reasonable condition and be able to walk between 10-24kms/ 6-15 miles, 3-7 hours per day. The maximum altitude is 1860m and clients should be prepared to ascend in excess of 1100m in one day. If you take the option to climb Pania della Croce (1860m), there is a 1400m difference in altitude. This walk is 9 hours (but some people have found it up to 11 hours).

Reviews from Travellers on this Tour

P. Gleeson(Kew, VIC)

Walking in the Apuane Alps

Our trip in late September was ideal. Very few oth

Our trip in late September was ideal. Very few other tourists or walkers, very friendly staff and perfect temperature for walking. The remote region of the Apuan was challenging and very rewarding hiking holiday. Superb country and hospitable locals. Highly recommended.

A Byrd(Idaho, USA)

Walking in the Apuane Alps

We completed the Hiking the Apuane Alps in late Se

We completed the Hiking the Apuane Alps in late September of 2019. We were pleasantly surprised with the accommodations and thoroughly enjoyed our days hiking despite some challenges with the rain on a few days. The views are amazing and the woods enchanting. We hope to do another Sherpa trip in the future.

S. Gilsenan(Galway, Ireland)

Walking in the Apuane Alps

We really enjoyed the walk. Beautiful scenery and

We really enjoyed the walk. Beautiful scenery and interesting things to see enroute.

Dates & Availability

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May
2024 Jun
2024 Jul
2024 Aug
2024 Sep
2024 Oct
2024

Instant Booking Available

Wednesday - Wednesday

May 15, 2024 - May 22, 2024

~~$1238~~ $1177 (USD)