6-day Guided trekking and culinary tour in Tuscany, from Pisa
Discover the beautiful Garfagnana Valley in Tuscany, with this 6-day guided trekking tour, starting from Pisa, along UIMLA Mountain Leader Sergio.
Private and Group
Apennines
6 Days
Jun, Aug, Sep
Fit
Intermediate
Highlights
- Explore two national parks in the Appenines and in the Apuan Alps
- Taste typical Italian, mostly organic cuisine, from the Garfagnana region
- Enjoy a great trek in Tuscany along a certified guide
Description
Join me on this 6-day trekking tour and discover the stunning green scenery and mountains of Tuscany, one of the most beautiful regions in the world, located in central Italy. During these days, we will explore the captivating Garfagnana Valley, a verdant aretua of dense forests and enchanting beauty, a few kilometers north of Lucca.
We will meet in Pisa on the first day. The following day we will take a train to Piazza al Serchio, a small town nestled between the mountains, where our trek begins. We will travel to the most remote areas of this region through the mountain ranges that protect it: the Apuan Alps and the Apennine Alps, where much of the Italian biodiversity is concentrated. The roe deer, the wolf , the alpine rook, the golden eagle and the mouflon live here.
Five different stages will take us from the Apuan Alps Regional Park (Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane) to the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park, where most of the trekking takes place.
At the base of the valleys we will find small towns, cultivated fields and chestnut forests. At higher altitudes, we find beech forests, alpine meadows, the sharp ridges of the more rugged Apuans and the gentle green hills of the Apennines. The most representative mountains that we will ascend are Monte Tondo (1782m), Porraie (1833m) and Monte Prado (2054m), the highest peak along the trek.
We will also have the opportunity of trying the local gastronomy, tasting ecological local products of great quality, “zero kilometer” food produced in the region of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna.
Would you like to join me on this trekking tour in Tuscany? Just send me a request. Check the dates below and book your trip! Come join me on a great hiking experience in Italy.
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Personal insurance
Price details
The price INCLUDES: Guiding fee - Group equipment - Logistics management - Mountain Accident Insurance + Civil Liability. / The price DOES NOT INCLUDE: Accommodation - Guide expenses - Transportation (Plane, train, etc) - Food - Personal equipment
Any change that may occur during the trek due to any incident (weather, etc.) and that may involve a cost greater than that previously arranged between guide and clients.
You can expect to spend around 600 Euros per person for accommodation, meals and other extras during the trip.
Itinerary
Day 1: Pisa
Meeting with the guide. Briefing about the trek. Night in Pisa. Accommodation B & B: Pisa – Hotel ***
Day 2: Piazza al Serchio - Giuncugnano (875 m)
After breakfast, we meet and go by train to Piazza al Serchio, a small town in the Alps nestled between the mountains. This is a smooth and progressive day. Starting from the base of the valley, we ascend through the hills to Giuncugnano, from where we continue our hike through chestnut forests to the top of Mt. Argegna (1034 m). From there, we will have the opportunity to see the contrast of both mountain ranges: the imposing, steep Apuan Alps and the soft hills of the Appenines.
Distance: 10km. Elevation difference: + 670m. Duration: 5h. 30 min. (includes stops)/ Lodging in Full Board (FB) regime: Giuncugnano – Agrotourism
Day 3: Giuncugnano - Passo Pradarena (1574m)
We bid farewell to the Apuan Alps and welcome the Apennines. This stage is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of the trek. As we ascend, the vegetation changes, and the forests of chestnut, hazel and pine trees give way to forests of beech, cranberry and juniper meadows. The ascent to Mt. Tondo (1782m) allows you to enjoy one of the best trekking views: on days of good visibility you get to see the Mediterranean and the Maritime Alps. In a section of the route we share the itinerary with the European trail E1. This trail links Northern Europe and the Mediterranean along 6000 kilometers. Our stage ends in the Carpediem Refuge, at 1574m, located in the Passo di Pradarena, known and used already in Roman times to link the Garfagnana region with the Padana Pianura.
Distance: 14km. Elevation difference: + 1200m. Duration: 8h. 30 min. (includes stops) // Full board accommodation in Passo di Pradarena – Refuge
Day 4: Passo di Pradarena - Bargetana Refuge (1740 m)
This is an “aerial” day, as we will be walking along the edges of Monte Soraggio (1832m), Le Porraie (1833m) and M. Ravaianda (1761m), where we can clearly see, due to the characteristics of the landscape, the glacial activity that the landscape has undergone. The panorama allows you to see the Apuan Alps and the gigantic neighboring mass, Mt. Cusna (2120m), also known as the sleeping giant. We descend through the Collado de la Focerella (1749m) to reach our destination through a beech forest, a mountain refuge located in the valley of l’Ozola.
Distance: 10km. Elevation difference: + 400m. Duration: 6 hours (includes stops) // Full board accommodation in Valle di l’Ozola – Refuge.
Day 5: Bargetana Refuge - San Pellegrino in Alpe (1525m)
From the refuge, we pass through the Laghetto della Bargetana, of glacial origin, and ascend the top of Mt. Prado (2054m), the highest peak in Tuscany. On today’s route it is possible to see golden eagles, mouflons, and marmots, among other animals. The trail continues close to Monte Vecchio (1982m) and Mt. Cella (1946m), until we reach Passo delle Radici, a point of union between the regions of Garfagnana and Modena. In the last part of the stage we go down the valley of Valbona to go to San Pellegrino in Alpe (1525 m), the highest village of the North-Central Apennine. There we will rest in a refuge with beautiful views of the valley.
Distance: 14km. – Accum. +: 700m. Duration: 6h. 30 min. (includes stops) // Accommodation in PC mode: San Pellegrino in Alpe – Refuge
Day 6: San Pellegrino in Alpe - Castelnuovo Di Garfagnana (270m)
The path descends through meadows and forests until you reach the bottom of the valley. We pass through villages such as Valbona and Isola, where nowadays they still have water mills that they use to grind flour. We also visit Castiglione and Pieve Fosciana, areas in which prehistoric Neolithic remains have been found. Castiglione is a great example of a well-preserved medieval village: its walls continue intact from the 14th century. Then we pass by the Pra di Lama Lake, which leads us to the Cappuccini church, where we conclude a five-day trek through the Italian Alps. From Castelnuovo di Garfagnana we transfer by train to Pisa.
Distance: 17km. Elevation difference: -1255 m. Duration: 7h. 30 min. (includes stops)
Details
Accommodation We'll arrange the group's reserves to ensure the spots. Once we get to the accommodation, you just have to do the admission. |
More info A minimum experience in the mountains is required. Must be able to walk 6-hour days with positive vertical gains of over 1000 meters. Recommended equipment: SEMI-RIGID BOOTS PANTS LONG MESH SHORTS 2 THERMAL LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRTS 2 SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRTS 1 POLAR LINER / LIGHT PEN GORE-TEX TYPE WATERPROOF JACKET HAT / FINE GLOVES / BUFF 2 PAIRS OF SOCKS + UNDERWEAT SUNGLASSES SUNSCREEN BACKPACK 40 / 50L. WATERPROOF COVER BACKPACK TELESCOPIC BASKETS (advisable of 2 sections) SUMMER SLEEPING BAG 2 BOTTLES OF WATER (1L). FRONT + RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FLIP FLOPS TOILET TOWEL PLASTIC / BIODEGRADABLE BAGS TOILET BAG (Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, gel & shampoo ...) PERIODIC PAPER (in case of rain) LIGHT PACKAGE - WET TUMBLERS PERSONAL DOCUMENTATION (ID, European Health Card) BASIC AID FIRST KIT |
Meeting point Pisa |
About the guide
Sergio lives in deep connection with the mountain world in all the aspects, as a professional and as a mountaineer. He lives in the heart of the French Alps, in the Tarentaise Valley, one of the most beautiful areas of the Alps.
He started leading groups since he was 15 years old in Spain, where he comes from. He was immersed in a social project which was based on bringing poor people to nature to improve the relationship between them.
Nowadays, he is a certified UIMLA Mountain Leader, with more than 10 years of leading experience, specialized in Safety in Avalanche Terrain and Wilderness First Aid.
Sergio works in any mountain where he can be required, like the Alps, the Pyrenees, Portugal, Tuscany, and Morocco. He loves to share his adventures, the knowledge about medicinal plants, geology, wildlife and many things that you will discover during the hikes!
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