National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise: horseback riding on the Central Appennines
“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom”. (Sharon Ralls Lemon)
The adventure of your lifetime with I Viaggi dell’Origano is waiting for you in Molise, the pearl of Italy! Saddle up on your favourite horse and discover with us the oldest park of the Appenines, a place of emotions and precious shelter for protected animal species. From the magnificent Upland of Cinquemiglia, to the banks of the Sangro River, the wild beauty of the Central Appennines will capture you in an unmatched travel experience of villages, people and local flavours.
ITINERARY1
DAY 1 Saturday – Welcome to Molise
Arrival of participants on Saturday evening to the farmhouse and meeting with the guide. Upon arrival the guests are provided with a welcome drink and accomodation rooms.
Dinner and overnight stay at the farmhouse.
DAY 2 Sunday – Hello, my dear friend!
Free time for individual activities in the morning. Before lunch the guests are invited to take part to the security briefing in which the guide will provde the guests with the trekking details and itinerary. The morning is dedicated to the horseback riding lessons and regulations, such as grooming, saddle placement and a short demonstration of western riding... now it is time to tack up your horse!
After lunch, we ready to set off for a 4 hours trekking that leads us to San Pietro Avellana, the village of truffles. After tying the horses in the paddock, we will be transferred to the farmhouse.
Dinner and overnight stay at the farmhouse.
1 The itinerary may be subjected to changes due to weather conditions or any other conditions of operational nature.
DAY 3 Monday – On the tratturo “Celano-Foggia”
Wake up call has never been so exciting!
After breakfast, we are ready to start a new day with our friends. We follow the footsteps of the transhumance shepherds on the ancient tratturo Celano-Foggia, passing through the village of San Pitro Avellana. We gallop on the long path til the banks of the Sangro River, which marks the border between Abruzzo and Molise. Pic nic break on a panoramic upland, before heading to Roccaraso. We ride through the woods and meadows to reach the Horse Center in Rivisondoli. Transfer to the hotel and check in. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 4 Tuesday – Scanno Lake
After breakfast, we are ready to go! On our traveller companion we head to the Upland of Cinquemiglia (Upland of Fivemiles), known as the Syberia of Mediterranean. We gallop freely and get ready to pass through the canyon of the Montagna Spaccata (Cracked Mountain) oin the hills of Pratello. A beautiful and thick forest will be the shade of the slow riding where we can immerse ourselves in the peaceful atmosphere aìof the park.
Lunch at Jovana Farmhouse, famous for its delicious and homemade ricotta.
In the afternoon our riding continues down to Scanno, a lovely medieval village overlooking the lake. Dinner and overnightstay.
DAY 5 Wednsday – The Marsican Appennines
After breakfast, we tack up our horses and start riding for a long day adventure! We ride up to the mountains of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazion and Molise where the snow remains until late spring. After a steep climb, we stop for a panoramic view and we pass through a wide wood. We gallop up to the Pass of Marsican Mount at 1900 meters above the sea level where we enjoy a pic nic of local products.
After lunch we proceed down to Pescasseroli, where we leave our horses and can have a typical happyhour in the village. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 6 Thursday – Pescasseroli
Morning free time for individual activities.
Pescasseroli is a beautiful village in the heart of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. We can walk thorugh the narrow alleyes, relax and enjoy its surroundings such as the Sipari Palace, dating back to the nineteenth century or the Visitor Center which includes the faunistic park and the appennines garden. After lunch, we are back on our horses and ride down to Macchiarvana. We then gallop down to the forest until we reach in the small village of Opi, the favourite place of the deers.
DAY 7 Friday – Val Fondillo and Civitella Alfedena
After lunch, we leave the village for the last adventure of out trekking.
We ride through the Fondillo Valley, surrounded by hills and mountains that leads down to a long path along the banks of the river for 4 kilometers until we reach the Natural Reserve of Camosciara, where we stop for the pic nic.
After the lunch break, we ride up the pass to Civitella Alfedena. Here, we leave our horses to the care of Sandra.
Check in at the hotel. Pizza dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 8 Saturday – Back home
After lunch, transfer from Alfedena to Isernia. Departure.
End of our services.
What is included in the package
7 night stay (2 nights stay at the farmhouse/5 nights stay at the holtel) Meals and beverage as mentioned (breakfasts, pic nic, lunches, dinners) 5 ½ days of horseback riding (6-7 hours/day) Expert Local Guide Horse Riding Equipment Baggage handling during the trekking Transfer from the FS Train Station of Isernia on the arrival day at 7.45 p.m.
What is NOT included in the package
Transfer from Alfedena to the FS Train Station of Isernia, on the departure day at 8:30 a.m. . Drinks off menu.
Number of participants
Min. 5/ max. 8*
*in rare occasions the number of participant may reach 10 people