11th April – 25th Juni 2020 5th September – 24th Oktober 2020
“Aspromonte National Park on your own”
Discover the Aspromonte National Park on your onw, equipped with a rental car or your own car, maps, precise route-descriptions for hiking and driving and a lot of useful tips. Follow your own rhythm in harmony with nature, stop whenever and wherever you want and do what you feel like doing! You will hike on the footsteps of the Greeks in wild and almost untouched nature, see nearly dried up river beds, colourful fields of flowers, bergamot groves and follow the goat paths. The hikes last from 3 to 6 ½ hours each day. You will be accommodated in two agritourism farms, the comfortable Biancospino Lodge, which is well known for its delicious Calabrian specialties and in a B&B.
Detailed Programme
1st day: Arrival
Arrival at the Lamezia Terme Airport. After having picked up your rental car, you will drive along the Tyrrhenian coast towards the southern part of Calabria. Here you will stay in an agriturism farm situated in the middle of a bergamot grove.
2nd day: Following the footsteps of the Greeks
You will start your Aspromonte week hiking up to Bova, the main town in the Area Grecanica (Calabria’s Greek area). Here the majority of older people still speak Greek. After that, you will return to your accommodation passing by the ruins of the Amendolea Castle; on the way we will enjoy the breathtaking landscape of the area. Late in the afternoon we you can take a walk in the bergamot plantation. (Duration: about 5 hours; Elevation gain: 650 m).
3rd day: The Valley of the Big Stones
It is time to leave the Greek area . Today your trip takes you around the southern tip of Calabria up to Capo Bruzzano, an important breeding site of the caretta caretta sea turtles. And what about a short, relaxing walk on the beach? Then you will be ready to continue your walk up the mountain through beautiful meadows and to Pietra Cappa: the most spectacular monolith of the Valley of the Big Stones. On the way you will come across some unique rock formations known as Rocche di San Pietro (St. Peter’s Rocks) which were formerly a place where the Basilian monks took refuge. From there you can have another gorgeous view over the Ionian sea. You will then drive to Ciminà, where your second agriturism farm is situated. (Duration: about 4.5 hours; Elevation gain: 420 m).
4th day: Mount Tre Pizzi also known as the Three Sisters
Today, the first part of your hike will take you to Ciminà first and to Mount Tre Pizzi later. From the summit of the Tre Pizzi, three sharp peaks rising prominently into the sky, which are also called the Three Sisters, you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the Ionian coast. After the descent, you will have enough time for a walk in the 29 hectares of your agriturism farm or to hop over to the picturesque town of Gerace. (Duration: 5 hours; Elevation gain: 450 m).
5th day: Panoramic view on the Aspromonte
Today a new adventure is waiting for you: your itinerary takes you in the mountain, through a thick beech forest, up to your new accommodation, the Biancospino Lodge. From here you will walk to Mount Fistocchio and enjoy the magnificent view over both sides of Calabria. You will also admire the rocks of the monoliths, Pietra Castello and the villages of Delianova and Scido. You can even admire other two important peaks of Aspromonte: Montalto and Pietra Tagliata. There is also a heap of ruins belonging to an ancient military observation post situated in a privileged position where it was possible in the past, to control both sides of Calabria: the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian coasts. (Duration: about 3.5 hours; Elevation gain: 300 m).
6th day: On the top of Montalto
Today you cannot miss a highlight of your holiday, a hike to the top of Montalto (1956m), the highest mountain in the Aspromonte. You will start at your accommodation and walk through a wonderful beech and white fir forest up to the summit which during spring is often still covered in snow. It is fascinating to observe how the trees have been changed by the snow and wind the higher you go. The view is unique: you can contemporaneously see the Straits of Messina, Mt Etna, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas and the Aeolian Islands. (Duration: about 6.5 hours; Elevation gain: 700m).
7th day: Breathtaking Sea-View
Today it is time to see the Tyrrhenian coast. Walking down from the top of St. Elia, along the steep mountainside, you will enjoy the gorgeous view over the Costa Viola and, when there is no mist, over the Eolian Islands and the Strait of Messina. After the hiking tour you will take a short drive south to the picturesque village of Scilla to follow in the footsteps of Odysseus. You will find there your last accommodation, a B&B situated near the sea. (Duration: about 3,5 hours; Elevation gain: 300 m).
8thday: Ride back to the airport and departure
Today it’s time to say “Arrivederci”. You drive northward along the coast to the Lamezia Terme Airport, return your rental car and take lots of impressions home.
Services:
- 4 nights in agritourism farms in double room including half board
- 2 nights in the Biancospino Hut in double room including half board
- 1 night in B&B in double room including breakfast
- Maps and precise descriptions for hiking and driving
Price:
- € 480,00 per person
