Italy: Walking and Wine in the Apennines
Group Tour
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Overview
Richly diverse, the Apennine Mountains stretch along the length of peninsular Italy for some 1200 kilometers. Sandwiched between the waters of the Adriatic on one side and the western plains that are home to some of Italy’s most historic cities on the other, the peaks form the backbone of the Italian spine and lay claim to some of the country’s best hiking destinations.
Our journey concentrates on the wine and walking along the chain’s northern slopes, around the historic towns of Urbino ...
Richly diverse, the Apennine Mountains stretch along the length of peninsular Italy for some 1200 kilometers. Sandwiched between the waters of the Adriatic on one side and the western plains that are home to some of Italy’s most historic cities on the other, the peaks form the backbone of the Italian spine and lay claim to some of the country’s best hiking destinations.
Our journey concentrates on the wine and walking along the chain’s northern slopes, around the historic towns of Urbino and Gubbio and amongst the serene landscapes of Le Marche and the Umbrian peaks. We begin in the UNESCO town of Urbino, where we’ll enjoy the delights of one of Italy’s most splendid renaissance settings, before ending our journey amongst the equally impressive medieval architecture of Gubbio.
Enjoying a hedonistic mix of fine wines, wonderful food and characterful accommodation along the way, our journey takes in spectacular coastal walks, captivating mountain scenery and a sense for historical tradition that is quintessentially Italian. Few places do culture, cuisine and custom so well, so join us on this intoxicating Apennine adventure.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and 4WDs.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. On this particular trip we will be in small agritourism guesthouses and small hotels. In some locations, depending on the final group size, it may be necessary for the group to be split amongst different guesthouses although we will always eat together. This is part of the charm of staying in smaller, locally-owned places. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Bologna; transfer to Urbino
Day 1 Tour starts in Bologna; transfer to Urbino
The tour starts at Bologna airport from where we'll be driven two hours to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Urbino, our base for the next four nights. (*Alternatively, you can join the tour directly in Urbino*). There will be an opportunity to freshen up at the agritourism guesthouse before sampling the local wine over dinner with our hosts.
Day 2 Urbino - Fiorenzuola di Focara - Urbino
Day 2 Urbino - Fiorenzuola di Focara - Urbino
Heading to the coast this morning we’ll enjoy a 10km walk amongst the scenic beauty of the San Bartolo Natural Park. A spectacular region of plunging sandstone cliffs and idyllic beaches, the park wends it way alongside the glittering waters of the Adriatic. Stopping for lunch in the pretty hilltop village of Fiorenzuola di Focara, this afternoon then provides an opportunity for a refreshing dip in the Adriatic, before continuing on to the fortified splendour of Gradara, recently voted as the best medieval town in Italy. *Approx. 3-4 hrs walking (200m ascent, 300m descent. Total distance 10kms, highest point 175m)*
Day 3 Urbino - Fossombrone - Urbino
Day 3 Urbino - Fossombrone - Urbino
A day to appeal to all the senses, we enjoy the distinctive attractions of the Cesane Forest and the Metauro River Valley on a stunning 12km walk. Beginning amongst the forest trails that lead down to the village of Fossombrone, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch and a visit to the old fortified citadel and monastery, before transferring on to a local vineyard. This affords an opportunity to sample the local wines and olive oil of the region, before returning to Urbino for dinner in the heart of the old town. *Approx. 4-5 hrs walking (300m ascent, 500m descent. Total distance 12kms, highest point 642m)*
Day 4 Urbino - Furlo Gorge - Urbino
Day 4 Urbino - Furlo Gorge - Urbino
Beginning with a drive out to the Furlo Gorge, today sees us embarking on a beautiful walk beside the waters of the Candigliano River, to enjoy some of the natural bounty of an area popularly referred to as the Grand Canyon of Italy. With a history stretching back to the Etruscans, the canyon also marks the start of the trail leading up to the top of Mount Pietralata, from where we’ll enjoy some truly inspiring views before descending to dinner at the charming Ca’ Maddalena Agritourism. *Approx. 6-7 hrs walking (400m ascent, 400m descent. Total distance 15kms, highest point 875m)*
Day 5 Urbino - Bacciardi
Day 5 Urbino - Bacciardi
Heading deep into the heart of the Apennines today after breakfast we’ll depart Urbino and head southwest, towards the small town of Piobbico. After paying a visit to the 13th century Castle Brancaleoni we then enjoy a light lunch, before beginning a walk up through the forest and along the side of a gently flowing river to the tiny hamlet of Bacciardi. Our destination is the captivating Slowcanda guesthouse, nestling along the slopes of Monte Nerone on the eastern flanks of the Apennines. *Approx. 2-3 hrs walking (200m ascent, 0m descent. Total distance 6.5kms, highest point 514m)*
Day 6 Bacciardi - Gubbio
Day 6 Bacciardi - Gubbio
A slightly different start to the day begins with us helping Slowcanda’s cooks to prepare this evening’s meal of pasta and ravioli, before we set off towards the summit of Monte Nerone (1500m). Tackling the northeastern edge of the peak we ascend what is considered one of the great massifs of this region, from where we can enjoy some of the finest views of the surrounding country. After descending to the impressive Fodarca natural stone arch, we then rendezvous with our vehicle for the drive on to medieval Gubbio. *Approx. 3-4 hrs walking (600m ascent, 500m descent. Total distance 10kms, highest point 1200m)*
Day 7 Gubbio
Day 7 Gubbio
Gubbio is an enchanting mix of Gothic architecture, Roman ruins and meandering narrow streets and a tour of the town this morning takes in the Church of St Francisco, the ancient Roman amphitheater and the 14th century houses of its Old Town. A choice of a cable car ride or an exhilarating 45 minute walk then brings us up to the monastery at Saint Ubaldo, where we can enjoy lunch before possibly following the mountain trail and aqueduct back down into town for a free afternoon. *Approx. 3-4 hrs walking (300m ascent, 300m descent. Total distance 7kms, highest point 800m)*
Day 8 Gubbio - Bologna
Day 8 Gubbio - Bologna
After a leisurely morning we make our way back to Bologna today, travelling along the Tiber Valley and by way of Sansepolcro, the home of Early Renassiance artist, Piero della Francesca. Following our visit and a final lunch we then complete our journey back to Bologna’s international airport, where our tour ends.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Partnering with small scale eco-tourism projects
Using local agritourism guesthouses, and visiting local wineries this tour particularly focuses on small scale eco-tourism projects and helps support rural tourism in Italy.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
If travelling to/from the start/finish of the tour from another European country you might also want to consider reducing your carbon footprint by travelling there by train. We are unfortunately not (yet) in a position to help with you with the actual booking of the train tickets but lots of good information can be found here: www.seat61.com.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| BA 542 |
London Heathrow (LHR) 15:45
20th May 2023 |
Bologna (BLQ) 18:55
20th May 2023 |
| BA 545 |
Bologna (BLQ) 19:45
27th May 2023 |
London Heathrow (LHR) 21:00
27th May 2023 |
Visas & Vaccinations
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders do not require a visa for Italy.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Italy.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
As with much of Italy, the region of Le Marche, where this trip has its focus, is prone to very hot summers and cold winters. Spring & Autumn are therefore the optimum times for exploring this area with daytime temperatures likely to be in the early 20Cs.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, however, please note some of the walks – particularly on days 4 and 6 – do require a reasonable level of fitness. It’s also worth noting that as this trip uses small family run agritourism guesthouses – which in our opinion is part of its charm – clients should be up for a more intimate group experience. Please bear in mind that wine is only included at The Lupin View and during the wine-tasting. Elsewhere it is available to purchase.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour, although due to the limited number of rooms in both agritourism properties in Urbino and Bacciardi, you may find yourself being accommodated in nearby guesthouses (of comparable standards).
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 1436 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.