Tuscany Mountains Walk

This trip is desiged for fit hikers who want challenging walks in a beautiful setting. If you have already done our Dolomites trip then you will love this trip.


Day 1 - Saturday:  Arrive independently in Lucca where you will check into your pre-booked hotel. Lucca was one of the great city-states of Medieval Tuscany, rivaling its nearby neighbor Pisa for dominance in the area. And before that, it was an important Roman city. Their legacy is present today in a town square that’s unique in Italy: the piazza is inside the oval space of the old Roman coliseum. Hotel included. Dinner not included.


Day 2 - Sunday: Meet your guide(s) and the rest of the group after breakfast at 9:00 a.m. in the hotel. We have a 45-minute van transfer to the mountains and the start of the first hike. The route takes us up to the charming mountain refuge of E. Rossi (1,610 m), where we hike above the tree-line and get wonderful views across the Apennines and as far as Versilia on the Mediterranean coast. We climb the Vallone dell'Inferno (Hell's Valley) up to the summit of Pania della Croce, which at 1,859 meters is one of the highest mountains of the Apuan Alps. We descend along an old mule track which leads us to the abandoned village of Col di Favilla before returning to the van. Overnight in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. The walk: 14 km (8.5 mi); elevation gain 990 m (3,200 ft); walking time: 6-7 hours; difficulty: middle-challenging. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.


Day 3 - Monday: We have a 30-minute drive this morning to a charming medieval village known for its interesting caves and small café where we can have another cappuccino before heading off on our hike. After about an hour we turn off and start climbing steeply to a small pass with dramatic views onto the surrounding mountains. The path follows a ridge-line, giving us magnificent views on both sides. We eventually arrive at the summit of Mount Forato – "forato" literally means "pierced" in Italian, and indeed a natural rock span arches elegantly over a wide hole in the mountain. This is an ideal spot for a a picnic, after which we gradually descend the other side and loop back to the village to meet our van (the last time I did this walk I saw six or seven chamois deer!). We have a short drive back to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana where you will have time to explore this charming medieval mountain village before dinner. The walk: 13 km (8 mi); elevation gain: 800 mt (250 ft); walking time: 5-6 hours; difficulty: moderate challenging. Overnight in Castelnuovo Garfagnana. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.


Day 4 - Tuesday:  Today we summit!  After a short drive we reach a small village, more like a collection of isolated houses spread out amongst a forest of old chestnut trees. Along the trail we pass a number of metati, small huts used for drying chestnuts and preparing chestnut flour, formerly a staple of the region. The route climbs towards the exposed (but safe) summit of Mount Sumbra (1,754 meters), considered the most spectacular peak of the Apuan Alps. From here we return back along the same path.  The walk: 13 km (8 mi); elevation gain: 990 mt (3,200 ft); walking time: 7 hours; difficulty: challenging. Overnight Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.


Day 5 - Wednesday: This morning you will have a slightly heavier pack because we will be staying overnight in an isolated mountain rifugio (mountain hut). But first we have a van transfer to take us to the entrance of the Orecchiella Park. We will be heading into the northern part of the Garfagnana, crossing over from the Apuan to the Appennine chain of mountains. This area is characterized by large upland plains cultivated with spelt and dotted with tiny villages and dense forests. From the visitor center we will climb to the summit of Mount Prado, Tuscany's highest peak at 2,054 m. This is a wild and empty area of Italy, the silence is only broken by the occasional whistling of marmots. Our destination is a charming mountain rifugio run by a couple of very nice guys who also happen to be excellent cooks, so they will be preparing our dinner this evening. The rifugio has two small dormitory-style rooms with beds and mattresses and bedding. There is even a proper flush toilet! It really is a treat to stay up high, away from the hustle and bustle, and enjoy the sunset and the fresh mountain air before enjoying a hot dinner and gathering around the fire. The walk: 15 km (8.5 mi); elevation gain: 820 mt (2,600 ft); walking time: 7 hours; difficulty: challenging. Overnight in the mountain hut. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.


Day 6 - Thursday: After breakfast, our hike continues along the deep valleys of the park, along ancient paths that for centuries were the only means of communication between the isolated villages of this region. We will eventually return to the visitor center and pick up our van and drive to the ancient village of San Pellegrino, which sits at an altitude of 1,500 meters. You will have time before dinner to wander amongst its evocative cobbled streets and alleyways. The walk: 11 km (7 mi); elevation loss: 820 mt (2,600 ft); walking time: 4-5 hours; difficulty: moderate. Overnight in San Pellegrino. Hotel and breakfast included.


Day 7 - Friday: Our final hike leads us to the last ridge of the Apennines through the area called the “Tre terre”. The name comes from Medieval times when the area was the border between two rival city states, Florence and Modena. We start in a small village and climb up to chestnut forests following an old mule track. We get to an Alpine valley of rich farmland dotted with stone huts; they were previously used for cows but are now restored and rented to tourists in the summer. Our path eventually reaches "Dogana," the historical borderline between Garfagnana territory and the Florentine city-state. The track continues up to the mountain's edge and then through the Saltello Pass (1,599m), a historic transportation route between the Serchio Valley and the Emilia Plains. Stop a while to enjoy the magnificent view before carrying on to San Pellegrino, which is only slightly below us. If time allows we visit the local museum to see its interesting collection of tools and artifacts, allowing us a glimpse into the lives of the people of this isolated, mountainous land. We finish the day with one more delicious Tuscan meal in a local restaurant. The walk: distance: 16 km (10 mi); elevation gain: 1,100 mt (3,500 ft); salking time: 5-6 hours; difficulty: moderate. Overnight in San Pellegrino. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.


Day 8 - Saturday: The tour finishes after breakfast, but your guides will be happy to help you with your onward travel plans. We shuttle everyone to the Lucca train station for connections to the rest of Italy. Breakfast included.

General Information

Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. Qualifications:  This trip is rated moderate to challenging. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but anyone in good physical condition will have no problems with the walk. Generally we hike about 5-6 hours a day. You do not need previous experience in mountain hiking, but a regular conditioning program consisting of walking/running and a daily stretching regimen is recommended, beginning at least 3 months prior to departure. We suggest you do some hiking at home before you leave, including some steep up and downhills!  This will get you in shape and ensure that you are able to enjoy fully all that this wonderful trip has to offer. Trip cost: Discounted trip price of €2,100 per person, based on double occupancy if you book directly with us. If you book through a travel agent add €200 per person. Trip Cost Includes: 7 nights accommodation; 6 dinners and 7 breakfasts; bilingual guide or guides; all van transfers and luggage transfers as listed in the itinerary. Not Included: lunches; round-trip airfare; airport/hotel transfers; travel insurance; gratuities; alcoholic beverages; and items of a personal nature. Reservations and payment:  In order to reserve a space on the trip, a non-refundable deposit of $200 USD or Euro 200 (depending on the trip) is required. Please contact us at info@customwalks.com or go to the Reservations page on our website for more information. We will send you a trip agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of payment and cancellation. Weather: In June, the climate is generally sunny and warm with daytime temperatures in the 80s and evening temperatures dropping 10-20 degrees. Rain showers are a possibility but typically do not last longer than a few hours.  Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear. Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page) General Information: This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the CustomWalks Ltd. reservation information and trip agreement. Please read this information carefully and e-mail us (or use the "Contact Us" page) if you have any questions. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance which you can do through CustomWalks Ltd or by clicking on the logo below (another window will open up on your screen). We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited. Send us an email or fax to reserve your trip. Full trip details including detailed pre-departure information, train timetables, and a gear list are sent upon receipt of deposit. Come join us!