Moderate-to-challenging walking on more rugged terrain with significant ascents / descents on most days. Compass skills may be required (check the individual holiday).
The season for this holiday is:
07 May 2022 - 17 July 2022
20 August 2022 - 02 October 2022
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| °C | 8 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 8 |
| mm | 67 | 55 | 59 | 72 | 56 | 40 | 2 | 22 | 51 | 78 | 112 | 83 |
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
7 nights: 07 May 2022 - 17 July 2022 & 20 August 2022 - 02 October 2022
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
| Starting | Price | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 7 - 21 May 2022 | £785 | £85 |
| 22 May - 24 Jun 2022 | £815 | £90 |
| 25 - 29 Jun 2022 | £835 | £90 |
| 30 Jun - 10 Jul 2022 | £865 | £90 |
| 20 - 28 Aug 2022 | £835 | £90 |
| 29 Aug - 25 Sep 2022 | £815 | £90 |
| 3rd & 4th person discount | -£20 | |
| Single traveller supplement | £20 |
Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.
Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room
| Hotel Helvetia, Porretta Terme (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 07 May - 17 Jul 2022 | £74 | £106 |
| 20 Aug - 02 Oct 2022 | £74 | £106 |
| Hotel Il Fondaccio, Lizzano in Belvedere (with dinner) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 07 May - 30 Jun 2022 | £70 | £78 |
| 01 Jul - 17 Jul 2022 | £76 | £85 |
| 20 Aug - 31 Aug 2022 | £76 | £85 |
| 01 Sep - 02 Oct 2022 | £70 | £78 |
| Hotel Montegrande, Vidiciatico (with dinner) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 07 May - 30 Jun 2022 | £70 | £78 |
| 01 Jul - 17 Jul 2022 | £76 | £85 |
| 20 Aug - 31 Aug 2022 | £76 | £85 |
| 01 Sep - 02 Oct 2022 | £70 | £78 |
Travelling from the UK
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Aberdeen - Bologna (via Paris) | Air France |
| Aberdeen - Pisa (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Birmingham - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Birmingham - Bologna (via Frankfurt) | Lufthansa |
| Birmingham - Pisa | jet2 |
| Birmingham - Pisa (via Munich) | Lufthansa |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Nottingham East Midlands - Pisa | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh - Bologna | Ryanair |
| Edinburgh - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Edinburgh - Pisa | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Glasgow - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Glasgow Prestwick - Pisa | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Humberside - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Humberside - Pisa (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Leeds Bradford - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Leeds Bradford - Pisa | Ryanair |
| Leeds Bradford - Pisa | jet2 |
| Leeds Bradford - Pisa (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Liverpool - Pisa | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Gatwick - Bologna | easyJet |
| Gatwick - Pisa | British Airways, easyJet |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Heathrow - Bologna | British Airways |
| Heathrow - Pisa | British Airways |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Luton - Pisa | easyJet |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Manchester - Bologna | Ryanair |
| Manchester - Bologna (via Frankfurt) | Lufthansa |
| Manchester - Pisa | easyJet, jet2, Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Teesside International - Pisa (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.
Connecting travel options - flying via Bologna
| Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| rail Bologna Centrale to Porretta Terme (1h10), walk Porretta Terme to hotel (0h05) | £8 | 1700 |
| Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
|---|---|---|
| hotel transfer to Porretta Terme (0h30), rail Porretta Terme to Bologna Centrale (1h10) | £25 | 1200 |
Connecting travel options - flying via Pisa
| Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| rail Pisa Centrale to Porretta Terme (2h30-3h50), walk Porretta Terme station to hotel (0h05) | £15 | 1400 |
| Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
|---|---|---|
| hotel transfer to Porretta Terme (0h30), rail Porretta Terme to Pisa Centrale (3h) | £32 | 1330 |
If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?
We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >
The Secret Apennines and Piedmont's Hills and Vineyards were our 6th and 7th walk with Inntravel.
It was delightful, one of the best we've taken. The routes were outstanding, interesting and we saw few people. There was a lot of personal attention at the lodgings and the food was good. Transfers all worked seamlessly.
TIPS & HIGHLIGHTS:
If staying in Bologna, purchase walking sticks in Bologna at Decathalon - you will be happy to have them
The pacing of the hikes were excellent! We always had somewhere sheltered to have lunch -- most memorable was stopping at Madonna del Faggio, when it was pouring rain! There was a bake sale going on at the church as well!
Your recommendations for local restaurants were spot on! We particuarly enjoyed Trattoria Toscana
Try the house made Grappa di Perra at Montegrande hotel
The Corna alla Scala was the highlight of the trip! The wild blueberries create a beautiful color over the fields and the views are incredible
All the hosts were so welcoming to us, we highly recommend this trip if you love beautiful views, good food & wine, Italian villages
The Secret Apennines and Piedmont's Hills and Vineyards were our 6th and 7th walk with Inntravel.
It was delightful, one of the best we've taken. The routes were outstanding, interesting and we saw few people. There was a lot of personal attention at the lodgings and the food was good. Transfers all worked seamlessly.
TIPS & HIGHLIGHTS:
If staying in Bologna, purchase walking sticks in Bologna at Decathalon - you will be happy to have them
The pacing of the hikes were excellent! We always had somewhere sheltered to have lunch -- most memorable was stopping at Madonna del Faggio, when it was pouring rain! There was a bake sale going on at the church as well!
Your recommendations for local restaurants were spot on! We particuarly enjoyed Trattoria Toscana
Try the house made Grappa di Perra at Montegrande hotel
The Corna alla Scala was the highlight of the trip! The wild blueberries create a beautiful color over the fields and the views are incredible
All the hosts were so welcoming to us, we highly recommend this trip if you love beautiful views, good food & wine, Italian villages
Once again Inntravel have come up with a brilliant walking holiday. Impeccable organisation as always. Early October and this area of the Apennines was stunningly full of colour, wild blueberry, funghi, chestnut woods, incredible mountain scenery and waterfalls. The Grade 3 ascents were exhilarating, each daily itinerary took us through a beautiful variety of countryside and everywhere we went we met smiling friendliness. Monte Grande was a definite highlight… golden eagle! It was ideal to start at Hotel Helvetia for our first night, roof top jacuzzi, spa, very good breakfast. All the hotels, Il Fondaccio, Antica Locanda Alpina, Montegrande, were comfortable, very welcoming and the meals... wild boar, fresh pasta, porcini... were extremely good. Authenticity and generosity sums up the feeling that came across in each of these well chosen hotels. (A very special mention for Carmen and Stefano at Montegrande, the quality of Carmen's care and welcome was second to none, and Stefano's cuisine exceptional). Thank you Inntravel, you never disappoint!
The Monte Gennaio route was our favourite day (possibly influenced by the weather!); Might have considered extending the walk over the Corno and LaNuda if we weren't doing the top later in the week. As it was, I think that side of the Corno is much more appealing, without the skiing paraphernalia. Maybe a thought for future route alternatives.
The rolling hills of the Apennines are glorious in the autumn. The routes are challenging at times but as the distances are not great, easily manageable in the guide times. The family run hotels are a joy with great pride taken in local cuisine. We also learned what a part this area of Italy played in WW2 as part of the “Gothic Line”.
An enjoyable week's walking in a part of Italy off the beaten track. Some stiff climbs, but splendid views make the effort all worthwhile.
Small hotels in quiet villages provide appropriate accommodation and excellent meals suitable for those who've had a good day on the hills.
Don't overlook the local wines!
This was the fourth Inntravel holiday that I and my partner have been on and, as ever, it was almost faultless. We stayed in some great hotels, two of which served truly superb food. Much of the walking was in forest, which might not be to everyone's taste. Our favourite day was the walk up to Corno alle Scale, the only walk where much of the route was above the tree line.
We really enjoyed this holiday. The views were often spectacular and the countryside varied enough to always be interesting. Both accommodation and food were generally very good. We thought that overall the holiday was very good value compared with some of the other Inntravel holidays we've been on.
Another fantastic walk and Inntravel holiday. Great combination of scenery, woods, mountains, hills and rivers, it was varied and rewarding, amazing views after some steep and challenging climbs. Some fantastic food and mostly good hotels although some room for improvement with couple of them with service and picnics. The day 4 walk was amazing and a highlight although a very long descent. Some of the villages passed along way in many of the walks are hidden gems you would never get to see. Peace and tranquility, hardly another person for 6 days.
Wonderful walking in a very beautiful area. Such friendly people. Everyone we met had a smile and no wonder living where they did.
The whole trip was really enjoyable - the part which sticks in the memory is being caught in a tremendous thunderstorm, soaked to the skin then arriving at a Refugio containing a roaring fire and a large crowd of very wet Italians and friendly host - brilliant!
Everything about this holiday was a highlight! The walking and views were sensational and we hardly saw anybody else on the walks. The inns, the hosts and the meals could not have been bettered. We felt we were taken back to a bygone age when a host would really treat the guests with genuine warmth and kindness. We also met some other walkers from Denmark, doing similar walks (but with a different company) who were very friendly and helpful to us!
This was an exceptionally good week - full credit to Inntravel for working out this excellent itinerary. It had a bit of everything: beautiful woodland paths, mountain scenery above the treeline (esp day 6) warm sunshine (we travelled in mid June) mediaevel hamlets and villages, great hotels and (my god) consistently excellent Italian food and wine. Every day had something of interest. For us, we especially enjoyed day 1, a beautiful walk to Lizzanno and day 6 (option 1) a spectacular walk up the cascading valley and then the high wonder of Corne Alle Scala ( you walk up to almost 6,500 feet) Special mention for Hotel Fondaccio on days 2 and 3 - we had a fantastic large garden room next to the swimming pool and a really warm welcome. Whilst it should be mentioned that some parts of the walk are quite tough, nevertheless both my wife and I really enjoyed this week - highly recommended.
We enjoyed this holiday greatly. The Apennine villages were delightful and so were the flowers en route. The routes were in places slightly challenging for their steepness, but although we are in our mid-70s we managed it all wihout any significant problems. We liked the stunning views from Monte Gennaio and the fine ridge along to the Corno alla Scale
The sustained brilliant weather helped; the summit climbs and the panoramic views were spectacular, even encountered a mini-glacier on the col leading to the pass below Corno Alle Scale; I could see that some of the routes might be really challenging with adverse weather, especially the M Gennaio traverse and descent; also the friendliness, great food and helpfulness of the hotel hosts stands out.