Who dances with wolves - adventure trip
Dancing with the wolves
An adventure trip for young and old
In our fast-paced world, we tend more and more to enjoy, in addition to relaxing hours, variety that we otherwise cannot find in everyday life.
This trip should combine both: relax in wonderful nature in a region that is still unknown and spared from mass tourism and a few highlights that will surely be remembered for a long time. Follow us on a hiking and adventure trip into the Sibillini Mountains of the Marche region (Le Marche) and let yourself be surprised. You could almost say immerse yourself in an earlier world!
Day 1: Arrival in the land of the seer Sibilla
Today you will move into your accommodation for the next few days in the country hotel La Cittadella near Montemonaco in the heart of the Monti Sibillini. Arrival either with your own car or by plane with pick-up by the tour guide at the airport or the bus stop. The participants should have arrived by the afternoon.
As long as there is time, you can take a first tour or use the opportunity to enjoy the pool with a view of the grandiose highest mountains.
Dinner then with delicious local Marchigian specialties in the hotel restaurant.
Day 2: All glory on earth
The very first day will provide unexpected experiences. The journey goes in the morning to the Piano Grande at 1550 m, in the border area between the Marche and Umbria. From mid-May the visitor is presented with a single sea of flowers, which changes in appearance throughout the summer. It almost seems as if all the glory of the world has been poured out in this corner of the earth. All rainbow colors shine here in the most intense tones and the whole plateau gives the impression of standing in a painting by Monet. In fact, this floral carpet draws thousands of visitors every year. The most important component of the Piano Grande looks rather inconspicuous: the world-famous lenses from Castelluccio. Its small white flower is outshone by poppies, daisies, wild mustard, cornflowers and many others.
After this grandiose sight, we will turn to another point that also gives the impression that we are not in the 21st century. A hike there that does not place great demands on physical fitness ends at the meeting point for cattle and horses, which quench their thirst at the small lakes of Accumoli. These animals live free here for almost 8 months a year and since the cattle are beef cows, there is no daily milking. Happy animals is not just an empty phrase, it hits the core here. Total walking time approx. 2.5 hours, +/- 80 m difference in altitude.
Of course you should taste the local specialties with a wonderful lunch. Let yourself be surprised by the delicacies of the Monti Sibillini.
In the afternoon we turn to the charming little towns in the mountains, where you have free time, e.g. for a delicious ice cream in one of the bars ...
In the late afternoon it goes back to La Cittadella. A wonderful menu awaits you there in the evening.
3rd day: Shepherd lessons
Today you have to get up a little earlier, because this day is dedicated to a shepherd and his flock. We meet the shepherd near Montemonaco and then walk with him, his dogs and the sheep they guard to the pastures. However, the female sheep are milked first, and you can then watch how the wonderful Pecorino cheese is made.
The tour to the pasture site is not very physical, but you will learn a lot about rural life in a way that city dwellers no longer know.
While the sheep feast on the fresh grass, we will also have a picnic. Then we will go on a short hike in this untouched area, where we are only embraced by the wonderful silence. Then we return to the herd, because the sheep have to go into their gate overnight to be milked. We will accompany you there and then return to La Cittadella. There you can enjoy the day's experiences with a cozy and enjoyable dinner.
Day 4: On the back of a donkey to the romanticism of the Wild West
Besides hiking the Monti Sibillini on foot, you can also do it in a more exciting and fun way with the mules.
To do this, we first drive to Balzo di Montegallo, where Stefano and the mules await us. After a few minutes of getting to know each other and packing the mules, it's off to the terrain. Everyone leads their own animal. You will of course be professionally supported. It goes over pastures and forests, no dangerous passages. If you have children with you, they can of course ride on the mules.
First and foremost, you follow the path of the day laborers, which offers a truly varied terrain, with wonderful panoramas and unspoilt nature. A picnic is a must in between. In the afternoon you will reach Altino. Difference in altitude 400 m, easy to manage as it is spread over the whole day.
After this mule hike, it is time to set up the night camp in the late afternoon. In the shadow of Monte Vettore you almost want to feel transported back to a time of adventure on a natural level instead of cyber space. Today you can afford this rare luxury for once and develop wild west romance around the campfire. After pleasant hours with freshly grilled food and a few glasses of wine, everyone can retreat to their tent to camp for the night.
Day 5: The caravan moves on
After a hopefully well-spent quiet night, only broken by the noises of the night birds, after a different kind of breakfast you go on to the last stage of the Muli Trekking. With perhaps a little sadness, you can say goodbye to your companions for a day in Balzo di Montegallo, the mules.
Now it's back to La Cittadella. There you can relax in the pool with the fantastic view or join us with a visit to Madonna dell’Ambro, the oldest Marian pilgrimage church in Italy in the heart of the Monti Sibillini.
In the evening you will again enjoy a culinary highlight in the Country Hotel and maybe think melancholy of the previous evening in the open air.
Day 6: Who goes for a walk with the wolf
Wolves have a different effect on everyone. Some see him only as a dangerous predator, just as the "bad wolf", others see him as a beautiful, intelligent, but shy animal.
If you go on this trip, of course, you have the opportunity to choose another excursion on this day, if the fear of these animals outweighs the problem. Today's excursion will be a special experience for those who like to see animals up close, which are otherwise seldom seen in person.
We will meet the owner of a pack of wolfhounds, with whom we will go on the hike. These wolves are so-called Slovakian wolfhounds, which established this very unusual breed in the 1950s by crossing a Carpathian wolf with a German shepherd dog. Due to the genes of the German Shepherd, the Slovakian wolf could be socialized if the owner kept it accordingly. This again enables us to offer this special hike.
Even if the term wolfhound is common, we always have these beautiful wolves in front of us, because their appearance hardly differs from that of the "thoroughbred" wolves.
After a lunch break in a rifugio, this unusual hiking day comes to an end in the afternoon. Perhaps the acquaintance of these wolfhounds has brought a different attitude towards these wonderful animals in some.
On the last evening of your adventure trip in the land of the seer Sibilla, you will be pampered once again with a large farewell menu and there will certainly be many more exchanges of experiences at the table. Height difference approx. 200 m, total walking time approx. 4 hours.
Day 7: Arrivederci
Now it's time to say goodbye. Depending on the type of arrival, the transfer takes place to the airport in Ancona or to the train station in S. Benedetto del Tronto.
We hope that with this trip we not only offered a special kind of experience, but also helped to see nature as something wonderful and irretrievable.
© ulla kastner
Travel data:
20. bis 26. Juni 2022
03. bis 09. Juli 2022
25. bis 31.Juli 2022
other data on request
Price:
Double per person: € 1.720,00 from 3 persons
Double per person: € 1.390,00 from 6
Double per person: € 1.280,00 ab 10 Personen
Double as single: + € 120.00
Min. Number of participants 3, max. 12
Services included:
6 x HB in Country House La Cittadella
from that
1 night in a tent
5 x lunch
All hikes are guided by German-speaking tour guides and trained hiking guides
All special hikes are additionally accompanied by the owners of the mules and wolfhounds
All transfers on site
Drinks (mineral water, ½ l wine, espresso) with meals
All props for the overnight stay in a tent
Services not included
getting there
Private expenses
Ev. entrance fees
Drinks not listed
Sleeping bag
All hikes do not exceed a difference in altitude of approx. 400 m per day and are therefore classified under easy hikes. Duration approx. 4 to 5 hours per day
Hiking shoes are absolutely necessary, as well as the appropriate clothing. You should bring your own sleeping bag for the evening in the tent.
Dealing with animals does not involve any dangers as long as the respectful behavior towards animals is observed.
