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New Year with the Wolves
Join Paolo Iannicca, a nature guide born and raised in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park, for a New Year unlike any other — among snow, silence, wolves, and endless skies. Five days immersed in one of Italy’s most authentic natural landscapes, to rediscover the deep connection between humans and the wild world.
Highlights
- Following the Trail of the Apennine Wolf
Every day, we’ll move along the snow-covered trails of the Park, following footprints, traces, and stories of coexistence. The wolf will be our invisible guide - a symbol of balance, resilience, and freedom. - New Year in the Mountains
We’ll celebrate New Year’s Eve surrounded by snow, mountain lodges, and traditional Abruzzese food. Each evening will be a moment to share stories, wine, and reflections under a sky filled with stars. - Life in the Park’s Villages
We’ll explore Opi and Civitella Alfedena, villages that embody the soul of this land. We’ll meet people who chose to stay and live in harmony with nature, building a model of hospitality that is sustainable and deeply human.
TRIP PURPOSE
Travel to reconnect with nature. This journey was born from the desire to rediscover the original bond between humans and the environment -a bond often forgotten in modern life.In the Abruzzo National Park, where wolves, bears, and resilient mountain communities coexist, we will reflect on the meaning of coexistence, the value of conservation, and the importance of a kind of tourism that respects and regenerates rather than consumes.
Walking through the snow on the wolf’s trail becomes an act of awareness: to observe, to slow down, to listen. Because only by understanding nature can we truly protect it.
This trip has been designed based on the following principles:
- Environmental and Social Education
- Sustainable Mobility
- Biodiversity
ACCOMODATION
Nestled in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park, Hotel La Pieja is a model of sustainable hospitality that combines tradition, community, and environmental respect. Once the village’s elementary school, it now welcomes travelers seeking an authentic mountain experience that supports the local economy and celebrates the region’s culture.
Just a few meters away lies Dimora Fresilia, part of Hotel La Pieja and the residence where we’ll be staying during the trip. Housed in an 18th-century building once owned by shepherding families, it retains its historic charm, featuring a small private chapel and seven cozy rooms. From its windows, you can admire sweeping views of the Sangro Valley and the Camosciara mountains - a place where history and nature meet in peaceful harmony.
IMPORTANT INFO
The level of difficulty is moderate to easy, suitable for those who love walking in nature even during winter and want to experience the mountains in an authentic way.
The meeting point is scheduled for December 31 at 6:00 PM at Hotel La Pieja in Opi.
The village can be reached by taking the A24 highway from Rome to Pescara, exiting at Pescina and continuing towards Pescasseroli.
Each day will feature a snowshoe hike through valleys and ancient beech forests, with elevation gains ranging from 100 to 400 meters and distances between 6 and 10 kilometers. It’s the perfect balance between immersion and accessibility, ideal for nature lovers.
To fully enjoy the journey, bring proper gear: hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, backpack, water bottle, flashlight, gloves, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. A camera and binoculars will help you capture the beauty of the winter landscape and spot the local wildlife that calls this place home.
What's included
- Food: Half-board stay and New Year's Eve dinner.
- Accommodation: 4 nights in a 3-star hotel in double or triple rooms with private bathrooms.
- Tour & Activities: all the excursions and snowshoe rental.
- Other: Support from the guide throughout the entire trip.
What's not included
- Food: all the meals not specified
- Transportation: travel to and from Pescasseroli.
- Other: Trip cancellation insurance.
- Anything not specified under "What's included".
Payment Terms
30% down payment at the time of booking and the remaining 70% due 30 days prior to departure.
If the booking is made within 30 days of departure, the full amount is due at checkout.
Bank transfers or credit cards can be used to make payments.
However, if the trip status is marked as "Confirmed" or "Last tickets", there's no need to worry - it means the minimum number of participants has already been met.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Arrival in the Mountains
Arrival in Opi at 6:00 PM, check-in at Hotel La Pieja, and meet your guide, Paolo Iannicca. After settling in, we’ll enjoy a New Year’s Eve dinner together - a moment of warmth and celebration in the heart of the Park.
Day 2 – On the Wolf’s Trail
After breakfast, we’ll set out for our first snowshoe hike in the Ancient Beech Forest of Pescasseroli, habitat of the Apennine wolf. We’ll learn to recognize tracks and signs in the snow. Picnic lunch, then visit to the Wolf Wildlife Area and the village of Civitella Alfedena, known for its nativity scenes and coexistence with nature. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3 – The UNESCO Beech Forests of La Cicerana
After breakfast, snowshoe hike in the Cicerana area, home to centuries-old beech forests recognized by UNESCO. Lunch with polenta in a mountain hut, then return to Opi for dinner. The forest will tell us stories of balance and rebirth that have governed its life for millennia.
Day 4 – Along the Wolves’ Paths
Our third day of snowshoeing will lead us through the wildest valleys of the Park. Gentle climbs and descents will take us along paths crossed by wolves, where the silence of snow amplifies every sound of the mountain. Packed lunch, dinner, and overnight stay in Opi.
Day 5 – Val Fondillo and Farewell
Breakfast and final snowshoe hike in Val Fondillo, among springs, forests, and possible wildlife sightings through telescopes. This symbolic valley represents the meeting of water and rock - the lifeblood of the Park. Picnic lunch, closing reflections, and departures in the early afternoon.
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Paolo was born and raised in Pescasseroli, in the heart of Abruzzo, where he still lives today. As a passionate local guide, he loves to “walk” through nature, history, art, and literature. During his journeys, he always seeks to connect with the “deep soul” of the places he explores. He loves meeting people along the way, listening to and sharing stories, discovering traditions, and understanding the local way of life.For him, wild Abruzzo is the result of a millennia-old coexistence between local communities and an untamed nature made of bears and wolves. Yet, every now and then, he also enjoys walking alone through “his Abruzzo,” to renew and strengthen that deep bond that ties him to this land.
Booking Info
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