The Rebels' Trail – a social trek between bandits and partisans

Walk with Alessio Lagonigro, science communicator and climate activist, along the Rebels’ Trail: a circular route of approximately 120 km through the little-known Borbera Valley, at the crossroads of Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. Six days on foot among stone villages and the wild Apennines, following the bed of the Borbera stream, crossing abandoned hamlets and panoramic ridgelines, and meeting farmers and communities who keep this beautiful yet depopulated land alive.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Six days in the Apennines of the Four Provinces: a large loop crossing the Val Borbera, on the border between four Italian regions. CAI trails, mule tracks, rocky canyons carved into stone, ridgelines opening onto wide valleys, and riverbeds where you wade across streams wearing sandals. Around 110 km and over 4,700 meters of positive elevation gain, spread across six stages ranging from 17 to 20 km per day.
• A social journey through stories and communities: the route passes through ten municipalities and touches living realities — restored farmsteads, distributed museums, mountain ARCI social clubs, and young families who have chosen to stay or return. The “rebels” include the partisans who fought the Pertuso battle in 1944, the bandits who challenged the monarchy, and the people today who are betting on the future of this land.
• Nature, adventure, and shared experience: the walk is an opportunity to observe and tell the story of the landscape. Beech forests, canyons, springs, and villages: each stage becomes a way to understand how the surrounding environment works. Shared effort and evenings in the villages build the group day by day.

TRIP PURPOSE

The Val Borbera is one of those places that disappears from mental maps. Few inhabitants, no mass tourism, an Apennine landscape that feels far from the Po Valley—even though it is just one hour from Genoa and two from Milan. The Cammino dei Ribelli exists to bring feet—and attention—back onto these trails.

Walking here means crossing centuries compressed into just a few kilometres: remains of pre-Roman Ligurian civilisation, Roman bridges, medieval towers, villages emptied by migration, and sites of the Partisan Resistance. But it also means meeting those who live in these valleys today and keep them alive—with a Slow Food presidium cheese, a farmhouse turned into a refuge, a cultural festival in a village of thirty people.

The meaning of this journey is twofold. On one hand, a real physical experience: six days of walking on varied terrain, with significant elevation gain and long stages. The body works, adapts, learns the rhythm. On the other hand, an immersion in a different way of inhabiting places, where tiny communities carry forward large projects. The group that forms along the way is part of the mechanism: walking together, sleeping in villages, eating local products is already a concrete way of supporting this valley.

This journey is for you if you want to learn more about:

• Nature and hiking
• Rural communities and the revival of mountain villages

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Important information

- We will stay in B&Bs, agriturismi, small hotels, and distributed hospitality along the route. Each stage has its own accommodation: from Fiorile in Castel Ratti to Cascina Barbàn above Albera Ligure, from the hotels in Cosola to the houses in Fontanachiusa, Dova, and Roccaforte, and finally back to Arquata. These are small, often family-run places, integrated into the fabric of the trail—some were created specifically to host hikers along these paths.

- Rooms are shared, with 2, 3, or 4 beds depending on the stage. Accommodation is simple and authentic: sharing spaces is part of the experience. The food is excellent—cheeses such as Montebore (a Slow Food presidium), Giarolo salami, and homemade seasonal dishes rooted in local tradition—and you end the day with the right kind of fatigue in your legs.

- The difficulty level is medium-high. You will walk 17 to 20 km per day on mixed terrain—trails, dirt roads, and short stretches of asphalt—with elevation gains reaching up to 950 meters on the most demanding stage. A good level of fitness and experience with multi-day hikes is required.

- The meeting point is Arquata Scrivia (AL), accessible by train on the Genoa–Milan line. We recommend arriving by train or arranging carpooling with other participants once the group is formed.

- Essential equipment: well-broken-in hiking boots, sandals or water shoes for stream crossings (stage 1), a 35–45 litre backpack, waterproof jacket, layered clothing, trekking poles, water bottles with at least 1.5 litres capacity (preferably two containers for stages without water points), hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimsuit for the Borbera pools, power bank, blister plasters, tick repellent, tweezers, emergency blanket. Bring cash as ATMs are rare in the valley.

The programme may be subject to changes due to weather conditions or specific group needs.

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What's included

• Accomodation: 5 nights in B&Bs, hotels, and agriturismi in shared rooms. The number of beds may vary depending on the stage.
• Special Activities: Accompaniment by Alessio Lagonigro, Environmental Hiking Guide, throughout the entire trek.
• Food: Half board (breakfast + dinner)
• Other: Full-time assistance from an ORMA guide throughout the trip. Cammino dei Ribelli credential with stamps at each stage.
• ‍Insurance: Medical and baggage insurance.

What's not included

• Food: All lunches, breakfast on the first day, and dinner on the last day
• Accomodation: Any applicable tourist taxes are not included.
• Transporation: Travel to and from Arquata Scrivia
• 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.