Guided,
Supported, Escorted and Independent Self-guided Walking Holidays
Walking, Hiking and Trekking Holidays in Italy
Long distance 'HIKING EXPEDITION'
Ref: WX21
DUKE of EDINBURGH'S AWARD HIKE
JUN to OCT
4X4 SUPPORTED HIKING EXPEDITION
7 nights
Fully supported 4-day (80km) hiking expedition from the high Ligurian Alps down to the Mediterranean sea. Organised specifically for the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold and Silver Awards. Price:from
€270 pp
JUN to OCT
Ligurian Alps, Italy - 80km over 4 hiking days, Duke of Edinburgh's Gold & Silver Awards An 'epic' hiking expedition from the highest peak in the Ligurian Alps down to the Mediterranean sea. This hiking expedition takes you along one of the great Alpine hiking routes of the southern Alps as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold and Silver Awards. Fully supported 4-day (80km) hiking expedition organised specifically for the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold and Silver Awards. 80km hike over 4 days with full expedition support.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award aims to provide for young people an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development, which is of the highest quality and the widest reach.
Ideal: For young persons wishing to embark on an overseas expedition to be counted towards their Duke of Edinburgh's Gold and Silver Awards. This expedition, under a meticulously well planned and organised framework of passive support and organisation, allows participants to maintain their independence and a safety net around them in what is very much a wild and mountainous terrain.
What's included: Transfer by coach from Taggia to Molini di Triora |> 7 nights overnight camping with services |> maps |> gas cylinders |> 4x4 support vehicle |> mountain guide |> expedition schedule with full route notes |> overnight half-board accommodation in mountain refuges for Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition staff during the expedition and camping on the last 2 nights.
What's NOT: Flights - Transfers between airports and start and end points (return tickets cost around 11 euros per person from Nice and 10 euros per person from Genoa).
To book: Check or
email
or call +44 (0)845 0944 669.
HIGHLIGHTS
the high Ligurian Alps down to the coast # 20km/day for 4 days # 5 day expedition # mountain trails of the Alta Via # beautiful villages of western Liguria
ITINERARY
Day 1: TRANSFER DAY, to the Ponente Riviera. Expedition itinerary starts at Arma di Taggia railway station in Italy where we meet you and provide coach transfer to Molini di Triora. For those flying to Nice: bus from airport to Nice Ville main railway station, train to Ventimiglia and then on to Taggia - allow 3 hours travel time between airport and Taggia. For those flying to Genoa: bus from airport to Genova main railway station, train to Taggia - allow 3h30 travel time between airport and Taggia. View the photo gallery of the 4-day Duke of Edinburgh's Award hiking expedition.
Day 2: ACLIMITISATION DAY. 3 hrs | 6kms | 375m total ascent | Graded: BLUE. Suitable for Gold and Silver awards groups.
Time to plan, buy, prepare and pack provisions for the 4 day expedition. Afternoon area orientation walk to Triora cemetry and back.
Day 3: EXPEDITION DAY 1. 7 hrs | 20kms | 1450m total ascent | Graded: RED. Suitable for Gold and Silver awards groups.
Full day hike to San Bernardo di Mendatica via Colle Garezzo. Leave Molini di Triora after breakfast. A long steady climb for 14kms up the 'wall' of this alpine ridge which acts as a barrier between cold northern winds and the mild mediterranean climate along the coast. At Colle Garezzo, a tunnel through the ridge takes you finally into an Alpine world with the towering peaks of southern Piemonte up ahead. A gentle descent of 7kms takes you to your overnight camp.
Day 4: EXPEDITION DAY 2. 8 hrs | 21kms | 1140m total ascent | Graded: RED. Suitable for Gold and Silver awards groups.
Full day hike to Colle Melosa. A short shuttle by road from San Bernardo di Mendatica to Monesi di Triora for the start of the day's hike. Leaving the virtually deserted ski village, named 'scooby town' by the first ever group from north Wales, you'll make the 1000m ascent up the winter ski piste to the statue of Christ, and the 2288m summit of Monte Saccarello - the highest peak in the Ligurian Alps. A descent back down to the lower pine forests where the trail takes you to your camp under the rocky peaks of Grai, Pietravecchia and Torragio.
Day 5: EXPEDITION DAY 3. 6 hrs | 17kms | 570m total ascent | Graded: RED. Suitable for Gold and Silver awards groups.
Full day hike to Sella di Gouta. Leave Colle Melosa for the climb up to the craggy peaks of Pietravecchia and Torragio. Follow the trails between the peaks of an area known locally as the little Dolomites. The trail takes you down into the forests of Gouta before arriving at our favourite refuge for the overnight camp.
Day 6: EXPEDITION DAY 4. 9 hrs | 24kms | 70m total ascent | Graded: RED. Suitable for Gold and Silver awards groups.
Full day hike to Ventimiglia. Leave Sella di Gouta and follow the old military tracks down to the Mediterranean coast. You'll notice temperatures and vegetation change quickly as you descend below the 1000m level, and the final few hours of the trail take you through vineyards and olive groves before reaching the sea. Our Comment: Few hiking routes take you from 2000m down to the sea in just over a day and the contrasts between wild, empty mountains and the vibrant coastal towns is both unique and quite remarkable. Your sense of achievement on finishing this great hiking route will most certainly be both intense and wholly earned. View photos taken during Day 4 of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award hiking expedition. View photos showing the route taken on Day 4 of the hike.
Day 7: REST DAY, in Camporosso. Spend the last day relaxing on the beach of Camporosso al mare or take a relaxing trip to San Remo or Monte Carlo. View photos of San Remo.
Day 8: TRANSFER DAY, from the Ponente Riviera. For those flying from Nice: train from Ventimiglia to Nice Ville main railway station, then bus to the airport - allow 2 hours travel time between Ventimiglia and airport. For those flying from Genoa: train from Ventimiglia to Genova main railway station, then bus to the airport - allow 3h30 travel time between Ventimiglia and airport.
Try and arrange flights to depart no earlier than mid-afternoon to avoid an early start before breakfast. Download our hiking expedition wallpaper for your PC.
[2] For expedition leader staff, accommodation on the first two nights will be in a local hotel, in bunk rooms of the mountain refuges during the expedition, and in a camping site on the last night (tents provided but please bring your own sleeping bag) - on a half-board basis with picnic lunches provided during the 4-day hike.
[3] You should be fit, hike regularly and used to full day hiking with steep ascents and descents. Precise daily itineraries are subject to change depending on local weather and mountain conditions.
[4] We offer a 10% discount on the above prices for repeat bookings.
To book: Check or
email
or call +44 (0)845 0944 669.
NOTE:
[1] Prices in 'euros' and based on 2 people sharing a double/twin
room, otherwise a single supplement applies.
[2] Flights not included.
[3] For group bookings, an approximate discount of 10% is applied
to all persons in addition to the first two.
