Countries Visited: Italy
Essential Information
Trip Profile
5 days centre-based walking through forests with some ascents so moderate fitness is required.
Accommodation
7 nights farmhouse with swimming pool (open May - Sept).
Food
All breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches and 5 dinners included
Reality Check
The area is quite hilly and the majority of drives, although short, follow twisty mountain roads through wooded areas. Tuscany can also be very hot, possibly high 30s (C) in the summer.
Braccicorti lodge has been renovated keeping the character of the area in mind and should therefore not be considered a luxury villa. There are basic furnishings and rooms are not serviced, as you would expect in a hotel.
The Garfagnana area provides enormous scope for some of the most spectacular and interesting walking in Italy, with the added bonus of knowing we will hardly ever see other walkers, other than occasional local Italians. The majority of the paths are good and well maintained, however a few sections are less frequently used and rougher underfoot, with some steep ascents and descents. Some trails can be overgrown and trousers are recommended, as this area is not heavily visited.
Early in the season there may be snow patches and snowshoes may have to be used. Grade B (or C on certain weeks) For moderate grade weeks, ascents and descents of 400 to 700 metres should be expected. We usually walk 4 to 6 hours each day and a reasonable level of fitness is required. For challenging grade weeks, we usually walk between 5 and 8 hours per day.
We spend one night in a comfortable mountain refuge, so we will have to pack our belongings for our two-day ridge excursion into our daypacks (e.g. sleeping bag liner, washing kit, a spare change of clothes). It should not be necessary to carry more than 6-8kg. Items not required on the walk can be left in your room at Braccicorti.
Normal group size and age
Normally 8 to 14, plus leader and local host family. Minimum age 16.
Misc
BRACCICORTI: Tucked away on a hillside on the lower slopes of the Apennines sits our lodge-style base, which is home to some real Italian family hospitality. This typical Tuscan farmhouse has been authentically renovated and comprises four twin rooms (with en suite facilities), two double rooms and two single rooms (sharing two bathrooms). There is also a large dining room, comfortable living room, terrace, swimming pool (open mid May to end Sept but dependent on weather) and a garden surrounded by orchards, vines and views across Serchio River to the mountains.
Icons explained
The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together.
All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please
see our Solo Departures page.
No experience is necessary; those who take weekend hill walks in areas like the Peak District or Cotswold’s at home should manage a B-grade trek; good health and reasonable fitness are important. These Moderately graded departures are either fairly easy medium-duration walks or harder, shorter walks.
Relaxed Itinerary: A range of itineraries seeking out intriguing and off the-beaten-path destinations in a little extra comfort!
Walking & Trekking: Trips are wholly trekking-focused or simply include a significant number of walking days during the itinerary.
Culture: Let Exodus show you a different side to many of the world's greatest cultural attractions.
For those clients who wish to travel with a group of other solo/single travellers, on certain trips we have set aside departure dates that are specifically recommended for clients booking individually. Solo departures are aimed at taking away that concern that you may be the only solo traveller when you arrive overseas. Look out for the solo departures (marked with a grey icon's') by checking the notes in the dates and prices table.
However, please note that we inform any couples, or friends travelling together, who enquire about these dates that the trip is recommended for solos, but we do not refuse bookings from non-solo travellers, and we are therefore not able to guarantee that a solo departure will be exclusively made up of solo travellers.
Login above to retrieve a previously saved list or 
Click on 'Add to wishlist' to pin trips here.
