At the moment EcoQuest Travel does not have a trip to Italy scheduled, but it is a destination that we offer frequently. EcoQuest Travel offers several different itineraries to Italy – the trip listed below is just one example. If you are interested in Italy as a destination, or for a more detailed itinerary, please contact EcoQuest Travel by email at: info@ecoquesttravel.net.
ITALY
Bel Paese–the Beautiful Country
Italy is known as bel paese – the beautiful country. Italy is blessed with a tapestry of old ruins, quaint countryside, modern cities, picturesque seaports, superb cuisine and extraordinary people. Although Italy is certainly better known for its cultural wonders, with a little effort its rich natural history is revealed. Tucked away in protected areas is surprising plant and animal diversity including many large mammals. This special ecotourism trip is designed to explore Italy’s natural history. We will accomplish this by concentrating our visit in two national parks where we will search for Italy’s wildlife. We will also visit the Pelagos Marine Sanctuary to look for whales and dolphins. Our first stop will be Abruzzo National Park in the Apennine Mountains. This spectacular park is home to a great variety of wildlife including Wild Boar, Marsican Brown Bears and Wolves. From the Apennines we will head north to Tuscany and the Ligurian Sea before continuing north to the Italian Alps and the incredible Gran Paradiso National Park and Biosphere Reserve. This beautiful alpine park is home to Alpine Chamois, Ibex, Marmot and Golden Eagle. Although this trip’s focus is natural history, we will be immersed in the local culture, cuisine and language. We will be flying into Rome and will take advantage of Rome’s fantastic cultural riches while we are there. We will also visit Pisa, Genoa and spend a full day exploring Cinque Terre National Park – a stunning series of old historic towns nestled against the sea. We invite you to journey with us to Italy and experience the magic of bel paese!
16 Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Home Cities to Our US Gateway City and on to Rome, Italy
Day 2 – Arrival in Rome and Tour of the Cultural Sites of Rome
Day 3 – Vatican/St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel
Day 4 – Travel from Rome to Pescasseroli and the National Parks in Abruzzo
Days 5 & 6 – Abruzzo National Park
Day 7 – Majella National Park and our Farm-stay
Day 8 – Travel from Pietrantica to Pisa in Tuscany
Day 9 – Cinque Terre National Park and on to Genoa
Day 10 – Whale Watching in the Ligurian Sea
Day 11 – Genoa to Aosta/Cogne and Gran Paradiso National Park
Days 12, 13 & 14 – Gran Paradiso National Park
Day 15 – Monte Bianco (Mount Blanc) and on to Milan
Day 16 – Milan back to the US
* Please note that EcoQuest Travel will make every effort to adhere to this itinerary, but dates, times, activities and prices are subject to change depending on scheduling and availability.