ITINERARY

Day 1: Benvenuti in Calabria Arrival at Lamezia Terme airport. Transfer to the Agriturismo "Biancospino". Day 2: Montalto (about 6,5 hours) On our first day we start after the breakfast to the "plain of Carmelia" (mt. 1267) and from there to the mountain "Montalto" (mt. 1956). Beautiful forest of beeches and silver firs. Interesting to see is the change of vegetation climbing up the mountain. Arriving at the top you will have a beautiful view of the Straits of Messina, the Mount Etna, the sea and the Lipari islands. Dinner in the Agriturismo.

Day 3: Cascades Forgiarelle & Palmarello (about 7 hours)

Breakfast in the Agriturismo. Drive to Serro Cerasia (mt. 1640). From there hiking to the cascades of Forgiarelle (mt. 1280) and Palmarello (mt. 1279) - the two most impressive waterfalls of the Aspromonte with a height of about 70 mt. In the heart of the National Park under monumental oak trees and broom shrubs following the ridge you can find tracks of wild pigs. Dinner in the Agriturismo.

Day 4: Romantic views and the coastal city of Palmi

Breakfast in the Agriturismo. In the morning hiking tour from Sant´Elia di Palmi (mt. 575) along the mountain edge of the Mount S. Elia with a breathtaking view of the Coast of Viola (= Southern west coast of Calabria) and the Lipari Islands (durating of hiking: about 3 hours). In the afternoon we will visit the coastal city of Palmi and we will go to the "Tonnara-museum" which exhibits the history of the tuna catch and the archeological zone of "Pietre Nere" with relicts of the ancient greek and roman time as well as the prehistoric time.

Day 5: Between the two seas (about 7 hours)

Breakfast in the Agriturismo. The luggage will be sent to the next accomodation. We will hike towards the Ionian sea and then to the Mount Misafumera (mt. 1390) through a beautiful beech-silver fir forest, you can also find maple trees and holly trees. We will climb the Mount Scorda (mt. 1572) with a last view of the west coast and then onward downhill towards the east coast to the Pietra Cappa (mt. 737) - a huge rock that is uniquely in its kind. On the way one can see rare rock formations and also caves that were used by hermits hundreds of years ago. Therefore the name "Rocche di San Pietro" (rock of the holy Petrus). Dinner in the Agriturismo in Ciminà.

Day 6: Mighty rocks - I Tre Pizzi (about 4 hours)

Breakfast in the Agriturismo. Hiking tour to the Mount Tre Pizzi (mt. 710) that thrones with its three mighty rock overhangs over the valley of Locri. On the way we will pass the village Ciminà (mt. 232) where still today ancient customs of the agriculture of the Aspromonte are cultivated and we will hike through dense mediterranean vegetation with a lot of strawberry trees.

Day 7: The rock grottos of Monte Stella

Breakfast in the Agriturismo. Drive to Monte Stella and then we will do an unhurried walk to the impressive rock grottos (duration: about 2 hours). We will go to the west coast (Capo Vaticano) and here you will have the possibility to go swimming, to do some shopping or to eat in a nice restaurant. Dinner in the hotel Tropea/Capo Vaticano.

Day 8: Departure

Breakfast in the hotel and transfer to the airport or a connection program respectively.