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.
Request  or email  or call +44
(0)845 0944 669
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
Not just hiking, but fun and relaxation in a mountain pool during the aclimatisation day - view the video on YouTube. |
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TRIP DETAILS
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.
Our Comment: A wonderfully relaxing day to recalibrate your whole metabolism and psyche to the pace and mood of this 'frontier' village before the wilderness.
View photos taken during the aclimitisation day. View photos of the village used as a base for the 1st 2 nights.
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.
Our Comment: An arduous and seemingly never ending ascent into the higher Alps with spectacular views over the lush valleys down to the coast.
View photos taken during Day 1 of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award hiking expedition. View photos showing the route taken on Day 1 of the hike.
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.
Our Comment: One of the great walks of the Ligurian Alps on which you can see Corsica and even Elba on a dry, clear day.
View photos taken during Day 2 of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award hiking expedition.
View photos showing the route taken on Day 2 of the hike.
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.
Our Comment: A hike through a truly magnificent area of wild mountain terrain passing under the most southerly 2000m peak of the Alps - a photographers' mountain paradise.
View photos showing the route taken on Day 3 of the hike. View photos taken during Day 3 of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award hiking expedition.
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.
[1] Prices in euros, cost per person depends on group size;
10 + 2 staff = 12 * 360pp | 12 + 2 staff = 14 * 320pp | 14 + 2 staff = 16 * 285pp
18 + 3 staff = 21 * 245pp | 22 + 3 staff = 25 * 220pp | 25 + 3 staff = 28 * 205pp
[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 room,
otherwise a single supplement applies.
2. Flights not included unless
specified.
3. If you have particularly beautiful photographs of
this area showing it's true character and atmosphere, please forward them to us
for inclusion on our site - photos@xtrallusion.com
4. If you are the owner of charming
holiday accommodation in a special location, whether it be a
hotel, B&B, 'albergo', 'agriturismo' or self-catered apartments
- send us an email with details and we'll consider adding it
to our list - web@xtrallusion.com
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