By Anna Crane, via The Telegraph
Majella National Park (Italy) – The summer in the Abruzzo mountain natural reserve, with marsican bear.
In the rugged mountains of Abruzzo, a quiet conservation movement is unfolding — and travelers are getting a front-row seat. On a six-day Italian Apennines: Walks and Wildlife tour with Exodus Adventure Travels, Telegraph writer Anna Crane joined a small group exploring the “wild heart” of Italy, where endangered Marsican brown bears and Apennine wolves still roam.
The tour is rooted in education, adventure, and support for local rewilding efforts. Based in the peaceful town of Pescasseroli, the group ventured into the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, home to stunning spring wildflowers, ancient beech forests, and a remarkable (if rare) chance to spot bears in the wild. While an early sighting turned out to be a wild boar, the group later saw two wolves at close range, trotting just meters from their vehicle — a rare and thrilling encounter.
A sunlit autumn afternoon bathes this charming Abruzzo village in golden warmth, deep in the heart of the Apennine Mountains.
Though the elusive Marsican bears remained hidden, signs of their presence were everywhere: claw marks on wood, tufts of fur on fences, and murals throughout town. There are estimated to be just 50–60 Marsican brown bears left in the wild, all concentrated in this region. Through initiatives like “bear-smart corridors,” the local conservation group Rewilding Apennines is working to help these bears safely expand their territory.
Majella National Park (Italy) – The summer in the Abruzzo mountain natural reserve, with marsican bear.
A standout moment of the tour was an overnight stay at Rifugio Terraegna, a mountain lodge perched 1,780 meters above sea level. The group hiked through misty forests, spotted wildlife (including roe deer and a tawny owl), and bonded over local cheeses and warm fires. Even without a bear sighting, Crane writes, the sense of awe and connection to the wild was unforgettable.
A wild Apennine wolf photographed in the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, Italy, during the summer months.
In the stillness of autumn, the forest at Forca d’Acero drapes the Abruzzo and Molise National Park in a tapestry of amber and gold.
Proceeds from the trip support rewilding work in the Apennines, and group sizes are kept small (max of 8) to minimize impact. The region offers not just wildlife, but a window into a slower, wilder Italy — one well worth exploring.
Read Anna Crane’s full article in The Telegraph here
