Monte Capraro: enchanting Molise on horseback

Arrival of participants on Saturday evening to the farmhouse and meeting with the guide. Upon arrival the guests are provided with a welcome drink and accomodation rooms. Dinner and overnight stay at the farmhouse.

Free time for individual activities in the morning. Before lunch the guests are invited to take part to the security briefing in which the guide will provde the guests with the trekking details and itinerary. The day is dedicated to the horseback riding lessons and regulations, such as grooming, saddle placement and a short demonstration of western riding. After lunch we do a test-ride (3 hours) where you are matched to an horse and to enable to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride during the trekking. Dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we are ready to start off our journey on horseback! Our first stop is Capracotta. Located 1400 meters above the sea level, the small mountain village of five hundreds people, is the highest in Italy. With our traveller companion we pass throguh meadows and hills to Campolungo, the best location for a delicious pic nic. Lunch break. After lunch, we gallop throgh a vast valley that leads us to Capracotta, where we can realx and enjouy the evening with the group. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay at bed & breakfast.

After breakfast, we set off for a nice excursion to the surroundings of Capracotta. We ride up to Monte Campo, which is the best location the have the best view of the mountains of the Upper Molise and Abruzzo. Right in this place, the highest point of the valley measures 1745 meters above the sea level. Our day continues on a challenging route, which winds on the top of the mount and it reaches the pass of San Nicola, where we stop for a lunch break with the beautiful panorama of Agnone. After lunch, we head down to the northern wood, where the beech forest and the silver firs will lead us the way to the skii center of Prato Gentile, close to Capracotta which hosts us for the last night. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay at the bed & breakfast.

After breakfast, a new adventure is about to begin! On horseback we visit the ruins of the Samnite fortification. On the top of the mountains, the Samnites fought a century-old war with the Romans and built fortresses with megalithic walls, used as shelters usually connected to control the whole territory. Then, we ride down to the pass of Crocetta where cìwe can enjoy the panaorama on the four mountain chains: Colle dell’Orso, The Matese, The Mainarde and the Abruzzo. After the pic ninc, we continue our trail to San Pietro Avellana, where we leave our horses for the well-deserved rest. Transfer to the center of the village of San Pietro Avellana. Dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we saddle up on our horse to reach Vastogirardi. With our friend we pass thorugh the Reserve of Montedimezzo, were the Bourbon Family use to go hunting and rest the hunting lodge, now converted into a museum. The whole area encompasses two Molisan forests, is called Collemeluccio-Montedimezzo Man and Biosphere Reserve and hosts small spread villages, which live on farming, breeding and traditional handicrafts. We cross the wood and reach the farmhouse La Grande Quercia, where Mario the owner will prepare us a delicious lunch of local products. After lunch a few hours riding leads us to the farmhouse of Littorio, an old stud farm where our horses can rest in the paddocks. Dinner and overnight stay at the farmhouse.

After breakfast, we ride on the ancient tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera, crossed back in time by the shepherds who used to practice the transhumance. Following the steps of the pastors we reach Pescolanciano, where we stop for lunch. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we gallop through the Trigno Valley, riding along the banks of the river to the forest of Collemeluccio, an enchanting reserve of heaths and oak woods. Return to the farmhouse in the evening, where we unsaddle our horses for the last time. Dinner and overnight stay at the farmhouse.

After lunch, departure.