Mr Leighton says...
An excellent way of exploring a beautiful part of Italy.
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This 10-night linear trip is a great mix of wonderfully scenic walking and historic hilltop towns. The walks follow a mix of paths and trails, partly on the St Francis Way, partly on the 'Sentiero degli Ulivi', the Olive Grove Trail. Along the way, you explore the upper slopes of the 'bald mountain' Monte Subasio with stunning mountains vistas. You can discover the secluded hermitages of St Francis, pass the great Abbey at Sassovivo and wander the ruins of Campello Alto.
The walking is beautifully unhurried, retracing in part the trail St Francis took on his final visit to Assisi in 1226. It's a rural route brimming with rare flora and fauna, passing through olive groves dating back to Roman times. Stroll along pilgrimage trails through centuries-old forest and sacred woodland that has for years been tended and cared for by the Franciscan monks.
You stay in beautiful mediaeval towns: Assisi 'the town of St Francis' with its UNESCO-listed basilica; pretty Spello, which lies on the other side of Mount Subasio from Assisi; Trevi, standing on its hill overlooking the plains of Campello; Poreta, a tiny village with a restored hilltop castle and church, and finishing in Spoleto - the town of the amphitheatre and aqueduct.
The hotels we've chosen are special too. From Renaissance-style palaces in Assisi and Trevi to a chic renovated farmhouse in Poreta. Food of the region is rustic, often called 'cucina povera'. The most typical pasta dish is Stongozzi, served with black truffles or a spicy tomato sauce, followed by simple grilled local meats and then a slice of pecorino cheese washed down with some superb wines. Sagrantino di Montefalco or red from Torgiano are just a sample. For a picnic lunch why not try the Umbrian staple, the porchetta sandwich - roast pig stuffed with herbs
The paths you follow are generally waymarked and well maintained. As there are frequent ascents and descents, you need to be reasonably fit and confident. Walking boots are essential and walking poles are recommended (but only if you already use them).
Arrive at your hotel, where you'll stay for three nights. (Staying at Hotel Fontebella Palace, Breakfast only)
A short transfer to pick up the Via San Francesco pilgrims' trail. Stroll through peaceful oak and pine woods and enjoy superb views as you approach the ancient town of Assisi. Call in at the San Croce chapel with its three-arched Ponte dei Galli, finishing off on a manicured trail through a 1,000-year-old forest to the majestic Basilica di San Francesco. (Staying at Hotel Fontebella Palace, Breakfast only)
Visit the basilica with its magnificent C13 Giotto frescoes and the commanding hilltop castle. Amble up Via San Francesco to the beautiful Piazza del Comune to visit the well-preserved temple of Minerva. (Staying at Hotel Fontebella Palace, Breakfast only)
Climb up Monte Subasio to the Hermitage of Asissi. Traversing a trail along the mountain you get unforgettable views of the Vale of Spoleto, before heading down into delightful Spello and your hotel for two nights. (Staying at Albergo La Bastiglia, Half Board)
Pink-stoned Spello is a well-preserved Roman town, with beautiful town walls, ruins of the old theatre and amphitheatre and thermal baths. Visit the church of Santa Maria Maggiore with its outstanding frescoes by Pinturicchio, the town's art gallery, annexed to the church, and the Palazzo Comunale Vecchio (Old Town Hall). Or perhaps take the train to Perugia the region's capital. (Staying at Albergo La Bastiglia, Half Board)
A short transfer this morning - Then follow the Sentiero degli Ulivi - the Olive Grove Trail - that connects Spoleto to Assisi. Spend time at the beautifully-restored cloistered Abbey of Santa Croce di Sassovivo and continue through woodland and olive groves to the hilltop village of Roviglieto - the highest settlement on the trail at 700m. Descend to Trevi for a picture-postcard view of this Roman gem on the slopes of Monte Serano. You'll stay here for two nights, and enjoy dinner (included) under the church tower in the atmospheric Piazza della Rocca. (Staying at Hotel Antica Dimora, Half Board with wine included)
Explore this old theatre town with remnants of the Mura Romana (Roman Wall) and Mura Medieval (Medieval Wall) still encircling the town. The Teatro Clitunno is still one of the town's most important gathering places. Visit the Olive Oil Museum, housed in an ex-convent, and stroll around the main square, home to the C14 Palazzo Comunale. (Staying at Hotel Antica Dimora, Half Board with wine included)
On the shared Olive Trail and Francesco Way, amble along to the hillside church of Madonna di San Arcangelo. Pass the secretive Eremo Francescano (Convento Pissignano) and explore the ruins of C10 Castello di Campello Alto. Then meander down to Poreta and your hotel for the next two nights, where dinner is included in the converted stables. (Staying at the Borgo della Marmotta, Half Board )
Borgo della Marmotta is a perfect place to unwind for a day or two. Relax on a lounger by the pool with a good book, soak up the sun in the hotel gardens, or pamper yourself with one of the wellness sessions. Or follow small country roads down to the village of Campello sul Clitunno and visit the Roman Springs and temple of Clitunno. (Staying at the Borgo della Marmotta, Half Board )
Pass through the typically Umbrian villages of Santa Maria Reggiano, Bazzano and Eggi. From Eggi, the St Francis Way leads you along back lanes to the bustling town of Spoleto. Or take the old Olive Trail high up onto the former railway line that used to run from Spoleto to Norcia. Cross the 60m-high Cortaccione Viaduct for a superb view back over your week's walking. (Staying at the Hotel Charleston, Breakfast only )
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Superior room with valley view.
Superior rooms offer more space and a view of the Umbrian Valley.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Room upgrades: Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Junior Suite or Junior Suite Deluxe.
Superior rooms are larger, and have a small balcony and bathroom with shower. Deluxe rooms are larger with a balcony and bathroom with a bath. The Junior Suite includes a Jacuzzi in the bedroom and a panoramic terrace with solarium. The Deluxe Junior Suite can accommodate up to five people and has a private panoramic terrace with table, chairs and sun loungers and a Jacuzzi for 2 people.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Deluxe Room.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Room upgrades: Superior Room or Suite.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Junior Suite.
Junior suites are spacious and elegant with seating area, parquet floors and exposed wood beams.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
If you'd like to extend your trip with extra nights at the start or end, or if you'd like to arrange a stop off point en-route, then we recommend the following hotels.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Please call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or email usa@exodustravels.com to arrange flights and connecting transfers to your hotel.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
An excellent way of exploring a beautiful part of Italy.
The holiday was well organised and the reps. were friendly and helpful. All of the towns visited were interesting but some of the walks lacked interest and the walk from Spello to Trevi was more demanding than expected with a succession of hills. The walk instructions were excellent, you hardly needed the map.
Overall very enjoyable .
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday. Find out about The Headwater Price Promise to ensure you're getting the very best value for money.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
| Apr 2019 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 13th Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 15th Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 17th Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 19th Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 21st Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 23rd Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 25th Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 27th Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 29th Apr | US$2325 | Check availability |
| May 2019 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 1st May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 3rd May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 5th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 7th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 9th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 11th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 13th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 15th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 17th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 19th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 21st May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 23rd May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 25th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 27th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 29th May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 31st May | US$2325 | Check availability |
| Jun 2019 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 4th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 6th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 8th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 10th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 12th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 14th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 16th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 18th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 20th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 22nd Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 24th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 26th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 28th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| 30th Jun | US$2325 | Check availability |
| Jul 2019 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 4th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 6th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 8th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 10th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 12th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 14th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 16th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 18th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 20th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 22nd Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 24th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 26th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 28th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 30th Jul | US$2415 | Check availability |
| Aug 2019 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 3rd Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 5th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 7th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 9th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 11th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 13th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 15th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 17th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 19th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 21st Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 23rd Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 25th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 27th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 29th Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 31st Aug | US$2415 | Check availability |
| Sep 2019 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Sep | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 4th Sep | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 6th Sep | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 8th Sep | US$2415 | Check availability |
| 10th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 12th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 14th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 16th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 18th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 20th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 22nd Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 24th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 26th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 28th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| 30th Sep | US$2385 | Check availability |
| Oct 2019 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 4th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 6th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 8th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 10th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 12th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 14th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 16th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 18th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 20th Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
| 22nd Oct | US$2225 | Check availability |
The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided walking Managed locally by Headwater appointed rep.
Departures
Every two days from 13th Apr 2019 to 22nd Oct 2019, for 10 nights.
Meals
All continental breakfasts and 6 evening meals
Tour only
Transfers included from Foligno train station at 17:15, and back to Spoleto train station at 10:30.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
Due to the tailor-made nature of our holidays, we need a little more information in order for us to check availability for Walking the Olive Trails of Umbria. Simply complete the form below and a member of our sales team will contact you (when it's most convenient for you) to provide availability information, travel options and an accurate price. Of course there's no obligation, but if you do wish to proceed with a booking they will be on-hand to assist you throughout the process.
Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 to discuss your requirements in more detail.
We've been creating high-quality relaxed activity holidays since 1985 and our wealth of experience means we're able to build the perfect tailor-made tour for you. Our 'Gold Trusted' rating on Feefo, the independent review site, underlines our exceptional levels of customer service, and our ATOL bonding and ABTA membership guarantees your holiday is safe with us.
