The Heart of the Tuscan Alps

Hiking, Mountains & Nature Tour

Duration: 5 hours | Group Size: private bookings* | Includes: food & drinks

What you’ll do

Isola Santa is a tiny hamlet on a mountain lake where time seems to have stopped. This tranquil place keeps the same charm as it had in its past. Surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Tuscan Alps and enchanting ancient beech and chestnut forests, this walk will amaze you with its epically satisfying views of the heart of unknown Tuscany. Up until World War II, this place was populated by many people who quietly cultivated the land. A land rich in History. Another hidden gem to be discovered.

“Every step and every pause to catch breath was rewarded by incredible views and magical footpaths.” - Richard Pasco, guest from the UK.

We will start our day out in the beautiful old village of Isola Santa right in the heart of the Alpi Apuane, a UNESCO Geopark famous for the controversial marble excavation. Carrara, the popular marble town which has seen many artists using its pure slabs, is only a few kilometres away from this area.

Surrounded by enchanting beech and chestnut forests, we will walk through and visit an abandoned marble mine. Having had the chance to reflect on the environmental impact that the marble industry has had on this beautiful natural area, we will discover a land rich in history and enjoy stunning views over the rugged peaks of the Tuscan Alps.

An old nearly-abandoned village will welcome us in one of the most amazing places you can find off the beaten tracks in Tuscany. A land shaped by human hands over centuries, which is slowly taken back by nature. The true heart of unknown Tuscany.

We will meet the sole inhabitant of the area, who will be happy to host us in his amazing house. Kept just like it was in the past, the beauty and character of his place will blow your mind away - and that’s before we even enjoy our delicious locally-sourced lunch.

Having enjoyed a beautiful meal, we will eventually finish our loop in the village of Isola Santa for a glass of wine by a mountain lake. This is a truly magical walk.

Read more about our experiences on our blog.

Walking Tours in Tuscany and Cinque Terre

what’s included

Food - We will provide a substantial selection of delicious Italian snacks. However, there’s the chance to stop for some delicious local food at a beautiful rifugio, which really makes the experience one to remember.
Drinks - Bottle of water: we will provide a 500ml bottle for each guest. We will also be able to refill it along the route.
Professional local guide - A private group led by a professional fully-qualified outdoor guide.

Photos

where you’ll be

Away from the classic picture-perfect landscapes that come to mind when you think of Tuscany, the grandeur and scale of this region’s forests and landscapes, combined with its beautiful lakes and old-time ways of living, will conjure up a feeling of being tucked away from modern life. A really beautiful part of the world to be discovered.

Transport: the best way to get to the meeting point is by driving. So, if coming by car, we will point you to the best spot for parking your vehicle. Parking is free all day. If you don't have a car and would like some more information about public or private transport, please get in touch.

guest Reviews

After meeting Nicola at the pre-arranged spot in the village of Isola Santa we headed up into the mountains behind the lake that we would visit at the end of the walk. Every step and every pause to catch breath was rewarded by incredible views and magical footpaths.

We worked our way up through ancient woodlands of beech and chestnut to emerge amongst ruins of an abandoned village. Well almost. One man and his family are still living there during the summer months at least and this was where we stopped for a cooked lunch of orrecchiette pasta with courgette and home-made potato bread followed by apple and chestnut pie topped with honey produced at the house.

On the second half of the loop we re-entered the woods but came to a halt after hearing a loud snort to our left. We turned in time to see a large family of wild boar running off following the warning call.

We completed the hike by walking alongside the lake we had seen earlier. This is man-made and was created by flooding part of the village. Eerily some walls are still visible above the surface while hazy outlines of buildings can be seen beneath the water.

The appeal of the walks I did was in their variety. We walked through completely contrasting terrains, all beautiful in their own way and what helps to make Tuscany so unique. Mountains, forests and coast all within easy reach.

Click here to read more reviews about us.

Guest requirements

*We only run private bookings for groups of a maximum of 8 people. However, please get in touch if you’re a solo traveller so we will be able to find the best option for you.

All guests must notify us of any health issues that may impact their ability to walk with us.

The pace of the hike is always tailored to suit the individual group, abilities and level of fitness and though there are steep sections, they are do-able, with multiple breaks to allow everyone to enjoy it, and take plenty of pictures too. Guests should be prepared to walk for about 3 hours, however we'll have plenty of breaks to reflect on local history, culture and lifestyle too!