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The Reptiles & Amphibians of Italy's Apuan Alps
Tour Code: ITA22An 8-day appreciation of the rare amphibians, reptiles and delicious cuisine of the Apuan Alps and northern Apennines.
£1,995
£1,795
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The Apuan Alps are a iconic mountain range situated in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, in northern Italy. These mountains have been exploited for over two millennia for the extraction of the renowned Marmo di Carrara, a high-quality variety of marble. The legacy of this long-standing exploitation is clearly visible in the dozens of quarries and mines that punctuate the landscape. Despite such extensive human impact, the ruggedness of the Apuan Alps has allowed for the preservation of a still wild nature, characterized by a karst landscape of steep peaks and numerous caves interspersed with narrow and lush valleys that provide the perfect habitat for several endemic amphibian species.
On this tour, led by an expert Italian naturalist, we will traverse from the unique mountain scenery of the Apuan Alps to the wet and narrow valleys of the Tuscan Apennine, passing through majestic caves, ancient traditional villages and abandoned mines reclaimed by nature.
- Learn about the herpetofauna of the Apuan Alps and the northern Apennines
- Explore the region at the prime time for salamander activity
- Taste the local cuisine of Tuscany
- Stay in ancient villages with traditional architecture
- Explore one of the most scenic Italian caves
- Beautiful Apennine scenery away from the main tourist areas
- Led by an expert herpetologist
Outline Itinerary
Dates & Prices
2026
Tour Leader: Simone Giachello
Simone Giachello is a naturalist and passionate photographer from northern Italy, with a soft spot for herpetofauna and montane habitats. Born in Milan, his love for nature has been strong since childhood but truly blossomed during his university years when he approached nature photography and began traveling around Italy, discovering a, for him, unexpected biodiversity. After completing his master’s degree in Natural Sciences, he couldn’t resist the call of the mountains and moved from the city to a village in the heart of the Bergamasque Alps.
Nature conservation has played a key role in shaping his career and life. Simone works as an ecologist at the University of Milan, where he studies how high-altitude ecosystems and amphibian populations are impacted by anthropogenic threats such as climate change, habitat degradation, and invasive species, with the aim of developing effective conservation strategies. He loves merging scientific research with hands-on field experience to raise awareness in the general public by showcasing the beauty of nature through photography and guided excursions and trips.
His work and passion have taken him around Italy and the world, from the cave systems of Sardinia to the Sahel of Mauritania, from the snowy peaks of the Alps to the Danube Delta in Romania, from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the desert of southern Morocco. Whether it's a brief one-day excursion or a three-week expedition, he thrives on exploring remote areas in search of rare and elusive species but also loves to rediscover and appreciate the beauty of the most common ones we have right outside our door. Yet, what he cherishes most is not just finding the target species, but experiencing the immense variety of habitats that blanket our planet.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
