Mountain Adventure in Savona

  Italy

• All Other Areas in Italy: 
Savona

Dates: May-September

Description: Experience the other side of Italy with our mountain adventures programme. We offer three levels of adventures: Family (easy), Adult (medium) and Extreme (wild adventure at 'special forces' level-that says it all). Step out of your comfort zone and take the challenge! You can have a selection of activities, and expect to be on the go for about 20 hours in a week.

We can cater for up to 25 people, using local family-run B+B or self-catering houses (not hotels), including our own house.We know the other owners personally and have ourselves stayed in these rustic but comfortable establishments. Some meals in local restaurants are included (walking distance). Picnic, BBQ and other meal ingredients are only purchased from local shops (walking distance), and from our neighboring farmers.

We are particularly interested in preserving and directly experiencing the natural environment, and helping the village economy which desperately needs summer tourism for its survival. All the activities are aimed at increasing the participants' practical skills and sense of adventure. At the same time, we aim to increase awareness of the immediate environment, interacting with the local community (for example, participating in the village festivities), and preserving/restoring the forest/fields that we use. We offer a tree-planting scheme for offsetting carbon emissions. We challenge our guests to recycle everything, and we don't discard anything from within our estate, everything is reused somehow.

Highlights: Activity Holidays

A. Family (easy, fun, practical skills)

- Horse riding lesson (basic)
- Italian language lessons
- Forest trek, orientation (easy)
- River trek (short, easy, with fishing)
- Kite flying
- Survival for children (hut building/camping, water searching, fire, food from the forest etc)
- Day trips to Genova (tourism and whale watch)

B. Middle grade (active adults, corporate)

- Mountain biking
- Scrambling, sharp descents
- Night treks (mountain/forest)
- Horse riding lesson
- Italian language lessons
- Forest trek, orientation (moderate)
- River trek (long, mildly demanding, swimming)
- Wine tasting
- Day trips to Genova (tourism and whale watch)
- Treasure hunts
- Green exercise and chi kung in the forest at dawn
- Nutrition and home-made health potions using natural ingredients from the area.
- Estate work

C. Extreme (Wild Adventure Course)

This is unique experience, designed at 'Special Forces' level (army or police), and suitable for any adventurous, open-minded fit person. The course is fun, practical and educational, helping you to develop initiative, creativity and team spirit. No previous experience is needed. It can be taken over one single day, two days, or longer (up to one week), depending on your requirements. The pace of some activities can be anywhere between moderate and extreme, depending on your preference. A 'scaled-down' version of this course is suitable for corporate clients or less fit individuals. The number of participants can be anything from 1-10 people, although ideally it should be between 2 and 4. You can choose any one or a combination of these activities:

* Scrambling/climbing with no safety measures in place
* Cycling tour with coded directions (no guide)
* Night-time forest and mountain trekking, navigating by the stars (with no guide if you prefer, also available is a 'naked, only-boots' option!)
* Mushroom hunting, identification and cooking
* Orienteering treks and coded treasure hunts
* Blind-folded activities and sense awareness (no safety measures)
* Bushcraft, chainsaw, woodland and environmental activities
* River treks (including wading and swimming en route)
* Green exercise and chi kung in the forest at dawn/dusk (naked if you wish)
* Searching for vipers, scorpions and wild boar
* Health - including first aid and advanced CPR, trauma, nutrition and home-made health potions using natural ingredients from the area.

NB. Please note that in order to enroll for option C (the Extreme course) you will need to sign a full disclaimer accepting all the risks involved. You will also need to accept that the lack of safety measures is deliberate, in order to increase the sense of danger and adventure.

Cost in US$: USD 700 - 900

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Italy Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 2-4

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Caridi Estate's Mission Statement: To restore and re-establish a part of rural mountainous Italian agricultural heritage (including wine making, wild orchid conservation, woodland management). To make the land available for others to enjoy, including tourism, families on low income, disadvantaged children and adults. To help students of nature learn more and develop practical skills in relation to a variety of rural, eco-friendly activities.

Year Founded: 2008