WALKING & HIKING

A walking tour in Basilicata will surprise you for the variety of beautiful landscapes you will encounter. From unusual excursions along ancient rock-cliff villages, the haunting moors and hills around Matera to the massive peaks of the Pollino National Park, you can walk through open praries, meadows carpeted with wildflowers in spring, and through the gentle forests and beautifulscenery of the smaller Gallipoli Cognato National Park. Walking in Basilicata offers all the excitement of an adventure, but one you can enjoy at your own pace.

The National Parks and nature reserves in Basilicata offer a wide variety of hiking trails which are suitable for all levels of experience. Hiking trails are well signposted and offer stunning landscapes.

The Gallipoli Cognato National Park is particularly suited to hiking as it contains the lush Cognato forest, which has a network of all terrain trails, and is full of colour in both spring and autumn. Various trails take you from the river Basento, at 200m altitude, to the summit of Mount Impiso. (1300m)

Pollino National Park offers a selection of walks which are suitable for families, groups and individuals - with shorter trails for the less adventerous to more challenging trails ranging from 30-60km long. The park is an ideal location for hiking and it offers a varied landscape of forests, rivers, meadows and mountains offering stunning views combined. It is particularly beautiful in the spring with interesting flora and fauna covering the park.
 

TREKKING HIGHLIGHTS:
 

• Lucanian dolomites – For a more challenging hike, try the jagged limestone peaks which dominate the Lucanian dolomites. The villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa offer evocative panoramas and are definitely worth a visit.

• La Grande Porta del Pollino, Terranova - Follow the route of an ancient railway to Piano di Pollino for stunning views. Eight miles and 500m ascent.
   
  Maratea - Walk from the old town up to the fantastic statue of Christ the redeemer which looks across the region.
• Park of the Murgia Materana - For some great hiking, explore the rugged terrain of Parco della Murgia Materana with over 150 rock churches scattered throughout the park. There is also an incredible view of the Sassi district from the park.

• Matera - Take a guided tour around the fascinating Sassi cave district which dominates the limestone landscape of Matera.