Highlights of this TRAINING
For curious travellers, new guides, students, and individuals eager to explore regenerative travel and rewilding.
This introductory program combines a foundational webinar with a 4-day immersive field trip in a rewilding area in Europe. It’s perfect for those who want to travel mindfully, support conservation, and connect with nature in a way that leaves a positive impact.
Italy Edition: The 4-day field training through the Central Apennines rewilding area takes us across thousands of hectares of beautiful rugged mountains, deep valleys and extensive beech forest. This region of Italy is a biodiversity hotspot with abundant populations of iconic species such as Marsican brown bears, wolves, deer, wild boars and the endemic Apennine chamois.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1 x 1.5 Hour Webinar: ‘Introduction to Nature Positive Tourism’
- What is Nature Positive Tourism?
- Tourism’s Impact on Nature
- What does it mean to be a nature positive tourist and/or professional?
- How can your travel choices support ecosystems and communities?
- Practical tips for minimizing harm and maximizing benefit while exploring.
4 – Day Field Trip in Italy, Romania or Portugal
- Hands-on learning in rewilding landscapes.
- Guided visits to conservation projects and meetings with local changemakers
- Reflection and peer learning to deepen your understanding.
- Optional: A half-day workshop on tracking, storytelling, or ethical wildlife watching.
Who It’s For
- Curious travellers who want to explore with purpose
- Students in Sustainable Tourism or similar studies
- Young professionals passionate about ethical travel
- New guides and individuals who want to lead or join nature positive experience
Photogallery
what does the field trip IN ITALY look like?
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL & GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN
Transfer from Rome Fiumicino to Pescasseroli – Welcome Lunch in town – Hike up to the mountain refuge – Wildlife Watching – Sunset – Dinner – Campfire – Overnight at Mountain Refuge
DAY 2 – IN THE WILD
Wildlife watching – Breakfast – Nature Positive Tourism Sessions – Lunch – Hike – Sunset Wildlife Watching – Dinner – Campfire – Overnight at Mountain Refuge
DAY 3 – NATURE CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY
Sunrise Hike – Breakfast – Hike back to the Valley incl. Lunch- Nature Conservation & Community Engagement program – Dinner – Overnight in Pescasseroli or Pettorano
DAY 4 – LAST LEARNINGS & GOODBYE
Morning Sessions – Breakfast – Debrief – Transfer back to Rome Fiumicino
Practical information
Dates & Availability
WEBINAR
- Spring 2027
- Join our waitlist
FIELD TRIP
- Spring 2027
- Join our waitlist.
Costs (Included & Excluded)
WEBINAR
€40 per person
When possible, we subsidise this online training for candidates who can not afford the full webinar rate. Contact us if you would like to be considered for a subsidised rate.
You can choose to follow only the webinar, or also join the Field Trip. If you sign up for the field trip, the online webinar is free of charge and included in the price.
FIELD TRIP
€990 per person
Whether you are self-employed or part of a company, business or organisation: when following a training that demonstrably leads to deepening your knowledge, these costs are often fully tax deductible.
€690 per person (subsidised rate)
When possible, we subsidise this training ONLY for candidates who can not afford the full field trip rate. Contact us if you would like to be considered for the subsidised rate.
Includes:
- The Introduction webinar
- One night accommodation in a family owned hotel (shared twin room)
- Two nights at a mountain refuge (shared room)
- All local meals & drinks, and packed lunches for field days, from lunch at Day 1, till breakfast at Day 4
- Local transport and transfers to/from Rome Fiumicino
- A local conservation & community experience
- A facilitator & local guides
- A contribution to Rewilding Apennines
Excludes:
- Transport to/from Rome Fiumicino
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Logistics / Transport
You will be picked up at 10.00 at Rome Fiumicino Airport on Day 1 of the training (often a Monday), and dropped off again on Day 4 at midday at the same spot.
TIP: travel by train – take the train to Rome Termini and then the DaVinci express to Rome Fiumicino.
For those who want to travel independently, you can go directly to Pescasseroli.
Accommodation
You will sleep in a mountain hut, in the middle of nature, and in a family owned hotel in the town of Pescasseroli or Pettorano. In the mountain hut, you share a room & bathroom with the group. At the hotel, you share a room with one or two other people from the group.
Food
Meals are communal and local. Expect bread still warm from the oven, soups that change with the season, and at least one dish you cannot pronounce but will miss deeply afterward. Special diets are respected, though curiosity is encouraged.
Requests for vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for: please do not forget to advise us of these preferences at the time of booking.
Health & Safety
Basic fitness level expected with maximum 5-8 km. hikes per day.
In Italy, wildlife is particularly elusive: spotting animals requires respect, silence, and patience. Carefully following your guide’s instructions is key -not only for safety, but also to increase your chances of a meaningful encounter. Moving quietly, keeping your distance, and leaving no trace allows for a truly authentic and respectful experience, with minimal impact on the environment and the animals.
We are working with Rewilding Apennines by supporting their programmes and ensuring the protection and restoration of natural environments outside protected areas.
Testimonials
Team & local guides
Aukje van Gerven
Aukje’s journey started with degrees in Law and History, but a bicycle trip from Tanzania back to the Netherlands ignited her love for adventure travel. When she finished her biking expedition, Aukje worked in the European nature conservation sector for over ten years, focusing on nature based tourism, travel, hospitality and events. For five years, she was in charge of wildlife tourism & training in the European rewilding areas. In 2023 she co-founded MOYO, which she now manages, developing new nature positive journeys, retreats and trainings. Aukje will be your host during this training program, and facilitate the field training.
Simon Collier
Born and raised in South Africa, Simon started his safari career working across a broad sector of the safari and tourism industry in Southern Africa. With experience from guiding through to managing camps, sales and marketing. Simon has spent the last decade supporting the development of the wildlife and tourism sector across ten countries in Europe, with a focus on sustainable business development and training within the nature based tourism sector. In 2023 he co founded MOYO. Simon will be your trainer for the webinar 'Introduction to Nature Positive Tourism'.
Valeria Roselli
Since she was a child, Valeria walked along the paths through the forest of the mountains where she was born. Her curiosity led her to explore and get to know the territory. Her love of nature and for the Abruzzo mountain’s became her passion, which then became her profession. She is now a nature guide, environmental interpreter and international mountain leader, and one of the most expert guides in the Italian Apennines.
Umberto Esposito
Since his childhood Umberto has lived in the historical area of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. After graduating, he began his career as a nature guide, combining two great passions in one profession: nature and photography. In 2009 he founded a small tour operator whose mission is to bring people closer to nature. Umberto is also a vital part of several multi media projects in the Central Apennines.