Highlights of this trip
Step into the wild heart of Abruzzo, Italy, where rugged mountains, ancient forests, and untamed rivers create a sanctuary for both wildlife and the human spirit. This women only nature retreat is designed for those who crave connection – with themselves, with nature, and with a circle of inspiring women.
For five transformative days, you’ll get to know this area, and the people you are travelling with, in a profound way. For two nights, we’ll stay in a remote mountain hut, surrounded by the rewilding landscapes of Abruzzo National Park. Here, bears roam freely, eagles soar overhead, and the earth hums with quiet power. Led by passionate female guides and hosts, this retreat blends mindful exploration, nature, wildlife, and heartfelt community experiences – all while enjoying nourishing food, deep conversations, and the magic of the wild.
This is not just a trip, it’s a celebration of nature, sisterhood, and the strength that comes from both.
Through an incorporated giveback, you will also support rewilding and local businesses with this trip, which makes this a nature positive tourism experience. These creates real incentive for coexistence with wildlife, helps keep mountain communities alive, and ensures that nature recovery benfits the people who share this land with bears, wolves and other species.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR RETREAT
A Sanctuary in the Wild – Spend three days in a cozy, remote mountain hut, nestled in the heart of Abruzzo’s rewilding area. Wake up to birdsong, mountain views, and the scent of beech trees.
Wildlife & Wonder – Track bear prints, search for signs of wolves and chamois, and learn how rewilding is bringing life back to these ancient landscapes. Your guides will share stories of the land and its wild inhabitants.
Mindful Moments – Start your days with gentle yoga or meditation in nature, followed by mindful walks and a variety of mindfulness experiences that awaken your senses. No experience needed, just an open heart.
Nourishing Food & Soulful Company – Enjoy locally sourced, delicious meals prepared with love, shared around a table with women who inspire and uplift. Think fresh pasta, foraged herbs, and slow-cooked stews.. food that fuels both body and spirit.
Community & Connection – Meet local women who call this land home. Hear their stories, share in their traditions, and learn how people and wildlife thrive together in Abruzzo. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of what it means to live in harmony with nature.
Evenings by the Fire – As the sun sets, gather around the fire for stories, laughter, and reflection. These are the moments where connections deepen and memories are made.
This retreat is about slowing down, tuning in, and remembering the wild within you.
Photogallery
what does the week look like?
Day 1 – ARRIVAL AT PESCASSEROLI
Transfer from Rome Fiumicino to Pescasseroli – Welcome Lunch in town – Hike to Mountain Refuge – Introduction to Wildlife Watching & Mindfulness – Sunset – Dinner – Stargazing – Overnight at Mountain Refuge
Day 2 – WILDERNESS & SILENCE
Morning Movement – Breakfast – Hike & Mindful excercises – Lunch – Relax & Silent Walks – Sunset – Dinner – Campfire – Overnight at Mountain Refuge
Day 3 – BACK TO THE VALLEY
Sunrise Hike – Breakfast – Tree Meditation – Hike back to the valley with packed lunch – Explore Pescasseroli – Dinner in town – Overnight at a local hotel
Day 4 – NATURE CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY
Morning Movement – Breakfast – Hike – Scenic Drive – Rewilding & Community engagement – Dinner – Overnight in Pettorano
Day 5 – GOODBYE
Breakfast – Morning Walk – Transfer back to Rome Fiumicino for your journey onwards or back home
Practical information
Dates & Availability
- Monday 7 till Friday 11 June 2027
- Minimum 6 , maximum 8 people
- ONLY TWO SPACES LEFT!
Costs (Included & Excluded)
€1390 per person.
Or join our waitlist for 2028.
Includes:
- Two nights accommodation in a family owned hotel or apartment (shared room), and 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 5
- Local transport and transfers to/from Rome Fiumicino
- Walking poles and yoga mats
- A local conservation & community experience
- Female guides and hosts
- A contribution to Rewilding Apennines and the education of nature guides
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 Monday 7 June 2027, and dropped off again on Friday 11 June at 14.00 at the same spot. TIP: travel by train – take the train to Rome Termini and then the DaVinci express to Rome Fiumicino.
Accommodation
During this Women Only retreat, you will sleep in a mountain hut, in the middle of nature, and in family owned hotels or apartments in the towns of Pescasseroli and 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.
Solo travellers are very welcome. Upon request and if there is space, you can upgrade to a single room at the hotel for an extra fee (1 night).
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.
Health & Safety
A trained guide is always nearby, first-aid kits are stocked, and daily check-ins are mandatory.
You need to have a basic fitness level with maximum 5-10 km. hikes per day, with 400-500 metres elevation.
Testimonials
team & GUIDES
Sandrijn van der Voort
Coming from a family of 'conscious' parents, Sandrijn grew up with an early appreciation for the value of nature and its inhabitants. After years of working as a healthcare psychologist in mental health care, she realised she preferred to contribute in the field of prevention. She delved into mindfulness and it's combination with walking, which eventually led to the founding of Soulpower.
Through Soulpower, she offers mindfulness and mindful walking training for both individuals and businesses. Introducing people to the power of nature and helping them discover their inner strength is her true passion.
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. While listening to stories from older people in the area, Valeria learnt the importance of the local traditions and how necessary it was to preserve traditions and value the past.
Her love of nature and for the Abruzzo mountains became her passion, which then became her profession. Valeria is now a nature guide, environmental interpreter and an international mountain leader, and one of the most expert guides in the Italian Apennines.
Aukje van Gerven
This journey is hosted throughout by Aukje van Gerven, founder of MOYO Nature Travel. Aukje brings together more than twenty years of experience in sustainable tourism, nature travel and creating meaningful experiences in the wild. She has also worked directly in the European rewilding movement, including five years as Wildlife Tourism Manager at Rewilding Europe, where she was involved in developing nature and wildlife experiences and organising training across different rewilding landscapes.
Both Aukje and Sandrijn will be with you throughout the journey - welcoming you when you arrive, travelling with the group between landscapes and accommodations, connecting you with the local female guides and conservationists, and making sure the journey runs smoothly from beginning to end.
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