Mountain excursions: where to go in Calabria

If you are looking for a place to go hiking in the mountains in Calabria, you are spoilt for choice! The only Italian region to boast the beauty of no less than three national parks on its territory, in addition to many nature reserves (state and regional), Calabria is the ideal place for mountain excursions in every season.

From the Pollino National Park, through Sila and Aspromonte, choose the itineraries that are right for you, with an expert guide or independently, to discover UNESCO geosites, ancient trees, river valleys, lakes and refuges.  

You can choose to experience your excursions in the Calabrian mountains either on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback, depending on your interests and the landscapes you choose to visit.

Let's start with mountain excursions in Calabria's Paths and Cycle Routes, a magical world, immersed in the green of the Calabrian mountains, to be experienced slowly.

The Paths, marked and equipped, are the best way to experience a mountain excursion in Calabria under the banner of beauty and psychophysical wellbeing: itineraries through unspoilt nature, historic villages and landscapes of great value.

Here are the main paths recognised by MiC and CAI and the cycle paths to freely cross the Calabrian mountains in all seasons:

• Basilian Way (entire region)
• Path of St Francis of Paola (province of Cosenza)
• Kalabria Coast to Coast (Costa degli Aranci/Costa degli Dei, between Catanzaro and Vibo Valentia)
• Calabria Italy Trail (entire region)
• Brigante Trail (Serre Regional Park/Aspromonte National Park, between Vibo Valentia and Reggio Calabria)
• English Path (Aspromonte National Park)
• Gioachimita Path (provinces of Catanzaro and Cosenza)
• Path and Cycle Route of Magna Graecia (provinces of Crotone and Cosenza)
• Cycle Route of the Parks (entire region)
• Val di Neto Cycle Path (Crotone province)

Perfect for your year-round mountain excursions in Calabria, the 16 State Nature Reserves and 3 Regional Nature Reserves are waiting to offer you very different scenarios, expressing the biodiversity of local flora and fauna.

Here is a selection of alternative routes, allowing you to explore more "niche" landscapes and realities, according to the seasons and your personal interests:

• Mountain excursions in Calabria during the "foliage" period (whole region)
• Excursion to the Lacina and the Castle of Baronessa Scoppa (Serre Regional Park)
• Trekking in the "Valli Cupe" Regional Nature Reserve (province of Catanzaro)
• Excursion to Monte Cucudo (province of Reggio Calabria)
• Panoramic trekking on Mount Poro (province of Vibo Valentia)
• Excursion to the Faggeta Vetusta del Pollinello - UNESCO Site (Pollino National Park)
• Excursion among the Calabrian lakes (Sila National Park)