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20th Sep 2025 - 27th Sep 2025
8 days/Italy /Moderate to Challenging
Follow in the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims before you as you take on the Camino Via Francigena.
Walk the final 110km of one of Europe’s oldest pilgrimage routes – a quieter and arguably more beautiful route than its Spanish counterpart. Explore quaint medieval towns and small villages of rural Italy as you walk the road to Rome.
The ancient route runs from Canterbury all the way through France, Switzerland and on to Rome for those wishing to visit the Holy See and the tombs of apostles Peter and Paul.
Today, ‘pilgrims’ walk the Camino for a number of different reasons; spiritual, cultural and adventurous or simply such as wanting to learn about the history of this ancient trail and as a way to get fit and spend time outdoors. This is not a religious tour. The Via Francigena is about the journey and to the majority of people it symbolises a time of reflection, learning and fresh starts.
You don’t have to fundraise to join an open challenge but you can support a charity of your choice if you wish. See the costs tab for more details.
This trek is graded moderate to challenging. You will be trekking long distances over varying terrain which includes some steep uphill sections, in hot weather conditions.
You will be walking for many hours and sometimes on steep gradients. It is essential that you are fit enough to trek for at least 7-8 hours at a time for multiple consecutive days. Regular breaks are taken, but long days of walking are inevitable. You cannot be too fit for this challenge so you should train well before your departure.
The ancient pilgrimage follows the route taken in 990AD by Sigeric the Serious, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to present himself to Pope John XB.
Lesser known than it’s Spanish counterpart, the Camino de Santiago, these days ‘pilgrims’ walk the camino for a number of reasons; spiritual, cultural and adventurous or simply such as wanting to learn about the history of this ancient trail and as a way to get fit and spend time outdoors.
This is not a religious tour. The Via Francigena is about the journey and to the majority of people it symbolises a time of reflection, learning and fresh starts.
An ideal candidate is someone who is open minded, positive, flexible and enjoys the challenges of the great outdoors. Adventure travel involves elements of the unexpected so do not expect the standards to be the same as you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable (be it because of group pace, weather conditions etc.) and itineraries may be altered to allow for this. You must also be willing to train hard for this challenge!
The trek is accompanied by local professional English-speaking guides who have an excellent knowledge of hiking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be supported by a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.
The terrain will vary throughout the 5 days but in general you will trek all day along country roads, compact dirt and stone Roman footpaths, gravel trails, paved streets and through woods, Across orchards and olive groves with some uphill/downhill paths. Each day you will experience undulating terrain, so it is important that your training includes hill walking and trekking up and down gradients.
You will stay in basic hotels and simple guesthouses on a twin or triple-share basis. Bathing facilities will be basic with showers and flushing toilets, but these may occasionally be shared facilities.
Breakfast and evening meals will be taken in a communal dining room at the accommodation or at local restaurants. You will enjoy hearty, delicious Italian meals that will keep your energy levels high for each day’s trek. You will eat packed lunches which you will carry yourself each day or stop in small local restaurants. Please inform us in advance if you have any dietary requirements or preferences.
The section of the Camino Via Francigena you will be walking is located in Lazio. In September, generally, temperatures range from pleasant to warm, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. However weather can be unpredictable, so it is important to be prepared for a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.
In general, the temperature each day can range between 14-25°C during the day but could drop to 12°C (or lower) at night.
It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures by packing non-cotton trek layers and waterproofs. It’s better to have waterproofs and not need them, than to not have any when you need them!
Although the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate, climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimately safety of the group as a whole.
You must be aged 18+ to join this trek. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.
UK – Rome – Viterbo
We will fly from the UK to Rome and on arrival transfer to Viterbo (approx. 1hr 30 drive) for your first night’s stay, with dinner and a briefing on the trek to come.
Meals: Dinner
Viterbo – Vetralla
Today we commence our trek along the last part of this medieval pilgrim’s route which stretches from Canterbury all the way to Rome. We leave Viterbo and follow a succession of country lanes, passing by olive groves and vineyards before the landscape changes on your approach to Vetralla with fields and woods leading you to this fortified town in the heart of the ancient Etruscan territories.
Trekking: Approx 18 km/5.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Vetralla – Sutri
Our walk starts passing through a forest to the the Church of the Virgin of Loreto before we continue through hazel groves and past impressive oak trees and then arrive at the Orlando towers, the ruins of an ancient monastery. The delightful town of Capranica follows and you will finally reach the walled town of Sutri, known for its Etruscan amphitheatre and archaeological park.
Trekking: Approx. 23km/6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Sutri – Campagnano di Roma
Country lanes and little tracks lead you from Sutri to the village of Monterosi, near a beautiful lake with an expanse of waterlilies. We continue through fields before reaching the Monte Gelato waterfall, situated in a park area, a great opportunity to rest and perhaps cool your feet in the water. We then enter Veio Park, a protected area, and follow a riverside track through woodland, eventually reaching the hilltop town of Campagnano di Roma.
Trekking: Approx. 28km/7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Campagnano di Roma – Isola Farnese
As you leave Campagnano di Roma this morning make sure to take in the panoramic views over the beautiful countryside of Lazio. Once again we enter Veio Park, and maybe visit the Sanctuary of “Madonna Del Sorbo”. The walled town of Formello follows, and you’ll then wander through fields down to the river Valchetta, on to charming Isola Farnese
Trekking: Approx. 22km/6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Isola Farnese – Rome
The route becomes noticeably busier with people and traffic today as you enter and cross through the suburbs of Rome. You’ll walk through Monte Mario Park with amazing views of the entire city, and take in your first glimpse of dome of St Peter’s church. We will then make the descent down to St Peter’s square – our final goal!
Trekking: Approx. 20km/6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Rome
Enjoy a day at leisure in Rome and take the opportunity to see some of this city’s main sights such as St Peter’s Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Colosseum. Tonight we celebrate our achievements of the week and enjoy a well-deserved farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Rome – London
Depending on flight times you may have some more time to explore Rome before we transfer to the airport for our flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
N.B. This itinerary may change due to unusual weather patterns, the ability of the group,and so on. We will do our best to keep to the set itinerary however we cannot be held responsible for changes that might occur outside of our control. In all such circumstances your guide and tour leader will have the final say in the interest of the health and safety of the group.
Registration fee: £395 and then either…
Self-funded: £1,995
or
Sponsorship: £3,990
or
Flexi: £1,995 trip costs and £1,995 sponsorship for a charity* of your choice
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves. There is no sponsorship required although if you wish to raise sponsorship for a charity you are welcome to do so.
This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) and a donation to their chosen charity. There is a minimum sponsorship amount for each trip that you are required to raise in order to participate.
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for the charity.
*If your chosen charity is not on this list, please seek permission to fundraise for them by taking part in this challenge before making before making your booking.
If you’ve a question about this challenge that you can’t find the answer to within the given information then complete this quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
