GUIDDY EXPERIENCE
iWhat does it mean?
Via degli Abati: 6 days from Bobbio to Pontremoli, the mountain Francigena
Bobbio•6 days · 5 nights•Travel + trekking · 1,240 m
Experience
Guiddy trips
Difficulty ?
DIFFICULT PLUS
Where?
Italia, Italia
On your own?
No problem
Points
+68
Overview
Is it for me?
Included & extras
Good to know
Itinerary
Getting there
Packing
Coordinator
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS TRIP
The road the abbots of Bobbio took to Rome, walked by few today
From the seventh century, people walking from Pavia to Rome could cross the mountains instead of the plain: it was the shortest way, and the abbots of San Colombano in Bobbio took it too when they went to see the pope. That road still exists and is called the Via degli Abati: about 194 kilometres from Pavia to Pontremoli. We walk the mountain part, the roughly 118 from Bobbio to Pontremoli, with enough ascent to earn it the name of mountain Francigena.
Group chat before departure
Come alone, leave with new friends
Is this trip for me?
Five vibes, an effort level and a type of trip: so you can tell in ten seconds if it's for you.
Party & nightlife
Relax
Nature & adventure
Cities & culture
Monuments & history
Physical effort
Difficult
Type of trip
Cammino · Appennino · Impegnativo
Group
Max 12
Accommodation
Piccoli alberghi e B&B di paese
From Bobbio you cross three provinces and two regions: you climb to the Sella dei Generali, wade the Nure, reach the castle of Bardi, cross into the Taro valley and enter Tuscany over the Borgallo pass. You sleep in small hotels and B&Bs in valleys that have emptied out. The walk ends in Pontremoli, where it meets the Via Francigena coming down from Canterbury.
Read more ⌄
What's included
Overnight
Certified Guide
Transport for excursions (van or minibus)
Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
Show all 5 inclusions
What's not included
✕
Meals
✕
Train
✕
Travel to the meeting point (car-pooling with the other participants)
✕
Anything not listed under «The price includes»
Good to know
Documents, accommodation, transport and the ground rules before you book.
Documents
REQUIRED
Siamo in Italia: basta la carta d'identità. Porta la tessera sanitaria.
Carta d'identità
Tessera sanitaria
Effort
Si cammina quattro giorni su sei, più gli ultimi 2 km la mattina dell'ultimo giorno: circa 118 km da Bobbio a Pontremoli. Il primo giorno sono 20 km con 1.400 m di salita; poi tre giorni di fila da 30-33 km. Il più duro è Bardi-Borgo Val di Taro: 33 km, circa 1.700 m di salita e 1.900 di discesa, 9-10 ore di cammino senza contare le soste. Il punto più alto è a circa 1.240 m, poco dopo la Sella dei Generali. Adatto a chi fa già escursioni in giornata da 25-30 km e 1.200 m di dislivello e le regge più giorni di fila.
Safety
MUST READ
Guado del Nure (terzo giorno): il torrente si attraversa a piedi. Se l'acqua è alta si passa da Farini, circa 3 km in più: decide la guida.
Giornate lunghe e lontane dai paesi: si parte presto, con acqua e cibo per tutto il giorno e una frontale nello zaino.
Crinali della Sella dei Generali e del Borgallo: aperti a vento e temporali. Con temporali previsti la guida può anticipare la partenza o cambiare percorso.
Zecche nei prati e nei boschi: pantaloni lunghi e un controllo la sera.
Accommodation
Piccoli alberghi e B&B di paese, una notte per posto: Bobbio, Mareto, Bardi, Borgo Val di Taro e Case Corvi, alle porte di Pontremoli. A Mareto e Bardi le strutture sono poche e piccole, spesso le uniche del paese.
Transport
Il ritrovo è a Bobbio e il cammino finisce a Pontremoli: il viaggio fino a Bobbio e il ritorno da Pontremoli non sono inclusi. In auto si arriva a Bobbio in car pooling fra partecipanti; per tornare a riprendere l'auto da Pontremoli servono circa 3 ore e mezza-4 con i mezzi (treno fino a Piacenza cambiando a Parma, poi bus di linea per Bobbio). Chi preferisce può lasciare l'auto a Piacenza e salire a Bobbio in bus: al ritorno basta il treno. In treno: fino a Piacenza, poi bus di linea per Bobbio; al ritorno treno da Pontremoli, sulla linea Parma-La Spezia. I bagagli viaggiano in furgone da un alloggio all'altro, inclusi: con questi dislivelli si cammina con lo zaino leggero.
Optional extras
PAID ON SITE
Credenziale della Via degli Abati: 15 € di donazione all'associazione, si richiede online prima di partire. Dà i timbri lungo la via e lo sconto pellegrini in alcune strutture e al museo di Pontremoli.
Museo delle statue stele nel castello del Piagnaro a Pontremoli, l'ultima mattina: 7 € (4 € con la credenziale), aperto tutti i giorni dalle 9:30.
Weather and changes of plan
Maggio-giugno e settembre: 12-25 gradi. Sui crinali il tempo cambia in fretta e a maggio la pioggia è frequente: guscio, pile e bastoncini non sono opzionali.
Insurance
INCLUDED
Assicurazione infortuni, medico e bagaglio Guiddy inclusa nella quota.
Itinerary
Six days, approximate schedule: the Coordinator may swap stops depending on the weather.
Trekking
4 days
Total elevation gain
5,850 m
Km on foot
116 km
Duration
6 days
Day 1 · Sat 15 May
RITROVO
Ritrovo a Bobbio: l'abbazia e il ponte Gobbo
3 stops · from 14:45
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Meeting in BobbioMEETING POINT14:45
We meet in Bobbio with the guide and your Guiddy Coordinator: this is where the Via degli Abati starts. Participants car-pool here (say so when you book, then sort it out in the Telegram group) or come by train to Piacenza and local bus to Bobbio. The walk ends in Pontremoli: if you come by car, the practical info explains how to get back to it. Have lunch on your own before we meet.
The abbey of San ColombanoCHURCH
Founded in 614 by an Irish monk, it was one of Europe's great centres of learning: here the codices that saved the Latin classics were copied.
The humpback bridge over the TrebbiaAREAS OF NATURAL VALUE
Eleven arches, all different, all crooked, from different eras: legend says the devil built it in one night, and looking at it you believe it. In the evening dinner in town, not included, and packs ready for tomorrow.
Included today: guida, pernottamento · Not included: viaggio fino a Bobbio, pasti
Day 2 · Sun 16 May
TREKKING
Da Bobbio a Mareto per la Sella dei Generali
3 stops
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Day 3 · Mon 17 May
TREKKING
Il guado del Nure e il Passo di Linguadà fino a Bardi
4 stops
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Day 4 · Tue 18 May
TREKKING
Da Bardi a Borgo Val di Taro, la tappa regina
3 stops
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Day 5 · Wed 19 May
TREKKING
Il Passo del Borgallo e la discesa in Toscana
4 stops
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Day 6 · Thu 20 May
RIENTRO
Gli ultimi 2 km fino a Pontremoli e saluti
3 stops
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How do you get to Bobbio? By carpooling.
You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group. Contacts and costs are agreed between you: a seat isn't guaranteed.
WHO'S ALREADY GOING
for the selected date
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.
What to pack
You get there by car: one bag for the nights and a daypack for the day.
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Light fleece
REQUIRED
Layered clothing
REQUIRED
Change of clothes
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
Cap
REQUIRED
Headlamp
REQUIRED
First aid kit
REQUIRED
Guiddy Experience
15 – 20 May 2027
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Right for you
Based on this page: same area, similar level.
Reviews
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Questions?
How do I get to the meeting point?
⌄
Meeting in Bobbio, at 14:45: get there on your own or car-pool with the other participants. Say so when you book, then sort it out in the Telegram group.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How fit do I need to be?
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What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
€100 today, the rest 30 days before
✓A €100 deposit to hold your place: it's the only thing you pay today
✓Free cancellation up to 30 days before (for this departure: 14 April 2027, 23:59)
✓€485 balance charged automatically 30 days before departure
✓Minimum not reached? Deposit fully refunded
Deposit and balance by card, PayPal, Satispay or Revolut. The balance can also be paid in 3 interest-free instalments with Klarna.
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