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Authentic Le Marche: 5-Day Hiking, Tasting, and Relaxation Tour Around Urbino
Le Marche at its purest: Slow travel from a historic country house
Sometimes you don’t need much to truly travel. A pair of sturdy hiking boots, a good glass of local wine, and a place where time seems to stand still. That’s exactly what you’ll find in Le Marche, in the heart of Italy.
Spend four days exploring rolling hills, medieval villages, and hidden hiking trails. Your home base will be a restored 14th-century farmhouse: Ca’ Virginia Country House. You can do this route on your own or as part of an organized tour with a local specialist. Read more about that below. In either case, you’ll travel in your own car.
Le Marche Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Relaxation
Arrival at your country house. Located in an old casale (farmhouse) just outside Urbino. You’ll be welcomed with a welcome drink accompanied by local salami, cheeses, wine, and piadina. The tone is set: here, it’s all about enjoying life the Italian way.
Overnight stay.
Day 2: Hiking to Montefabbri & Exploring Urbino
After breakfast , your day begins with a hike from Pontevecchio to Montefabbri, a medieval village where time seems to stand still. The 6-kilometer route winds through a gently rolling landscape dotted with cypress trees and offering sweeping views.
On the way back, you’ll receive an organic snack pack from a local farm: fresh juice, cookies, and a spot on the “Big Bench” with a view of the hills.
In the afternoon, it’s a 15-minute drive to Urbinofor a light lunch featuring local specialties. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the old town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site): wander through historic alleyways, visit the impressive Palazzo Ducale, the San Giovanni Chapel, or the birthplace of the painter Raphael.
Eventually, you’ll reach the Albornoz Fort, where you’ll have a magnificent view of the city.
Back to the country house and some relaxation by the pool. Overnight stay.
Day 3: Castles and tranquility in Piobbico and Rocca Leonella
Breakfast at the country house, then departure by car. Today is all about relaxation, nature, and impressive castles.
The first stop is the village of Piobbico, at the foot of Brancaleoni Castle. From a scenic walking trail, you can enjoy views of the village and the surrounding valley. It’s a short but impressive walk that takes no more than 30 minutes.
Then on to Rocca Leonella ( a 10-minute drive). An almost forgotten little village that seems to cling to the mountainside. Here, you literally hear nothing but the wind and the birds. The sound of silence.
You’ll have lunch at a historic locanda, where you’ll savor the forgotten flavors of the past. If you’d like, you can also take an extra one-hour walk through the woods here.
You’ll continue by car. The day ends in Cagli with an aperitif in the lively village square: local cheese, crescia, crostini, and a glass of wine. A perfect way to end the day. Back to the country house. Overnight stay.
Day 4: Sea Breeze in the San Bartolo Nature Park
On day four, you’ll swap the mountains for ocean views in the Monte San Bartolo Natural Park ( about a 40-minute drive). Here, the hills literally stretch right down to the water. A GPS route takes you from castle to castle, passing through Fiorenzuola di Focara and Casteldimezzo— ancient villages perched on cliffs, with flowers in the windowsills and views of the Adriatic Sea.
If you still have some energy left, you can continue walking to Vallugola Bay, where the forest meets the sea. It’s well worth the effort: the view of the sea, the hills, the villages, and the “Riviera Romagnola.”
After this hike, it’s time to return to your country house for your final night. Just like on the other hikes, you’ll be guided by a GPS route: a beautiful hike from “castle to castle” all the way to the “roof of the world.”
This is where your journey of discovery through Le Marche comes to an end.
Practical Tips for an Organized Hiking Trip in Le Marche
Price per person: €320 (June 1, 2025–September 30, 2025)
Single-occupancy surcharge (DUS): €110 per tour
Rate for children and adults in a third bed: 0–3 years old—free in their parents’ bed (meals to be paid on site as consumed); 4–10 years old in a third bed: €170
Adults in a third bed: no discount; stay in a Superior room
Comfortable clothing and athletic or hiking shoes are recommended for the hikes
The hikes range from easy to moderate
The route from Utrecht to Urbino is approximately 1,400 km
Le Marche Tour, including
Stay at Ca’ Virginia Country House: 3 nights in a double room
Bed and breakfast, use of the pool and facilities (open from June through September)
A generous welcome reception featuring local wine, cold cuts, and piadina
Snack package with organic products from a local farm (natural beverage and homemade cookies or biscuits)
Light lunch in Urbino featuring organic products (a glass of wine + a platter of cold cuts and cheese)
Lunch at an old inn on Monte Nerone (drinks not included; to be paid on site)
Aperitif in the square in Cagli: local cheese and salami, traditional “crescia di Urbino,” crostini, chips + 1 glass of wine/beer/cocktail/juice
Hiking Maps on GPS
“The Briganti Hiking Trail” (6 km, difficulty: moderate/easy)
Panoramic Walk in Piobbico (1.1 km, easy)
Trail to Rocca Leonella (2.4 km, moderate/easy)
Hike in San Bartolo Park (6 km: easy, 10 km: moderate)
Information about the places visited: how to get there and what to see
Not included
Transportation: You must drive to the destination yourself and drive there once you arrive
Guide Service
Transfers and any services not listed under “Included”
Request a quote for Le Marche: Hiking, Tasting, and Relaxing Around Urbino
When you request a quote, we’ll forward it to our local partner, who will confirm it directly with you if approved. You’ll pay the same price as if you were booking directly. You’ll handle the rest of the booking and payment directly with the local provider (with whom we have a good working relationship and established agreements). We’re always available to answer any questions you may have.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
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If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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