Explore the hills around Rome!

The full price of the event is £516 for full and concession members, and £586 for PAYG members. 

If you are interested in coming along, but the monastery is full, go to this "Book Your Own Accoms" page and you will still be able to join us!  In order to participate in the week's events you MUST book through the "BYOA" page so that you are covered through the OutdoorLads insurance.

Spend a week in the beautiful hills outside Rome and #getoutmore in Italy!  After almost 9 years, ODL returns to this beautiful 1,600 year old monastery 45 minutes northeast of Rome.  Fully modernised and capable of accommodating 12 guests, this building will be our base for a week of hiking and cultural immersion in the Lazio region.

This is a week away in Italy where the focus will be on getting out more and exploring the area on foot, enjoying the views and sights and the company of fellow OutdoorLads members; and a chance to enjoy the culture and tourist sights of Italy, too, rather than a chill-out holiday. So come and enjoy fantastic break away with us and get acquainted with this beautiful region!

Our accommodation at the monastery features four twin-bedded rooms, and two double rooms (if you are coming as a couple or friends who don't mind sharing, please let the leader know!) and a full kitchen. Simple breakfasts, and tea and coffee are provided all week, as are two group evening meals. For the other evening meals you can self-cater, eat out, or those that wish to can shop, cook at eat together as a group - we can make arrangements for that when we arrive. 

No transport is included, you will need to book and pay for all your own travel including flights and transport to the accommodation, and any transport whilst there. There is parking for four cars at the monastery if you wish to hire a car, but this would be at your own additional cost. 

Itinerary and arrangements

The (adjustable) itinerary will look something like this. Please note that most tickets for attractions cannot be booked until at least 75 days in advance.  You would need to book and pay for tickets for any of these yourself, they are not included in the price. 

Friday 24 July

Should you arrive at the monastery before 16.00, you will need to wait in the courtyard as there will be no access into the building.  I will meet the housekeeper at 16.00 and will need time to go through the preliminaries before allowing everyone in.

The train from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino Airport) to Tivoli takes around 2.5 hours, with a change required in Rome. Tickets can be booked on the Trenitalia website, for an advance cost of around €11 one way.

Pay close attention to what you book as some of the journeys actually go to Rome Tiburtina station and then involve a bus to Tivoli. Make sure you do not book to Tivoli Terme, as that is 30 minutes before Tivoli itself.

There are no activities planned for today, other than a communal dinner buffet.

Saturday 25 July

Plan on an early start to enjoy this (slightly longer than) 8.15km Grotto delle sirene loop through the village of Tivoli. We will walk down to the village from the monastery to the "official" starting point. This route covers very gently rolling village streets and paths, with an elevation gain of 160 metres and a loss of 150 metres.  Good trainers or walking shoes should should be adequate.

Lunch can either be brought from the monastery or can be purchased from one of the local shops.  Alternatively a trattoria lunch can be arranged at the end of the walk, as we will be in the village.

Sunday 26 July

As this is the last Sunday of the month the Vatican Museums MIGHT be free (at least they were in 2025). If we decide to do this, the last entry into the Museum is at 12.30 so we would plan on leaving the monastery early, to try and avoid the queues as much as possible. Please note that shorts are NOT allowed inside the Vatican.

The Sistine Chapel is included on the free day, St Peter's Basillica is also free to enter but there will be security queues. 

Additionally, for those interested there may be the option of attending the Sunday Angelus in St Peter's Square, starting at 12.30. Please note that this only takes place when the Pope is in residence at the Vatican.  I will check the schedule as this day gets closer.

For those that prefer to stay at the monastery you will need to ensure that you have all your daily supplies as the shops and stores in Tivoli will most likely be closed today. There is the option of visiting the gardens of the Villa d'Este in Tivoli; Tickets are €17.00 and must be booked in advance on the ticketing website, but cannot be booked until Spring 2026.

Dinner may be a cookout at the monastery or some restaurants may be open.

Monday 27 July

Another early start will see us exploring this 11.5km Ponte Nomentano "linear" loop along the Aniene River. This requires the use of public transport (50 minutes by bus each way) or private car to the start / end point and that will be advised upon during the event.

This walk is completely flat, along the banks of the Anien River.  Good trainers or walking shoes should be adequate, but bear in mind there may be mud if there has been any rain. There are several restuarants / cafes at the 6km turn-around point that might work for lunch; we will just need to see what is open.

Tuesday 28 July

Today will see us venturing into Rome to explore this ancient city.  Independent options could include:

• Rome "hop on - hop off" bus tour; Tickets should be purchased in advance, starting at €26 per person.
• Explore the city on your own, taking in sites like Vatican City, the Colosseum (multiple ticket options, starting from €53) or the "Eat, Pray, Love" movie filming locations tour.
• Explore St Peter's Basillica (free to enter but there will be long security queues)
• For the foodies you can try and visit the 13 best gelaterias in Rome!
• Explore the Jewish Ghetto, which actually dates back to 1555 when it was created by Pope Paul IV Carafa.
• Be the ultimate tourist and toss coins into the Trevi Fountain (one coin "ensures" your return to Rome, two coins increases your chances of finding true love in the near future, and three coins ensures coins 1 and 2, as well as ensuring marriage in the Eternal City - coins must be tossed over your right shoulder using your left hand), walk down the Spanish Steps, or stroll down the Via Condotti (Rome's luxury shopping street).
• Partake in any one of the free (only pay what you want) walking tours of Rome. 

As the streets are virtually all cobblestone, good, solid soled shoes are highly recommended. Dinner this evening will be a special event (paid individually), at a restaurant in Rome to be decided upon later.

Wednesday 29 July

Today we venture "uphill" from the monastery, taking in this 12.8km Sughereta di Sirividola loop. This hike starts just down the main road from the monastery so no transport is needed. This hike is mostly on mountain paths, with an elevation gain of 460 metres and a loss of 450 metres.  Hiking shoes or boots are strongly recommended.

Another option, if you so desire, could be returning to Rome to attend the free Papal Audience in St Peter's Square.  Again this is obviously ties to the Holy Father's summer schedule.`

Dinner this evening can either be communal back at the monastery or at any of the local tavernas.

Thursday 30 July

Today is our last full day in this incredible location so let's make the most of it! For those that are not too knackered from yesterday's hike, there is this 8.45km Tivoli to Monte Catillo loop through the hills above Tivoli. This hike should be a bit less strenuous than yesterday's but still has an elevation gain of 330 metres, and a loss of the same.  Hiking shoes or boots are strongly recommended.

For those not interested in hiking today, cultural options include:

• Visiting the gardens of the Villa d'Este in Tivoli; Tickets are €17.00 and must be booked in advance on the ticketing website. Please note that you cannot book tickets until Spring 2026.
• Taking a leisurely stroll through the village, following any one of these 3 itineraries.
• Completely spoil yourself at the Aqua Albule thermal spa, about 20 minutes by train from Tivoli. Use of the pool is around €17; full access to the thermal spa is around €45 and includes use of the sauna, "flavoured" and "sailing" showers (don't ask as I have no idea!!!) and hydrotherapy. Please note that ODL accepts no responsibility for your use of these facilities.  As always you should check with your GP to see if these services are right for you.

Dinner tonight will be a communal affair at the monastery, with a special "theme" to be announced early in the week.

Friday 31 July

Sadly, our Roman adventure comes to an end today.  We will need to check out of the monastery by 10.00am, before which we will do the traditional "ODL hostel clean".

• If you are flying back to the UK today please try not to book your departing flight before 16.00, as it is at least 2 hours on the bus / train, including a change in Rome.
• If you are staying on in Rome for any additional days, please do not book your transport from Tivoli before 11.00, in order for everyone to participate in the clean-up.

Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is served by virtually every major airport in the UK, using EasyJet, RyanAir, Jet2, British Airways, Vueling and WizzAir.  Rome Ciampino Airport (approximately 1 hour south of Rome) is served by RyanAir (from Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and London Stansted - please note that flight days can vary).

Should you wish to arrive in Rome before the 24th, or stay after the 31st, please note that all costs will be your own to incur and you will not be able to stay on longer at the monastery.

It is strongly recommended that you secure travel insurance to cover not only the hiking activities, but also flight delay or cancellation, baggage delays, medical care and, if necessary, repatriation.

Pay in instalments

If you would prefer to pay in monthly instalments, please contact the office team (or raise a support ticket) and we can discuss the options available to you, depending on the time available between booking and the event taking place. There will be additional terms and conditions to agree to before you commit. You won't pay anything extra to pay in instalments. This is how the event leader has chosen to pay - so it's no hardship.

Examples of instalment options, but we're happy to discuss options with you:

Book during October: Eight payments of £64.50

Book during November: Seven payments of £73.72

Book during December: Six payments of £86. 

You will need to have fully paid up by the start of June. 

Photos: Photos provided www.unsplash.com, OutdoorLads members and the monastery and used by OutdoorLads with full permission.