The trekking

Amateur one day treks far 1h-1h30 from Milan with 300-900m elevation gain and 4-10km distance round trip (depending on the trek).

Every event includes mountain restaurant lunch and minivan transfer.i Users in the registration form select the suitable meeting point between Darsena (8:00 am) or Porta Venezia (8:20 am) and the restaurant order (entrance, main course, side dish, dessert, drink and coffee). A certified multilingual trekking experti will pick up the group in the morning, lead them to disconnect from urban surroundingsi among charming mountain villages, Alp’s historical monuments, forest paintings and sculptures, local gastronomy, panoramic views on Alps, lake Como, lake Lugano… and much more, before bringing everybody back to the selected pick-up point around 16:00 – 19:00 (depending on the trek).

Registrations close two days before the event or when the event gets fully booked. In this case users can enter a waiting list in the event page that permit joining later the event in case of any other participant cancellation.

Participants can cancel their reservation free of charge up to five days before the trek by selecting “cancellation request” in the confirmation e-mail.
The events can be cancelled any time by Trek A Break for organizational reasons and participants will be fully refunded.

Trekking Gifts

In the Shop section users can purchase one year validity coupons to use as trek-gift.
The purchaser will receive a present-email containing the activity description and the promo code.
Participants will enter this code in the registration form to use the discount. If the coupon amount is higher than the activity price it is possible to use it multiple times until the total amount is used up.

Special participants

Childrens up to 5 years old accompanied by their families don't apply to the mountain refuge menu and can join the activities free of charge (any food expense will be paid directly to the restaurant by their parents) specifying their participation in the registration format section: Free of charge participants.

Pets well-guarded by their owners are most welcome. The description of each trek specifies whether animals are allowed inside the restaurant or the possibility of eating outdoors in case of good weather and this way having them nearby.

Difficulty levels

EASY  ◆◇◇

A hike that is generally suitable for people of all ages who are in fair condition and enjoy walking.
The terrain will involve a slight incline and may have few steeper sections. These treks are suitable for families with kids in the backpack carrier.

MODERATE  ◆◆◇

A hike that is generally suitable for people of most ages who have a basic fitness level.
The terrain will involve a steady incline that may include few steeper sections and rock scrambling.

CHALLENGING  ◆◆◆

A hike that is generally suitable for reasonably fit hikers who get out at least once a month.
The hike will generally be long and steep and may include rock scrambling, stream crossings and other challenging terrain.

Newsletter

Besides the basic emails necessary to organize the selected trekking, in the excursion registration form and in the webpage footer it is possible to sign up to the newsletter mailing list. Signing up users will receive emails about new trekking release and outdoor events. Users can cancel the service anytime replying "Unsubscribe" to any email received.

We all know the benefits of training: improve body strength and lose extra weight, invigorate heart and lungs, develop perseverance and teach discipline.

Of course, a simple walk would take us more time for burning the same amount of calories but, besides having low impact on knees and legs joints, it has a great impact on mood permitting socialization, digital detox and routines breaks.

Doing this surrounded by nature in Japan has an even higher importance becoming a real psychophysical therapy, the Shinrin-yoku (forest bath). This is based on breathing air in forests which maximize the intake of negative ions in the air that helps to increase health, mental clarity, cognitive functioning and energy levels. In addition, essential oils emitted within plants decrease cortisol concentration in our body reducing stress.

The following reports provide scientific support to these effects!

Decrease in blood pressure and stress

A Public Health study shows the results of psychological tests consisting in comparing feelings scores after stimulating subjects in natural environment and in urban surroundings. In natural settings positive feelings scores are higher and negative feelings scores significantly lower due to the salivary cortisol level decreasing (stress hormone).

Immune system booster

A research of Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology demonstrates how forest bathing increase levels of natural killer (NK) cells which are important in combating infections, increasing levels of intracellular anti-cancer proteins and decreasing concentration of adrenaline in urine. None of these effects has been found as result of city tourist visits.

Nature experience reduces rumination (repetitive thought focused on negative self aspects)

In a Stanford University experiment, participants who went on a 90-min walk through a natural environment showed reduced neural activity in an area of the brain linked to risk for mental illness compared with those who walked through an urban environment. These results suggest that accessible natural areas may be vital for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world.

Conclusion

Mountains offer socialization, fitness, meditation, routines and technology detox, self-discovering, nature contact and amazing panoramas. Alps surround northern Italy and with their easy access give to anyone the opportunity to live all of it.

The increasing urbanization and technological advancements is making us feeling safe in the cities and get further from nature. Experimenting directly the benefits that mountains give us and finding therapeutic comfort within it, will make us reconnect with nature and willing to protect it.