Want to Hike in Puglia? Check out the Dauni Mountains

If you’re looking for an excellent place to go hiking, Puglia could be ideal for you. In this Italian region, you’ll find a wide range of things to see and do; from tasting traditional meals, to relaxing by the beach. While all these things are certainly great, an often overlooked activity in this location is hiking, as well as the many great spots to go hiking in Puglia. If you look into some of your options, you may notice that the Dauni Mountains are quite a popular choice and the more you read, the more you’ll understand why.

Get lost in the beauty of the Dauni Mountains

Situated in the north of the region (in southern Italy), the Dauni Mountains (also commonly called the Daunian Mountains, or Monti Dauni) are a series of 3 amazing mountains and the breathtaking scenery surrounding them, which you could see for yourself during your trek. The oak forests here are nothing short of amazing, giving you a sense of calmness in the peace and tranquillity of nature.

The mountain range was named after the Dauni, an ancient Italian tribe – although interestingly, it was predominantly held by the Hirpini, which were a Samnite tribe in southern Italy. This is something that not too many people know about, but it certainly adds to the ancient and mystical atmosphere of the mountain range.

If you’re booking a holiday to Puglia in 2021, it’s definitely worth checking this amazing area out. While there are many beautiful spots around the region where you can immerse yourself in nature and even have an exciting hike, you simply can’t miss the opportunity to come to these mountains.

Are there any towns in the Dauni Mountains?

Before visiting, you may be wondering if you’re likely to come across any people during your hiking adventures. The Daunian Mountains only have a small population which was once quite active, but within the last few decades, an increasing number of residents have moved due to the area being so isolated. With this in mind, the good news is that while there are a small number of residents here, you’re unlikely to see anyone unless you choose to go out of your way to visit one of the villages.

There are only two mountain communities here, which are altogether comprised of 21 comuni (all within the province of Foggia). These are Comunità Montana dei Monti Dauni Meridionali and Comunità Montana dei Monti Dauni Settentrionali.

While it’s not uncommon for visitors to travel for hours upon hours without coming across anything aside from wildlife, the villages can certainly be found with some effort – and it’s definitely worth it for those who are fascinated by long-forgotten culture and tradition.

Highest peaks of Monti Dauni

Whether you’re interested in reaching the highest peaks of the mountain range or you’re just curious about how high you could hike, it might be worth taking a look at a few of the tallest spots and even plan your trek around a certain area depending on what you’re looking for. Here are the 5 highest peaks in the Dauni Mountains:

• Monte Cornacchia (altitude: 1,152 m)
• Monte Saraceno (altitude: 1,145 m)
• Monte Crispignano (altitude: 1,105 m)
• Toppo Pescara (altitude: 1,078m)
• Monte Sidone (altitude: 1,061m)

Of course, there are other peaks that you could aim to reach – and if you’re hoping to get to the top of one of the mountains without too much hassle, you may even want to traverse one of the smaller ones. Regardless of what you choose to do, it’s well worth coming to this area if Puglia hiking sounds like something that you’d be interested in doing.

Parts of Monti Dauni you may want to check out:

• Faeto forest
• The village of Greci
• Pietra di Punta
• Luza Aqua Fets (a small natural lake, located near Greci)
• Vetruscelli forest
• Silva-Mala range

Of course, the views and scenery of the mountains themselves are excellent – these are just a few different areas and sights that are well worth visiting during your hike.

What else can you do during holidays in Puglia?

While this mountain range may be spectacular, you may be wondering what else you could do during your time here. Aside from Puglia hiking trips, you might want to:

• Visit some of the amazing Puglian vineyards and wineries
• Experience the Puglian lifestyle
• Try some of the absolutely amazing foods of the region
• Explore traditional and even ancient towns, like Alberobello and Ostuni
• Relax by the crystal clear waters on the sand of one of the excellent Puglian beaches

These are just a few examples and you’re likely to find that each of them can add something special to essentially any Italian getaways here.

Want a Puglian adventure? Leave it to us 

If you want to have an exciting trip here in Puglia with a whole host of things to see and do, you may want to take a look at some of the things that our team of travel experts have to offer. We want you to have an amazing time here and a truly memorable experience, which is why we put in the effort to ensure that every moment offers something special to the trip. Whether it’s the foods you eat or the pool at our luxury accommodation, there’s so much to love – so why not come on one of our fantastic Travel Puglia tours?