There is a different way to experience the mountains. Not just walking through them. Not just admiring them. But learning to read them.
This is how Wild Ossola was born — an immersive experience in the heart of Ossola designed for families, nature lovers, and the simply curious.
In collaboration with Serena Gnappa, a wildlife biologist and long-time member and volunteer at the G.V. Schiaparelli Astronomical Observatory in Varese, we will guide guests on a journey between sky and earth, science and emotion.
We will learn to recognize constellations, planets, and celestial stories. Not just a simple observation, but a moment to slow down and rediscover the sense of infinity.
We will then enjoy an experience dedicated to children: exploring, touching, observing, listening. Because love for nature is born from direct experience.
And for the slightly more relaxed curious ones?!? An informative evening at the refuge to discover who truly inhabits the forests of Ossola. We will learn to recognize footprints, signs of presence, and behaviors of local wildlife.
In addition to our wonderful Serena, who will be available to all friends and visitors of Rifugio Monte Zeus, exclusively for our guests we have created a rare opportunity to learn more about the work of protecting and conserving the territory: a guided excursion in the Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Natural Park together with Park Ranger Luca Martignoni.
Choose your experience from those on the calendar. Contact us for information and reservations
Reservation required
Activities will take place once the minimum number of participants is reached
With Serena, a wildlife biologist and long-time member and volunteer at the G.V. Schiaparelli Astronomical Observatory in Varese, we will learn to read the sky like an ancient map.
It won’t just be an astronomical observation.
It will be a moment of shared silence.
A slower time.
We will discover constellations, listen to stories that blend science and wonder, and perhaps — for a moment — feel part of something immensely greater.
An evening suitable for both adults and children.
Comfortable, warm outdoor clothing and flashlights are required.
The duration will be approximately 40–45 minutes, allowing plenty of time for questions and curiosity.
Open to everyone – €5.00 per participant
During this experience, made up of workshops and games, we will learn to recognize the signs of life that surround us.
We won’t be looking for the animals themselves — we’ll be looking for their stories.
Tracks in snow and mud, bird feathers and plumage, animal calls, antlers, bones and other remains, feeding marks and bark stripping.
These are some of the things we’ll discover together with Serena, who has prepared many fun games for us!
After taking part, walking in the mountains will never be the same again. Every trail will become a story to decipher. And perhaps, the next time children see a footprint in the mud, they won’t step on it — they’ll stop and look.
At the end of the workshops, all participants will be offered a snack with a homemade dessert and a hot drink.
Duration: about two hours.
Suitable for children aged 5 and up.
(Each child must be accompanied by at least one adult)
Open to everyone – €10.00 per participant
In addition to the presence of our wonderful Serena, a wildlife biologist who will accompany the guests and friends of Rifugio Monte Zeus on this journey between sky and forest, we wanted to create something even more special.
Exclusively for guests of the refuge staying with us on Friday, October 16 with half board, it will be possible to take part in a guided excursion in the Protected Areas of Ossola, specifically at Alpe Devero, together with Park Ranger Luca Martignoni.
It won’t be just a simple walk — it will be an immersion into the territory with someone who knows it inch by inch, who observes it through the changing seasons, and who protects its most delicate balances.
It’s a rare opportunity to understand that the mountain is not only beauty: it is responsibility, balance, and respect. Returning to the refuge after this experience will mean seeing the landscape with completely new eyes.
The excursion will take place on the morning of Saturday, October 17, departing from the refuge with private vehicles. Guests will be responsible for the transfer to Alpe Devero and the parking fee. Car sharing is recommended, and for this purpose, vehicles not needed for the trip can be left at the Crego parking area and retrieved at the end of the excursion.
Easy hike suitable for everyone.
Comfortable and warm clothing is recommended.
Lunch on Saturday will be free.
Offered free of charge only to those staying at Rifugio Monte Zeus on October 16
This will be the perfect evening to answer these and many other questions, along with an introduction to how these traces are used in the field of wildlife monitoring.
Below are some of the topics we will explore with Serena:
- Which animals leave traces?
- Ungulates: from tufts of hair to rutting calls.
- Carnivores: snow tracking and droppings.
- Small mammals: mountain hare, mustelids.
- Birds: from woodpeckers to grouse to large birds of prey.
Suitable for adults and families
Open to everyone – €5.00 per participant