Roberta Castelli
“Apprentice” Environmental Hiking Guide
Ciao, I’m Roberta!
I am an “apprentice” Environmental Hiking Guide, and I accompany people in discovering the mountains in an authentic and mindful way. I believe that walking is not just a physical activity but a profound experience of connection with nature and oneself. The mountains have always been my home, the place where I find balance and freedom. Now, my goal is to share this, offering experiences that are not just hikes but true journeys, both outward and inward.
There are things you have to do and things you feel the need to do.
And for me, this has become a necessity.
I was born and raised in the mountains, in Panice Soprana, a small hamlet of Limone Piemonte, at 1,400 meters of altitude, near Colle di Tenda and the French border. For me, the mountains are not just a place—they are home. I spent my childhood and teenage years here, through snowy winters and long summers spent outdoors. Then life took me elsewhere, but the call of nature has always remained within me.
For almost twenty years, I worked as a hospital nurse, specializing in neurosurgery. In this environment, I learned what it means to work as a team, trust colleagues, and handle high-responsibility situations. Teamwork has always been part of my life, even in sports: I played volleyball as a setter up to Serie B1, a role that requires a broad vision, coordination, and the ability to enhance the team’s play. This approach still guides me today because I believe that in the mountains, just like in life, we never truly walk alone.
At some point, I realized it was time for a change—to return to the outdoor life I had left behind for too many years. There are things you have to do and things you feel the need to do. And for me, this has become a necessity.
So, I decided to turn my passion into a new path: I am becoming an Environmental Hiking Guide (GAE) to accompany people in discovering nature from a different perspective. It’s not just about walking—it’s about experiencing the environment, listening to it, respecting it, and letting yourself be inspired by its rhythm.
Over the years, I have embarked on several solo journeys, including the Northern Route of the Camino de Santiago, covering over 800 km in about a month. Traveling on foot taught me the value of slowing down, embracing simplicity, and deeply connecting with the landscape. Walking alone for so many days allowed me to listen to myself and the rhythm of nature, discovering how important it is to manage your own strength and trust your own pace.
Beyond hiking, I am also passionate about cycling in all its forms—mountain biking, road cycling, and gravel riding. My favorite journey was from Cuneo to Santa Maria di Leuca, a long ride across Italy. Cycling allows for a different kind of exploration compared to trekking—you can cover more distance and see more places, but you might miss certain details along the way. It’s not better or worse, just different—it all depends on what you’re looking for in that moment.
Walking journeys have taught me the value of slow time.
I am vegan because loving nature means respecting it in all its forms.
It is not just a dietary choice but a way of life that reflects my view of the world. For years, I worked with fragile and vulnerable people, and I learned how important it is to protect those who have no voice, whether they are people or animals. I believe that the balance of nature depends on how we interact with it—hiking in the mountains teaches exactly that: to be respectful guests of the world around us.
I believe in gender equality and that the mountains are truly for everyone.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a man or a woman, young or less young—what matters is approaching the mountains with respect for yourself and your level of experience. There are no right or wrong paths, only the way each person chooses to experience them, with awareness and, why not, the willingness to push a little further to discover new abilities and emotions.
Shall we set off together?
Today, my goal is to guide you in discovering the mountains in an authentic way, through experiences that are not just treks but true moments of connection with nature and yourself.
If you, too, feel the need to take time to walk, breathe, and listen to nature, then let’s set off together!
