Italian alpinist Herve Barmasse has successfully completed his Endurance Italia project, a massive, self-powered journey spanning Italy.
Moving by bicycle, on foot, and by sailboat (skippered by Giovanni Soldini, one of Italy’s most famous sailors) to cross the Mediterranean from Sardinia to Sicily and back to the Italian mainland, Barmasse has climbed the highest peak in each of Italy’s 20 regions.
Herve Barmasse. Photo: Instagram
The expedition kicked off on June 4, in Sardinia. Barmasse summited Punta La Marmora before sailing to Sicily and climbing Mount Etna. Subsequently, he worked his way up the spine of the Apennines and deep into the Alps.
The non-stop, 30-day journey included record-breaking summer heatwaves and violent mountain storms. Barmasse finally concluded on July 4, with his arrival on the coast of Trieste.
Physical breakdown
Barmasse traveled 4,250km by bike or on foot (and nearly 5,000km including nautical miles sailed). His 81,000m of positive elevation gain is the equivalent of climbing Everest from sea level more than nine times.
His journey culminated with Alpine giants such as Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc, Ortles, and Monte Coglians.
Photo: Herve Barmasse
Barmasse transformed his endurance challenge into a community event. By sharing his daily routes ahead of time on Strava and Komoot, he invited hundreds of local outdoor enthusiasts and cyclists to join him for legs of the route. This turned each physical test into a collective celebration of the Italian landscape.
The project is an evolution of Barmasse’s philosophy of seeking wild exploration close to home. In March 2025, he completed a first solo winter link of the main peaks in the Gran Sasso Massif.
Herve Barmasse. Photo: Herve Barmasse
