The town of Riomaggiore | Philip Wyndham
Poppies grow wild along the trails of the Cinque Terre | Rachel Imber
Boats at Riomaggiore
Way mark trail, Cinque terre, Italy | Erin Williams
The hills above the Cinque Terre are covered with grape vines | Rachel Imber
Hikers ascending to Volastra in the Cinque Terre | Phil Wyndham
2
Introductory to Moderate
Activities
  • guided walk
Accommodation
  • 6 nights in a 3 star hotel
Meals
  • 1 Dinner
  • 5 Lunches
  • 6 Breakfasts

Overview

Trip Code: SOG5973

Trip highlights

  • Experience the breathtaking coastal scenery
  • Enjoy the quiet trails high above the iconic villages in the company of your guide and group
  • Stay in the quintessential village of Riomaggiore
  • Taste a range of culinary treats and the famous wines of Liguria

The Cinque Terre or 'five lands' is a stunning coastal area running along the Ligurian coast in Italy. It consists of very steep rugged hillsides, which plunge dramatically into the sea. Quite unexpectedly, and against all odds, five vibrant fishing villages cling to the bottom of these hillsides just above the sea. The coastline, the villages, and the hillsides that envelope them are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. This guided group walking holiday is an excellent way to discover the Cinque Terre. Taking you up into the hillsides and away from the main tourist footpaths, you will walk through forests and vineyards, enjoying spectacular views down to the coast. Based in Riomaggiore for five nights will give you a taste of real Italian village life.

Countries:

Italy

Starting Point:

Riomaggiore

Finishing Point:

Riomaggiore

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

On arrival in Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre, make your way to your hotel, your base for the week. Please ensure you arrive between 2 and 5pm. You're free to spend the rest of the day discovering this vibrant village. Its narrow streets often lead to fantastic views out to sea or towards the vineyards. Spend time unwinding and soaking up the local atmosphere, or go for a swim in the sea. Later the group will meet for dinner and an arrival briefing.

Meals:  D

We start the day with a fun boat journey to Porto Venere (when this is not possible, we will take the train and bus). Porto Venere is a beautiful and lively seaside village with an impressive fortress which faces out to sea towards some islands. From here your guide will take you on a walk high up above the village, with excellent views out to sea. We'll then walk back to Riomaggiore. (+600m/1969ft, descent -600m/1969ft).

Meals:  B,L

A steep climb will take us up and out of Riomaggiore. From here we will walk among vineyards before reaching a dense forest. We will visit a lonely menhir on the mountainside before taking the path down to Vernazza, one of the prettiest villages in the Cinque Terre. (+750m/2461ft, -750m/2461ft).

Meals:  B,L

The walk today has splendid views over Vernazza and its towers, en route to the beautiful church of San Bernadino. After leaving the shaded pine forest we will follow a narrow path among vineyards that overlook the sea. The panorama is simply breathtaking! From Volastra, we will walk downhill through olive groves to Manarola, before returning to Riomaggiore. The easy and popular lower coastal path, “Via del Amore”, is currently closed so you will take an alternative route with your guide.(+700m/2297ft, -700m/2297ft).

Meals:  B,L

The day begins with a local train, to start walking from the village of Monterosso. After leaving the beautiful beach behind us, the steep climb leads to the first chapel. This itinerary offers amazing views over Monterosso and Vernazza. The churches we'll see are set in fantastic locations overlooking the hills. This is a beautiful loop with stunning scenery. (+670m/2198ft, -670m/2198ft).

Meals:  B,L

To end our walking week we'll visit the furthest village in the area, Levanto. Although it's not the prettiest village in the area, its little streets are still charming. The coastal path we have chosen for today will lead us from Monterosso to Levanto on a path much less walked than the other coastal itineraries and just as fantastic. After an hour of walking from Monterosso, there's a panoramic view within the protected area of the “Punta Mesco” - do not forget your camera! On the path to Levanto, we'll take a short rest and can taste some local wine. (+200m/656ft, -200m/656ft).

Meals:  B,L

The trip concludes in Riomaggiore after breakfast.

Meals:  B

Inclusions

What's included

  • 6 breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches, 1 dinner in a local restaurant in Riomaggiore
  • 6 nights in a 3 star hotel on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities
  • entrance fee for walking trails
  • English speaking walking guide
  • train transfers
  • boat transfer (day 2 - subject to weather)

  • Travel to and from Riomaggiore
  • Drinks
  • Items of a personal nature - eg phone calls, laundry
  • Entrance fees to sites
  • Travel insurance
  • Internal ferry or bus fares for scheduled walks, e.g. ferry from Riomaggiore to Portovenere (allow approx EUR7-14pp) or bus (allow approx EUR5pp) when not available

Suitability

Introductory to Moderate

2

INTRODUCTORY to MODERATE – GRADE 2 There are some more difficult sections and short ascents on rough surfaces. During the hotter months the walk can be more demanding and you should be able to walk for up to 5 hours a day. More experienced walkers will also enjoy the classic landscape of small (although sometimes steep) hills, olive groves and vineyards, as some days you will have shorter and longer walking options. A good level of fitness is required. As with all of our trips it is important that you are well prepared. We suggest that you undertake regular exercise – swimming, cycling, and jogging, two to three times a week for three months prior to your departure.

Departure dates


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