Cinque Terre Highlights on Foot
Cinque Terre Highlights on Foot
Cinque Terre Highlights on Foot
5 Days Starting in Monterosso al Mare and ending in Porto Venere, SP, Italy
Visiting: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Levanto, Porto Venere, Riomaggiore, Campiglia Tramonti, Palmaria Island
Tour operator:
Tour code:
235
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
12-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
This walking holiday in Italy takes in the highlights of the famed Cinque Terre (the ‘Five Lands’). Based in Levanto and Riomaggiore, you will explore the beautiful Ligurian coast by foot, train and boat, choosing from a selection of coastal and mountain walks each day. The Cinque Terre gets its name from the five picturesque villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The area, now a National Park, is a unique part of Italy. People have lived in this dramatic landscape for over a thousand years, slowly altering its features and cultivating the steep hillsides that lead down to rocky shores. An extensive network of ancient mule tracks – today used as footpaths – takes you through an extraordinary landscape of terraces built by hand with stones and earth.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Monterosso Al Mare
Location: Monterosso al Mare
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Albergo Marina or similar in Monterosso al Mare
Meals Included: No Meals
As soon as you get settled in your accommodation, step outside and breathe in the fresh air of the Mediterranean Sea. In the afternoon, you can visit the historic centre, and in the evening, let all your senses be delighted as you prepare for your phenomenal walking adventure ahead.
Day 2 : Vernazza Or Levanto | 7-14Km
Location: Vernazza, Levanto, Monterosso al Mare
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Albergo Marina or similar in Monterosso al Mare
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you can choose from 2 walking options:
Option A: Monterosso-Levanto-Monterosso: The day’s walk is along the promontory which separates Levanto and Monterosso, following the coastal trails with spectacular views on the Cinque Terre and the Levante Ligure. Once you are in Levanto, stop for a visit to the centre and the Sant’Andrea Church. You can decide whether to go back to Monterosso by train or on foot. The way back runs along a path which starts downtown Levanto and reaches the top of the ridge. Enjoy the views over Levanto and the mountains which surround its gulf. Then reach Punta Mesco and walk back to Monterosso.
Option B: Monterosso-Vernazza-Corniglia: Today, you walk along the busy coastal trail connecting the five Cinque Terre villages. The trail contours the coastline, ascending and descending, and it includes some stone staircases that can be challenging. The route is straightforward and easy to follow. Train back to Monterosso.
Walking for the day (Option A): 14km, 5h, ↑820m ↓820m // shorter option: 7km, 3h, ↑350m ↓350m
Walking for the day (Option B): 7km, 3h, ↑482m ↓404m
Day 3 : Porto Venere | 13Km
Location: Porto Venere, Riomaggiore, Campiglia Tramonti
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Paradiso or similar in Porto Venere
Meals Included: Breakfast
A short train ride brings you to Riomaggiore, from where you walk to the ridge of the mountain chain bordering the Cinque Terre area. From Colle del Telegrafo, you follow this panoramic ridge trail all the way to Portovenere, passing through the village of Campiglia. Today’s itinerary offers spectacular views of the Cinque Terre coastline and the impressive cliffs of Portovenere
Walking for the day: 13km, 6h, ↑860m ↓875m
Day 4 : Palmaria Island | 6.5Km
Location: Palmaria Island, Porto Venere
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Paradiso or similar in Porto Venere
Meals Included: Breakfast
The day’s walk around Palmaria Island is something you won’t forget. A great variety of scenery dominates the island, from the rich Mediterranean vegetation made of fragrant room, brightly coloured cyst flowers, wild orchids and delicately perfumed myrtle to the features steep cliffs up to the height of 188m. The walk starts in Punta Secco with a spectacular view of the Church San Pietro and the imposing limestone cliffs of Muzzerone rising in the background. Along the way, you find several small caves (most notably the Grotta dei Colombi, where human and animal remains were found, dating back to the Neolithic Era). Continue on to the top you will reach the Fortified Battery of Umberto I, today known as the “Sea Fortress”. After the walk, take the ferry back to Porto Venere.
Walking for the day: 6.5km, 2-3h, ↑326m ↓339m
Day 5 : Departure Or Onward Travel
Location: Porto Venere
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour ends after breakfast. Take a public bus to La Spezia, and there is a train to Pisa, Genoa, Florence or Milan airports.
What's Included
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Accommodation
4 nights in private ensuite rooms
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Meals
4 breakfasts
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Detailed digital holiday information pack
Including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided locally
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Luggage transfer Monterosso-Porto Venere on day 3
(one piece, up to 20kg per person)
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Cinque Terre Card Park + Train 2 days
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24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
What's Not Included
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Airfare and connecting land transfers
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Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
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Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable on the spot)
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Travel insurance
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Personal expenses
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Any items not explicitly listed as included
Check out our Q&As
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Difficulty and terrain
The Cinque Terre walking tour is suitable for those who might have limited walking experience in the mountains but are in good general physical condition. A high level of fitness is not necessary, but you should be able to walk for up to 5h a day in the hot sun on dusty, stony and mule tracks with steep hills. It can be tiring walking along stone steps of diverse sizes. On all days, alternative longer or shorter walks are possible. You have to use local trains to get to and from the walks. Most of the walks are on good paths, some of them recently restored by the local authorities. Most parts of the trails are waymarked. Elsewhere you have to follow the route notes provided together with the maps. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
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When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of March until the end of October. Late spring, the whole summer and early autumn are beautiful on the Liguria coast. It may become very hot in July and August, and some of the resort towns – especially Portofino – may become overcrowded in these months, although the trails along the mountain slopes above the coast are far from the tourist rush. Without a doubt, the best time to see the Liguria Coast is from April to June when the spring flowers are in bloom, the weather is just warm enough, and the temperature of the Mediterranean allows for the first dips of the season. The months of September and October are also an excellent time to visit the region while the temperatures are still mild. The flexibility of the self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date in the season – so please indicate desired beginning date when booking.
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
This will be provided on all documentation
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room / single use of a double room This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes we can, please contact us for details
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, international flights are not included
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
The Natural Adventure requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of the natural adventure charges.
Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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