 SIT Package Highlights include:• Private English speaking tour leader for 7 days
• Accommodation: 3 nights Santa Margherita Ligure, 3 nights Monterosso in good 3 Star/4 Star hotels
• Meals: 6 breakfasts, 4 dinners (in great restaurants!), 2 picnic lunches
• All private & public (bus, boat & train) transfers as indicated throughout the entire itinerary
• Entrance fees of all sites along the itinerary (including pathways of the Cinque Terre)
• Special activities as outlined in the day by day itinerary
• Guest experts for special places; 24/24 h local assistance
• All gratuities for baggage, porters & hotel service
The tour does not includeDeparture taxes; Visas; Travel Insurance; Drink & meals not mentioned in
the itinerary; Optional additional tours or activities; Tips; Items of a personal
nature.
Level of difficultyMostly easy walks, but with some walking uphill, sometimes on paths with
rough surfaces. On the Amalfi Coast there are many steps! On most days
shortcuts are possible (as well as occasional extensions). A high standard of
fitness is not necessary but you should be able to walk for up to 5 hours a
day in hot sun on dusty or stony tracks.
Dates & Prices per person from:27 May to 2 June, 17 June to23 June, 26 August to 1 September, 23 September to 29 September
- Double $1730 Single supplement $295
14 October to 20 October
- Double $1580 Single supplement $295
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On this tour, we take you beyond the crowds to experience the hidden
treasures and authentic culture of this Italian paradise. You will discover
the charm of Genova, and the hidden tracks of the Portofino Peninsula.
You’ll see why the Cinque Terre have become such a popular destination,
and how it takes only a little effort to get ‘off the beaten track’. You will
find yourself surrounded by nature, suspended between vineyards and
the turquoise Mediterranean. You’ll discover a real Italian paradise .
Day 1 Santa Margherita Ligure
Today you arrive in the charming Santa Margherita Ligure, gateway to Portofino, one of the most beautiful small towns on the Ligurian coast. After settling in your centrally located hotel, you can take your time to wander around through the colourful historic centre and have a relaxed drink or grab a gelato on one of the many terraces. In the afternoon we’ll meet with our guide and if time allows we already go for a stroll to explore the town or enjoy a drink. In the evening we dine in a very nice restaurant close to our hotel.
Accommodation: S. Margherita Ligure.
Meals included: 1 dinner
Day 2 Camogli & its peninsula
In the morning we start a relaxed walk onto the western part of the Portofino peninsula. A 5-minute train ride brings us to the colourful Camogli, the ‘City of the 1000 white sails’. The walk takes us along the hamlet of San Rocco, a good spot to drink a coffee and buy some lunch, for example one of the best ‘focaccia’s’ of the area. Then we continue through forested areas, along a dramatic coastline, with a number of impressive viewpoints, from where even the French Alps are visible. Then we descend towards the Romanic church of San Niccolò, set in beautiful scenery, and have a rest – and perhaps a swim – at Punta Chiappa, the most western point of the peninsula. Then, from the pretty small harbour of Porto Pidocchio we take the boat to the beautifully located monastery of San Fruttuoso, dating back to the 11th century and set in its own cove, reachable only by boat or on foot. Here we can opt to make a short roundwalk, or relax on the beach. Then we take the boat back to Camogli, where we have some time to discover this beautiful small town, and have a drink at the colourful harbour. The boat ride back gives us the possibility to admire the coast also from another perspective.
Approx walking time: 3 ½ hours; walking distance: 10 km.
Accommodation: S. Margherita Ligure – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Day 3 The best of the Portofino Peninsula
We start our walk today directly from Santa Margherita Ligure, gateway to Portofino. We first make a short walk through the historical centre, where we can also do some shopping for our lunch. We then start our walk into the hills and enjoy beautiful views across the bay. We pass through pretty forested areas, along a wonderful series of watermills and past beautiful villa’s. By late morning we reach Portofino, one of the most typical Ligurian seaside villages and a popular resort for the jetsetters. We explore this charming village and then take a break, in a great spot to enjoy whatever picnic lunch that we may have prepared for ourselves. We next enjoy the stunning walk to the church & lighthouse, where we can look back on the inlet of Portofino, a name that means ‘fine harbour’. We can then opt to head uphill and walk on to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, approaching this ‘jewel’ from the other end, along a path with splendid views across the Gulf of Genoa. Or we can enjoy some free time in Portofino.
Then we return by boat to Santa Margherita, so that we can also admire this part of the beautiful coastline from the sea. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Approx walking time: 3 ½ (5) hours; walking distance: 8,5 (13) km.
Accommodation: S. Margherita Ligure – Meals included: 1 breakfast.
Day 4 Monterosso, Punta Mesco, Levanto
This morning we’ll transfer to the Cinque Terre! In the morning we pack all our things and take the train for a short ride to the nice coastal town of Monterosso, the most western of the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Here we settle in our beautiful hotel and then take our time to wander around through the historic centre and buy some picnic supplies. Then we start for a short, but beautiful walk, which leads us from Monterosso to Levanto, north of the Cinque Terre, featuring spectacular views up and down the coastline. The walk begins with a fairly steep ascent, but soon we enter a cool pine forest that leads up towards Punta Mesco, the most notable promontory in the region. This is a good spot to stop for a picnic lunch. Just short of the point we can make a small detour to the ruins of an old 11th century hermitage and a nearby ‘semaforo’ (beacon), from where we have sensational views of the rugged coastline. We then continue along forest trails around the point towards Levanto, before commencing the long gentle descent that eventually brings us into the southern end of the small town, behind the castle of Levanto. We now take our time to explore Levanto, and then we catch the train, which in a few minutes brings us back to Monterosso.
Approx walking time: 3 hours; approx. walking distance: 9 km
Accommodation: Monterosso – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Day 5 The ‘Sentiero dell’Amore’: Riomaggiore to Vernazza
Today we walk the most famous path of the Cinque Terre, and may be of the whole of Italy, the so-called ‘Sentiero dell’Amore’. A short train ride takes us to Riomaggiore, the most southerly of the five villages of the Cinque Terre, from where we start the most famous of all walks in the area – the famous Sentiero dell’Amore (Lover’s Walk). We begin at Manarola, an attractive little village with steep multi-coloured houses overlooking a rocky port. From here we make our way along one of the prettiest sections of the Cinque Terre, walking around the headland and heading up the 365 steps to Corniglia, perched on a ridge overlooking the sea. We continue our ascent to the little hamlet of Prevo, walking through terraced vineyards and the occasional citrus grove. We enjoy some of the best views in the region as we approach Vernazza, dominated by its old fortress. We follow the contours of the hillsides on a narrow track that leads us up and down, before a fairly steep descent takes us into the village itself. Having a drink in Vernazza, on the wonderful town square at the harbour, resplendent with its brightly painted boats, is a good way to recover from this walking day. For those who want there is the possibility to continue the walk until Monterosso on foot, otherwise we take the train back, directly from Vernazza. In the evening we are free to go out for dinner in one of the typical local restaurants or pizzerias.
Approx walking time: 3,5 – 4 hours; approx. walking distance: 9 km. Accommodation: Monterosso – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
Day 6 Riomaggiore to Portovenere – by boat back to Monterosso
Our day starts again with a short train ride to Riomaggiore. Here we start our walk that leads us to Portovenere, at the very end of the peninsula, a long but enormously rewarding walk! We first catch an electric bus up to the sanctuary of the Madonna di Montenero (keen walkers can also climb up – a wonderfully scenic, but steep flight of stairs!). After a short rest at the sanctuary (with small bar & panoramic terrace!), enjoying the spectacular views, we start our walk to Campiglia. Continuing uphill we follow the contours of the coastal cliffs, pass terraced vineyards and enjoy wonderful views of the coastline, framed by clear blue waters. Passing the abandoned village of Lemmen we walk to the Colle del Telegrafo, the highest point of our walk, where again we’ll find a bar for a rest. We then follow the long distance trail ‘Sentiero number 1, a ridge-top traverse that goes from one end of the Cinque Terre to the other. Through pleasantly cool pine forests, we descend to the little village of Campiglia. Here we can stop for lunch and some refreshment.
After lunch we continue towards Portovenere and enjoy more spectacular views. Arriving at the 16th Century castle above the village we may be able to catch a glimpse of the distant peaks of the Alpi Apuane, before descending on a long staircase that takes us to St. Peter’s Point and on into the heart of the village. After time to relax and explore Portovenere, one of the most charming coastal towns in Italy, we return by boat to Levanto/Monterosso, enjoying again some spectacular views, but now from below. Tonight we have a last great meal altogether, to say farewell to wonderful Liguria.
Approx. walking time: 5 hours; approx. distance: 12 km.
Accommodation: Monterosso – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Day 7 Departure from Monterosso
The tour ends after breakfast today. By private taxi you are brought to the train station, from where it’s easy to reach any destination. A taxi transfer to any other destination can be arranged on request.
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