Cinque Terre Walking Tour | Cinque Terre Hiking Trip | Deluxe Cinque Terre hiking tour | Luxury Italian Riviera Tour | Cinque Terre Classic Journey | Backroads Cinque Terre & Italian Riviera

Italian culture, nature, outdoor and sustainability

Cinque Terre Hiking Tour - Self guided Walking Tours

WALKING THE CINQUE TERRE
The Cinque Terre, with its pastel-colored fishing villages and terraced hillsides covered with vineyards and olive trees, constitutes one of Italy’s most impressive landscapes. The Cinque Terre are five (cinque) towns along the Liguria coast, south of Levanto. If there were Sei (six) Terre, the sixth would be Levanto.

ACTIVITY: self guided walking tour
GRADE: easy to moderate
TRIP CODE: ICICT
DURATION: 8 days/7 nights

2013 PRICES:
From Euro 820,00 per person*

*depending on period

Please inquire at: info@icnosadventures.com

Luxury Cinque Terre Hiking tour* & short breaks available on request
*starting from Euro 1715.00 (dinners included)

Click here for: Cinque Terre & Italian Riviera - guided small group tour

Privately guided walking/cultural tours available on request

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival on your own in Levanto
Arrival on your own in Levanto. Trains available from Genoa, Pisa, or Milan. (Private transfer rates are available upon request). Private transfer from Levanto railway Station to the Hotel.

Day 2 - Riomaggiore to Monterosso
Walking easy to moderate - min 3,5 max 5,5 hrs
To begin your adventure you will enjoy a lovely walk along the five scenic villages from which the name of Cinque Terre is derived . Your day starts with a short train ride to the village of Riomaggiore. A brief paved coastal path, known as the "Love's Trail" , takes you to the picturesque village of Manarola. From Manarola to Corniglia the trail becomes narrow and steep and you reach the next village of the"five lands" walking up a beautiful switchback staircase which leads from the sea to the hamlet on the edge of a sheer cliff. The views are spectacular and an incredibly breath-taking walk. In Corniglia you take your time wandering through the narrow alleyways of steep multi-coloured houses before taking your next section of the path to Vernazza. You walk through ancient cultivated terraces, olive groves and woodland, and then along the cliff edge with impressive views arriving in Vernazza: a cluster of rooftops around a lovely harbour. There is plenty of time to explore the tiny village with its weather worn multi-coloured facades, before continuing to Monterosso. If you prefer to spend more time in the villages , there is a local train that inter connects all the villages. From Monterosso you can easily take a local train to Levanto (it takes 4 minutes).
Overnight: Hotel*** in Levanto

Day 3 - Poets' Gulf - Portovenere
1st option:
Walking easy 3 hrs
Today you have a pleasant visit to discover the fascinating beauty of the Poets' Gulf. Using public transport you will arrive at the delightful village of Portovenere, chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique beauty. The name of the ancient Portus Veneris refers to a temple to the goddess Venus, situated on the promontory where you can admire the beauty of the San Peter Church built over a cliff. From the harbor of Portovenere you take a boat to the Isle of Palmaria. Here you begin an easy walk around the Island, admiring steep rocky cliffs, inspiring grottoes and passing abandoned marble quarries. A panoramic ferry ride takes you to Monterosso, giving you the opportunity to admire all the "five lands" before returning to your hotel.
2nd option:
Walking moderate 5.5 hrs
You can opt for a superb walk beginning with a local train ride to Riomaggiore and starting a lovely hike to the delightful village of Portovenere, chosen as a UNESCO Heritage site for its unique beauty. A panoramic ferry journey takes you to Monterosso, giving you the opportunity to admire all the "five lands" before returning to your hotel
Overnight: Hotel*** in Levanto

Day 4 - From Monterosso to Levanto
Walking moderate about 3 hours
Today your walk begins from Monterosso, going up the antique stone steps to Punta Mesco, one of the most remarkable bird’s-eye viewpoints over the five villages. An ancient mule path takes you to the ruins of a Chapel dedicated to St. Antonio passing an old lighthouse and descending through steps and slopes. Following a trail above the sparkling water of the marine conservation area and walking through a shadowed forest and along some terraces you reach Levanto. You will have plenty of time to explore the tiny village with its 13th century black and white striped Chiesa di Sant'Andrea (Church of Saint Andrew), an example of 13th-century Ligurian Gothic style before returning to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel*** in Levanto

Day 5 - Coastal walk to Punta Manara & return
Walking easy 2.5 hours
After breakfast you take a local train to Sestri Levante (it takes about 30 minutes). From here you take your stunning walk to the Punta Manara. The path starts from the alleys of the old town and after a series of steps leading out of the village, leads to a trail surrounded by a unique mix of vegetation such as Mediterranean scrubland, a strip of cork oak forests and olive groves. The park holds the well preserved remains of the Saracen tower, that stands high above sea level. Characterized by strategic importance, it is an excellent sighting point with magnificent views of the Gulf of Silence and Sestri. After the walk you can easily reach by train (about 25 minutes) your next destination: Santa Margherita Ligure.
Overnight: Hotel*** in Santa Margherita Ligure

Day 6 - Montallegro - Rapallo
Walking easy 2.5 hours
Today you reach by local train the village of Rapallo (about 3 minutes), and after a brief and pleasant walk in the center of this typical Italian Riviera village, you take a cable car to ascend above Rapallo on the sea to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro. According to legend the virgin appeared to a farmer here and there is a fresco inside the choir which represents the apparition to the farmer. There is a lovely walk around the sanctuary with astonishing views of Rapallo as well as the Gulf of Tigullio. The path from the Sanctuary to Rapallo is a lovely walk along an avenue lined with beech, oak and chestnut trees that offers amazing views that need to be seen to be fully appreciated.
Return by local train to Santa Margherita Ligure.
Overnight: Hotel*** in Santa Margherita Ligure

Day 7 - Camogli – San Fruttuoso - Portofino
Walking easy to moderate 2.5 hours
You final day offers a superb discovery of Portofino Peninsula. A brief train ride (5mins) takes you to Camogli. From here you enjoy a lovely boat ride to San Fruttuoso. The medieval Benedictine abbey of San Fruttuoso located in a tiny rocky cove is an hidden gem in a green bay. Take your time to visit the monastery before starting an impressive hike to Portofino, along a scenic trail that winds its way above the sea. Visit the glamorous village of Portofino called the Jewel of the Riviera. It’s a gorgeous fishing village with an atmosphere of pure elegance and a perfect spot to taste the charming atmosphere of the Italian Riviera. From Portofino you will return to Santa Margherita Ligure on foot along a pleasure walk or by local bus.
Overnight: Hotel*** in Santa Margherita Ligure

Day 8 - Departure
Your trip ends after breakfast. From Santa Margherita Ligure you can easily catch the train to your next destination.

NOTES:
A reasonable good level of fitness is required. The walking is graded moderate with 2 to 5 hours walking each day. There are lots of ascents and descents on stepped trails on the coast. We suggest that you start regular exercise. Your preparation should include climbing and descending steps.
In the case of emergency, for reasons of safety, unexpected circumstances or weather conditions, it may be necessary to change the tour program without advance notice, every effort will be made to avoid this if at all possible.

Consider that this tour is suitable for not avid hikers too, the activities proposed can be alternated or substituted by leisure days or cultural visits.