CINQUE TERRE off-the-beaten-path experience 2023
CINQUE TERRE 5 days Getaway 2023
ONLY PRIVATE GROUP SIZE: min 1 – no limit
DURATION: 5 Days & 4 Nights
WALK RATING: 2+
HOTEL STYLE: very comfortable to stylish
CLOSEST AIRPORTS: Pisa (PSA) or Genoa (GOA)
OPTION TO COMBINE THIS TRIP WITH OTHER TRIPS
Overview
Cinque Terre is one of the most well known, picturesque places in Italy. At the same time it can be one of the busiest place in Italy as well.
We have designed the tour in order to provide the best experience of the area without being overwhelmed by crowds. We have chosen secret trails where you won’t see almost anybody.
Tour highlights? We walk in the vineyards of Manarola, we visit the monastery of Monterosso (private invitation!) and meet the friar, meet the artisans of Chiavari that make wooden chairs from generations, enjoy an amazing lunch by the beach in Camogli, walk the amazing path of Santa Margherita to Portofino and take a private boat to San Fruttuoso, stay at very nice hotels in Levanto and Sestri Levante.
Inclusions
4 night stay at very nice hotels. Book early and we will try to accommodate you in a room with a view.
All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners. Local wine is always included with lunches and dinners. Vegetarian? Vegan? No problem!
Transportation along the tour
1 local guide
meet the artisans of Chiavari that make wooden chairs from generations
All taxes
Accommodations
Hotel Oasi – Levanto
Top Location: away from hustle and bustle, but close to the medieval walking streets, the beach and the train station
Rooms are all warm and bright, custom furnished, with high quality woods and finishes.
Obviously, they all have a private bathroom with shower and comfortable new beds: our mattresses are made to measure by the Centro of the Mattress in Massa and almost at every check-out we are asked where to buy them.
However, if you find it too stiff, you can always ask us for a soft topper and it will be given to you!
Grande Albergo Hotel – Sestri Levante
It was at the end of the 1800s when Mr. Federico Jensch decided to convert the beautiful Palazzo Giustiniani, bishop’s seat, located on the left side at the mouth of the Gromolo, into a wonderful hotel, the current 4-star Hotel Grande Albergo in Sestri Levante.
The Hotel Grande Albergo, after having belonged to the Westermann family for thirty years, passed to its current ownership in the 90s and in July 2003, after a complete renovation, it returned to shine and to welcome customers of great value.
https://www.hotelgrandealbergo.it/index.asp
Itinerary
Day 1 – Meeting in Levanto (Night at hotel in Levanto)
The tour starts in Levanto at 4pm, very convenient location to get by train from main airports.
Levanto is a quite small town just north of Monterosso.
We visit the town with it’s beautiful small alleys and discover some of the local foods. We then take the train to go to Vernazza. The small fishing village of Vernazza is probably the most characteristic of the Cinque Terre and is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. We then stop at a small trattoria for a nice dinner.
2 km = 1,2 miles
Hotel Oasi – Levanto
dinner
Day 2 – walk in the Riomaggiore and Manarola vineyards and the Monastery of Monterosso (Overnight in Levanto)
Today the views from the vineyards of Riomaggiore and Manarola above the sea are spectacular. A short walk takes us to the church of Montenero, one of the five monasteries built in the Middle Ages on these spectacular cliffs. From this view point you can see all the villages of Cinque Terre.
We descend to Riomaggiore to discover the village settled down by farmers and fishermen, where we will have lunch based on delicious sea food.
Dinner will be in an amazing spot in Manarola with a tasting of local wine and local handmade focaccia, surrounded by the local lemon trees.
4 km = 2 miles
Hotel Oasi – Levanto
breakfast, lunch and dinner
SHOW DAY 3, 4, 5
Today we walk the interesting old train line, restored for walkers and bikers, going from Levanto to Bonassola, a charming small fishing village with one of the most beautiful natural beaches of the Italian Riviera.
Back in Monterosso we walk on the mule path to the Convent of Saint Francesco, where we meet the friar living and working there: lunch will be inside the convent, like the Cappuccini friars.
In the afternoon we reach Sestri Levante, our new destination.
8 km = 5 miles
Grande Albergo – Sestri Levante
breakfast and lunch
Day 4 – Artisans’ shops in Chiavari. Boat to Camogli and dinner on the beach (Overnight in Sestri Levante)
The area produces the most refined (and expensive) wood chairs that you can find in Italy. They are quite recognizable as the “Chiavari chair style” with its thin wood pieces and straw. We then visit a wood carver’s shop. He is so much fun! Chiavari is really interesting for many other traditional shops: gold, shoes, clothes and food, like rose syrup, farinata and hazelnut products. In the afternoon we transfer to Camogli and we walk to Punta Chiappa, a very panoramic path. We go back to Camogli on a boat to enjoy a great fish dinner just by the beach.
8 km = 5 miles
Grande Albergo – Sestri Levante
breakfast, dinner
Day 5 – Departure day
This morning we leave the Cinque Terre from the train station of Sestri Levante. This station is well served by fast trains.
breakfast
note on the itinerary
Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events, or weather. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and in unforeseen circumstances that mandate changes may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.
Price
| Number of guests | price in double room (euros) | single supplement (euros) |
| 1 | contact us | |
| 2 or 3 | 3580 | 390 |
| 4 or 5 | 2900 | 390 |
| 6 or 7 | 2450 | 390 |
| 8 or 9 | 2350 | 390 |
| 10 or 11 | 2250 | 390 |
| 12 or more | 2150 | 390 |
- deposit 300 EURO
- balance is due 95 days ahead of trip beginning date
- you can pay in instalments
- if you travel in July or August there is a seasonal surcharge of 300 euro per person
INQUIRY
Guides
Gianni
Founder, trip organizer and guide at Walk About Italy (with a degree in Geology)
I am 51 years old. Geology is my background (Ph.D.) but to me life is about more than an academic degree. Music and walking are my passions. I have been a certified guide for nature walks since 1999. After working many years as a guide and also in the back stage of the travel industry for foreign walking tour companies, I earned my Tour Organizer business license, valid in Italy and the rest of the world. Let me organize your vacation to Tuscany and other parts of Italy.
Tours he guides: Tuscany, Amalfi, Sicily, Umbria – Assisi & Le Marche, Cinque Terre
Francesca
Working as a guide in Cinque Terre since 1998! (with a degree in Geology)
Native of Genova, the ancient Maritime Republic, Francesca has a degree in Geology and a big passion for the territory where she works: Liguria and Piemonte. She works as an hiking guide since 1998 and as a city guide since 2014. People, Food, Wine and Olive oil are the highlights of her interests!
Tours she guides: Cinque Terre
Trip facts
group meets here:
Levanto – Hotel Oasi
Via Terraro
19015 Levanto
at what time?
4.00 PM
trip ends here:
Sestri Levante train station
at what time?
9.30 AM
Useful information on the tour
How to prepare for this trip
Walking or jogging for 60 minutes 3 times a week for 5 weeks ahead of trip will make your experience more enjoyable. In case you live in a flat area you might also incorporate some steps in your physical activity.
What to bring:
- Walking shoes with good traction (sometimes we might have mud on the trail)
- Hat, Swimming suit, sun cream, water bottle to refill with tap water
- Dinners at Italian restaurants do not require any special dress code.
Wear shoes with good traction
An average day of the trip
On a typical day you hike/walk with your guide in the morning for 3 hours, then we stop at a restaurant or farmhouse for lunch (lunch can last 1hour and half). We serve local food and wines as we believe that food plays an important role in the enjoyment of Cinque Terre.
In the afternoon there might be some more walking or town stroll. Around 4.30 or 5pm your guide will take you back to the hotel.
Your guides are available from 9am to 5pm on each day.
Before dinner you will be able to rest a couple of hours.
Dinner will be served in a restaurant in town.
Local wine is always included for lunch or dinner. We serve vino della casa (house wine) as the quality of local house wines is very high.
Weather
In general, the climate Cinque Terre is very mild. That’s why it’s called “the Italian Florida”. Usually summers in Cinque Terre are hot with little or no rain. July and August are the hottest months (but still nice for walking as there is always a breeze blowing up on the hills). Spring (April and May) and Autumn (October and November) are milder. You can have some drops of rain but not too many. Winter is colder but you still can count on many sunny days.
Month avg. High avg. Low
Apr 66 °F (19 °C) 46 °F (8 °C)
May 73 °F (23 °C) 54 °F (12 °C)
Jun 81 °F (27 °C) 59 °F (15 °C)
Sep 81 °F (27 °C) 59 °F (15 °C)
Oct 72 °F (22 °C) 52 °F (11 °C)
Nov 61 °F (16 °C) 45 °F (7 °C)
Tipping your guides
Should you wish to tip your guides, the gratuity is entirely at your discretion. The standard in the industry ranges from 5€ to 10€ per person, per guide, per day. Tipping is not due to Gianni Stanghellini as he owns the company.
Tipping your drivers
Should you wish to tip your drivers, the gratuity is entirely at your discretion. The standard in the industry ranges from 1€ to 3€ per person, per driver, per day.
Extra expenses
Plan to have extra cash or money in your credit card enough to buy a couple of coffee or tea every day (5 euros average) . Two nights out of seven you are on your own for dinner (20-25 euros per meal per person, average)
Snapshots from the tour
