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

Private tours

price p/p: varies according to group size. Check Price below here

Departures: anytime

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

Umbria, Assisi & Le Marche Marvels hotel

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!

Oasi Hotel in Levanto

Umbria, Assisi & Le Marche Marvels hotel

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

Umbria, Assisi & Le Marche Marvels map

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
Day 3 – Bonassola, the old train line and the Convent of Monterosso (Overnight in Sestri Levante)

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

3Price per person changes depending on the occupancy number of your private group. Valid 2023
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
More guests? Please ask us a quote. We can also tailor the tour to your needs.
  • 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

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

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

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#1 - Scheduled Group tour?

 

#2 - Private tour?

2022 TOURS THAT CAN BE COMBINED BACK TO BACK 

COMBO DISCOUNT 150€

The nights of gap are not included.
We will provide suggestions for places to visit and stay in between the two tours.

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + AMALFI COAST WONDERS

TUSCANY May 10-17 – AMALFI COAST May 18-24 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Sept 4-11 – AMALFI COAST Sept 12-18 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Oct 2-9 – AMALFI COAST Oct 10-16 (1 night gap)
AMALFI COAST Oct 10-16 – TUSCANY Oct 16-23 (no night gap)

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + SICILIAN FLAVORS

TUSCANY Oct 2-9 – SICILY Oct 9-15 (no night gap)
SICILY Sept 1-7 – TUSCANY Sept 11-18 (4 night gap)
SICILY Sept 25-Oct 1 – TUSCANY Oct 2-9 (1 night gap)
SICILY Oct 9-15 – TUSCANY Oct 16-23 (1 night gap)

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS

UMBRIA MARCHE May 3-9 – TUSCANY May 10-17 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Sept 11-18 – UMBRIA MARCHE Sept 19-25 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Oct 2-9 – UMBRIA MARCHE Oct 10-16 (1 night gap)
UMBRIA MARCHE Oct 10-16 – TUSCANY Oct 16-23 (no night gap)

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

TUSCANY Sept 4-11 – CINQUE TERRE Sept 17-23 (6 night gap)

AMALFI COAST WONDERS + SICILIAN FLAVORS

AMALFI COAST May 18-24 – SICILY May 25-31 (1 night gap)
SICILY Sept 1-7 – AMALFI COAST Sept 12-18 (5 night gap)

AMALFI COAST WONDERS + UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS

AMALFI COAST Sept 12-18 – UMBRIA MARCHE Sept 19-25 (1 night gap)

AMALFI COAST WONDERS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

AMALFI COAST Oct 10-16 – CINQUE TERRE Oct 17-23 (1 night gap)

UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS + SICILIAN FLAVORS

UMBRIA MARCHE Sept 19-25 – SICILY Sept 25-Oct 1 (no night gap)

CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE + SICILIAN FLAVORS

CINQUE TERRE Sept 17-23 – SICILY Sept 25- Oct 1 (2 night gap)

SICILIAN FLAVORS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

SICILY Oct 9-15 – 5 TERRE Oct 17-23 (2 night gap)

UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

UMBRIA MARCHE Oct 10-16 – 5 TERRE Oct 17-23 (1 night gap)

WALK RATING

Activity level:
2+ (on a scale from 1 to 5)
Daily Hours:
Up to 3
Daily Distance:
3 to 10 km (2 to 7 miles)
Walking Surfaces:
Gentle with some uneven terrain
Daily Elevation:
Up to 200 mt. (650 feet)
Personal Fitness:
Light exercise weekly, active lifestyle

WALK RATING

Activity level:
3 (on a scale from 1 to 5)
Daily Hours:
Up to 3
Daily Distance:
3 to 10 km (2 to 7 miles)
Walking Surfaces:
Gentle with some uneven terrain
Daily Elevation:
Up to 300 mt. (1000 ft.) - Average day 200 mt (650 ft.)
Personal Fitness:
Light exercise weekly, active lifestyle