Independent arrival in Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five Cinque Terre villages. It is connected by train with Genoa to the north, and Pisa and La Spezia to the south. Our hotel is located in the heart of the old town, with its colorfully-painted houses and striking medieval church built of white and black local marble. Meet your guides and the rest of the group at 7 pm for a welcome drink and short orientation talk before heading to dinner at a local seafood restaurant. Overnight in Monterosso at the Hotel Margherita or Hotel Carla in Levanto (or similar). Hotel and dinner included.

A short train ride takes us to the seaside town of Framura, where we start our first hike. The trail takes us high above the shimmering waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea before returning us to the coast at Levanto, a walled town originally built by the Romans. The 11th century church steeple once served as a watchtower to warn the village of marauding pirates. Exit Levanto on an ancient path that is still paved with broad flagstones worn shiny with the passage of centuries of travelers. The scenic coastal track leads you to the spectacular look-out at Punta Mesco, where you can see the five villages of the Cinque Terre spread out before you. Descend to Monterosso’s old town and enjoy a gelato or a cold drink overlooking the water, or grab your swimsuit and take a refreshing dip from Monterosso’s sandy beach. Tonight, we go to a family-owned restaurant where they show us how they make pesto and the town's famous salted anchovies in the traditional way. They also regale us with stories of village life and serve us a selection of locally-produced wine, ending with a glass of sciacchetrà, their prized sweet wine. Train: 10 minutes to Framura; Hiking: 7.4 miles, 4 - 5 hours; Terrain: Forest paths, long, steep pathways and stair sections with a 45 minutes continuous uphill climb, rocky trails, and rolling hills. Cumulative elevation gain: 2,423'. You can do shorter hikes if you prefer and return to Monterosso by ferry or train. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.  

Today's hike takes us along the footpath that has linked the villages of the Cinque Terre for over a thousand years. Hike to splendid Vernazza and then on to Corniglia and Manarola via the high route for spectacular views before returning to Monterosso by train or ferry. You will have time to explore the villages, sample their delicious focaccia, and sip a foamy cappuccino or cold beer. If you've had enough hiking and are happy to kick back, relax, and soak up the atmosphere, you can simply catch a local train back to Monterosso at your leisure. Tonight is a “free night” dinner, so you are free to eat wherever you wish. Your guides will have suggestions. Overnight Monterosso or Levanto. Train: 8 minutes return to Monterosso; Hiking: 7.6 miles, 4 - 5 hours; Terrain: Some long, steep trail and stair sections with a 45 minutes continuous uphill climb, rocky trails, and rolling hills. Cumulative elevation gain: 2,864'. You can do shorter hikes if you prefer and return to Monterosso by ferry or train.  Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner not included.

Bid farewell to Monterosso this morning and hike to Portovenere, starting from Riomaggiore, the last of the Cinque Terre villages. Our walk takes us past a medieval church, through scented pine forests, and finally down past the Genovese fortress that protected Portovenere from marauding corsair pirates and its rival naval republic, Pisa. Dramatic cliffs plunge into the blue waters of the Mediterranean in a setting so beautiful that Byron, Shelly, and D.H. Lawrence fell to its charms. You will have time to meander through the village’s narrow pedestrian streets before a private van transfer to La Spezia, where we catch the train north to the bustling town of Santa Margherita Ligure. About 60 kilometers north of La Spezia, Santa Margherita is an elegant coastal town whose waterfront promenade is lined with regal villas and grand “Belle Epoque” period hotels. The Hotel Jolanda (or similar), is our home for the last two nights. One of our favorite restaurants awaits us this evening. Overnight Santa Margherita Ligure. Train to trail head: 15 minutes; Train to Santa Margherita: 1 hour.  Hiking: 9 miles, 4.5 hours; Terrain: Rocky trails, rolling and steep trail sections including a 40-minute continuous uphill climb. Cumulative elevation gain: 3,200'.You can do a shorter hike if you prefer but you would have to pay for a taxi transfer. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

A short train ride (4 minutes!) through a long tunnel takes us to the lovely seaside town of Camogli. Once a loyal supporter of the Genoese Republic and home to its navy, this little town is now famous for its delightfully painted houses. Their colorful façades feature masterly “trompe l’oeil” decor. Our path takes us up to the church of San Rocco and then along a breathtaking route that offers magnificent views along the northern Ligurian coast as it curves west and heads for France. We eventually descend to the 12th century Abbey of San Fruttuoso, nestled below us in a glittering blue bay. Head down for a refreshing swim followed by lunch at a tiny seaside restaurant, then take the 3 pm ferry to Portofino. Hardcore hikers can continue to Portofino on foot, where they can relax and admire the super yachts before heading back to Santa Margherita by the private motorboat (weather permitting) that we provide. Overnight Santa Margherita Ligure. Train: 5 minutes; Hiking: 6-8.7 miles; 5.5 hours; Terrain: Rolling pathways, rocky trails, and some steep trail sections as well as a 45-minute continuous uphill climb. Cumulative elevation gain: 2,000-2,300'. You can do shorter hikes if you prefer and return to Santa Marghertia by ferry.. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

The tour ends after breakfast this morning. Independent departure from the hotel to the train station, a short hike or taxi ride from the hotel. Santa Margherita is well connected by rail with the rest of Italy, and an easy train ride to the airports of Pisa, Milan or Genoa. Breakfast included.

Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour we make new discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes they are bad, like a trail has been washed away. The result is that we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding new wonderful elements to the tour or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured, our goal is to always provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary prior to departure.  

Though not long in terms of distance, the hikes can be strenuous at times as we ascend and descend steep paths or stone stairways that have been used for years to link the villages of the region. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or have a dip in the sea. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms.

City of Portofino: website in English from the gem of the Italian Riviera
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre:  basic information on the park and villages
UNESCO World Heritage Site: check out all the wonderful places in Italy!