Current as of: October 30, 2019 - 13:11 Valid for departures: From October 1, 2019 to October 31, 2022 Self-Guided Walking in the Cinque Terre and Portono Trip Notes Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays 7 Days Land only Trip Code: Destinations: Italy Min age: 10 W06CT Moderate Programmes: Walking & Trekking Trip Overview About sixty miles east of Genoa lies a corner of the Liguria region with a remarkably well-preserved landscape steeped in tradition. 'Cinque Terre' means ve lands; villages which are nestled high on cliffs or along deep inaccessible coves, with colourful houses facing the seafront. Each village offers its own olive oils, anchovies and Sciacchetrà liqueur (known as the 'Elixir of the Gods'). By day, you discover the beautiful peninsulas of Portono and Sestri Levante using well-marked walking trails; in the evening enjoy the sunsets over the Mediterranean. At a Glance 6 nights hotel, all rooms en suite 5 days centre based walking Moderate walking on a variety of paths Low altitude throughout Self-guided trip. Minimum age 10 years Trip Highlights Coastal and countryside walking among olive groves and vineyards The chic town of Porto no Boat trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palmaria Island The serene village of Sestri Levante Is This Trip for You? Activity Level: 3 (Moderate) 5 days optional centre-based walking, low altitude throughout. This is a self-guided tour, so you can walk at your own pace (we recommend taking plenty of time to rest and enjoy the views!). Although some walks will get your pulse racing you will also have plenty of time to rest, admire the views and on many days you can also enjoy swim breaks. Over the course of the week, the terrain and type of path will vary from man made paved tracks and tarmac to forest trails. Some areas may be rocky underfoot with narrow, overgrown or exposed paths. Although the walks are not technically challenging, you do need to be steady on your feet. All walks take between 2 and 6 hours including lunch stops and require a moderate level of tness. Please note that, as on all of our walking trips, when the weather is wet some of the paths can be slippy. The steep sections on Palmaria Island have ropes to help with this. Public transport is recommended (the cost is not included in the trip) in order to reduce your carbon footprint. The transport timetables will be provided in your route notes so you can choose the bus or train time that suits you best. As this is a self-guided tour, there will be no group or tour leader and you are free to complete the walks at your own speed. You may nd our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference: https://www.breakaway-adventures.com/Breakaway_wt_fitness_training_guide.pdf Group As this is a self-guided tour there is no group and no leader. The tour is based at the same hotel for the 7 days and is managed by a local operator. Adult min age: 10 Itinerary Land Only Start City: Sestri Levante End City: Sestri Levante Land Only Itinerary Day 1 Start Sestri Levante Make your way to Sestri Levante. Your hotel, the Sole e Luna, is positioned in an excellent location a stones throw from the beach and 5 minutes walk from the centre of town. Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Enjoy a walk in the heart of the Cinque Terre National Park, taking in the towns of Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso; return by train The walk today really allows you to explore the National Park of the Cinque Terre. Starting from Monterosso you walk along the olive groves with panoramic views out to the sea. Your path continues gently towards Vernazza and Corniglia, today's destinations. Return by train. Meals included: Breakfast Distance covered: 11 km / 7 miles Altitude gain (m): 520 Altitude loss (m): 520 Day 3 Transfer to La Spezia; vaporetto to Palmaria Island. In the afternoon visit the pretty town of Portovenere before taking a train or bus back After a train to La Spezia (40 mins) you take a boat (vaporetto) to Palmaria island; which is rich in Mediterranean vegetation. Depending on the season in which you travel you can see cistus and rare orchids blooming, and enjoy the beautiful coastal views. In the afternoon take a boat to the mediaeval town of Portovenere, and visit the churches of San Pietro and San Lorenzo, and the Byron Grotto. Return to La Spezia by boat or bus, and then back to Sestri Levante by train. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Distance covered: 7 km / 4 miles Altitude gain (m): 180 Altitude loss (m): 180 Day 4 Cinque Terre Park: Corniglia to Manarola. This morning take a train transfer from Sestri Levante to Corniglia and from here, once you've reached the city centre you can start your walk along the Cinque Terre coast. Along the way you get the chance to experience the local vegetation and species such as rosemary, thyme and lavender. After you've reached the sanctuary in Volastra you can have your lunch here or in Manarola, your next destination. From Manarola either take the train back to Sestri Levante or stop off in Riomaggiore, the starting point of the following day. Meals included: Breakfast Distance covered: 7 km / 4.5 miles Altitude gain (m): 350 Altitude loss (m): 350 Day 5 Walk along the panoramic coastal path from Riomaggiore to Portovenere; return by train or bus Today you take a train to Riomaggiore where you will start your trek to Portovenere. This panoramic path really allows you to admire the beautiful coastline and tempting colours of the sea! From Portovenere return by boat to Monterosso, or by bus to La Spezia and then by train. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Distance covered: 12 km / 7 miles Altitude gain (m): 550 Altitude loss (m): 550 Day 6 Transfer to Ruta di Camogli to start your walk across the park of Portono, with plenty of time to enjoy the town before taking a train back After breakfast take a train to Camogli, and then a bus on to Ruta di Camogli where the trek starts across the Park of Portono: Paradiso - Pietre Strette - San Fruttuoso. The path is surrounded by holm oak, mixed wood, and the Mediterranean bush. Stop at the ancient Abbey in San Fruttuoso. Once you are done exploring, continue on to Santa Margherita Ligure before taking a train back to Sestri Levante. Meals included: Breakfast Distance covered: 12 km / 7 miles Altitude gain (m): 200 Altitude loss (m): 450 Day 7 End Sestri Levante Make your own way back to the airport, or add on additional nights in Pisa if you wish. Meals included: Breakfast All ascents, descents and distances listed above have been measured by our local partners or tour leaders. Please note that different GPS measuring devices can give differing results dependent on the barometric pressures at the time. Measurements stated throughout these trips notes are given to help you understand the types of terrain and distances you will encounter. Accommodation Sole e Luna You will spend 6 nights in the charming, family-run B&B Sole e Luna. This cosy hotel is located a stones throw from the sea and is 5 minutes walking distance from the train station. All rooms are en suite and some rooms have a balcony. There is a beach right outside the hotel where you can swim. All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory supplement for a single room for the tour duration. For a solo traveller there is an additional charge to cover transfer costs. Additional Accommodation Extra accommodation is available in Sestri Levante and also in Pisa. Please ask your sales consultant for more information. Where a single supplement is available, paying for a single will only guarantee a room for single use. It does not necessarily mean a twin or double room will be provided for sole occupancy. Please note that a member of the group may be allocated a single room by default if the make-up of the group means there isn’t anyone for them to share with. Paying the supplement in advance is the only way to guarantee a single room. Single supplements cannot be refunded retrospectively. Single supplement from $306.90 USD Food & Transport Eating & Drinking Liguria is well-known for its delicious cuisine and classic regional dishes include pasta with pesto or walnut sauce, focaccia bread and of course plenty of seafood! With an abundance of fresh local produce and plenty of restaurants to try in Sestri Levante, food is a highlight of the trip. Vegetarians are well-catered for in Italy. Transportation This trip uses public transport to access the walks. All timetables will be provided in your route notes. Weather & Seasonality Weather Information April and May departures can expect warm days, although rain is always possible. Nights may be rather cool. Early June is similar, with the days becoming progressively hotter and the evenings much warmer. Late June to August departures should expect very warm weather with temperatures over 30 degrees celsius. Late September and October are cooler and can be wetter, however visibility is better. We strongly recommend a eece-lined jacket or warm sweater in May, September and October. Weather Charts Weather chart Joining Instructions Travelling land only: 7 days starting in Sestri Levante and ending in Sestri Levante Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Sestri Levante on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary.