NOLS Alumni Trip
Exploring the Italian Riviera & Tuscany September 18-26, 2017
Features of This Trip
• 9 nights in the “field” at small hotels • Stunning coastal scenery of the “Italian • Eating and sleeping indoors allows us to Riviera” and the heart of Tuscan hill country carry only daypacks • Hiking at elevations of 0-1,700 feet • 2 robust hiking days, 3 day-hiking days, 4 • Optional pre-trip day activities in historic mixed train/shuttle/sightseeing days Florence • One night (paired lodging) on each end of • Cultural interaction and exploration of the trip in a Florence hotel ancient villages, towns and landmarks • Approx. ~30-mile, trailed route crisscrossing • Group size: up to 10 participants and 2 the Ligurian Coast and Tuscan hills instructors • Lunch and tasting at Panzanello winery and organic olive oil site.
Cost: $2,995— includes lodging in Florence! Minimum Age: 21
Trip Description: Join a small group of NOLS grads, friends, families, and instructors for nine days of exploration and camaraderie along the Ligurian Coast and Tuscan countryside as we use trains, shuttles, and foot power to connect small hotels and B&B’s in Italy’s early autumn. This trip mixes hikes with exploration of the region’s iconic towns, villages, rural areas and ancient landmarks.
It may be helpful to think of this trip as divided into three sections. There’s some urban, self- guided adventuring in Pisa, Lucca and Siena in addition to the beginning and end in Florence—the art and cultural capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance. There is a coastal exploration element, including most of the traditional “hiking” along the trails and fishing villages of the Portofino Peninsula and Cinque Terre National Parks. And finally, there is time day hiking and sightseeing in the villages and vineyards of the classic Tuscan countryside of Chianti and Panzano. All of these sections are connected by foot, shuttle, or train.
After leaving Florence, the route generally travels the coast from Santa Margherita Ligure/Rapallo/Portofino southward toward the Cinque Terre area and La Spezia. The trip then heads south to Lucca/Pisa and then heads southeast into the Tuscan hills and the rural Panzano/Chianti and Siena area.
This trip will re-acquaint you with NOLS travel techniques in a convivial, relaxing, and visually stunning location. Instruction is geared to your interests, with optional walk-up high points, Italian "word(s) of the day," time for journal writing, photography, and more.
The route offers a modest level of hiking—the average hiking day is about six miles with minor changes in elevation. For those that want more, there will be options for additional day hiking with an instructor. Participants will carry personal clothing, water, and trail food during our daily moves and hikes. Other gear that you don’t need on the trek can be stored at our Florence hotel.
Connecting our string of hotels, inns, and B&B’s gives us the chance to savor Italian cuisine and culture while mixing with other travelers. Sleeping and group dining (dinner and breakfasts) in villages and small towns allows us to considerably lighten our packs for our daily exploration along the area’s coast and vineyards.
The trip spends nine nights in the "field" at guesthouses or hotels and nine varied hiking/traveling days. Unlike standard NOLS expeditions, we won't carry cook gear, or heavy rations—even pads and sleeping bags are not needed at our small hotels—but we'll do some "real" trail hiking over varied terrain with our lightened daypacks.
Regional Map:
The trip starts in Florence, trains to the coast and travels generally southward toward Greve and Siena.
The Environment: Italy’s Ligurian coast offers a variety of mountain terrain— grassy meadows, stands of conifers, cactus, vineyards, citrus, well-developed trails and thick, coastal vegetation. The hiking portions of our trek follow established trails with limited signage and some steep, exposed sections. In addition, weather at this time of year can vary— including hot, sunny days, humidity, and rain. Temps are likely to be 75° F. during the days and near 60° F. at night. Cinque Terre’s trails can include significant elevation gain and loss- perhaps up to 2,400’ in a day.
The traditional hiking portions of our trek follow established trails with limited signage and some steep, exposed sections through Cinque Terre—The Five Lands—and the Portofino Peninsula. The Cinque Terre National Park is a protected area inducted as Italy's first national park in 1999. Located in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy, it is the smallest national park in Italy at 4,300 acres, but also the most densely populated with 5,000 permanent inhabitants among the five towns. Cinque Terre became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.
The Portofino Peninsula has 80 km of trails in the protected Portofino Park. The village of Portofino was founded by the Romans and named Portus Delphini, or Port of the Dolphin, because of the large number of dolphins inhabiting the gulf. The peninsula is famous for the seaside San Fruttuoso, a Benedictine Abbey, which dates back to the 10th century. Over the years, the abbey housed monks, fisherman, pirates and princes, and today is only accessible by foot or boat.
The terraced Nozarego Olive Groves stretch along the eastern side of the Park. The monks of San Fruttuoso’s agricultural system centered around olive, chestnut, fig, and cereal grain production. As such, in the Vallone dell'Acqua Viva–Valley of Living Water—has abundant olive and chestnut trees and has an extraordinary concentration of mills and presses (there were 35 working factories in the middle of the 18th century). Their remains represent an important archaeological, agricultural, and industrial heritage.
The area has many species of animals, including gulls, peregrine falcons, ravens, badgers, martens, foxes and even wild boar. Reptiles include wall lizards and various snakes. Frogs and salamanders abound.
The Lodging: We’ll lodge in small hotels and inns whose accommodations range from basic to quite posh. We anticipate paired, single-gender rooms, so let us know if you’re pals or a couple with someone else on the trip. Past participants have appreciated switching from trail gear to comfortable evening lounge clothes.
Well-made breakfasts are part of the lodging package. Some lodging will provide group dinners, or we may venture out as a group with NOLS supplying the meal. As noted in the day-by-day itinerary, a few meals will be on your own.
The trails and towns in Tuscany and along the coast attract people from all over Europe, providing a true cross-cultural experience. From Florence to the coast, there is not a lot of English spoken. Italian is predominant— you might enjoy an Italian phrase book—the Lonely Planet series is good for tourist ideas and basic country facts.
Curriculum: This trip focuses on many traditional NOLS activities, including map reading, hiking, and group travel. The instructors will present information needed for group travel and can present optional topics desired by the participants—including natural history, NOLS’ leadership topics, and relevant local human history. Formal “classes” are few and mostly optional. Anticipate a required base level of group management and cohesion— this is still an expedition.
This trip traverses a well-known and well-traveled route that NOLS has explored sparingly. Practically, this means that the trails, passes, lodging and logistics may take an extra measure of tolerance, persistence, and “Expedition Behavior.” Anticipate working flexibly as a team to overcome challenges.
Alumni trips, though more relaxed than a typical NOLS course, are not full-on vacations or guided trips. They are self-reliant treks through remote areas where evacuation to modern medical facilities can take several days. Throughout the trip, you will travel outdoors and care for yourself. The expedition format emphasizes hands-on learning and application of skills in a variety of
situations. Participants have the freedom to bring equipment that is necessary for their comfort and enjoyment of the trip.
All participants will complete and submit application materials, including a medical history form/exam either reviewed by a medical professional or self-reported. These forms highlight the intersection of your trip’s anticipated physical rigor and your current health and fitness status. Your forthright and timely completion and submission of the forms sets you and your trip up for success in the outdoors.
Trip Logistics: The trip starts and ends in the ancient city of Florence (Italy’s 8th largest city— population ~350K), which is easily reached by train from Milan. Florence (“Firenze” in Italian) is often considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and in addition to being a World Heritage site, is the capital of the Tuscan region. Participants should plan on arriving in Florence on Sept 17 to allow for jet lag recovery, possible airline delays, and for optional group day touring before our official trip orientation on Sept 18 at 6:00 p.m. at our group hotel.
NOLS has secured lodging for our group (we’ll pair couples and single-gender rooms) at Florence’s Hotel Helvetia and Bristol on the nights of Sept 18 and Sept 26. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the train station. If you want extra lodging before or after the trip, we suggest using booking.com.
From Florence, our group will take a series of train, bus and shuttle rides to and from our "road- heads" on the coast and amongst the vineyards.
Florence City Map:
Our trip start/end lodging, the
Machiavelli Palace, is map upper center, 150 yard east yards of the train station.
Currency: You’ll need cash in the form of Euros for miscellaneous purchases and transportation throughout the trip. You’ll receive the best exchange at your local bank, but money change kiosks are handy in most airports. US credit cards will work in most locations, including train stations, but it’s often a good idea to give your credit card company a heads up that you’re traveling internationally. About 200 Euros will be plenty of cash for the field portion of the trip for incidental purchases.
Air Travel: Our trip starts and ends in Florence, which is served by numerous international and regional air carriers. Other regional cities (Milan, Verona, and others) can be connected by rail. Depending on where you first touch down in Europe, you may either clear customs in that city or in Florence. You don’t need a visa, but customs will stamp your passport.
Accommodations:
The trip tuition includes lodging at the at Florence’s Hotel Helvetia and Bristol on the nights of Sept 18 and Sept 26. We’ll pair you in single gender hotel rooms— if you’re traveling with a partner, please let us know.
Our lodging ranges from four-star hotels in Tuscany to classic, late 19th century hotels in Florence Lucca, and Santa Margherita Ligure, to more rustic, family-style hotels in the fishing villages along the Portofino Peninsula and Cinque Terre area.
The lodging includes breakfast. Anticipate trail snacks during the day. NOLS-provided dinners will be part of the hotel stay, or we’ll step out as a group to local restaurants. Lunch is on your own in Pisa and Siena. If enjoying local wines or other libations is a priority, please plan to pay separately.
We’ll shuttle, train or walk between our daily destinations, so you should plan on carrying your gear in a small backpack. Items you don’t need in the “field” can be stored at our starting/ending hotel in Florence. We’ve had good luck storing in-town gear at these base hotels, but NOLS assumes no responsibility for your stored luggage.
Suggested Readings (summaries available online): Apatoff,L. & Fili L. Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best. Hardcover – 112 pages.
D’Epiro, P. & Pinkowish, M.D. Sprezzatura: 50 Ways Italian Genius Shaped the World. Paperback –pages 416
Gilmour, D. The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, Its Regions, and Their Peoples. Paperback- pages 480
Helprin, Mark. A Soldier of the Great War. Mariner Books, 2005. Paperback: 880 pages.
Ligurian & Tuscany Itinerary 2017:
Sept 16 Depending connections and possible pre- trip plans, many participants will depart the US on this day. Sept 17 Most participants arrive in Europe on this Lodging: on your own day. Depending on your arrival city, you may wish to stay in Florence this night to allow for possible late bags and jet lag. For those in town, we’ll host an optional “wine rally” at the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol at 6 p.m. where we’ll introduce local wines and cheeses. It’s a chance to meet the group and get a taste of the region’s foods. Sept 18 Optional, loosely organized exploration of Lodging provided by NOLS: Florence. The trip starts with an orientation Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, at 6 p.m. in the hotel lobby. Florence. Sept 19 Pack and leave the hotel early to catch the Lodging: Hotel Laurin, Santa train to Santa Margherita Ligure. Check Margherita Ligure into hotel and day hike ~4 miles onto the Portofino Peninsula high points. Sept 20 Hiking traverse of the Portofino Peninsula. Lodging: Hotel Cenobio dei ~9 miles of trail hiking. Dogi, Camogli. Sept 21 Train from Camogli to Levanto this is the Lodging: Principe di beginning of the Cinque Terre National Piemonte, Viareggio. Park costal hike from Levanto to Monterosso, ~6 miles of hiking. Catch an afternoon train to Viareggio. Sept 22 Train to Pisa for exploration with ~3 miles Lodging: Principe di of hiking around the sights. Piemonte, Viareggio. Lunch on your own in Pisa Sept 23 Late morning train to Lucca. ~3 miles of Lodging: Hotel Ilario, Lucca. hiking around the sights. Lunch on your own in Lucca. Sept 24 Train to Florence and then shuttle to Lodging: Villa Le Barone, Panzano in Chianti. Lunch and wine Panzano/Greve. tasting at Panzanello winery. Day-hike through the vineyards, ~3 miles of hiking. Sept 25 Shuttle to the villages of Montereggioni Lodging: Villa Le Barone, and Siena. Exploration. Return to Panzano/Greve. Lunch on Panzano. ~4 miles of hiking. your own in Siena. Sept 26 Shuttle to Florence. Explore the city. Final Lodging: Hotel Helvetia & night of the trip. Group dinner. Bristol, Florence Sept 27 Depart for home or other travels.
Contact Information: The NOLS alumni office is located at the NOLS Headquarters in Lander, Wyoming. We can be reached at (800) 332-4280. Email is also an option: [email protected]. If you have any problems on arrival day, please leave a message for us at 800-332-4280.
Registration and Payment: To reserve a space on this trip, please submit a non-refundable deposit of $200 per person to the NOLS Alumni Department. Mastercard or Visa works via phone (800.332.4280), or mail a check to: NOLS Alumni Department, 284 Lincoln St., Lander, Wyo. 82520. The remainder of the tuition and all application forms are due by July 20, 2017.
Equipment: Basically, you’ll need a t-shirt, one insulating layer, plus a wind proof and a rain proof layer— all must fit comfortably over each other so they can be worn at the same time. If you tend to get cold easily, add a fleece vest, or puffy jacket. On your legs plan one insulating layer that fits under your wind/rain pants. See the gear list below and call us (800.332.4280) with questions.
Equipment List NOLS provides: Maps, First Aid Kits, Emergency Communications, Water Treatment, Emergency Shelter, Trail Food
Bring these items: • light sweater • comfortable lightweight hiking boots – sized to fit with a liner/wool, or 2 pairs of wool socks system. Or high quality/sturdy trail running shoes. • Small daypack or satchel- may be useful when exploring towns and villages. • hiking socks (2-4 pair) • water bottles (two liters or a camelback) • sunglasses • Small backpack- large enough to fit your personal gear, but no cooking items, sleeping bags or tents. • long sleeve shirt for sun protection (1) • Casual shirt/slacks – lightweight options for dinner • underwear (1-2 pairs) • sneakers or similar non-hiking shoes • warm hat • bathing suit • toiletries • rain jacket & wind pants • gaiters • t-shirt • hiking shorts • sun hat/ball cap • sunscreen/lip balm
Nice touches: • camera with waterproof bag • extra pair of prescription glasses or contact lenses • personal reading book • hiking poles (collapsible) - takes hiking stress off the knees • casual shirt/slacks – lightweight options for dinner • Pack cover, heavy weight can-sized and smaller plastic bags— all for waterproofing your pack & contents.