FOOTPATHS AND FLAVOURS OF LIGURIA Enjoy villages of the Cinque Terre, Portofino and Porto Venere whilst staying on the coast on this charming walking holiday to Italy Walk between the pretty towns and villages of UNESCO Cinque Terre Take a boat trip to Isola Palmaria from the Italian gem of Porto Venere Explore Vernazza, Monterosso, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore Travel by train through a stunning landscape and enjoy Portofino HOLIDAY CODE IWW Italy, Trek & Walk, 8 Days 7 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, max group size: 14, 6 days walking and sightseeing, max altitude - 512 metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415 PAGE 2 FOOTPATHS AND FLAVOURS OF LIGURIA Introduction Located on one of Italy’s most beautiful coastlines, the charming region of Liguria is nestled between the Alps, Apennines and the Ligurian Sea. This pretty area is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cinque Terre, a beautiful national park of rolling hills, fairy-tale towns and villages, bustling harbours and and excellent cuisine! Staying in the coastal town of Moneglia on the Riviera di Levante, we’ll explore Liguria with a series of easy walks and train journeys to villages accessible only by sea, rail or foot! We start by walking through fragrant pine trees to the fishing village of Portofino with its pastel coloured houses and vibrant harbour. Next we explore the picture- postcard Cinque Terre or “Five Earths” - Vernazza, Monterosso, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. These exquisite villages are architectural treasures offering a rich kaleidoscope of colour as they cling to the coast in an almost fairy-tale setting. After the Cinque Terre we’ll hike along the spectacular Punta Baffe before walking from Levanto’s castle to pretty Monterosso al Mare. Finally we take a boat trip to the UNESCO-designated island of Palmaria and stroll through Portovenere. Situated on the “Gulf of Poets,” Portovenere was home to Lord Byron and the English romantic poet, Shelley. Alongside daily walks there will be time for relaxing with “gelato,” chilled Limoncino or a strong cappuccino with almond biscotti. Picnic lunches include local ingredients, whilst incldued evening meals are taken in the excellent hotel restaurant which is family-run and specialises in Ligurian dishes. If you’re looking for a walking holiday on one of Italy’s most beautiful coasts with easy walks, tasty food and train journeys through a beautiful region, then this is the perfect choice. Looking For A Two Week Holiday? Fancy the ultimate Italian walking and food experience? For a complete centre-based Italian experience, why not combine our Footpaths and Flavours of Liguria with our one week Walking Wild Tuscany Many of our dates work back to back and with both holidays beginning and ending at Pisa Airport it really couldn't be simpler. Is this holiday for you? This holiday is centre-based with a series of days walks designed to explore the best of the area. The majority of places we visit are only accessible by boat, rail or on foot therefore part of the holiday experience will be using the wonderful rail network that covers the region. Each day we will walk between 3 and 5 hours with daily ascents of 250m – 600m. Walking conditions underfoot are good as we follow tracks and trails, coastal paths and sections of public footpaths. There are no technical sections on the walks however a couple of the days have some small areas of exposure on narrow “balcony” paths that hug the coastline. As this holiday is centre-based you can choose to opt in or out of each day’s walking, making it an ideal choice for anyone who may want to walk but also have a day relaxing or visiting Genova. Each day there will be time for sightseeing and you’ll only need to carry a small day pack. This walking holiday is suitable for regular weekend hikers. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Moneglia. A single transfer from Pisa Airport is provided. The group will meet at Pisa Airport in the middle of the afternoon. A single timed airport transfer (1.5 hr) is included to your accommodation in Moneglia which is situated in the heart of the Riviera de Lavante on the coast. Our accommodation is a mere 50m or few minutes walk from the sea and family run with a small bar where a pre- dinner drink can be enjoyed. It's only a short walk to the train station, local shops and local cafes. Each evening dinner will be taken in the hotel's traditional restaurant which specialises in Ligurian dishes. Surrounded by sandy beaches and steep cliffs which are covered in pine trees and lush scrub, Moneglia is known as the "Gem of Liguria" www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415 PAGE 3 FOOTPATHS AND FLAVOURS OF LIGURIA and feels truly Mediterranean. Situated in a large sweeping bay and enclosed by two headlands, the surrounding area is rich in olive groves and lemon trees, whilst the historic centre has a collection of wonderfully preserved medieval houses, narrow streets and picturesque architecture. Depending on your arrival time you may wish to stretch your legs and stroll along the 1km long beach or sit in one of the traditional cafes and people watch. KE Land Only services begins with the evening group meal and a briefing from the KE leader. ACCOMMODATION MEALS D HOTEL Day 2: Train journey to picturesque Vernazza and hike to Monterosso. Today we start with a short train journey (30mins) to the small fishing village of Vernazza located in the region of La Spezia. As one of five towns that make up the Cinque Terre, and with no roads, Vernazza is one of the truest fishing villages on the Italian Riviera. Described as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, the absence of traffic gives the place a really special feel. The tiny port is surrounded by colourful buildings, a medieval castle and a charming piazza lined with restaurants and bars. The village is surrounded by steeply terraced olive groves which are famed for producing the finest olive oil in the country. From here we will walk along a beautiful panoramic footpath, which in areas offers breathtaking views of Vernazza. The peaceful trail meanders through areas of olive trees and cultivated fields before entering the town of Monterosso. The largest of the villages that make up the Cinque Terre, Monterosso is surrounded by beautiful reefs and crystal clear waters and the whole town seems to embrace you in Italian hospitality on arrival! With only 1500 inhabitants, the town is the oldest of the Cinque Terre with a rich assortment of architecture including the Church of St John the Baptist, a chapel, monastery and the newly designed statue of Neptune. The town is split into two and is a wonderful place to find a street café and people watch or stroll along the longest beach of the Cinque Terre. Later in the afternoon we'll take the train back to Moneglia, where after freshening up we'll re-group for dinner ACCOMMODATION ASCENT 850M DISTANCE 9KM GPS DATA VIEW HOTEL NOW MEALS B DESCENT 725M TIME 6 HOURS WALKING HOURS Day 3: Explore Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. After breakfast we take the train (40 mins) to Corniglia and from here we start our walk to Manarola. The smallest and highest on the Cinque Terre and without any access to the sea, Corniglia is perched on a small cape 100m above the ocean and is connected by footpaths only. Surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terracing, this ancient Roman village has a long standing agricultural tradition, therefore the architecture is more rural style then coastal. The path we take climbs through a beautiful pine forest to the hamlet of Volastra where we are rewarded with splendid panoramas over the coast. Our trail on a balcony foot path then winds through the vineyards then down to the charming village of Manarola. Built on a high rock only 70m above the sea, this beautiful port is known as the most charming of the Cinque Terre. Complete with a tiny harbour, picturesque multi-coloured houses, a tiny piazza and steep narrow alleys Manarola is the perfect place for a rest. Along the way we'll have close up views of the wonderful narrow terraces where grapes are grown to produce the famous Sciacchetrà sweet wine. From Manarola we'll take the train to Riomaggiore the most southern village of the Cinque Terre, famed for its colourful slate roofs. After exploring the village we take the train back (40 mins) to Moneglia. ACCOMMODATION ASCENT 175M DISTANCE 4KM GPS DATA VIEW HOTEL NOW MEALS B DESCENT 450M TIME 3 HOURS WALKING HOURS www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415 PAGE 4 FOOTPATHS AND FLAVOURS OF LIGURIA Day 4: Explore Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and beautiful Portofino. After breakfast we leave the hotel and take our first train journey (1hr) to Camogli on the Peninsula of Portofino. This pretty village lies at the base of hills dotted with pine trees and after leaving the train we'll start walking towards the hamlet of San Roco. The trail is a mixture of forest paths, which are soft to walk on alongside areas which are slightly rocky underfoot. As we walk we'll see bunkers from World War II before we arrive in San Fruttuoso with its beautiful catholic church.