Self-guided hiking packages in the Cinque Terre and travel packages in Western Liguria
If you don't have time or energy to organise your trip to the Cinque Terre and other parts of Liguria,
to find out what you should see and do here,
and to select the perfect accommodation, let me do this for you. Just choose from the following hiking and travel packages and
let me take care of the details. Of course you can even combine more packages, and if you would like to make some
modifications, that's not a problem either, I am flexible!
In the Cinque Terre you can choose from accommodation of different standards.
In Western Liguria accommodation will be in boutique hotels, boutique B&Bs or
luxury apartments. During the included tours, meals and tastings you can meet wonderful local people, taste delicious local
food and drinks and experience real ligurian life.
Self-guided hiking tour in the Cinque Terre
Hiking is the best way to discover the Cinque Terre. This self-guided hiking package is the ideal solution if you would like to
enjoy stunning views from the best trails in the Cinque Terre National Park, and gain
interesting insights into the area, its traditions and the life of local people.
You will stay in one of the characteristic villages of the Cinque Terre or in Levanto, a wonderful seaside town nearby.
You will receive a road book, which describes the most beautiful itineraries off the beaten track and
provides lot of interesting information about the 5 villages.
A wine tasting and a seafood dinner will make your Cinque Terre experience even more special.
You will also receive the beautiful photo book "Cinque Terre - Vineyards with seaview" by Catherina Unger.
You can read about the history of Cinque Terre wine and about local winegrowers.
Day 1
Check-in at your booked accommodation. You receive a welcome package with information about the area and recommendations
for your stay in the Cinque Terre. The package also includes the Cinque Terre Train Card and your vouchers for a dinner and a wine tasting.
Dinner in a characteristic restaurant or in your hotel.
Day 2
Today you hike on one of the most beautiful trails of the Cinque Terre, the panoramic path from Corniglia via Volastra to Manarola.
It takes you through marvellous vineyards on the terraced fields, built and maintained by the local winegrowers.
In the afternoon you are visiting a wine bar in Manarola, where you can enjoy a wine tasting of 3 local wines and some typical snacks.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 3
Hike on an ancient pilgrimage path from the picturesque village of Vernazza to the sanctuary of Madonna di Reggio.
The path offers breathtaking views over the Ligurian Sea until you reach the sanctuary of Madonna di Soviore.
The trail ends in Monterosso, the biggest village of the Cinque Terre, which has a nice long beach.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 4
Check-out and departure.
Itinerary suggestions for an extended stay
- Hike the spectacular trail from Riomaggiore to Portovenere. Enjoy a varied path and an incomparable panorama over the
steep coast of the southern part of the Cinque Terre coast. Return by public ferry boat.
- Hike around Palmaria island with great views of Portovenere and the Gulf of Poets.
- Hike around the Levanto valley, crossing olive groves and ancient hamlets.
Price per person (based on 2 participants)
- In a double room in Manarola or Corniglia: 320 €
- In a self catering apartment in Manarola: 390 €
- In a 3 star hotel in Manarola: 420 €
- In a 4 star hotel in Levanto: 520-670 €, depending on the season.
What's included
- 3-night accommodation in a privately rented room, a self catering apartment or a hotel room. Double room occupancy. City tax is not included.
- Breakfast if you are staying in a hotel.
- Roadbook with the suggested itineraries, map of the Cinque Terre National Park.
- Cinque Terre Train Card for 2 days.
- Wine tasting in Manarola with 3 local wines and some snacks.
- One dinner with 3 courses and fish specialties, drinks not included.
- One book "Cinque Terre - Vineyards with seaview" by Catherina Unger. (1 book each 2 people).
Self-guided long-distance hike from Sestri Levante to Portovenere
During the past years there has been a great demand for a hike with the characteristics of a pilgrimage.
If you are looking for something similar, I can offer you this hiking package from Sestri Levante to Portovenere,
crossing the villages of the Cinque Terre and other beautiful villages by the Ligurian Sea.
Your accommodation will be in selected small hotels (2 or 3 star) or boutique guesthouses with breakfast and typical dinner.
You will receive a roadbook with maps and descriptions of the itinerary.
Your luggage will be transported daily from one accommodation to the next.
Day 1
Arrival by train in Riva Trigoso, next to Sestri Levante. Check-in at a small charming agriturismo or hotel.
You will be given the roadbook with all the maps and information for your upcoming hike.
Enjoy your first dinner with local ligurian specialties in the beautiful, rustic ambience of the restaurant of the hotel.
Day 2
Start your hiking in the morning towards your next destination, Moneglia, a charming little town by the sea.
The hike will take you on not very travelled footpaths to an old lookout point passing through the wonderful Mediterranean vegetation.
The hike takes about 3 hours.
Day 3
This will be one of the longer days taking you on panoramic footpaths first to Deiva Marina, then to Framura and Bonassola,
where you will stay for the night. There are about 6 hours to hike. In case you are tired in between there is always the possibility
to catch a train from one of the villages to reach your next overnight destination.
Day 4
Start in the morning with a beautiful hike to the next little town Levanto. It's reachable through a wonderfully panoramic
footpath or crossing an ancient tunnel system, the shorter, but of course less panoramic option.
Enjoy a lunch break in this pretty town or have a swim on the beach before starting in the afternoon the next part of you hike
that takes you in about 3 hours right into the Cinque Terre National Park, to a cosy hotel above the first Cinque Terre village, Monterosso.
Enjoy a typical dinner here. Total hiking time this day is about 5 hrs.
Day 5
A tough but very scenic hike takes you from your hotel to an old sanctuary above Monterosso,
then to another sanctuary above Vernazza and down to the picturesque village of Vernazza, one of the famous five Cinque Terre villages.
After a lunch break you continue your hike to Corniglia (another Cinque Terre village) and, crossing the vineyards with breathtaking view,
to the little hamlet of Volastra (above Manarola), where you will be accommodated in a nice family run hotel.
Dinner will be offered at the local restaurant. Hiking time this day is about 6 hours.
Day 6
The last strenuous hiking day with breathtaking views!
Start early in the morning with your hike that takes you first on an even path to the ancient sanctuary of Montenero
giving you lots of great views over the Cinque Terre villages Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Then it continues crossing vineyards and oak tree forests to the village of Campiglia.
From here you can see on one side the big harbour of La Spezia, on the other side the open sea.
Still two hours of scenic hike and a steep descent brings you to the end point of your pilgrimage, Portovenere.
At the end of the day you will take a short ferry boat ride to La Spezia where you will spend the last night
of your pilgrimage in a guesthouse or hotel in the centre of the town. Dinner is arranged in a very typical and traditional
restaurant.
Day 7
Breakfast, check-out and departure.
Price per person (based on 2 participants)
- November to March, except holidays: 860 €
- April, May, June, September, October: 960 €
- July, August: 1060 €
What's included
- 7-night accommodation in 2/3 star hotels or guesthouses. Double room occupancy. City tax is not included.
- Breakfast and dinner.
- Roadbook with the suggested itineraries, map.
- Entrance fee to the Cinque Terre National Park.
- Luggage transport every day from one accommodation to the next.
- Boat ride last day from Portovenere to La Spezia.
- 24-hour local emergency assistance. (Phone number to call.)
Hamlets and tastes of the West Riviera
This tour will make you discover the secret beauty of the far west of the Italian Riviera,
next to the French border, with its tropical vegetation, its olive groves and secluded medieval villages.
You will have the possibility to visit villages such as Apricale with its stone, scenic architecture,
unchanged from the Middle Ages and Dolceacqua, a picturesque village on the river with a its stone humpback bridge
and the houses built on the steep slope of the hill, dominated by the ruins of the Doria Family castle.
This is a territory famous for the production of the delicate extra virgin olive oil and noble wines such as the Rossese,
loved by Napoleon. Here you will visit an ancient oil mill, learn about the century old process of the production of
oil and taste the golden nectar. The next day you will be welcomed in the family castle of a local wine producer
where you will taste local wines paired with traditional recipes for a special lunch.
Day 1
Arrival and overnight in a boutique hotel in one of the medieval villages of the West Riviera.
Day 2
Private wine tasting in the family castle of a local producer. Free time at disposal.
Day 3
Visit to an ancient oil mill and tastings. Free time at disposal and departure.
Price per person (based on 2 participants)
400 €
What's included
- 2-night accommodation in a boutique hotel. Double room occupancy with breakfast.
- Visit to an oil mill with tastings.
- Private wine tasting with lunch.
Genoa and the secret hamlets of the West Riviera
This tour will make you discover the authentic charm of Genoa and the "other" side of the Italian Riviera
with its medieval hamlets. You will travel like a local and get in touch with the real soul of the territory
meeting local people and tasting local recipes.
Genoa, aka "The Superb" has something magical.
This is a real city with an authentic Italian charm where mass tourism has not touched its essence.
People coming here for the first time, fall in love with this place. So, be prepared!
You will have time at disposal to wander through the maze of medieval alleys of the historical center
and then you'll be welcomed to enjoy a pesto lesson as the tradition wants, with mortar and pestle in a
typical house in Genoa historical center with a local skillful lady.
She will show you how to make the famous pesto sauce and together you'll enjoy what you have prepared.
The next day you will discover the secret charm of the west side of the Italian Riviera,
our expert insider will make you explore the medieval hamlets of Noli, with its beautiful sandy beach
where local fishermen shelter their typical boats called "gozzi" and Finalborgo, an untouched village
completely surrounded by medieval walls. The day continues with the visit of a chinotto (citrus)
grove and tasting: our insider will bring you to discover one of the most rare and precious citrus
found in nature, the Chinotto. A bitter orange that grows just in this area of the Italian Riviera
and was used in past by sailors for its rich vitamin contents. It is under the wings of the Slow Food
Presidia and few producers in the area transform it into delicious jam, candies and liquors,
following ancient recipes. The producer Roberto will show you his citrus grove, garden and you’ll hear
about his family story and taste the products made in his small laboratory thanks to the expert hands of his wife.
Day 1
Arrival and overnight in a boutique B&B in the heart of Genoa historical center.
Day 2
Private pesto lesson with lunch in a private house in Genoa. Free time at your disposal. Overnight in Genoa.
Day 3
Private guide to visit the medieval hamlets of Noli and Finalborgo and private visit to a Slow Food Chinotto plantation.
Price per person (based on 2 participants)
500 €
What's included
- 2-night accommodation in a boutique hotel. Double room occupancy with breakfast.
- A private pesto lesson with lunch.
- Half day private escorted tour of Noli and Finalborgo.
- Private visit to a Slow Food Chinotto plantation.
- Tastings.
The other side of the Italian Riviera
This tour will make you discover historical villages which have preserved their authenticity
like Finalborgo, Verezzi, Varigotti or Noli. You'll hike incredible paths overlooking the sea,
meet local producers and taste their Slow Food Presidia products.
The Western Riviera is rich in amazing panoramas, beautiful medieval villages, beaches, local producers and more!
With your local private tour guide and private driver you'll discover the picturesque fishing village of Varigotti
overlooking the amazing beach, which will immediately capture your heart.
The Saracen houses, so-named for their shape and pastel colours, the clear blue sea, the narrow alleys,
the old village, the castle and the church of San Lorenzo are a unique setting for a different kind of tour.
Then, you will visit Verezzi, the upper village of the Saracens, which is particularly evocative,
with joined houses of the local pinkish stone, built with Arabic influence.
There's more to see. Your private guide will lead you through the historical centre of Finalborgo till
meeting the chinotto producer, Roberto who will welcome you to his citrus grove, garden and you'll hear
about his family story tasting its products, which are under the wings of the Slow Food Presidia.
Finally, you'll be charmed by Noli, a preserved fishing village, with its cobblestone alleys and gorgeous beaches.
Day 1
Arrival and overnight in a boutique hotel.
Day 2
Private tour discovering the authentic villages of the Italian Riviera and tasting chinotto
Slow Food Presidia products. Overnight in the same hotel.
Day 3
Free time at disposal and departure.
Price per person (based on 2 participants)
700 €
What's included
- 2-night accommodation in a boutique hotel. Double room occupancy with breakfast.
- Full day private escorted tour of Noli, Finalborgo, Verezzi and Varigotti.
- Private visit to a Slow Food Chinotto plantation.
- Full day private transfer on your 2nd day tour.
- Tastings.
