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All arrangements were in place and ran smoothly. We enjoyed everything about our holiday and everything was as expected and hoped for.
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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 five 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 Sciacchetra liqueur (known as the 'Elixir of the Gods'). By day, you discover the beautiful peninsulas of Portofino and Sestri Levante using well-marked walking trails; in the evening enjoy the sunsets over the Mediterranean.
Weather
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 fleece-lined jacket or warm sweater in May, September and October.
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 fitness. 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.
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
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
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
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
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
After breakfast take a train to Camogli, and then a bus on to Ruta di Camogli where the trek starts across the Park of Portofino: 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
Make your own way back to the airport, or add on additional nights in Pisa if you wish.
Meals included: breakfast
Passport
Italy
All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information offered below is to help you with that process. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects. Certain European nationalities may be able to travel within Europe on their national identity card. Check carefully with the relevant authorities if you intend to do this.
Visa
Italy
No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times. Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.
Vaccination
Italy
There are no specific health risks. Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad. The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. Please note: vaccinations that are routinely recommended to residents of the UK, North America or Australasia are not considered to form part of the travel health advice, and you should ensure these are kept up to date where necessary. For additional information please visit: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
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.
Please call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or email usa@exodustravels.com to arrange flights and connecting transfers to your hotel.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
All arrangements were in place and ran smoothly. We enjoyed everything about our holiday and everything was as expected and hoped for.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday. Find out about The Headwater Price Promise to ensure you're getting the very best value for money.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided walking Managed by our sister company, Exodus.
Departures
Meals
All breakfasts and 3 dinners
Other details
For a solo traveller there is an additional charge to cover transfer costs.
Tour only
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
Due to the tailor-made nature of our holidays, we need a little more information in order for us to check availability for Self-Guided Walking in the Cinque Terre and Portofino. Simply complete the form below and a member of our sales team will contact you (when it's most convenient for you) to provide availability information, travel options and an accurate price. Of course there's no obligation, but if you do wish to proceed with a booking they will be on-hand to assist you throughout the process.
Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 to discuss your requirements in more detail.
We've been creating high-quality relaxed activity holidays since 1985 and our wealth of experience means we're able to build the perfect tailor-made tour for you. Our 'Gold Trusted' rating on Feefo, the independent review site, underlines our exceptional levels of customer service, and our ATOL bonding and ABTA membership guarantees your holiday is safe with us.
