Walk between the skies and the sea along the spectacular Liguerian coast in Northern Italy.

Follow panoramic footpaths and quiet mule tracks through olive groves, chestnut woods and vineyards to the centuries old villages of the Cinque Terre.

Clinging precariously to buttresses of rock or on the side of steep ravines, the “Five Lands” are a perfect mixture of landscape and culture.


Tour Includes:

• Tour leader (English-speaking local guide), transport and sightseeing.

• Accommodation is with authenticity, character, a scenic setting and central location. Hotels are usually fairly small, are often family owned establishments, have private bathrooms and offer good value

• Meals breakfasts daily, 3 dinners

• Group Size Minimum 6, maximum 15

Your Day by Day Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Levanto

Your trip starts today with your arrival in Levanto. Levanto is located in the province of La Spezia in the region of Liguria and is easily accessible by direct train from Milan, Genoa and Pisa as well as some services from Florence.

There are no activities planned today so you may arrive at any time. Please make your own way to the joining hotel that is centrally located in Levanto. You can call the hotel to pick up your luggage a few hours before arrival and then take the short walk from the train station to the hotel.

This evening we meet our tour leader and our fellow travelling companions at a Welcome Meeting where our leader will give us a briefing on what lies ahead on our tour. This is followed by a group dinner together in the hotel restaurant, where we dine on local specialties.

In the evening we can take a relaxed stroll through the town taking in the atmosphere of this seaside location.

Meals included: 1 dinner

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Day 2: Levanto – Punta Mesco – Monterosso (4 hrs)

Today we embark on our first walk, which takes us long the coast from Levanto to Monterosso, the first of the five villages of the Cinque Terre. The first part of the walk leads us through the old town centre of Levanto, we then walk past the stunning cathedral and climb up to its castle. From here our walk leads us up to Punta Mesco, the most notable promontory in the region.

Just short of the point we take a small detour to the ruins of an old 11th-Century hermitage and the nearby ruins of the lighthouse, from where we enjoy marvellous views of the rugged coastline and fine a nice spot to stop for a short break and a picnic lunch. Then we follow a fairly steep path down into Monterosso - a colourful village with blue, red and yellow houses that cluster behind the beachfront. We have time to explore this interesting little town before taking the local train back to Levanto.

For those who wish to, there is also an option to walk back from Monterosso to Levanto. This evening we enjoy an evening dinner together at a local restaurant. (Approx walking time: 3-4 hours / 10 km or 15 km with return on foot)

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

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Day 3: Sentiero dell'Amore: Riomaggiore – Manarola - Corniglia – Vernazza (5 hrs)

A short train ride takes us to Riomaggiore, where we start the most famous of all walks in the area - the Sentiero dell’Amore (Lover’s Walk). We begin by walking to Manarola, an attractive little village with steep multi-coloured houses overlooking a rocky port.

From here we make our way along one of the prettiest sections of the Cinque Terre, walking around the headland and heading up the 365 steps to Corniglia, perched on a ridge overlooking the sea.

We continue our ascent to the little hamlet of Prevo, walking through terraced vineyards and the occasional citrus grove. We enjoy some of the best views in the region as we approach Vernazza, dominated by its old fortress. We follow the contours of the hillside on a narrow track that leads us up and down, before a fairly steep descent takes us into the village itself.

Having a drink in Vernazza, on the wonderful town square at the harbour, resplendent with its brightly painted boats, is a good way to recover from the days walking. In the late afternoon we take the train back to Levanto.
(Approx walking time: 5 hours / approx. walking distance: 9 km)

Meals included: 1 breakfast

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Day 4: Riomaggiore – Portovenere – Levanto (6 hrs)

Our day starts with a short train ride to the village of Riomaggiore, the most southerly of the five villages. Here Riomaggiore, we start our walk that leads us to Portovenere, at the very end of the peninsula. Today’s walk is long butt enormously rewarding!

We first walk up a steep flight of stairs and then walk along a roughly paved track to reach the sanctuary of the Madonna di Montenero (those not keen to do this climb can catch a bus instead). After stopping for a short break at the sanctuary and enjoying the spectacular views, we continue our walk to Campiglia.

Continuing uphill we follow the contours of the coastal cliffs, passing terraced vineyards and enjoying wonderful views of the coastline, framed by crystal clear blue waters. We then follow the Sentiero Rosso, a ridge-top traverse that goes from one end of the Cinque Terre to the other.

Passing the abandoned village of Lemmen and walking through vineyards and pine forests, we descend to the little village of Campiglia, where we can stop for lunch and some refreshments. We then continue towards Portovenere and enjoy more spectacular coastal views.

Arriving at the 16th-Century castle above the village we may be able to catch a glimpse of the distant peaks of the Alpi Apuane, before descending on to a long staircase that takes us to St. Peter’s Point and then in into the heart of the village. After some time to relax and explore in Portovenere, we return by boat to Levanto, a lovely way to see the coast from the water.
(Approx walking time: 6 hours / approx. walking distance: 12-14km)

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

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Day 5: Churches, sanctuaries and monasteries with a view – Vernazza – Levanto (5 hrs)

Today we have an easier day after our more strenuous walks of yesterday. A short train ride takes us to Monterosso. From here we take a wonderful walk inland of the Cinque Terre, past the historical churches of Madonna di Reggio and Madonna di Saviore.

From Monterosso we start climbing up to the first sanctuary, that of Madonna di Saviore (optional national park bus available to this point). In Madonna di Saviore you have time to visit and there is also a bar to have a short coffee break.

The walk then continues along the contour lines, then with a downhill bias. Through the hills, with beautiful views over the coast, you walk to the other sanctuary, the sanctuary of Madonna di Reggio. Once here we can stop and have something to ear or relax in the shade for a while, before descending past a number of little chapels, including the little church of San Bernardo, down to the coast at Vernazza.

We approach this beautiful little town from a different side to our previous days walk, and experience views which may even be better than yesterday’s. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or explore.

Vernazza is arguably the prettiest of the five villages and you have time to climb up the castle tower and enjoy a stunning view of the port. There are numerous cafés and bars, where you can enjoy a refreshment before taking the train back to Levanto. Alternatively, if energy levels permit, with those who want we can walk along the coast back to Monterosso.
(Approx walking time: 5 hours / approx. walking distance: 9 km. or 13 km. to Monterosso).

Meals included: 1 breakfast

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Day 6: The Wild West Coast walk – Levanto to Moneglia – Santa Margherita (6 hrs)

From Levanto we walk in a westerly direction today. The first part of our walk follows along the beach, before we take a path leading into the foothills and then down to the charming seaside village of Bonassola, a good place for a morning coffee stop.

We then stroll through the seaside hills towards the small village of Framura, a collection of ancient hamlets on a hillside, distinctive due to its red rocks. From Costa, the largest hamlet, a level path contours the hills and gives us splendid views out to alluring sea.

The last resort is Deiva Marina, here we can enjoy a swim. From here we can take the train (or have the option of continuing our walk) to the splendid small town of Moneglia. At Moneglia we have time to wander around and have a drink, before catching a train to Santa Margherita.

Santa Margherita, our base for the next two nights, is an attractive town that overlooks the Ligurian Sea. We will arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon. This walk along the coast today takes us through several charming little villages, where we have time to drink a coffee or just relax.

We also have the opportunity to enjoy lunch in one of the villages and from any of the villages we visit today there is the possibility of catching the train, should you wish to shorten your day’s walk and just relax on the beach. Approx walking time: 6 hours (3.5 to Framura) / approx. walking distance: 16 km or 9 km to Framura)

Meals included: 1 breakfast

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Day 7: Santa Margherita – Portofino – San Fruttuoso – Camogli (5 hrs)

Today we experience the best of the Portofino Peninsula! We take a short walk through the historical centre of Santa Margherita Ligure, where we can shop for our lunch for the day. We then start our walk into the hills and enjoy beautiful views across the bay.

By late morning we reach picturesque Portofino. Portofino means 'fine harbour' and it is one of the most typical Ligurian seaside villages and a popular resort for jetsetters. We explore this charming village and take the stunning walk to the church lighthouse, where we can look back on the inlet of Portofino. We then head uphill and take a break in the woods, a great spot to enjoy whatever picnic lunch that we may have prepared for ourselves.

We enjoy splendid views across the Gulf of Genoa to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso - an 11th-Century 'jewel' that is set in a secluded cove and is reachable only by boat or on foot. We return by boat to Camogli, and admire the beautiful coastline from the sea. In Camogli, we take our time to wander around through the colourful historic centre and have a relaxed drink or grab a gelato on one of the many terraces.

We then take a 5-minute train ride back to Santa Margherita. We meet tonight for our farewell dinner in the medieval centre of Santa Margherita, after a wonderful exploration of the Liguria region.
(Approx walking time: 4 – 5 1/2 hours; walking distance: 11km)

Meals included: 1 breakfast

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Day 8: Santa Margherita

Our trip ends after breakfast this morning in Santa Margherita. Santa Margherita is well connected by train to other cities in Italy including regular trains to Genoa, Milan, Florence and Pisa. The Galileo Galilei International Airport is located 2km south of Pisa and is the main airport serving Tuscany. Those who wanting to extend their stay can book additional nights in Santa Margherita.

Meals included: 1 breakfast

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Terrain: Moderate to challenging, some steep ascents and descents, steps and rocky terrain; average daily distances 5-7 miles, 2-5 hours.

The price from Levanto is from NZ $2,795pp share twin.  If you are travelling alone, we’ll arrange for you to share a room with someone of the same gender. If you want a room of your own, it can be arranged at an additional cost.




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