Cinque Terre & Tuscany Walk 6D5N (Seaside Charm & Tuscan Villages), Fully Guided

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), 2-3 hours walking, Elevation gain: 122 m (400 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), 3-5 hours walking, Elevation gain: 335 m (1100 ft)

This morning, meet your tour leaders at 10 am under the entryway of the Pisa Centrale train station's main entrance in Pisa, Italy. Please, ensure you arrive dressed in your hiking clothes and come with a daypack containing your rain gear and anything else you may want for the day's hike and your luggage (which will be transported to our first night’s accommodations). If you choose to change into your gear following our shuttle, a proper changing area is often unavailable.

Welcome to Italy! After meeting in the lovely Pisa, home of the famed leaning tower, we take a ride to the Ligurian town of Campiglia, where we chat and get to know ourselves better over a delicious lunch of local specialties. Our hiking adventure begins after, as we are introduced to Liguria’s breathtaking landscape. Relish stunning views of the Golfo della Spezia, but be careful as there are sections on this often rocky path to the sea.

Our destination for today is the town of Portovenere, where Castello Doria stands at the top, watching from its cliffside perch. Another thing you'll behold is the Church of San Pietro sitting on a rugged headland. In the distance is Palmaris island, which provides a sheltered bay for boaters and sunbathers. In the 1800s, it was a regular destination for English poets, including Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. (Shelley died in 1822 when his boat went down while returning to the town of Lerici, and he drowned.) These famous bards inspired the name "Gulf of Poets" given to this sea corner.

We settle into Hotel Belvedere*, a simple picturesque Liberty-style hotel located above the Portovenere waterfront. Settle into this haven of comfort, style and luxury. *Alternative hotel: Hotel della Baia. Experience Italian warmth and hospitality at this tranquil waterfront hotel, complete with sweeping views of the Golfo Dei Poeti

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), 2-3 hours walking, Elevation gain: 427 m (1400 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 10 km (6 miles), 4-6 hours walking, Elevation gain: 884 m (2900 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 13 km (8 miles), 5-7+ hours walking, Elevation gain: 1219 m (4000 ft)

Choose your adventure today as you step into Picasso's Mediterranean Landscape! Connect the dots on a journey between the five villages of Cinque Terre. We journey from Portovenere, along the World Heritage site on the stunning Ligurian coast, to Riomaggiore, the southernmost village of Cinque Terre. You are presented with the option of exploring the picturesque towns of Cinque Terre or adding more kilometres with a hike into the rocky highlands.

Breathe in the fresh sea air and take a stroll along the tapered mediaeval paths of Riomaggiore before heading to Manarola, a colourful Hamlet hugging the cliffs. From here, you can choose to take a peaceful loop hike between the decked vineyards and olive trees covering the steep slopes above the village, proof of Manarola's firm agricultural heritage. Or you could challenge yourself by going through the highlands route, which ascends to the village of Volastra and provides jaw-dropping views of the coastline from above.

Our next stop is Corniglia, the only one of the five towns that isn’t on water. Make your way back to the coast to get to the delightful town of Vernazza and enjoy scenic views of the town’s picturesque harbour and stoic Belforte watchtower. When you get hungry, enjoy lunch on your own, in town.

After lunch, walk past vineyards through prehistoric olive groves, over dirt paths and down stone steps. Today’s hike comes to an end in Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost town of the Cinque Terre and the only one with an expansive sand beach. Then, we board a train to Santa Margherita Ligure, one of the fascinating places on the Ligurian coast and the childhood home of the famed explorer and navigator, Christopher Columbus.

FOUR HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), 2-3 hours walking, Elevation gain: 122 m (400 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), 3-5 hours walking, Elevation gain: 335 m (1100 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 13 km (8 miles), 4-6 hours walking, Elevation gain: 549 m (1800 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 13 km (8 miles), 4-6 hours walking, Elevation gain: 884 m (2900 ft)

Today’s hike on undulating forested and tarred trails begins in the heart of Santa Margherita Ligure and into the hills, up stone staircases, and past villas with frontages beautifully adorned with trompe l’oeil paintings. Carry on past the church of Nozarego on a hillside path through the backyards of several charming homes to the Parco Naturale di Portofino, a 3,000-acre flower sanctuary. Look back at the Santa Margherita Ligure to grace your sights with a breathtaking view before following the dirt and stone path through groves of olive and cherry trees.

Once you arrive at the charming Portofino, soak in the breathtaking views of its panoramic harbour and the surrounding bay from our lunch spot on the terrace of historic Catello Brown, a castle seated elegantly above the town.

After lunch, next up is the exploration of Portofino, admiring the brilliantly coloured buildings and flourishing tropical foliage. A walk along the seafront back to Santa Margherita is a great way to spend the afternoon. Or, return to Santa Margherita Ligure by boat and at your leisure. Suppose you’d like to cover some more ground, head to Abbazia di San Fruttuoso, accessible only by foot or boat. The magnificent 11th-century abbey is situated in a small fishing village; its walkways, church, and marble and stone tombs are worth checking out (if the weather permits).

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), 1-2 hours walking, Elevation gain: 152 m (500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), 3-5 hours walking, Elevation gain: 244 m (800 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 11 km (7 miles), 4-6 hours walking, Elevation gain: 335 m (1100 ft)

Today, we’ll be enjoying a change of scenery as we journey to a different region of Italy: Tuscany. After a long but panoramic shuttle ride, we begin today’s hike in Greve in Chianti. Tour the town, shop for keepsakes and perhaps visit a cafe. In the Piazza Matteotti, see the statue of explorer Giovanni de Verrazano, a local hero given credit for discovering the New York Harbour in 1524 and being the first European to see Manhattan Island.

Following our visit to Greve in Chianti, get your first taste of the gorgeous Chianti Classico region with a short stroll uphill to Montefioralle. Our journey through the characters of "New World" history continues. Amerigo Vespucci, whose name and explorations are the origin of "the Americas" (the Latin translation of the first name), was born in this small village.

We carry on, after lunch, through a classic Tuscan landscape accessorised with Cypress trees, olive orchards, and vineyards until we get to Panzano and Villa Le Barone, our home for the next two nights. The peaceful oasis provides awe-inspiring panoramas of olive groves, vineyards and the rolling countryside punctuated by the sounds of the bells of the local church.

The Villa Le Barone, which is the ancestral home of count and countess Aloisi de Larderel, has a serene landscape with the villages of Panzano and San Leolino on either side. This charming hotel will be our home for the next two nights. Take a dip in the pool or relax by the fireplace before meeting for a Chianti Classico wine tasting.

After the wine tasting, we enjoy a chic, multi-course meal in the hotel's restaurant, which offers tasty food with the right wine to complement the taste of the food. At Villa Le Barone restaurant, you'll enjoy delectable Tuscan cuisine.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:

Level 1, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), 1-2 hours walking, Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft)

Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), 3-5 hours walking, Elevation gain: 305 m (1000 ft)

Level 4, Approx. 18 km (11 miles), 4-6 hours walking, Elevation gain: 488 m (1600 ft)

After breakfast, we begin the day with a shuttle to the delightful hilltop town of Radda in Chianti, the one-time capital of the Chianti League, a defensive alliance created in the region in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Gallo Nero (Black Rooster), which was the Chianti's League seal, is now the emblem of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium—keep an eye out for the image of the famous rooster all over town and on souvenirs like wine bottles, t-shirts and aprons.

Before hiking from Radda, we visit Enoteca Toscana briefly for a balsamic vinegar tasting. Afterwards, we descend through vineyards and olive groves and past a small farm into the valley (it’s a steep grade, so take all the time you need.) A short stretch on tarred roads welcomes us to open fields and Chianti’s forested hills. Pay a visit to the 11th-century historic cellar of Castelvecchio winery, the ideal background for a picnic lunch after a private tour and tasting.

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), 1-2 hours walking, Elevation gain: minimal
Level 2, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), 2-3 hours walking, Elevation gain: 152 m (500 ft)

This morning, you could go for a quick tour of the Tuscan countryside or sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Leaving inspired and in awe of your journey, bid farewell to your tour leaders as you board the shuttle to Florence, where our trip ends.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.