cinque terre guided walk

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1 A holiday is all about exploring Europe your way. It s about U + the walking tracks and cycling trails you want to discover. Since we began in 2006, has quickly become known as the leaders in active European holidays. Our itineraries are creative and very affordable. Set your own pace on a flexible self guided trip or enjoy the benefits of an experienced local guide on a guided tour. Together with our sister company Sherpa Expeditions, we offer over 400 active tours across the continent and it s many exotic islands. There s an active holiday idea everyone including families, culinary enthusiasts, history buffs, experienced alpine walkers or those that just want to see Europe differently. The physical demands range from introductory to challenging with all offering unique opportunities to discover the untrodden Europe, spanning postcard landscapes, centuries old cultures, rural lifestyles and tempting culinary delights. Compare the price and you will see that we offer exceptional value active programs that are virtually all inclusive, giving you more time to enjoy the natural and cultural wonders you ve come to experience. Whether you prefer cycling or walking, 2 star or 4 star, small groups or self guided, land, river or sea can help you to explore Europe exactly the way you want. explore europe your way TRIP COST Joining Riomaggiore : $2090 Trip Concludes: Riomaggiore All prices are per person OPTIONS & SUPPLEMENTS Single Supplement: $560 As the trip price is based on twinshare, a single supplement is payable if a single room is required. If you would like to share a room with someone of the same gender, please request and we will do all possible to match you. However, if we are unsuccessful you will be required to pay the single supplement. Please refer to the price options above or ask our office for details. TRIP NAME: TRIP CODE: TRIP DURATION: CINQUE TERRE GUIDED WALK UCG 7 DAYS GRADE: INTRODUCTORY 1 ACTIVITY: GUIDED WALKING ACCOMMODATION: 6 NIGHTS 2 STAR HOTEL cinque terre guided walk Milan Italy Riomaggiore La Spezia Florence DATE DETAILS: APR - 28 APR, 06 MAY - 12 MAY, 23 SEP - 29 SEP, 07 OCT - 13 OCT highlights Experience the breathtaking coastal scenery Enjoy the quiet trails high above the iconic villages in the company of your guide and group Stay in the quintessential village of Riomaggiore Taste a range of culinary treats and the famous wines of Liguria the trip The Cinque Terre or five lands is a stunning coastal area running along the Ligurian coast in Italy. It consists of very steep rugged hillsides, which plunge dramatically into the sea. Quite unexpectedly, and against all odds, five vibrant fishing villages cling to the bottom of these hillsides just above the sea. The coastline, the villages, and the hillsides that envelope them are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. This guided group walking holiday is an excellent way to discover the Cinque Terre. Taking you up into the hillsides and away from the main tourist footpaths, you will walk through forests and vineyards, enjoying spectacular views down to the coast. Based in Riomaggiore for five nights will give you a taste of real Italian village life. Page 1

2 itinerary at a glance Day 1 Arrive Cinque Terre cinque terre guided walk Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Walk from Porto Venere to Riomaggiore (5hrs) Walk to Vernazza (4.5hrs) The high route from Vernazza to Riomaggiore (4.5hrs) Chapels and churches path (4.5hrs) The coastal route from Monterosso to Levanto (3.5hrs) Trip concludes detailed itinerary Note: The itinerary provided is a guide. The guide will decide which routes to do on which days depending on weather conditions, the work of the national park and other factors. Trail conditions are affected from time to time by land slips caused by heavy rain. As of 2015, part of the Via dell Amore is partially closed. In 2016, we are expecting all trails to be open, however please note that they can close for maintenance works or after heavy rains. DAY 1 Arrive Cinque Terre On arrival in Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre, make your way to your hotel, your base for the week. Please ensure you arrive between 2 and 5pm. You re free to spend the rest of the day discovering this vibrant village. Its narrow streets often lead to fantastic views out to sea or towards the vineyards. Spend time unwinding and soaking up the local atmosphere, or go for a swim in the sea. Later the group will meet for dinner and an arrival briefing. meals: D DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 Walk from Porto Venere to Riomaggiore (5hrs) We start the day with a boat journey to Porto Venere (when this is not possible, we will take the train and bus; please note ferry or train/bus fares are not included). Porto Venere is a beautiful and lively seaside village with an impressive fortress which faces out to sea towards some islands. From here your guide will take you on a walk high up above the village, with excellent views out to sea. We ll then walk back to Riomaggiore. (+600m/1969ft, descent -600m/1969ft). Walk to Vernazza (4.5hrs) A steep climb will take us up and out of Riomaggiore. From here we will walk among vineyards before reaching a dense forest. We will visit a lonely menhir on the mountainside before taking the path down to Vernazza, one of the prettiest villages in the Cinque Terre. (+750m/2461ft, -750m/2461ft). The high route from Vernazza to Riomaggiore (4.5hrs) The walk today has splendid views over Vernazza and its towers, en route to the beautiful church of San Bernadino. After leaving the shaded pine forest we will follow a narrow path among vineyards that overlook the sea. The panorama is simply breathtaking! From Volastra, we will walk downhill through olive groves to Manarola before continuing on the easy and popular lower coastal path, Via del Amore, to return to Riomaggiore. (+700m/2297ft, -700m/2297ft). Page 2

3 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 Chapels and churches path (4.5hrs) The day begins with a local train, to start walking from the village of Monterosso. After leaving the beautiful beach behind us, the steep climb leads to the first chapel. This itinerary offers amazing views over Monterosso and Vernazza. The churches we ll see are set in fantastic locations overlooking the hills. This is a beautiful loop with stunning scenery. (+670m/2198ft, -670m/2198ft). The coastal route from Monterosso to Levanto (3.5hrs) To end our walking week we ll visit the furthest village in the area, Levanto. Although it s not the prettiest village in the area, its little streets are still charming. The coastal path we have chosen for today will lead us from Monterosso to Levanto on a path much less walked than the other coastal itineraries and just as fantastic. After an hour of walking from Monterosso, there s a panoramic view within the protected area of the Punta Mesco - do not forget your camera! On the path to Levanto, we ll take a short rest and can taste some local wine. (+200m/656ft, -200m/656ft). Trip concludes The trip concludes after breakfast. meals: B inclusions 6 breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches, 6 dinners in a local restaurant in Riomaggiore 6 nights in a 2 star hotel on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities Cinque Terre Pass including most local transport (trains) for scheduled walks English speaking walking guide items not included Travel to and from Riomaggiore Drinks Items of a personal nature eg phone calls, laundry Entrance fees to sites Travel insurance Internal ferry or bus fares for scheduled walks, e.g. ferry from Riomaggiore to Portovenere (allow approx EUR7 14pp) or bus (allow approx EUR5pp) when not available getting there BY CAR BY TRAIN BY AIR We do not recommend driving to Riomaggiore due to the scarcity of parking spots in the vicinity of Riomaggiore. If you do drive and manage to find a spot expect to pay around EUR70 for the week. For timetables to Riomaggiore see the Trenitalia website at en/index.html. Riomaggiore station is located between La Spezia and Genoa. Trains on the main lines as well as numerous regional trains do not stop there. From La Spezia, a regional train on the La Spezia to Sestri Levante line takes around 2 minutes to reach Riomaggiore (approx. one train every hour during the day). The closest international airports are Genoa, Pisa or Milan. From the airport Milan Malpensa (MXP) there are express trains every 30 minutes (taking 40 minutes) to Milan, or alternatively a shuttle bus service also operates direct to the central rail station. From here you follow the train instructions above. Genoa Airport take the Volabus service (hourly departures) to Stazione Principe F.S. journey time approximately 20 minutes. From there take a train to Riomaggiore Page 3

4 trip grading - introductory INTRODUCTORY GRADE 1 (journey time hours depending on train type) Pisa Airport take a train to the main train station in Pisa, then change to a local train to La Spezia, and another change to Riomaggiore. Journey will take around 1 ½ hrs. There are some more difficult sections and short ascents on rough surfaces. During the hotter months the walk can be more demanding and you should be able to walk for up to 5 hours a day. More experienced walkers will also enjoy the classic landscape of small (although sometimes steep) hills, olive groves and vineyards, as some days you will have shorter and longer walking options. A reasonable level of fitness is required. As with all of our trips it is important that you are well prepared. We suggest that you undertake regular exercise swimming, cycling, and jogging, two to three times a week for three months prior to your departure. dietary requirements Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut free or allergen free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travellers with life threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self administering these medications. about your group You will be joining a group with a mix of participants from different countries, speaking different languages including English, German and French. Your tour leader will be guiding in English primarily to cater to all participants. the region The region known as the Cinque Terre is tucked between the Ligurian Sea and the coastal mountain range that stretches southeast from Mount St Nicolao to Portovenere. The area is confined by the Mesco and Montenero headlands in the province of La Spezia. The five villages that make up the Cinque Terre are: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coast is famous for the originality and magnitude of the agricultural transformation that took place on its lands, easily one of the greatest achievements of mankind in terms of difficulty, size, and duration, comparable to the great pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall of China. There is, however, an important difference between these major constructions and the Cinque Terre. While the former were built under conditions of forced labour, the transformation of the land in the Cinque Terre is the result of many generations of voluntary, spontaneous initiative. The workers had one goal in mind: to transform the dry, rugged landscape into an agricultural area. fast facts COUNTRIES VISITED VISAS Italy Visas not required for citizens of Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days for all Schengen countries (see www. schengenvisainfo.com/schengen visa countries list/ for countries part of the Schengen). Please ensure your passport is stamped on arrival in the Schengen area. For all other nationalities and for longer stays in countries covered by the Page 4

5 Schengen Agreement (Australian New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders), please contact the relevant embassy. Stays of longer than 90 days in the Schengen area require a long stay visa for the country you are spending most time in. However long stay visas are unlikely to be issued unless there is a valid reason (eg. studying in country). Unfortunately we cannot assist in obtaining visas for long stays due to individual country visa requirements. CLIMATE Italian summers are hot. From late June to September, highs of 35 degrees Celsius are common. Spring and autumn are the nicest times of year, though rainfall in November can be heavy. Specifically, April to early June and September to October are the most pleasant months to walk. Average daytime highs are around degrees Celsius. MIN GROUP SIZE 8 MAX GROUP SIZE 15 SPECIALIST GEAR REQUIRED Wet weather gear, sunscreen, good walking boots / shoes and sun hat walking poles optional but recommended. (A comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre departure information provided on booking). special notes The operation of this trip requires a minimum number of participants. Departures can be cancelled up to 6 weeks prior to the trip start date. While the vast majority of departures operate during the season, if there are too few people the trip will be cancelled and we will do all possible to offer you an alternative trip (eg self guided version of this trip) or an alternative departure date. Should the alternatives offered not be suitable we will provide a refund of the trip price only. No further compensation shall be payable. For further details please review our conditions of contract in our brochure. how to book Booking a holiday is simple. You can book online, via our secure payment facility, at your own convenience. Alternatively, fill out our booking form which can be found at the back of our brochure, on our website or we can you a copy then scan/ , fax or post the form to your nearest or World Expeditions office, or travel agent, with the relevant deposit by cheque or credit card (note: surcharges may apply for credit card payments if full payment is made). has access to competitive airfares to Europe. Contact us, or your travel agent, for assistance with your travel arrangements including flights, travel insurance & additional accommodation. follow us There s even more tips and ideas on our blog at slide shows invites you to attend our inspiring adventure travel slide shows. These special evenings are designed to inform and entertain and are hosted by our most experienced and passionate adventure travellers. Ask our staff for a slide show schedule or register on our website Shows can fill early so it is important to register your attendance so we know to save a seat, or two! e-newsletter To keep up to date with our new and exciting adventure opportunities, special promotions and adventure news, subscribe to our monthly e newsletter! You can do this on line through our website, com or contact our office. Page 5

6 IMPORTANT NOTE THESE TRIP NOTES REPRESENT THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THIS ITINERARY,AND SUPERSEDE ANY INFORMATION DETAILED IN THE CURRENT BROCHURE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ITINERARY AND PRICE. talk to us If you require any further assistance regarding this trip or any other adventure, please contact your nearest UTRACKS or World Expeditions office. Page 6

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