This trip is perfect for those who want to explore this lovely, rugged part of the Italian Riviera on foot. It is graded moderate, with an average of 10-16 km (4-8 miles) of hiking per day along coastal and mountain trails. There are several hikes with significant elevation gains and loss that should be taken into consideration. The traditional paths between the villages often include sections of stone steps on these ascents and descents, which can be hard on the knees, so we strongly recommend taking walking poles and perhaps knee supports if needed. It’s best to do some practice hikes ahead of time, including stairs, ascents and descents like those you will experience on the trip while carrying your day pack.

There are sections of the trail along cliff edge paths, some of which are unfenced and only wide enough to walk along in a single file. This trip may, therefore, not be ideal for those with a fear of heights or vertigo sufferers.

As part of this trip, a Cinque Terre Three Day Train and Hiking Trails Card is included for use on days 5 to 7. You will need to purchase train tickets locally for the train transfers to/from Bonassola for the walks on days 3 and 4, as this is outside the validity of the rail card. Train tickets are approximately €2.40 per person per way. If you decide to shorten any of the walks on days before day 5, then you will need to purchase a train/ferry ticket for the additional transfers. The Cinque Terre Card includes unlimited train travel on the La Spezia - Cinque Terre - Levanto railway line, on regional trains in second class, access to the hiking paths from Monterosso to Corniglia, and use of the bus services within the park area.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This trip includes hiking each day and is graded moderate overall. The terrain varies from coastal paths to rolling mountain trails making for a pleasant mixture. Most days can be shortened by taking a train or ferry to the next overnight destination and it’s possible to skip a number of the hikes if you prefer some time to explore locally and relax.

Daily distances average around 8-13 km (4-8 miles), following dirt paths, paved roads, forest trails and coastal paths. There are several ascents/descents involved and some of the route while walking from village-to-village within the Cinque Terre encompass stone staircases. To get the most from this trip you should be comfortable hiking on undulating terrain with many ascents and descents. Please be advised that this trip may not be appropriate for unstable walkers or people suffering from vertigo as there are sections of narrow cliff tops paths with unfenced edges.

Included in this trip are hand-selected, charming accommodations. We’ve carefully chosen properties so that you can enjoy every minute of this trip on the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre.

Additional Nights

It’s easy to request an extra night at any location during this itinerary. Perhaps consider adding a night in Portovenere at the end of the holiday to explore the historic and colourful fishing village and relax after completing the walks. Please notify us when booking should you wish to add extra nights.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This trip is based on double occupancy (two people sharing a room with one bed). If separate rooms are required, a single supplement is payable. If a twin room is required (the same room with two separate beds), please notify us at the time of booking so we can request this option. This trip is available to solo walkers.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning and consists of a traditional European-style breakfast ranging from coffee, tea, yoghurt, granola, meat, cheese, and baked goods. Sometimes, a hot dish (eggs and pancakes) will be served or offered á la carte. 

Lunches and dinners are not included in this trip. We recommend finding cafés or restaurants in the towns or along the walking route or purchasing snacks and a picnic lunch to bring along on the walks from local supermarkets and markets. Further details are in your information pack and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App.

While the route is not waymarked, navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure Smartphone Navigation App. The daily walks are mapped in the app with GPX tracks, including route notes, and turn-by-turn directions. All of these resources are available to download for offline use. More information is outlined within the detailed information pack, in addition to 24/7 telephone support from Macs Adventure should assistance be required.

This tour is available to start anytime between mid-March and October. 

Peak Season Availability

As Portofino, Portovenere, and the Cinque Terre are very popular destinations, we suggest booking as soon as possible to ensure availability for specific dates.

In Camogli there are two big festivals that happen annually. These are great times to visit to see the event, but do mean that you have to book early to get the accommodation booking as space fills up fast, also the accommodation prices may be higher, and there will be more people in the village and possibly on the trail too at this time. The festivals are:

Sagra del Pesce - always the 2^nd Sunday in May.

Festa Stella Maris - always the 1^st Sunday in August.

Time of Year

The springs months of mid-March, April, May and June offer warm sunshine, fewer crowds, and pleasant walking conditions. May is when most wildflowers are coming into bloom. The autumn months of September and October are also a favourable time of year, boasting cooler weather and a striking landscape made up of autumnal colours. July and August are good months to go but can be very hot for walking and therefore aren’t best suited for everyone. You will have to start early to miss the heat of the day and carry a lot of water (additional weight) with you. Although the towns and villages are buzzing at this time of year which is great to see, and you can take a cooling dip in the sea.

This trip begins in Camogli, Italy. For the most convenient method of travel, we recommended flying into Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) and taking the direct train to Camogli. There are typically no direct flights from North America to Genoa, so you’ll most likely connect in a European hub. From the Genoa airport, there are multiple options to get to the Brignole Train Station:  taxi; shuttle bus (Volabus); or public bus. Details can be found on the Genoa Airport website.
From Genoa’s Brignole station, there are frequent direct trains to Camogli - San Fruttuoso Station. Visit Trenitalia for times, prices and booking. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or online prior to departure.  Total journey time is about 1 hour.

It is also possible to fly into Pisa (PSA) and Florence (FLR). Both have train connections to Camogli.  Visit Trenitalia for times, prices and booking.

A private transfer from Genoa, Pisa or Florence to Camogli can be requested. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to add this option (additional costs apply).

Either take a taxi directly to La Spezia Train Station or the local bus. The bus runs regularly from Portovenere to La Spezia and takes approximately 40 minutes. Bus stops are located near the harbour and at various locations around Portovenere. It stops in the centre of La Spezia, which is around 5 minutes’ walk to the train station. La Spezia Central Train Station has departures to Genoa, Pisa, Florence, or other onward destinations in Italy. Visit Trenitalia for times, prices and booking. On arrival in Genoa Brignole Train Station, catch a local bus or taxi back to the airport. A private transfer from Portovenere to La Spezia Train Station can be arranged. Please let us know at the time of booking if you desire to add this option (additional costs apply).

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person.  It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

One main bag of up to 20kg (44 lbs) per person will be transferred from each accommodation to the next.