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Cinque Terre, Italy:  Hiking Between the Sky and Sea
May 17 - 23, 2008 (Guided)

Private or Self-Guided Departures Also Available May Through October

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Trip Overview  

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The Cinque Terre consists of eighteen kilometers of sheer rocky coastline with terraced hills and vineyards sloping steeply down to the sea.  Since 1926, the Cinque Terre towns have been part of the province of La Spezia.  Just south of Portofino on the eastern coast of Liguria, the Riviera di Levante, five towns on the Ligurian Sea maintain the charm and character of Italian villages of the past. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are the pastel towns that make up Cinque Terre, or five lands. They are vintage settlements where life moves slowly, each clinging to the rocky coast, defying gravity and time.  All the villages share unique characteristics; all are set on a beautiful coast hidden away in small, natural coastal inlets, built into the rocks and suspended above the sea between the beach and the hills.    

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Cinque Terre represents one of the best preserved natural and semi-natural areas of the Mediterranean; this is mainly due to history and topography, which have limited excessive housing development and the creation of major roadways.  Due to their isolation the villages have remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and upon viewing them from the sea in the ferry, one can appreciate their ruggedness.  

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Our trip will take place in the perfect window before the summer’s heat.  We’ll be based in a friendly, family-run hotel a near the sea in Monterosso al Mare and will use trains and boats and our feet to access our daily adventures (and a range of delightful restaurants) in this dramatic landscape between the sky and sea.

To read an in-depth article on this trip by Jaime Ferris of the New Milford Times, please click here.

Highlights

Land Cost

(Fees pertain to the May 17 - 23, 2008 guided departure.  Please contact us for a quote for a private or self-guided trip.)

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The Bredeson Outdoor Adventures Loyalty Program

Rating

Moderate. 4-7 miles of walking daily, with options to extend or choose higher energy walks. We will walk along trails that can be narrow, uneven, and sometimes rocky. While the walks are moderate in terms of distance, the daily altitude gain/loss averages about 1000 feet, and the trails and trail surface can be quite rough in places.  Hiking boots with ankle support are a must, and practice on rocky trails prior to the trip is highly recommended.

Itinerary

Saturday, May 17:  Trip Orientation and Welcome Dinner

Travel to Monterosso and meet your guide, Deborah Lewis, at 6:00 p.m. for a trip orientation and welcome drinks (probably a bottle of Cinque Terre wine), followed by your first delicious dinner.  We’ll eat out at several restaurants during the trip, allowing us the opportunity to enjoy different settings and menus, while savoring the comfort of being able to unpack and relax from one base.  Cinque Terre is a short and inexpensively priced train ride from a number of airports, including Genoa, Milan and Pisa.  We will provide complete joining instructions in our trip confirmation packet.

Sunday, May 18:  Sentiero Azzuro (Riomaggiore – Manarola – Corniglia)

Today we’ll travel a short distance by train to Riomaggiore where we’ll walk the section of the spectacular Sentiero Azzuro, or Blue Path, from Riomaggiore to Manarola and on to Corniglia.  The Sentiero Azzuro is the classic way to explore the extraordinary villages and cultivated hillsides of the Cinque Terre while enjoying coastal scenery.  It is one of the most scenic coastal paths in Italy and was made over the centuries by those who used it to move from one village to another.  In many parts it was a mule track along the coast. The path from Riomaggiore to Monterosso is 12 km long but today we’ll walk half of it, allowing us time to explore the villages along the way.  Most of the path is ancient and was well-known at the time of the Republic of Genoa, when Vernazza was the main docking bay of the area.  The stretch between Manarola and Riomaggiore has been named Sentiero dell’Amore (Lovers’ Lane) because of its romantic beauty.  After a short return train ride from Corniglia to Monterosso, we toast the day in a restaurant serving local specialties.

Monday, May 19:  Monterosso - Levanto

Today we hike directly from our hotel, past the giant statue of Neptune and up to Punta Mesco, a beautiful promontory covered in Mediterranean bush and stands of Umbrella Pine trees.  This five mile hike provides wide views of the coast from Monterosso to Portovenere to the south and from Levanto to Portofino to the north.  In the last stretch, the trail descends gently with views of the coast and of the charming seaside city of Levanto with its castle and boardwalk.  We wend our way through Levanto’s pedestrian zone past sidewalk cafes and take the short train ride back to Monterosso.

Tuesday, May 20:  Riomaggiore – Portovenere

Today’s seven mile hike, like the Blue Path, is one of the finest coastal hikes in Italy and provides amazing views of the coast and the Gulf of Spezia.  We have the choice of hiking up from Riomaggiore, or shortening the hike by taking the National Park van up to the hamlet of Biassa and starting our hike in a lovely chestnut forest.  The panoramic views from the cliff top trail between the village of Campiglia and Portovenere are wonderful, as is the breathtaking view of the castle and the Bay of Poets as we hike down to Portevenere.  We’ll have time to enjoy a gelato and explore the narrow and colorful streets of this medieval down before boarding a boat for the return trip to Monterosso.  Dinner tonight is on your own, giving you an opportunity to explore yet another of the many restaurants in Monterosso, perhaps in the old town, or to linger longer in Portovenere. 

Wednesday, May 21:  Portofino

Today’s adventure will take us to the beautiful and glamorous village of Portofino and the National Park of Portofino.  We travel by train to the beautiful city of Santa Margherita, and enjoy a short and winding bus ride along the coast to this gem whose beauty does not disappoint, despite the expectations set by its fame.  From Portofino we walk through groves of chestnut, pine, and olive trees, enjoying spectacular views of the sea, to San Fruttuoso with its rocky harbor and 10th-century medieval abbey. In San Fruttuoso we have the option of returning to Portofino by foot, or taking a boat.  After exploring Portofino and picnicking in the lovely town garden on the hillside, we’ll board the boat for Santa Margherita and the train ride back to Monterosso.

Thursday, May 22:  Corniglia – Vernazza - Monterosso

We come full circle today, completing the Blue Path that we started on our first hike.  After our five minute train transfer from Monterosso to Corgnilia, we hike up the elegant (and somewhat long) staircase to the hillside farming community of Corniglia, the only one of the five villages that is not directly on the water.  Corniglia is perched on a promontory above the sea, and the walk out of town through the silvery green olive groves is memorable.  We enjoy our last lunch together al fresco in one of Vernazza’s many outdoor restaurants, and then hike back to Monterosso.  Our farewell dinner tonight, perhaps with a toast of Cinque Terre wine to the week’s accomplishments and memories, will take place in a restaurant above the town with the ever-present view of the Mediterranean.

Friday, May 23

Today we say good-bye to the Cinque Terre and depart for home or other adventures

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events or weather.  We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise.  Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Transportation

Our primary mode of transportation will be our trusty feet, supplemented by the excellent network of local trains that provide easy and quick connections between the villages.  We’ll also take boats on two days, allowing us to admire the villages and the dramatic coast from the water.

Meeting Point and Time

6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at our hotel in Monterosso. Independent arrival. Detailed joining instructions will be provided in the trip information packet. 

Departure

9:00 a.m., Friday, May 23 or whenever dictated by your travel connections.

Included in Price

Not Included in Price

A Note Regarding the Price and the Exchange Rate

Most trip expenses are paid in Euros by Bredeson Outdoor Adventures.  Due to the volatility of currency markets, we may be forced to raise (or lower) our trip price.  If so, your final invoice, sent out approximately 100 days before departure, will reflect the difference in the dollar portion.  Please note:  we have never had to do this in the past and expect not to have to do this in the future.  However, we do reserve the right.

Pre- and Post-Trip Extension

If you wish to arrive in Monterosso before May 17 or stay after May 23, please let us know.  While you would need to pay the hotel directly for a pre- or post-trip extension, we would be delighted to make an inquiry on your behalf.  We are also happy to make recommendations for other pre- or post-trip extensions such as Lucca or Florence.

Group Size

A minimum of four guests will be required for this trip to take place.  The group will be held to a maximum of ten guests.  Before making your travel arrangements, please contact us to make sure that the trip has reached the minimum number of participants and is taking place.

Cancellation Policy

If it becomes necessary to cancel your trip, the following schedule applies and is determined by the day that we receive written notification:

We strongly recommend that you purchase Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance. Please contact Deborah Lewis (866-533-4361 (toll free in the U.S.), 203-840-0295; dlewis@bredeson.com) if you would like information on trip cancellation, interruption and health care insurance.

Trip Prospectus, Questions or Sign-Up Form

Please contact Deborah Lewis at 866-533-4361 (toll free in the U.S.), 203-840-0295 or dlewis@bredeson.com for a copy of the trip prospectus, questions, or a sign-up form.

After We Receive Your Reservation

After we have received your reservation, we will email detailed additional information including joining instructions, a packing list, a reading list, and other trip preparation details. 

We hope that you will join us on this grand adventure!

Contact us toll free (U.S.) at 866-533-4361 or

+203-840-0295 (outside the U.S.)

info@bredeson.com