More about the route
This is a relatively easy walk which is suitable for those who have experience with walking/hiking, and who have general good physics. The daily walks are 5-6 hours. Most of the routes follows well marked paths and trails, and many of them have recently been restored by the local authorities. Some places it is necesarry to to follow the given map and route directions.
Itinerary
Here you can see the program for the week.
Arrival in Levanto. After settling into your hotel, there's time for a short visit to the town centre and perhaps a swim to wash away the fatigue of your journey. If you're arriving in the morning, you can take the relatively short walk to Monterosso now.
Hotel (example): Hotel Nuovo Garden***
The first day of walking will take you down the coast to Monterosso al Mare. The first part of the trails are leading up to the remarkable promontory Punta Mesco. To the east there are views of the rugged coastline of Cinque Terre and to the west you will get a view of Levanto. This is a good place to stop for a picnic lunch. Shortly after Punta Mesco, you can make a small detour to the ruins of an ancient hermitage, from the 11th century. Upon that you will follow a fairly steep path down into Monterosso, a colorful village, with blue, red and yellow houses that cling on to the rocks. There is plenty of time to explore the city before heading back to Levanto. For those who wish, it is also possible to go back to Levanto via an alternative route over the mountains. This route ends up behind the old castle in Levanto.
Hotel (example): Hotel Nuovo Garden***
Today you walk from Levanto in a western direction. The first part goes on the ride along the beach, then the trails goes up into the hills and then down to the small coastal town of Bonassola. A coastal trail continues to Framura, where a number of small villages have grown together in the hilly landscape. From the upper village of Costa the path continues horizontally on green hillsides along the coast, with breathtaking views of the sea. A steep descent brings you down to Deiva Marina. From here it is possible to continue to Moneglia. This coastal walk takes you through several charming little villages where you will have time to drink a cup of coffee or just relax. There are also good opportunities to have lunch. you can go as far as you like, as it is possible from most of the villages to jump on the train back to Levanto.
Hotel (example): Hotel Nuovo Garden***
After breakfast you take the train to Riomaggiore, the most southern of the five villages. Here you start today's walk to Manarola, an attractive village with multi-colored houses, winding its way up the cliff sides, overlooking the natural rocky harbor. From Manarola the path goes up through the wine terraces towards Corniglia, which is nicely perched on a ridge overlooking the sea. From here the trail passes through vineyards and citrus groves. When you approach the village of Vernazza which and its old fortress, you will experience some of the most incredible views in the entire region. The path winds around the hillsides, until a fairly steep descent brings you into Vernazza, which is the most beautiful of all the villages on the coast. You must not spare yourself the experience to climb up the castle tower, which offers a magnificent view of the harbor with its many beautiful and colorful boats. There are many charming cafes where you can enjoy a drink or a nice lunch before going back to Levanto.
Hotel (example): Hotel Nuovo Garden***
Today's hike takes you into the back country, of the central Cinque Terre, to the churches of Madonna di Reggio and Madonna di Saviore. You take the first train to Vernazza and then walk along the beach to Monterosso. After a good coffee break, begin the ascent to the sanctuary, Madonna di Saviore. This is a great spot to relax and have lunch before continuing to the next sanctuary, Madonna di Reggio. From here the path passes through the hills, to the little church of San Bernardo. The view of the coast from here is indescribable and the walk is pleasant. Eventually the trail descends to the coast and Vernazza, where you catch the train back to Riomaggiore. It is possible to shorten the trip by going directly from Madonna di Reggio, along a series of small chapels, down to Vernazza.
Hotel (example): Hotel Nuovo Garden***
From Riomaggiore the path takes you in an eastern direction to Campiglia and Portovenere. You walk up a long flight of stairs to the Santuario della Madonna di Montenero. After the ascent the trail continues horizontal along the coastal cliffs and through beautiful vineyards. The dramatic coastline is perfectly framed by the clear azure blue waters. You are now at the Sentiero Rosso ridge that travels from one end of the Cinque Terre to the other. When passing through the small village of Campiglia, it is possible to stop for refreshments. From Campiglia you will hike down through the pine forest to Portovenere. Again, the views here are spectacular when passing by the fine old castle, from the 16th century, that lies above the Portovenere. From here you can see the distant peaks of the Alpi Apuane mountains. A wide staircase leads you into the heart of the village, and here there is time to explore the charming village and Punta San Pietro, before you check in to your hotel.
Hotel (example): Hotel Paradiso
After yesterday's long walk, today you have some time to recover. There's a beautiful, easy walk across the island of Palmaria, just across the bay from Portovenere. By boat you make the short crossing, and then you have all day to experience the beauty of this very Mediterranean island, shrouded in the dense vegetation, overlooking the cliffs with only the seagulls and azure sky above you. Take time to explore the impressive fortresses and perhaps take a swim on one of the secluded beaches. When you return by boat to the mainland, you'll still have time to visit the charming village of Portovenere itself and choose a restaurant for your last dinner in Venus' Harbour.
Hotel (example): Hotel Paradiso
After breakfast it is time to pack your luggage and check-out of the hotel.
Pictures from the trip
Prices and dates
The price includes
- 5 nights in Levanto in a 3-star hotel
- 2 nights stay in Portovenere in a 3-star hotel
- Breakfast every day
- Luggage transport between hotels
- Detailed route descriptions, maps and relevant tourist information
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Transportation to and from the destination
- Local train tickets (about 2-3 € per. ticket) and boat tickets from Punta San Pietro to Riomaggiore (about 10 € per. ticket)
- Handling fee (€20)
- Tourist tax (if due)
Practical information
The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. Simply choose "1 person" in the booking form and it will automatically add the single room surcharge.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Pisa or Genoa are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 48 working hours). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.
Which airport
Pisa is the nearest and most accessible airport for Levanto. Check www.pisa-airport.com for the direct flight options that suit you the best. Alternatively you can fly to/from Milan, but train transportation is a little longer to Levanto from there.
The tour from Pisa to Levanto and back from Riomaggiore to Pisa, is most easily done by train. On www.trenitalia.com it is easy to get an overview of times and destinations on the Italian trains (Pisa/Levanto takes about 1.5 hours, Milan/Levanto takes about 3 hours) but since it is difficult to purchase or change tickets online, we recommend that you buy them directly from the ticket machines at the train station.
Local Transportation
The local coastal train line, has frequent departures, and tickets can be purchased directly at the station (1-3 euros).
On days when the boatcruise between Portovenere and Riomaggiore is not operating, it is possible to take the local bus back. For more info on this in your walking descriptions for the respective day.
You will stay 5 nights in Levanto at a 3-star hotel and 2 nights in Portovenere at a 3-star hotel. Breakfast is included at both hotels.
Please note: In the daily itinerary, you can see examples of the hotels we use on the tour. It is not guaranteed that you will stay at these exact hotels, but the quality will be the same.
Breakfast is included every day. It is easy to find lunch and dinner in the towns on the tour.
This journey has difficulty level 2
Grade 2
Easy hiking on reasonably good trails. The day walks will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in good physical condition can participate. Your luggage will be transported and you only carry a light daypack. Requires comfortable footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.
Read more about our grading system here.
On this tour, you will receive the following documents:
Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.
One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.
Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
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"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"