MAY 4-12, 2023
The Best Walks in Northern Italy – Cinque Terre and the Italian Lakes
Visit all "five lands" of Cinque Terre
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Take the ferry from Bellagio to visit both shores of Lake Como.
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Italy's Cinque Terre, Lake Maggiore and Lake Como
Included:
Arrangements can be made for single and triple occupancy
Optional: Extend your trip in Milan or Venice before flying home.
Final balance is due March 24, 2023.
Travel insurance is recommended for all travel in 2023, available through Friendly Group Travel.
Included:
- 4 nights in Monterosso, Cinque Terre with 3 self-guided group walks to visit all 5 villages of Cinque Terre plus Santa Margherita and Portofino, with GPS tracking, maps and daily itineraries
- 2 nights at Lake Maggiore with 2 walks with our private-group guide
- 2 nights at Lake Como with 2 walks with our private-group guide
- Tickets to Cinque Terre National Park and Cinque Terre rail system
- Ferries from Portofino to Santa Margherita, Bellagio to Cadenabbia, and Tremezzo to Bellagio
- 8 breakfasts
- 3 dinners (one in Cinque Terre, one at Lake Maggiore, one at Lake Como)
Arrangements can be made for single and triple occupancy
Optional: Extend your trip in Milan or Venice before flying home.
Final balance is due March 24, 2023.
Travel insurance is recommended for all travel in 2023, available through Friendly Group Travel.
This unique itinerary combines the best of the Ligurian coast and Italian Lakes with their stunning mountain backdrop. Enjoy colorful fishing villages, a verdant rugged coastline, outstanding food and wine, a fascinating history and vibrant culture where terraced vineyards and olive groves connect with a maze of paths and offer some of the most extraordinary walks in Italy.
This trip is active/not extreme, for outdoorsy individuals, great for multigenerational families with adult children, solos, friends, and couples.
RESERVE NOW TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT WITH US AND SECURE LAKEFRONT ACCOMMODATIONS!
welcome@friendlygrouptravel.com or 860-395-7244
Get updates: Facebook and Instagram @friendlygrouptravel
This trip is active/not extreme, for outdoorsy individuals, great for multigenerational families with adult children, solos, friends, and couples.
RESERVE NOW TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT WITH US AND SECURE LAKEFRONT ACCOMMODATIONS!
welcome@friendlygrouptravel.com or 860-395-7244
Get updates: Facebook and Instagram @friendlygrouptravel
Itinerary
Day 1
After arriving in Cinque Terre (flights and ground transfer to hotel can be arranged for you. Options are to fly into Milan, Florence, Pisa or Genoa.), check in at our designated hotel in Monterosso, and enjoy a rest period at your leisure. Join for group for dinner (included) and to become acquainted with the group and the walks for the upcoming week.
Day 2
We start out with a relaxed 3-mile walk, beginning from the fishing village of Monterosso, the northernmost village of the Cinque Terre. Here the trademark colors of Liguria can be seen in the picturesque jumble of blue, red and yellow houses that cluster behind the beachfront. From Monterosso, we head south to Vernazza, set around a small harbor, with pastel houses seemingly tumbling down into the sea. This area is where you'll see some of the most iconic images associated with Cinque Terre. We'll have time for photos, lunch, and, afterwards, an exploration of Monterosso's beach and town center.
Distance: 4.5 km / 3 miles , Climb total: 400 m / 1300 ft
Day 3
We walk through Cinque Terre's National Park overlooking the seas as we head down to Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre's southernmost village. Along the way we pass through a landscape of terraced cliffs, sheltered woods, and ancient vineyards virtually strapped to the steep hillsides. Explore the fishing village of Corniglia and walk to the small village of Volastra located 350 meters above the sea level and known for its spectacular vineyards. Arriving in Manarola, we stop for lunch. Then, energy permitting, we continue on a trail 100 meters above the sea which leads to Riomaggiore, the southernmost town of the Cinque Terre.
With this day concluded, we'll have visited on foot all the towns of the Cinque Terre, an accomplishment that deserves a toast of the heady local potion, Sciacchetrà.
Distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles, Climb total: 460 m / 1490 ft
Day 4
Explore the Ligurian coast north of Monterosso, starting with a transfer by train to Santa Margherita Ligure. From here we'll walk to the gracious harbor of Portofino. After lunch and an exploration of the town, the trail continues to the abbey of San Fruttuoso. We travel back to Santa Margherita by ferry, pending weather condition of the sea. (Bus and train service also connects Portofino to Santa Margherita and Monterosso.)
Distance: 6 km / 3.8 miles — longer option 9.5 km / 6 miles
Day 5
After breakfast, private transport takes the group to the town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore.
After settling in to our lakefront accommodations, we'll meet our guide for an afternoon loop walk that starts from the village of Levo with wonderful views of the Golfo Borromeo before circling back to Stresa.
Distance: 4.5 miles
Day 6
Today’s guided hike starts in the small town of Belgirate, famous for the 11th C. Romanesque church of St. Mary with a 16th C. portico and frescoes of school of Bernardino Luini. From Belgirate, we hike back to Stresa, with plenty of time to stop and admire the wonderful views across Lago Maggiore.
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
In the afternoon, time permitting, you can explore on your own the Isole Borromee, the islands fronting Stresa. The Isole dei Pescatori (lit. “Island of the Fishermen”) was the favorite of Ernest Hemingway for its rustic charm. Isola Bella was transformed in the 1600s into one of the most lavish and opulent displays of baroque architecture and private wealth in all of Europe. Squint right and it looks rather like an enormous floating wedding cake, with an enormous palace, ornate grottos, a terraced garden inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and, to cap things off, a wandering bevy of white peacocks.
Day 7
Today, we move to Lake Como and the charming lakeside town of Bellagio, arguably one of Italy’s most beautiful towns. In Bellagio, a ferry takes us to the village of Cadenabbia for a guided walk to the village of Tremezzo. Afterwards, a ferry from Tremezzo brings us back to Bellagio. The highlight of the day is the church of San Martino at Griante with its spectacular view of Lake Como.
Distance: 7 km / 4.4 miles, Climb total: 360 m / 1170 ft
Day 8
Featured today is a ferry ride across Lake Como to the town of Varenna. We'll walk with our guidie to Lierna through the Viandante Path. In Varenna, it is also possible to take a 20-minute walk to the Fiumelatte, or River of Milk – a waterfall whose waters pour down from its glacial heights in a white cascade. Upon the return to Bellagio by ferry, you might enjoy strolling among the picturesque lanes of Bellagio, with fine shops that sell, among other things, fabulous silks from the mills of nearby Como.
Distance: 11 km / 6.9 miles, Climb total: 840 m / 2730 ft
Day 9
Transport from Lake Como to Milan airport for return home. (Pending flight times, a group ride can be arranged; taxis are readily available. About 1 hour 15 minutes by car.)
Or extend your trip with an extra day to relax at Lake Como; a day and night in Milan; or a couple of days in Venice prior to flying home. (Individual extension arrangements happily made on request.)
Day 1
After arriving in Cinque Terre (flights and ground transfer to hotel can be arranged for you. Options are to fly into Milan, Florence, Pisa or Genoa.), check in at our designated hotel in Monterosso, and enjoy a rest period at your leisure. Join for group for dinner (included) and to become acquainted with the group and the walks for the upcoming week.
Day 2
We start out with a relaxed 3-mile walk, beginning from the fishing village of Monterosso, the northernmost village of the Cinque Terre. Here the trademark colors of Liguria can be seen in the picturesque jumble of blue, red and yellow houses that cluster behind the beachfront. From Monterosso, we head south to Vernazza, set around a small harbor, with pastel houses seemingly tumbling down into the sea. This area is where you'll see some of the most iconic images associated with Cinque Terre. We'll have time for photos, lunch, and, afterwards, an exploration of Monterosso's beach and town center.
Distance: 4.5 km / 3 miles , Climb total: 400 m / 1300 ft
Day 3
We walk through Cinque Terre's National Park overlooking the seas as we head down to Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre's southernmost village. Along the way we pass through a landscape of terraced cliffs, sheltered woods, and ancient vineyards virtually strapped to the steep hillsides. Explore the fishing village of Corniglia and walk to the small village of Volastra located 350 meters above the sea level and known for its spectacular vineyards. Arriving in Manarola, we stop for lunch. Then, energy permitting, we continue on a trail 100 meters above the sea which leads to Riomaggiore, the southernmost town of the Cinque Terre.
With this day concluded, we'll have visited on foot all the towns of the Cinque Terre, an accomplishment that deserves a toast of the heady local potion, Sciacchetrà.
Distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles, Climb total: 460 m / 1490 ft
Day 4
Explore the Ligurian coast north of Monterosso, starting with a transfer by train to Santa Margherita Ligure. From here we'll walk to the gracious harbor of Portofino. After lunch and an exploration of the town, the trail continues to the abbey of San Fruttuoso. We travel back to Santa Margherita by ferry, pending weather condition of the sea. (Bus and train service also connects Portofino to Santa Margherita and Monterosso.)
Distance: 6 km / 3.8 miles — longer option 9.5 km / 6 miles
Day 5
After breakfast, private transport takes the group to the town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore.
After settling in to our lakefront accommodations, we'll meet our guide for an afternoon loop walk that starts from the village of Levo with wonderful views of the Golfo Borromeo before circling back to Stresa.
Distance: 4.5 miles
Day 6
Today’s guided hike starts in the small town of Belgirate, famous for the 11th C. Romanesque church of St. Mary with a 16th C. portico and frescoes of school of Bernardino Luini. From Belgirate, we hike back to Stresa, with plenty of time to stop and admire the wonderful views across Lago Maggiore.
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
In the afternoon, time permitting, you can explore on your own the Isole Borromee, the islands fronting Stresa. The Isole dei Pescatori (lit. “Island of the Fishermen”) was the favorite of Ernest Hemingway for its rustic charm. Isola Bella was transformed in the 1600s into one of the most lavish and opulent displays of baroque architecture and private wealth in all of Europe. Squint right and it looks rather like an enormous floating wedding cake, with an enormous palace, ornate grottos, a terraced garden inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and, to cap things off, a wandering bevy of white peacocks.
Day 7
Today, we move to Lake Como and the charming lakeside town of Bellagio, arguably one of Italy’s most beautiful towns. In Bellagio, a ferry takes us to the village of Cadenabbia for a guided walk to the village of Tremezzo. Afterwards, a ferry from Tremezzo brings us back to Bellagio. The highlight of the day is the church of San Martino at Griante with its spectacular view of Lake Como.
Distance: 7 km / 4.4 miles, Climb total: 360 m / 1170 ft
Day 8
Featured today is a ferry ride across Lake Como to the town of Varenna. We'll walk with our guidie to Lierna through the Viandante Path. In Varenna, it is also possible to take a 20-minute walk to the Fiumelatte, or River of Milk – a waterfall whose waters pour down from its glacial heights in a white cascade. Upon the return to Bellagio by ferry, you might enjoy strolling among the picturesque lanes of Bellagio, with fine shops that sell, among other things, fabulous silks from the mills of nearby Como.
Distance: 11 km / 6.9 miles, Climb total: 840 m / 2730 ft
Day 9
Transport from Lake Como to Milan airport for return home. (Pending flight times, a group ride can be arranged; taxis are readily available. About 1 hour 15 minutes by car.)
Or extend your trip with an extra day to relax at Lake Como; a day and night in Milan; or a couple of days in Venice prior to flying home. (Individual extension arrangements happily made on request.)
