Internationale groepsreis Walks of the Cinque Terre and Portofino

Fantastic holiday

A wonderful way to spend a week, walking the beautiful Ligurian coast, visiting the Cinque Terre villages and Portofino. The walks are well planned stopping at great places to eat lunch (Lots of good places in Moneglia to pick up a delicious slice of focaccia). Moneglia was a very pleasant town with a great atmosphere, ideal for strolling round on a warm evening. The hotel was very pleasant, and I liked the breakfasts, though fans of a Full English will be disappointed.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Looking across to the village of Volastra while walking from Riomaggiore to Corneglia, the blueness of the sea, the wooded paths of the Portofino perninsula.

What did you think of your group leader?

Emily was great, well organised, patient and funny. We'd never done this sort of holiday before and she completely put us at our ease.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

The walks were a bit tougher than I expected, I hadn't factored in the gradient or the heat. Certainly make sure to take a pair of good walking shoes, I very nearly didn't.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I wasn't sure whether I'd like going on an organised group holiday, but I loved it, and will certainly be looking to do another one next year.

Beautiful scenery and rewarding walks

A very pleasant week exploring the coastal walks. Emily, our guide, was very well prepared and flexed the week to suit recent feedback, weather and the needs of the group members. Due to the hot weather, several of the walks were strenuous in places, but always rewarded us with spectacular views.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Walking through the steep sided vineyards on the way to Corneglia on our last day, with the sea sparkling below, pinching the odd grape and blackberry along the path.

What did you think of your group leader?

Good humoured, well prepared and very tall :-)

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Walking boots with ankle support and then flipflops as soon as you finish the walk!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The food was great- especially if you enjoy seafood, gelato and focaccia! The family run Piccolo Hotel was a little gem, a minute from the beach, with very good breakfast and lots of good restaurants close by.

Cinque Terre and Portofino Walks

Walking along the calming coastline and resorts of Ligurian sea.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Walking along the vineyards between the Cinque Terre villages overlooking great coastline scenery.

What did you think of your group leader?

Warm welcoming chap who integrated the group well. Organised all the transport, restaurants and events with no fuss. Eric was able to cater for those who did not wish to walk or who had injuries.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

There are some steep climbs and descents on a couple of days.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The order the walks are in have the hardest on the first two days. It would be better to rearrange the order so the hardest is not the first walk undertaken.

cinque Terre and Porto Fino BY babs

Fantastic trip on the LIGURIA coast north of Pisa. Every day the walks showed different aspects of this stunning landscape. Walks through forests ( good in the heat) along terraced vineyards, olive groves and old mule tracks. Stopping at the famous Cinque Terre villages for lunch that jut out into the azure sea on rocky promontaries. After a day walking feast on delicious seafood and local ligurian wines. Get to the start of walks using the local trains that show you glimpses of sea inbetween tunnels.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Porto Fino is like a film set so beautiful. Eating at la Ruota restaurant high in the hills overlooking the bay at Moneglia for a six course meal with wine. On my free day i visited Genoa a lovely city and port to stroll around

What did you think of your group leader?

Eric Woolley is a first class tour leader. Passionate about walking and knowledgeable about Italy. We were welcomed and well organised so as to maximize our time every day. His sense of humour helped us enjoy even the most challenging bits of the trip!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Cinque Terre

Wonderful location, wonderful people, wonderful walks, wonderful leader, wonderful weather - what more could you want!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

It was all great.

What did you think of your group leader?

Fun, hard working, caring and we all loved him. In the end we could not even find out breakfast without him it was all made so easy peasy.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take walking poles they really help and a sunhat.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The trips are always memorable and I am never sure if it is the people or place that makes that so. Always come back with a new friend, how good is that.

Walks of Portofino and Cinque Terre

Relaxed unhurried walking in stunning coastal scenery

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

walking among beautifully situated vineyards perched on steep slopes down to the sea. Very unusual

What did you think of your group leader?

Very informative mature and well organised. A very well rounded guide with a wealth of experience

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Although easy walking on good paths it is still important to have adequate walking footwear.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

If you do not like train journeys this may not be for you. trains often late and crowded on daily journeys to walks

A great experience in a stunning part of Europe

Great trip for those who like a well rounded experience in a stunning part of Italy. You will experience great hikes along Italy's stunning north western coastline, with the charm and sophistication of the small villages and resort towns. If you like good food and wine you're in for a treat.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Great blend of amazing natural beauty alongside some of the most picturesque Italian coastline with gastronomical delights.

What did you think of your group leader?

The group leader was really passionate about this region and all it had to offer.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

You need a reasonable level of fitness and if travelling in the warmer months make sure you're well prepared to hydrate and protect yourself from the sun.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Cinque Terre and Portofino

An excellent holiday. Good walking and great locations visited on the Ligurian coast. Ample time allowed to explore the various villages visited. Good food - especially at the "Gourmet Evenings".

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Visiting Portofino. The views on the walk into the village were wonderful and the village itself lived up to its reputation.

What did you think of your group leader?

Very good - he interacted well with the group and kept us informed of the plans for the following day.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Budget for a couple of expensive meals - the gourmet evenings. Lunches at the villages are good value if you buy slices of pizza, focaccia etc from take away shops.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Quite an expensive holiday, with most meals having to be paid for separately. However well worth the cost

Great Week

This was a great holiday. Well planned out. The walks were varied - and all with beautiful views. In the evenings, Suzy took us to some great restaurants. On the walk to Portofino we stopped off at a restaurant in the hills where the tomatoes for the caprese salad were plucked off the vine next to the restaurant - fantastic. The hotel was nice, and very close to the beach. The wine tasting, with somebody who was passionate about the wines of the region, was fascinating.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Walking down into Portofino.

What did you think of your group leader?

Suzy was great. Was knowledgeable about the region. Everything was well organised and when changes needed to be made at the last minute she was able to figure out alternate arrangements quickly.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

The walks varied in difficulty, with the first day definitely the hardest. There were some very steep extended descents - poles definitely came in handy on that first day, as well as when we descended from Montallegro to Chiavari. The walks in the Cinque Terre were great, although there was not a lot of time in the villages themselves. However, you can easily use the free day to spend more time in them, as well as in Portovenere - the boat trip out is recommended. Food is expensive - especially the restaurants we went to in the evenings, so be prepared... Also, just a note that the trip notes mention the Via Dell'Amore. Unfortunately, this has been closed since 2011 as a result of a landslide, and doesn't appear to be reopening anytime soon because of bickering over who will pay to repair it, so we did not get to do it. This was not a major loss since all the other walking was great, but something that Exodus might want to change in the trip notes.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just do it - and then plan to spend another week in the area afterwards like we did - you will not want to leave.

Walks of the Cinque Terra and Portofino

We have done many Exodus walking holidays, usually Grade 3. This had the usual country paths and ups and downs but included the chance to see and swim in the sea every day and to travel on local trains. The base town was not too touristy so we could get a sense of real Italian life. A single centre in a family-run hotel made for a relaxed and comfortable time

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The views from the cable car and as we descended into Positano were beautiful. Local people were friendly and some of the restaurant meals were superb (all were good). The wine tasting evening was outstanding.

What did you think of your group leader?

Suzy's long experience as a leader really showed. She was knowledgeable, considerate and she made every effort to ensure that each of us had a good time. Although she was not Italian, her command of the language ensured that everything ran smoothly.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

We had excellent weather after the first day but some paths were quite steep and somewhat insecure in places after recent heavy rain. Walking poles were very useful both for stability and to ease pressure on our knees on long ascents/descents.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

After (I think) a total of 12 Exodus holidays we know we can trust your planning and staff but this really was a great choice for us. Back to the brochure....

Walks in the Cinque Terre and Portofino

Fantastic holiday in a beautiful part of Italy with excellent food and wine and an entertaining group of fellow walkers. I enjoyed all the walks but especially those through the forests where we didn't meet another soul.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Watching a lightning storm whilst sheltering safely was exhilarating. I also loved visiting Lucca on the free day and cycling round the city wall on a hire bike.

What did you think of your group leader?

I thought Paul did a good job, given that he arrived in the resort at the same time as we did. He recommended and reserved some excellent restaurants for us; the food and wine was a definite highlight of the holiday. He also came up with an alternative "wet weather" walk when bad weather shut the Cinque Terre and that walk (including the storm) was another of my highlights.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

The walks are very steep in parts so a good fitness level is required. I'd done a couple of level 2/3 trips before and found this level 3 trip to be noticeably more difficult than those. Mind you, I was a lot fitter by the end of the week and the views definitely make the effort worthwhile. I went on this trip towards the end of the season. I think this was a good move because it meant the Cinque Terre paths and towns were not as busy as they would be in the summer.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Cinque Terra

Fantastic views. Great guide

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The fact that I could manage all the walks

What did you think of your group leader?

Excellant

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Is there anything else you would like to add?