• All accommodation as described

• Self-guided information pack containing your map and route notes

• On-site welcome and assistance

• All train transfers for the hiking days included in the program

• Navigation App and GPX tracks available

• Travel insurance

• Travel to and from Corniglia

• Visas (if applicable)

• Tourist taxes may apply and are usually around 1 Euro per person per night

• Meals

• Additional trains outside those listed in the program

• Local buses

• Cinque Terre National Park fees

• Boat ride from Portovenere to Monterosso

• Personal equipment

• Any additional activities/excursions indicated as optional

The five villages of the Cinque Terre are famed for their colourful cliffside buildings and the airy coastal paths that connect them. These fantastic balcony paths certainly are a highlight for those visiting the region. Due to their wild coastal nature, they are regularly monitored by the local park authority and may be closed for safety reasons or maintenance during/following wet weather and/or during exceptionally busy periods, to ensure that you remain safe and enjoy your time in this magnificent region.

We provide you with a selection of alternative routes should the paths be closed during your holiday, and it is always possible to opt to use the coastal train as an alternative way to experience the villages. For the most up-to-date information about the coastal paths please visit www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.php.

Each self-guided holiday comes with comprehensive route notes and a map or pocket guidebook of the area you are exploring. The route notes contain information about the places you will visit and the local transport you might need, along with the detailed route notes for your daily walks or cycle rides. We even include some tips for the best places to stop for lunch.

You can expect to receive your Self-Guided Pack containing your route notes, a map or guidebook, and all your relevant documents, no later than 3 weeks before your holiday start-date. We will send your documents using a signed-for courier so that you can track your package and know that it is safely on its way to you. For bookings of more than 4 people we will send an additional Self-Guided Pack. If you do not need this additional pack please inform our Sales Team. Your pack will be sent to the lead booker, so please remind them to pack it before setting off.

Should your self-guided trip be part of a longer adventure requiring you to leave home more than three weeks before your holiday start-date, please inform our Sales Team so that we can make alternative delivery arrangements.

Our Self-Guided Holidays are perfect for your next family holiday and are suitable for children of all ages.

Our partner hotels and accommodations are able to provide cots for young children, and some offer family rooms. We can also arrange hire of children’s bikes and tag along bikes for most of our self-guided cycling trips and with trips such as Lake Constance and the Danube offering routes on designated cycle paths you can rest assured in keeping your family safe.

As a parent we trust that you know your own child’s capabilities, so please read the itinerary details to ensure the distances covered each day are suitable for your family. If this is a first time walking holiday for your family, a centre based trip is a fantastic option as it allows you to easily opt out of a days walking if a day of building sand castles, swimming in the pool or visiting museums is calling instead.

Please discuss this further with our sales team who will be happy to assist in picking the best trip for your family.

This trip starts and ends at your apartment in Corniglia. All of our self-guided holidays are sold on a Land Only basis, allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method that best suits you. The nearest airport for this trip is Pisa Airport, with many departures from UK regional airports.

The rail network in this part of Italy is extremely good, and if you are flying into Pisa the train is the best way to get to your apartment. From Pisa airport you can take the regular shuttle to Pisa Centrale train station. The journey takes approximately 5-10 minutes. The train journey from Pisa Centrale to Corniglia takes approximately 1.5-2 hours, with one change at La Spezia Centrale. The train service is regular and tickets can be booked in advance at www.lefrecce.it. Corniglia town is located around 1km above Corniglia station. A shuttle runs every day until 8pm and can sometimes be very busy (cost: €1.50 per person per ride). After 8pm, or if the shuttle is full, you will need to walk to your accommodation with your luggage either for around 1km along the road, or up many steps - we do not recommend hard cases with wheels for this reason and suggest bringing something you can carry more easily if required. A hybrid wheel-able soft duffle bag with backpack straps would be ideal.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

Part of the experience of any visit to Italy is the opportunity to taste the wonderful cuisine. Liguria is renowned for its simple flavours, especially the world famous Pesto alla Genovese! The surrounding hills are dotted with pine trees that provide the all-important pine nuts used in many Ligurian dishes, including the famous pesto. The region is well-known for hearty and rustic country flavours, with the warm Mediterranean air creating excellent conditions for olives, grapes, corn, herbs, garlic, potatoes, onions, and artichokes. Seafood in the region is a highlight, with many restaurants serving the day’s fresh catch, not to mention the delicious cones of fresh calamari served as a fast food snack in the villages. Yummy!

As in the whole of Italy, pasta is a constitution. Pesto is on most menus and is often served with fidelini - a long very thin pasta, or trenette - a flat, thin pasta similar to linguine. Gnocchi is also plentiful and is delicious. No meal in Italy is complete without a pleasant wine to wash it down, and Italian wine is excellent! Italy is also famous for its aperitifs, from chilled prosecco to Campari, Vermouth and Cinzano all served over ice, to various spritzes. Aperol, anyone? Don't forget the zesty Limoncello produced in the region, which is particularly delicious poured over ice cream!

We have designed this trip on a self-catering basis to give you the opportunity to enjoy the many welcoming cafes and restaurants in Corniglia and along your walks. You will stay in a simple apartment in the heart of the characterful hilltop village of Corniglia. The apartments are situated in a converted town house and the owners, local wine producers from the village, look forward to welcoming you to your apartment and providing you with top tips for your stay.

Basing yourself in the middle of the five villages allows you to easily access the paths and villages and to truly immerse yourself in the Ligurian way of life. The apartments are equipped with all you need for a week's holiday, including WiFi for sharing those all-important holiday snaps with your friends and family at home. We can offer you three types of apartment, subject to availability, to suit your group size and requirements:

- A studio apartment perfect for individuals and couples.

- A studio Duplex apartment consisting of one separate bedroom and a living/kitchen area with a sofa bed, perfect for families or for up to 3 adults.

- We can arrange two studio apartments on the same floor for families of 4, or for a group of 4 adults travelling together.

Since 2001 the Cinque Terre National Park has charged walkers to use the paths in order to continue their maintenance and conservation. The pass known as the ‘Cinque Terre Card’ costs €7.50 for an adult ticket per day (€15 in peak season) and can be purchased at the Cinque Terre National Park's welcome centres. Alternatively you can purchase it online before you travel from https://card.parconazionale5terre.it/. As a guide, the current standard and peak season dates can be found here: https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/cinque-terre-card#cinque-terre-trekking-card-prices.

The card states the user's full name and may be asked to be seen by an inspector along with your proof of identity.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Soft luggage with wheels AND backpack straps is useful for this holiday. If arriving by train please note that Corniglia town, where you are staying, is located around 1km above Corniglia station. A shuttle runs every day until 8pm and can sometimes be very busy (cost: €1.50 per person per ride). After 8pm, or if the shuttle is full, you will need to walk to your accommodation with your luggage either for around 1km along the road, or up many steps - we do not recommend hard cases with wheels for this reason and suggest bringing something you can carry more easily if required. A hybrid wheel-able soft duffle bag with backpack straps would be ideal.