Walking inCinque Terre,Italy

The transfer time from Pisa Airport to our hotel in La Spezia is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

Five guided walks are included in the programme. Our experienced walking guide will advise us of the daily programme whilst in resort. The walking programme is graded as Moderate and includes a variety of coastal trails, ancient mule tracks, vineyard paths and woodland routes. Walks range from approximately 5 to 8km, with walking times between 2 and 3½ hours and ascents/descents of 200 to 400 metres.

The walks included are:

• Day 2 – Monterosso to Vernazza & Riomaggiore
  • Walking time: Approx. 3–3½ hours
  • Distance: Approx. 8km
  • Ascent/Descent: Approx. 350m
  • Terrain: Stone steps, uneven dirt and rocky paths with sustained climbs and descents, plus some narrow sections.
• Day 3 – Corniglia to Manarola
  • Walking time: Approx. 3 hours
  • Distance: Approx. 7km
  • Ascent/Descent: Approx. 400m
  • Terrain: Vineyard paths, dirt tracks, uneven rocky surfaces and numerous stone steps. A local minibus is available from Volastra to Manarola for those wishing to avoid the final descent.
• Day 5 – Santa Margherita to Portofino
  • Walking time: Approx. 3½ hours
  • Distance: Approx. 8km
  • Ascent/Descent: Approx. 300m
  • Terrain: Wide mule tracks, cobbled paths, woodland trails and paved lanes with gentle to moderate gradients.
• Day 7 – Palmaria Island
  • Walking time: Approx. 2–3½ hours
  • Distance: Approx. 5km
  • Ascent/Descent: Approx. 200–300m
  • Terrain: Uneven dirt and rocky coastal paths with moderate climbs and descents.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking. You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it.

Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solos Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company's negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.

It is important that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. The weather, even in summer, is unpredictable – particularly in mountainous areas. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:

• Walking boots with good ankle support
• Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
• Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
• Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
• Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
• Walking socks – several pairs
• Lightweight fleece or jumper
• Hat & gloves
• Daysack/rucksack for walking
• Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
• Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
• Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
• Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.

There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below.

Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters, and hotel staff of approximately €35.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.

Euros

A full 10-year passport is required valid for at least the duration of your stay. Holders of passports with the inscription “British Citizen” or “European Union” do not require a visa. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. 

It is important that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. The weather, even in summer, can be unpredictable. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:

• Walking boots with good ankle support
• Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
• Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
• Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
• Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
• Walking socks – several pairs
• Lightweight fleece or jumper
• Hat & gloves
• Daysack/rucksack for walking
• Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
• Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
• Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellent, etc
• Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.

Passport validity requirements If you are travelling to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check if your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. Check with your transport provider or travel company that your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Passport stamping At Italian border control, you may need to:

• show proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if visiting your own property (for example, a second home)
• show proof of insurance for your trip – check FCDO’s travel insurance guidance
• show a return or onward ticket
• prove that you have enough money for your stay. The minimum amount required depends on your accommodation
• follow procedures if you are hosting a guest at your property in Italy

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Italy as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit. You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets. Visa requirements You can travel to countries in the Schengen areafor up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to Italy and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

Compulsory vaccinations: None. At least 8 weeks before your trip: All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. 

Euro

Italy is one hour ahead of the UK.