Walking inCinque Terre,Italy

Five guided walks are included in the program. Our experienced walking guide will advise us of the daily program while in resort. The walking program is graded as Moderate and includes a variety of coastal trails, ancient mule tracks, vineyard paths, and woodland routes. Walks range from approximately 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km), with walking times between 2 and 3½ hours and ascents/descents of 650 to 1,300 feet (200 to 400 meters).

The walks included are:

Day 2 – Monterosso to Vernazza & Riomaggiore

• Walking time: Approx. 3–3½ hours
• Distance: Approx. 5 miles (8 km)
• Ascent/Descent: Approx. 1,150 ft (350 m)
• 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. 4.5 miles (7 km)
• Ascent/Descent: Approx. 1,300 ft (400 m)
• 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. 5 miles (8 km)
• Ascent/Descent: Approx. 1,000 ft (300 m)
• 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. 3 miles (5 km)
• Ascent/Descent: Approx. 650–1,000 ft (200–300 m)
• Terrain: Uneven dirt and rocky coastal paths with moderate climbs and descents.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to participate in your chosen active vacation. If you are unsure whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss the matter and ensure you understand the terrain. You may be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially when wet. If you are accustomed to using trekking poles or walking sticks, we recommend bringing them along.

Please note that the route and itinerary may change at any time at the discretion of the guide or organizer should conditions require. Solos Holidays Inc. cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident, or damage to property while on these walks, other than incidents arising from company negligence. The guide reserves the right to refuse participation to anyone who is not properly equipped or dressed for the walk.

• 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.

Shortly before your holiday, you will be invited to join an optional WhatsApp group to connect with your fellow travellers and your Tour Leader.

• 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.

We recommend that you check passport and visa requirements for the country you are visiting at the State Department if you have a U.S. Passport. Most countries require that your passport have at least six months validity when traveling internationally, and many require that you have one to two blank visa pages for either an entry stamp or visa. As a general rule, please check that your passport has six months validity beyond your planned trip, and if not, please renew your passport with plenty of time to provide Solos with your updated passport information by the final payment due date.

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