Hiking the Cinque Terre

the Cinque Terre hiking trip is a physucally challenging, scenic, invigorating and a unique expeeence.

Program for the serious hiker or a couple with one serious hiker and a capable companion with moderate hiking interests. Beautiful venues yo explore together with options for thevless inspired hiking partner. Definitely spirited hiking so if interested, should focus on athletic preparation.

Everything about this program was wonderful and met my expectations!

We could not have been happier with our Cinque Terre hiking experience. The guides were the best we have ever had, the scenery and the trails were beyond beautiful, and we very much enjoyed getting to know the other participants and our guides over our unforgettable week in Italy. This will go down as one of our most favorite trips, and we will look back on our experience (and our photos!) with wonder.

This was our first Road Scholar trip and our first trip abroad. It was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The guides were wonderful, the food was great, we gained so much knowledge of the history of Cinque Terre and the scenery was gorgeous. We definitely plan to travel with Road Scholar again!

I highly recommend the Cinque Terre Hiking program. The scenery is spectacular, and the hikes are challenging, yet doable. Our tour leader, Arianna, and our hiking guide, Boris, were both exceptional!

This was a glorious look at a beautiful part of the world. The guides were excellent and the trails varied from average to challenging.

I absolutely loved this trip! This was our first Road Scholar trip and my husband and I were both impressed with how thorough Road Scholar is in helping you prepare and plan for a trip. The actual trip itself was amazing! I was a little worried that in a hiking trip, we might not see as much but I did not feel that way at all. Each daily hike took us to one more beautiful spot after another and focused on a different aspect of the Cinque Terre or surrounding region. Nothing was redundant about these hikes and all went smoothly. Our hiking guide, Boris, was excellent. He gave useful hiking tips for these challenging hikes and great historical and relevant information for each incredibly beautiful hike. He was very approachable as a guide and very patient and likable. I cannot say enough about how beautiful these hikes were. Just gorgeous! This trip was also successful due in large part to our group leader, Matteo. He was with us 24 hrs and made sure we all were prepared for the upcoming day. Any problem that might have come up, he was there for us and in a kind way. He set the tone for our group which made the atmosphere relaxed, comfortable and fun. We felt easy in knowing that things would go well as he was very organized and knew the area well. Everything was communicated to us readily. He, too, had great insights about the hikes and historical information as well. It was great that he was so well versed in many things about Italy. He was an excellent leader and helped make our trip very enjoyable. Matteo and Boris were great together on our hikes. They even sang for us! My husband thought the restaurants and meals were terrific. The hike to the vineyard followed by the meal was the icing on the cake. All in all, this was a stunningly beautiful trip with excellent guides in Matteo and Boris. Our hotel was a great home base in beautiful Le Grazie, a sweet, walkable city. We will miss Italy and just might have to come back! Ciao!

Absolutely incredible experience. Our guides, Matteo and the local hiking guide, Boris were both efficient, patient, resourceful, and both had a wonderful sense of humor. We even sang together! The trip itself had plenty of variety in the villages and cultural visits we did, the cuisine offered, and intensity of the hikes. When someone had a little difficulty finding their footing, one of them were on hand to help. The views were amazing! Highly recommend this trip.

Definitely the trip to take if you have a passion for hiking - spectacular area.

Both program leaders, Matteo and Boris made this program exceptionally interesting and joyful. Their leadership skills were outstanding.

Cinque Terra was beautiful and our guide Leonardo made the whole trip fabulous !

Thoroughly enjoyed the trip! Very active, yet nice to be able to opt out on part of the hikes. Leonardo was a very nice, knowledgeable group leader, especially helpful when airline lost our luggage for a few days. His associates were very knowledgeable and fun.

This was an outstanding experience and my first RS trip! I am so happy that I joined this program. It was definitely physically challenging. The hiking was incredible with amazing scenery. The itinerary was well thought out and had a lot of variety. The history and education were very interesting. Leonardo and Boris made this trip what it was! They work together as a team. Both of them were very organized and helpful. This was an incredible journey and experience all the way around.

This trip, while physically challenging, provides a deep dive into the terrain, history, and culture of the Cinque Terre region.

Everything was absolutely perfect about this trip! The hard hiking was offset by the wonderful views and there was always a good alternative if you needed a reprieve. I am not much for wine but my fellow travelers seemed to enjoy it especially at the winery we visited . The food was fantastic at the hotel and restaurants and accompanied by stellar service. The tours and lectures were very interesting, too. I loved our hotel in a small town that had easy access to other destinations. Our wonderful tour leader was excellent at handling all the needs of 24 people, a minor miracle! Also, he and our frequent guide, Boris were adept at sparring with each other, very funny. I was so happy that I got to go on this adventure!

If you have any doubts about joining the Road Scholar experience, set them aside as my experience at hiking the Cinque Terre was beyond my expectations . I’m hooked!!

If you like great hiking and good food Cinque Terre is a great program.

Hiking the Cinque Terre was a challenging and rewarding trip. Besides hiking to beautiful ancient villages, the additional tours to a castle and winery were also absolutely enjoyable. The food provided on this program is authentic, delicious and abundant! Cozy small places and rather grand places were included. This program has everything you could ask for and more. Highly recommend!

This was a wonderful program, but it does require a good fitness level, preferably with experience hiking on rocky, uneven terrain.

This was my first trip with Road Scholar and I enjoyed the trip. The guides were knowledgeable, organized and entertaining. Cinque Terre is beautiful and I enjoyed the stunning views. Some suggestions to make a great program better: 1. Let the group know what the included meals consist of beforehand so they don’t eat the same thing at lunch or dinner. 2. On the last day of the program, go to Sarzana or the vineyard. It was a very long and by the end, tiring day. We also had to be prepared to leave the hotel at 6:15 am the next morning. It was just too much for 1 day. 3. The vineyard was nice but the talk by the farmer was very drawn out. I would have enjoyed a cooking demonstration from the farmer’s wife. 4. Boris mentioned he had mapped out easy hikes for his parents to do on their own. It might be nice to provide info about a hike to do on one’s own if a person is opting out of one of the more challenging hikes. I would prefer to do that rather than going back to the hotel or shopping.

This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was a great one! Our tour guides were exceptional! The weather turned rainy so plans had to be changed several of the days; the guides didn't miss a beat coming up with a "Plan B" each day. I enjoyed the food and the hotel. I would have liked to have a bit more time for shopping, but that is my only suggestion. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Cinque Terre, Italy and have recommended the trip to friends. The trip was well organized, and the hiking was outstanding. The food surpassed our expectations. The others in the group were all fun and interesting people which added to the trip. Leonardo and Bruno were the best!

Wonderful trip and excellent group leader, Benni, and hiking guide, Boris! Great hiking and learning experience, and would recommend Road Scholar and trip to anyone who enjoys nature, history and spirited hiking! Dennis and Theresa

You do not need perfect weather to make this a great trip. Our guides handled the rapidly changing conditions with great skill. They really know their area. Even though we had four days of rain, the substitute programs were terrific. Our group was game for alternate activities, and we had more time to explore the attractions of the villages and cities.

Prepare well for this exciting and gorgeous hiking trip. The days work up to harder hikes so you will know if you aren’t ready and you can opt out if that seems best, but you will want to enjoy all the beauty of this area that hiking up and down the hills of the Cinque Terre provides. You will also learn about the history and people of this area and even meet a few.

Read the pre-trip materials about preparing for the hiking and take them seriously. We live near mountains and hike regularly which helped us to be prepared. Trails are steep in the Cinque Terre with a lot of steps in many places. Regardless, the views are spectacular and well worth the up and downhill hikes.

Great program whether you are new to Road Scholar or an experienced hand.

This is an amazing, beautiful, informative trip. Highly recommended.

Excellent Program, great team leaders, Leonardo and Boris did a fantastic job!

Breathtaking views. Exceptional food and food venues. Accommodation is clean, convenient, and well appointed. Swimming pool was very nice after a day of hiking. Experienced leader, guide and driver who all are warm, hospitable, and fun to be around. Leonardo, Boris and Marco make a great team.

Leonardo and Boris did an outstanding job leading the week's hikes.

Read all materials and get and stay in shape! This was an eye-opening experience, culturally. Everyone in our group of 21 really bonded, lifted one another up, and laughed ... a LOT! Leonardo and Boris are incredible leaders - attentive, knowledgeable, and very, very, very entertaining! An excellent team! hard to say good-bye to them!

This is our first out of country trip since 2019 and what a great start! The program is well balanced between hiking and sightseeing. The meals in general were excellent. The Cinque Terre trails could e crowded.

Great trip. Take what they say about difficulty of some hikes seriously. The hiking guide was spectacular. Half of the provide meals were great, but the other half were so-so. But again, great trip.

The Hiking the Cinque Terre program was beyond our expectations! Our guides Silvia and Boris were excellent and ensured we felt safe, engaged, and had the best possible experience. The Cinque Terre is stunning - but the program and the people made it even more so! Challenging but not over the top! Highly recommend this trip.

I really apologize. I should have already given my review of this extraordinary trip. Everything was perfect starting from Matteo and Boris as our guides. The whole program was perfect, accommodation was great and all our hikes and visit were perfectly organized. Additionally we learnt a lot about area we visited. I have to add that participants happens to be the best group we encountered so far in any of our already completed trips with Road Scholar. Thank you to everyone !!!!

What a trip! It truly could not have been better. Absolutely beautiful everywhere we went. Stunning views of blue, blue water, rocky cliffs, narrow terraces filled with grape vines, beyond charming colorful, vibrant villages, delicious food and wine... I could go on and on. Our guides Leonardo and Boris could not have been more enjoyable, kind and helpful. They both made it not only informative, but very fun! Also felt camaraderie with the group, which added greatly to the enjoyment. I would recommend this to anyone. My only advice: Be in very good shape and hike hills and steps often for at least a few months ahead of time. It was challenging. But worth it. Peggy

A must see experience. Beautiful scenery, excellent guides, in depth history of the area. Could not have asked for a better trip.

I had a wonderful time on this trip. The leader and guides knew the area and arranged the day so we hiked at the right time and did hikes that I would not have done by myself. I learned a lot and had a great time interacting with my fellow travelers on the trip. I can't wait for my next road scholar adventure.

A very beautiful and rugged terrain. Every day was a wonderful experience hiking and experiencing the different villages. There were many uneven, rocky steps on some of the hikes. Not for beginner hikers! Our leader, Leonardo and hiking guide, Boris were excellent. Their knowledge, skills and warm personalities really enhanced the trip. The food was local , a wide variety of deliciousness. The hotel is near the sea, very clean and quaint. The Cinque Terre is so charming - Be in good shape for the hiking!

Strong hiking ability required for this program. It involves climbing a lot of steps and walking on rocky uneven ground at a steady pace. You can opt out of the toughest sections.

What a wonderful trip! Kuddos to Roads Scholar for providing exceptional guides and lecturers. Every detail was attended to. Interesting side trips and fun dinners. Cannot say enough about the quality of the program. I am looking forward to my next adventure. Barbara

For a first-time Roads Scholar participant, it exceeded my expectations!! Our trip leader, Leonardo and our hiking guide, Boris, were amazing!! Looking for my next RS experience!

I cannot stress enough that future participants in this program be prepared for LOTS of strenuous stepping up and stepping down during the hiking and visiting of the Cinque Terre

lovely trip--memorable vistas, hikes, food,, wine highly recommend without reservation

The scenery is exquisite. The hikes are challenging. The downhills are filled with uneven terrain of all kinds. The food is wonderful.

Very worthwhile experience!!!! Can’t go wrong in choosing this trip for hiking, especially in Cinque Terre!

We just returned from Cinque Terre. Great trip; be sure to read about the hiking demands. The hikes are not long in distance but strenuous uphill and downhill climbs. You had to focus on where you were walking. We were lucky with great weather - especially since we went at the end of October. We were very glad we chose this date - it was busy on the trails and in the small towns. I can't imagine what it would be like in peak season. Leonardo, our leader, was excellent, flexible and very helpful. We opted for the ocean view room at the hotel and were very pleased with our accommodations. Its a short itinerary, only a week. You hike for the first 5 days. You might want to tag some extra time to one end o the trip to make it worth the long distance (we came from Oregon). I recommend you book your travel through Road Scholar so you can take advantage of the included transfers to and from the airport in Pisa. The hotel location is beautiful but not the easiest place to get to on your own.

Strenuous hiking, bring your sticks! Well worth the effort, lots of stairs, uneven paths, marvelous views and plenty of great food and wine. Knowledgeable and welcoming group leader Leonardo, who made accommodations for varied physical abilities and also dietary requirements within the group. Attractive hotel in Le Grazie, we paid for the upgrade to a sea view, and enjoyed the balcony. Our trip was in late October, less crowded, but still busy with tourists in the villages.

Hiking the Cinque Terra was a wonderful experience. It was physically taxing and intellectually stimulating. We learned much about the local area and its history, and we highly recommend the trip to others. It was our first Road Scholar expedition, and because of its excellence, we intend intend to participate in others.

I had a truly wonderful time! The hiking was a bit more difficult than some in the group were prepared for - it truly is "Spirited"- but we had a terrific pair of guides that were helpful, informative and patient. Through their efforts, everyone in the group did well and had a great time.

When my husband and I joined the Road Scholar group of 21 other hikers in the Cinque Terre, we hoped the weather would be fine; the hikes would be challenging; the guide would be knowledgeable; the food would be wonderful; and our fellow travelers would be fun, interesting, like-minded, and as eager for the experience as we were. We "scored" on every point! This was a great trip! Leonardo, our local (from Rome) trip leader, and our hiking guide, Boris, were fantastic, and we connected with others on the trip (to the point where some of us are staying in touch and are planning another trip together). The hikes were spectacular with views that took my breath away (that said...anyone deciding to take this RS trip should be prepared for lengthy uphill climbs, rocky descents, and some narrow pathways with steep drop-offs). We learned a great deal about the Cinque Terre villages and how people lived in those locations from the distant past to today. The meals (all but 3 included) were fantastic (2 exceptions)...in particular, the last meal of the trip (at a vineyard with food and wine tastings) was over-the-top. And, in mid-October, we still had excellent weather with no rain, sunny days in the upper 70s, and pleasant nights. The hotel was also a little gem of a place in a great, walkable location. Having now returned home and preparing our photos for our digital frame, we are re-living many special moments and fun times together with new friends. We highly recommend this RS trip to the Cinque Terre (especially with Leonardo and Boris!).

This was our third RS trip, and our first one outside the USA (though we’ve traveled to Europe over a dozen times). It was simply excellent. The hikes were gorgeous and often quite demanding (a few were perhaps more than “spirited“). Leonardo, our group leader, and Boris, our hiking leader, we’re simply fabulous. Our hotel was good (not excellent— showers are too small for adult humans). Meals were uneven - a few were excellent but one meal at the hotel was totally uninspired. We could perhaps have used a bit more free time, but that’s a quibble. We really loved this trip and will never forget it.

This is a wonderful trip for active hikers. For those who have done Alpine Hiking or Below and Beyond Mt. Blanc programs, the Cinque Terre hikes are shorter but more challenging with some steep ascents and descents and rugged trails. But the rewards are great, and, Boris and Leonardo, were great guides. It is thought-provoking to be hiking these trails in our high tech shoes and learn that centuries ago women walked these trails in bare feet balancing baskets of grapes on the head. Besides the hikes along the coast, there was also a wonderful hike through chestnut forests to see where they mine the carrara marble.

Our Group Leader Leonardo and hiking guide Boris were fantastic. They were knowledgeable, personable and thoughtful, and went out of their way to make sure each of had the best experience possible. The itinerary was well planned, the hotel was very comfortable and well located and the restaurants were excellent. Some hikes were more challenging than I expected but the views were amazing. I recommend this trip to fit people who can be on the go for an entire week.

This is definitely a challenging hiking program, with beautiful scenery and interesting history and information shared. There were options for the most difficult portions, but I didn't want to miss anything!

Great way to experience the Cinque Terre and surrounding area. Leonardo and Boris made up a great leadership team. They were very informative and knowledgeable. Accommodations were nice and comfortable, the food was great. The hiking was not a challenging as I thought it would be.

Fabulous trip with our tour guide Leonardo and hiking guide Boris. The hiking can be on the strenuous side with lots of ups and downs, and rocky paths plus heat/humidity (depending when you go) so you just have to be prepared. But would HIGHLY recommend this trip to others. Beautiful and fascinating area of Italy.

Extremely well-planned and well-presented program. The tour leader and hiking guide were the best I have ever encountered. The food, as is usually the case in Italy, was outstanding. Highly recommend this tour if you enjoy hiking in mountainous terrain with breathtaking views, followed by great food and wine!

Spectacular scenery, challenging hiking, and a smorgasbord of delights for seafood lovers make this trip a great experience. Throw in two excellent leaders, each with a great sense of humor, and you've got a week worth remembering.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Cinque Terre program. Our guide Benedetta and the hiking guide Boris were amazing. Every hike was beautiful, food was good, and people were great. Loved this trip. Thank you.

The hiking was exhilarating and the villages we explored were historic, beautiful and unique. The wine and food were bountiful and tasty! Accommodations and surrounding area were quiet, clean, and safe. This was my first Road Scholar trip and yes, it was delightful, well-executed, and absolutely unforgettable.

Hiking the Cinque Terre was a fantastic program! If you like to hike and love beautiful scenery & great food...then this is the program for you!! The hikes were challenging, the scenery was breathtaking, and the food was outstanding. Leonardo & Boris, the group leaders, were very informative & inclusive. They provide a great tag-team approach to learning & make the week both FUN and INFORMATIVE! I highly recommend this program!!

The Hiking the Cinque Terre program was exceptional. Leonardo was a fantastic guide and I felt like I had gained a friend by the end of the program. He was very accommodating and thoughtful. The hikes were strenuous but there were options if you didn’t want to do a particular section of a hike. The visit to the winery was a highlight and one of the best experiences I have had on a RS trip.

My experience while hiking with Road Scholar was fabulous. Our trip guide Leonardo was superb at his job, was friendly, kind and a pleasure to be around. Our hiking guide, Boris was also top notch! Thank you for a fabulous week. There are two recommendations I have for improving this trip. First, the food was wonderful, but we were served practically the same dish from every restaurant; Pasta with Pesto or Pasta with a tomato muscle sauce. It was delicious but we must have been served that at least 4 or more times. A choice of entries and an option for more vegetables would be very nice. Second, a bit more free time to peruse the streets and shop when in Monterossa and Sarzana would have been delightful. Thank you again for a lovely adventure!

This journey to Cinque Terre was both fascinating and fun, even with a couple of rainy days at the start of the week. Our primary tour guide (Leonardo) was knowledgeable in the history and culture of each area we visited. Also a good mix of guided time and personal time. Excellent restaurant choices they have arranged. Highly recommended!

Hiking in Cinque Terre was a beautiful, challenging experience! We used many modes of transportation-ferry, train, van and bus - to ably get around the area. Each visited site was unique. The hiking met all our expectations! The leaders, Leonardo and Boris, are a great team!

This was my first Road Scholar trip. It was a fabulous program with great hikes, terrific guides, spectacular views, and great food! I highly recommend this program!

If you like to hike and travel this is the program for you! The terrain is challenging but very doable. Everyday you’re rewarded with incredible scenery and very knowledgeable and entertaining local guides. The cuisine is outstanding and I liked that some meals were at local restaurants. The trip to the vineyard combined with dinner and wine tasting was extra special! Thank you Road Scholar! Ciao!

The trip was fabulous, we love to hike and the scenery and trails here were fabulous. Several of the trails were challenging but rewarding. Scenery was incredible, as impressive as Patagonia and Nepal but different. The two primary leaders Leonardo and Boris were attentive, engaging and very funny. Most importantly they described the various hikes accurately so each participant could assess the appropriateness of each portion of the activities. They are a perfect team!

Hikes with amazing views separated by gourmet meals and regional wines! I can't think of a better way to experience the Cinque Terre region! Leonardo, the program leader, and Boris, the hiking guide, brought a gentle sense of humor and fun, which make the trip extra special! Thanks for a great trip!

Hiking the Cinque Terre was a fabulous trip. The hiking was challenging but worth the work to be able to enjoy the beauty of the area. The food and drink were delicious and plentiful. The people I met were just lovely and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to meet them. The guides Leonardo and Boris could not have done more for the group they are the ultimate professionals.

This walking tour is a great way to see a fascinating, beautiful part of Italy. Most of the trails include a lot of up and down hills and are very slippery when wet. Hiking sticks made the treks much easier but some of the trails were still harder than some in our group expected. Only about 1/2 of our group did all the included hikes, but the tour leaders provided interesting options for those who took time off to explore on their own. We saw much more of the region than just the five famous Cinque Terre villages, which enhanced the experience greatly.

The Cinque Terre is a beautiful place to visit and hiking it is wonderful way to see it. That being said, it is a physically challenging trip and training for it is critical. The views are amazing, achieved after going up hundreds of stone steps. My fitness band averaged 18,400 foot-steps each day. The food is wonderful, the group leader was great, and the group camaraderie was good. I would recommend this trip to any experienced hiker.

The hikes were challenging, but we worked up to the level of each one. I really felt that our group was able to immerse ourselves into the physical and cultural environment of the Cinque Terre. Loved it.

This was an excellent but challenging program. With over 20 Road Scholar trips to compare I would strongly recommend this one which I rate high in all aspects from staffing, hotel, meals and educational experience. My only glitch was with the travel aspect where we missed a flight and Road Scholar failed to pick up at the PSA airport as scheduled.

Leonardo the group leader went above and beyond his call of duty. I was not feeling well when I reached Italy. He arranged for a doctor to come to the hotel to see me. The doctor gave me an injection and I felt better immediately and was able to do all the hiking. Kudos to our trip leader!!! I must say the hking experience was spectacular.

I appreciated the affordability of this program and all the things that were included in the price. It was a real pleasure to meet fellow Road Scholars with the same sense of adventure; I felt at home in this group almost immediately!