Self Guided Walks | Italy Walking Tours

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Self-guided Walks

1. Cinque Terre Walking Tour: Levanto to Portovenere (7 days)

$1900 AUD per person

The Cinque Terre National Park embraces a stretch of Italy's most spectacular coast, to the east of the northern port of Genoa, where the sheer cliffs of the Appenine Mountains meet the waters of the Mediterranean. The dramatic coastline is scattered with small towns and fishing villages dug into cliffs and gullies connected with stone paths that date from the 15th century. You’ll be dropped off at La Spezia railway station (on the Rome/Genoa line) at the end of the walk.

Manarola, Cinque Terre

2. Tuscany Walking Tour 1: Montalcino to Montepulciano (6 days)

$1700 AUD per person

Starting with a private transfer from either Siena or Chiusi railway station (on the Rome/Florence line) to the charming hilltop town of Montalcino, this walk crosses the beautiful Orcia River Valley in southern Tuscany. It is an area rich in history and art, particularly in the medieval period when pilgrims from all over Europe travelled through on the way to Rome. It is an area as famous for its rolling hills, wheat fields dotted with red brick farmhouses, stands of deep green cypress pines and endless views as it is famous for its wines and food. At the end of the walk you’ll be dropped off at Chiusi railway station (on the Rome/Florence line).

Sant'Antimo, Tuscany

3. Tuscany Walking Tour 2: Mount Amiata, San Qurico d'Orcia to Abbaddia San Salvatore (8 days)

$2050 AUD per person

To visit Mount Amiata is to discover some of Tuscany's minor masterpieces. Completely covered in oak, chestnut, beech and pine forests, Mount Amiata is one of central Italy's great natural resources. The small settlements that grew around the castles ringing the mountain to protect the 8th century abbey near its peak, today have become picturesque villages, while the paths that linked them (recently been revitalised as clearly marked walking tracks which criss-cross the forests) provide you with a unique opportunity to explore one of Tuscany's hidden treasures. You’ll be picked up at the beginning and dropped off at the end of your tour at the Chiusi railway station (on the Rome/Florence line).

Monte Amiata from the
Val d'Orcia'

4. Tuscany Walking Tour 3: San Gimgnano to Siena (5 days)

$1750 AUD per person

With a transfer from Florence to San Gimignano at the start, this five day walk follows medieval pilgrim routes through incomparable rolling hills and forests, starting from the towers and vineyards of San Gimignano and arriving in Siena, ‘the most perfectly preserved medieval city in Europe’. On the way, you’ll follow sections of the ancient Via Francigena, the pathway that linked papal Rome with France and northern Europe and visiting the charming medieval towns of Colle Val d’Elsa and Monteriggioni.

Siena view

5. La Tuscia Walking Tour(Tuscany/Lazio/Umbria): Pitigliano to Orvieto (7 days)

$1900 AUD per person

Starting with a transfer from either Florence or Rome Fiumincino airport to Pitigliano on the southern border of Tuscany, this Hidden Italy special takes you through some of the most fascinating and less well-known areas of central Italy, starting on an Etruscan road that was carved out of living rock 3,000 years ago and finishing on a stretch of paved Roman road laid out 2,000 years ago which takes you to the Umbrian town of Orvieto, with its extraordinary cathedral and frescos by Luca Signorelli.

Pitigliano, Tuscany

6. Umbria Walking Tour: Assisi to Spoleto (7 days)

$2070 AUD per person

Following paths that have linked the towns for centuries, this walk takes you through the heart of Umbria. Leaving the treasures of Assisi through forest along a stone path that dates from the time of St Francis, you arrive four days later in aristocratic Spoleto, entering the town over the 13th century bridge the Ponte delle Torre, one of the marvels of medieval engineering. You’ll be dropped off at Spoleto railway station at the end of the tour (with connections to Rome, Perugia and Florence).

Bevagna view

7. Amalfi Coast Walking Tour: Ravello to Positano (6 days)

$2170 AUD per person

The Amalfi Coast is an hour’s drive south of Naples overlooking the celebrated Isle of Capri, is one of the most spectacular parts of the Mediterranean, with mountains rising to almost 1500 metres above sea level and then dropping dramatically into the aquamarine water. This magnificent walk takes you the length of the Amalfi Coast, starting at the romantic town of Ravello, perched high above Amalfi, and finishing at the spectacular seaside town of Positano. You’ll be met at Naples railway station at the beginning of the tour and taken to Ravello then dropped back to Naples at the end of the tour. An optional two night package on Capri is also available.

Amalfi

What makes our walks special?

Following clearly marked paths that have been used for centuries, the Hidden Italy Self-guided Walking Tours have been designed to give the independent walker the chance to discover a side of Italy that other people only read about.

No shuttles or buses, these itineraries are continuous walks, taking you from A to B, along ancient paths that lead you through some of the most spectacular countryside in Europe. All you have to do is get up in the morning, pull on your boots, have breakfast and enjoy the walk – we’ll look after the rest.

Your bags will be moved, your hotels and your evening meals will be waiting for you at the end of the day, and if you want to skip or shorten a walk at any point, our local manager will be able to arrange this for you.

As these walks are off the beaten track and not all are easy to get to and from, for no additional cost, we will pick you up in a private vehicle from the nearest major centre or major railway connection at the beginning of the tour, and drop you off at the nearest major railway connection at the end (see each itinerary for details).

What’s the difference between the walks?

While they are walks, not hikes, none of the self-guided walks are ‘easy’ – they all require a good level of fitness, a basic ability to follow a map and orient yourself and a sense of adventure and self-reliance.

Grade 1 walks: Tuscany 1 (Montalcino) Cinque Terre
(good paths, straightforward orientation, most walks 10 to 12 kms, no long climbs)

Grade 2 walks: Tuscany 3 (San Gimignano – Siena)
(good paths, straightforward orientation, several walks longer than 15 kms, no long climbs)

Grade 3 walks: Tuscany 2 (Mt Amiata) La Tuscia
(good paths, orientation requires more experience, several walks longer than 15 kms, some longer climbs)

Grade 4 walks: Umbria Amalfi Coast
(good paths, orientation requires more experience, several walks longer than 15 kms, some long and steep climbs)

What's Included?

Each self-guided walking tour includes:

	accommodation in good, family-run, three-star and four star hotels, with en suite bathroom.
	breakfast and dinner each day.
	Reading lists and detailed historical/cultural notes on the walks, towns and villages you visit.
	detailed maps (scale 1:25000) and detailed instructions for each walk.
	daily transfers of baggage between hotels (which means you'll only have to carry what you'll need for each day)
	pickups at the beginning from the nearest major train station and drop offs at the end of each itinerary to the nearest major train station.
	24 hour telephone back-up from our local managers

Testimonials, 2007 tours

"We loved every moment of our walking trip. The organization, instructions and service were all excellent. The food in the restaurants was quite delicious and very generous… We adored Vernazza and the superb accommodation you arranged there. We loved all the walks through forests and along the coast and the extra special bonus of having our luggage looked after and not having to worry about it."

SW, Cinque Terre, 2007

“The walk was just great!...Highlights included the village atmosphere, the surprises in the accommodation and the friendly hosts…the transfers worked well and the Italy contact person was lovely to talk to and had helpful post tour tips – I really appreciated the phone contact. Thanks, it was a memorable part of my trip!”

SNF, Cinque Terre 2007

"A short note to say our walking trip in Tuscany was fantastic. A big thank you. Words cannot convey how outstanding the accommodation, the food, the people and the walks were…We are still so excited and can't stop talking about the beauty of the vineyards, the landscape and the wild flowers. The tranquility of the whole experience was breathtaking! I can't wait to do another walking tour in Italy."

HG, Tuscany 2007

"The tour absolutely lived up to our expectations and then some! We have been raving about it to friends and family ever since.”

ME, Tuscany 2007

"We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Umbria and would definitely consider another walking tour. The highlights included arriving in the beautiful villages, the first and the last walks and making our own detours on the way.”

DK, Umbria 2007

"The Amalfi tour absolutely lived up to our expectations. We loved the spectacular views, varied countryside/towns/mountains etc, delightful towns, the element of self-reliance and navigation added to the experience, a reasonably achievable physical effort and the satisfaction this gave.”

KF, Amafli Caost, 2007

"I still feel the thrill I experienced as I walked down the steep hill on stones that the Romans had gathered and walked on centuries ago with the walls and turrets of Orvieto suddenly coming into view – a once in a life time experience. We must also thank you for the sumptuous degustation menu you arranged at the truly fabulous restaurant…You inspired us with the stories you included of the Etruscans and you have also inspired us to have proper Italian classes before we go the next time so that we can enhance the experience even more.”

AL, La Tuscia, 2006