Portofino and the Tigullio Gulf self-guided walk
Portofino is the star turn of the Italian Riviera, a beautifully preserved fishing village tucked into a perfect bay, but it is only one of the highlights of this fascinating stretch of coastline that sits between Genoa and the Cinque Terre.
The tour starts in Camogli on the west side of the Portofino promontory, a former fishing village (known in medieval times as the 'city of a thousand sails') which was described by Charles Dickens as ‘the feistiest, roughest, most piratical little place I’ve visited’. It’s a little more couth these days but has lost none of its nautical charm.
The first walk of the tour takes you through the national park that separates Camogli and Portofino following a series of well-marked trails through pine and oak forests above spectacular coastline with some of the most beautiful views in northern Italy.
Leaving the Portofino peninsula on Day 3 you pick up the ancient pilgrim trails that connected France wth Rome, passing through the hills that wrap around behind the Gulf of Tugullio, dropping down to the lively coastal towns each evening. The tour finishes at the end of the gulf at the 'Bay of Silence' in Sestri Levante, a delightful summer resort on the Isola Peninsula.
Why choose this walk?
- The variety of the walks: a spectacular that wraps around the Portofino peninsula, cobbled lanes that connect pretty coastal towns and an ancient pilgrim trail through unspoilt forest
- Your luggage is moved each day so all you have to carry on the walks is a daypack
- Staying in some of the most celebrated coastal towns in Italy, including Camogli, Portofino, Rapallo and Sestri Levante.
- Endless opportunities for swimming along the way the in blue Mediterranean Sea
- You have 24-hour phone support from our Florence-based team
- You have use of the exclusive Hidden Italy app and walking notes
- You will have a curated list of restaurants in each town (from fancy to cheap and cheerful) with booking details and links
The walks
This is a Grade 1 walk: The walks range from 6 km to 11 km per day. They follow a combination of trade and pilgrim trails that run above the Liguria coast, climbing up into the forested hills at the beginning each day before dipping down to the bustling coastal towns at the end. The trails follow a combination of ancient paved paths and well-marked walking trails. It is straightforward and without long climbs. Full details on each walk are on the itinerary. Click here.
The accommodation
You'll be staying in a mix excellent, centrally located, family-run 3 and 4-star hotels that have been operating since the early 1900s. They have comfortable rooms with generous breakfasts, en suite bathrooms and sea views.
The food
Ligurians like to use their own trusted products which come from the 350 kilometres of coastline with its rough, mountainous hinterland or which is fished out of ther own waters. It is an austere but delicous style of cooking that has produced such specialities as pesto sauce and foccaccia. Even the wines, grown with great effort on the steep, rocky terraces suit the local food perfectly.
Generous breakfasts are included each day (you'll need them for your walks). Hidden Italy will provide you with a curated list with descriptions and locations of three to four restaurants for each town/village you visit (from fancy to more relaxed). This information will be on the Hidden Italy walking App and you will be able to book your meals directly through the App.
Support on the walk
To guide you through this wonderful walk, you will receive: the Hidden Italy roadbook (an eighty-page A5 booklet that includes comprehensive daily walking notes accompanied by detailed maps, updated and revised each year); access to the exclusive Hidden Italy App to complement the roadbook (the App is downloadable to Apple and Android devices and features information about the routes: maps, GPS tracks, altimetric profiles, etc; GPS navigation on all the routes; an alert function if you stray off the track; and an emergency function); twenty-four-hour phone support from our Florence-based Operations Manager.
Booking conditions
To confirm the booking, a deposit of 25% of the total booking cost is required within 7 days of the issue of the invoice. Please note that in the event of customer cancellation, deposits are refunded, less a cancellation fee of $500 per person per tour. Click here for full T&C’s
Interested in the 1. Northern Italy: Portofino and the Tigullio Gulf Self-Guided Walk?
Don't miss out, places are limited. Make your booking now. Book Now › Make an Enquiry ›This 6 day/5 night walk can be personalised to suit your interests and dates.
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Cost
$3,100
per person
- Five nights’ accommodation
- All breakfasts included
- Reading lists and historical and cultural notes
- Maps and detailed walking instructions
- Hidden Italy App with GPS to complement the roadbook
- Daily transfers of baggage between hotels
- 24 hour back-up from local operations manager
- City taxes are not included in the cost of the tour
Cost Options
$3100 b&b per person
Single supplement: $900
** Please note a high season surcharge may apply.
costs quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD)
Map
Testimonials
"The walk notes, hotels, restaurants, and maps were all excellent. I think you've got a wonderful product... Lots of good little surprises along the way; tucked away restaurants, misty views through pine forests, and friendly locals."
– Norma D, Portofino
View all Testimonials ›1. Northern Italy: Portofino and the Tigullio Gulf FAQs
Find out a little more about the 1. Northern Italy: Portofino and the Tigullio Gulf tour by reading some of our most frequently asked questions.
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