Pre-Departure Itinerary

Walking in Liguria & the Cinque Terre Saturday, May 7 – Sunday, May 15, 2016 Sometimes the best way to explore a place you’ve never been is on foot and that’s what we’ll do on this new Italian vacation. Pack your walking shoes, binoculars and your camera and join us on the Ligurian coast—the Italian Riviera. For the next week we’ll embark on walking excursions to some stunning places. Each walk is set at a leisurely pace and is three to three-and-a-half hours long—with lots of stops along the way. We start with four nights in seaside Santa Margherita Ligure—a beautiful old resort town with the palm trees, cafés and marina that a perfect Riviera location should have. Just up the coast lies Genoa and one of the world’s bestkept travel secrets—Genoa is awesome! This noisy, colorful Mediterranean port is a jumble of ancient lanes and alleyways, massive palaces, medieval walls and bell towers, with a center consecrated as a UNESCO site and a refurbished Antico Porto set off by lively palm-lined promenades. Our full-day excursion includes a five-hour urban walk—with plenty of stops and free time for lunch. The following day we’ll set off on a three-hour hike and make our way on a paved path with stone steps to the glorious harbor town of Portofino. (Don’t worry, we’ll have boat or coach transportation back to the hotel!) Over the next two days we’ll hike up an ancient mule track for a breathtaking view of Liguria and the Cote d’Azur, find the watch tower on the Punta Manara promontory, have time for an impromptu picnic lunch and a cooking cooking class and free time in the pretty seaside town of Sestri Levante. Our base for the next three nights is Levanto, with an interesting historical center, beautifully painted villas and a 13th-century medieval loggia. Our last exploration is a full-day on the Cinque Terre—“five crazily constructed fishing villages, set amid some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the planet” (Lonely Planet), with short walks in each village and either train or boat between them.

Includes •

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Rates

Round-trip regularly scheduled Alitalia Airlines flights from Boston to Genoa, via Rome Seven nights’ three-star accommodations Fourteen meals: seven breakfasts, seven dinners with wine Traditional pesto cooking demonstration Escorted, private, round-trip airport/hotel transfers Services of professional local Tour Manager

$2,999 per person double occupancy $3,299 for single reservations Includes round-trip airfare, fuel surcharge and all air taxes and fees. Triple accommodations may be available upon request. Fuel surcharge, air taxes and fees subject to change. Passport required. Per person deposit is $300.

Trip Planner DAY 1 Overnight flight from Boston DAYS 2–5 Hotel Jolanda, Santa Margherita Ligure DAYS 6–8 Hotel Carla, Levanto DAY 9 Return flight to Boston or similar hotel accommodations The Travel Club • 560 Harrison Ave, Suite 412, Boston MA, 02118 • 617.338.1111

Hotel Jolanda, Santa Margherita Ligure The Hotel Jolanda is an enchanting three-star hotel located just minutes from the beach in Santa Margherita, near the port of Genova on Italy’s northwestern coast, which is often referred to as “The Italian Riviera”. Its welcome reception area, divided into elegant and cozy lounges, invites you to take a relaxing break enjoying an informal atmosphere enhanced by contemporary beautiful Italian artists’ works of art on display. The rooms are elegant, furnished with LCD TV, decorated with pastel colors. The breakfast buffet, served on the ground floor is truly appreciated, especially the typical genoese “focaccia.” For guests who travel with their own laptop, a free high speed wi-fi connection in all the lounges and rooms is available. However, to access the net there is a useful free Internet Corner in the main lobby.

Hotel Carla, Levanto Hotel Carla enjoys a peaceful position in the charming maritime village of Levanto, only 400 metres from the sea and within walking distance of the Levanto railway station which provides a quick link to the stunning Cinque Terre. It provides an excellent base for exploring this breathtaking location. Managed personally by the owners, this warm and friendly property features a fine air-conditioned restaurant, bar, banquet facilities, cozy reading lounge and complimentary wireless Internet access. Guestrooms are all comfortable and brightly-lit; most were fully refurbished in 2004 and many feature a private balcony. Hotel Carla is personally run by the Tuvo family. All rooms come furnished with private bathroom, air conditioning, and a satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby. Breakfast is a varied buffet.

The Travel Club • 560 Harrison Ave, Suite 412, Boston MA, 02118 • 617.338.1111

Day 1: Overnight Flight Depart from Boston this evening on Alitalia Airlines. Dinner is served aloft along while crossing the Atlantic. Relax and enjoy in-flight entertainment.

Day 2: Arrive Rome – connecting flight to Genoa – transfer to Santa Margherita Ligure Continental breakfast will be served on board before landing. Clear immigration and proceed to the domestic flight for Genoa. Upon arrival, clear customs and meet the professional Tour Manager who will escort us to the Hotel Jolanda in Santa Margherita Ligure. After check-in and room assignments, the balance of the afternoon is free to relax and get settled. In the evening we’ll get acquainted over dinner, with wine, at the hotel. (D)

Day 3: Genoa Today we'll enjoy a short train ride to Genoa and embark on a guided walking tour of the historic medieval center, considered the largest and most monumental in Europe. Return, by train, to Santa Margherita Ligure and enjoy dinner, with wine, at the hotel. (B, D) History speaks grandly in this magnificent city, displaying its richness and beauty in every corner of the old town. The narrow and characteristic “caruggi” snake between the tall buildings along the medieval street plan. Beautiful buildings, gorgeous churches, façades decorated by stuccoes and frescoes, invaluable art collections - all bring the "Century of the Genovesi" to mind, the most important moment in the city's cultural development. A walk through the streets, squares and alleys of Genoa is a constant surprise. Behind every corner is a treasure waiting to be The Travel Club • 560 Harrison Ave, Suite 412, Boston MA, 02118 • 617.338.1111

discovered. Genoa is one of the most unexpected Italian cities: endless miles of narrow streets overlooking the sea, tall painted buildings, medieval tower-houses, Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque churches, historic shops with delicious local products. A welcoming city for lovers of Art and History with its museums, historic palaces, religious chapels and for lovers of good food there is pesto, focaccia, farinata and various cookies made of almond paste!

Genoa Genoa

Day 4: Portofino After breakfast we’ll set off on a guided walk through the Natural Park to Portofino. Later we return (via boat or public bus) to the hotel for dinner, with wine, and overnight. (B, D) Santa Margherita Ligure is a lively and picturesque port at the foot of superb Portofino National Park, a large promontory surrounded by cliffs and small coves, which has some the most rewarding walking on the Italian Riviera. The slopes of the park are covered with wild thyme, pine and oak and offers views over successive headlands from the summit. Our walk in the Natural Park will be approximately three hours hiking on a paved path with stone steps as we set out from the harbor of Santa Margherita Ligure up to the hamlet of Nozarego, Gave and, passing by the renovated water mill of “Gassetta,” down to Portofino. Portofino Portofino

Day 5: Finalborgo and Noli Directly after breakfast at the hotel we'll depart by motorcoach to the town of Noli. (B, D) The Travel Club • 560 Harrison Ave, Suite 412, Boston MA, 02118 • 617.338.1111

Before we set out we can purchase some goodies for a picnic along the trail. A 3.5 hour walk on dirt roads and paths brings us from the historic center of Noli up an old mule track to Cape Noli, passing by the remains of ancient churches and medieval hospitals. The zig zag path reaches the top at a breathtaking viewpoint that encompasses all of western Liguria and the Cote d’Azur. The downhill part of our walk is very steep and panoramic and ends in Varigotti, the hamlet of pirates according to local legend. From here the coach will pick us up and bring us to Finalborgo where we can have a relaxing cocktail before we return to the hotel for dinner, with wine.

Capo Noli

Finalborgo

Day 6: Sestri Levante and transfer to Levanto After breakfast we’ll depart the hotel and head for Sestri Levante. After our walk, we’ll transfer to our accommodations at Hotel Carla in Levanto and enjoy dinner, with wine, at the hotel. (B, D) Today our walking tour brings us from Sestri Levante to Punta Manara and back again (a 3.5 hour loop) and where we’ll enjoy free time for a lunch break. This walk is on a dirt path with stone steps. Later in the afternoon we’ll enjoy a cooking demonstration of the preparation of traditional pesto, followed by a taste of bruschetta and a glass of wine.

Sestri Levante

The Travel Club • 560 Harrison Ave, Suite 412, Boston MA, 02118 • 617.338.1111

Punta Manara

Day 7: Cinque Terre Today we'll travel to the Ligurian Seacoast and enjoy some of Italy's natural masterpieces. The Cinque Terre, or Five Villages, is located on eleven miles of rocky coastline with terraced hills and vineyards sloping steeply down to the sea. The villages are built into the rocks between the beach and the hills. Centuries-old footpaths, 500 to 1000 feet above the sea, lead through olive groves, vineyards, orchards and chestnut woods. Each village has its own distinct character. Nearly inaccessible by road, the villages are linked by railway. Return to Levanto for dinner, with wine, and overnight at the hotel. (B, D) Today we’ll travel from Levanto to the Cinque Terre National Park and visit the five villages walking on paved paths with stone stops. "The Five Lands" are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside. We'll travel by train or boat (weather depending) between the villages and have a 40 minute walk within each village.

Cinque Terre

The Travel Club • 560 Harrison Ave, Suite 412, Boston MA, 02118 • 617.338.1111

Day 8: Day of leisure in Levanto Breakfast and dinner are provided today and the rest of the day is ours to spend as we wish. Enjoy a farewell dinner, with wine, at the hotel this evening with wine. (B, D)

Levanto

Day 9: Return to Boston Early morning transfer to Genoa airport for your return flight to Boston via Rome. (B) Proof of Citizenship: US citizens require a passport with at least six months' validity. Passports are the responsibility of the traveler. PLEASE NOTE: This pre-departure itinerary is designed to give you an idea of how this itinerary is structured. We reserve the right to make any changes to your final itinerary if deemed necessary, at any time prior to departure. PLEASE NOTE: This is not your final itinerary. You will receive final documents (itinerary, tickets (if applicable), etc.) approximately 2–3 weeks prior to departure. Although we try our best to ensure that information is accurate at the time of publication, we are not responsible for any error, omission, misprint or liability that results from the use (or misuse) of this information.

The Travel Club • 560 Harrison Ave, Suite 412, Boston MA, 02118 • 617.338.1111