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Walks & Food of the Italian Riviera

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Stay in the Riviera’s ‘secret city’ for an adventure of glorious walks, regional food and renowned wines

The Italian Riviera still has secrets to share… if you know where to go. One of them is seaside Chiavari, ideally placed between Genoa and the Cinque Terre. From this base, we embark on a well-balanced blend of scenic walks, cultural landmarks and exquisite regional cuisine. You’ll sip wine with world-renowned producers, master pasta and pesto with professional chefs, and hike glorious trails. A free day to visit the Cinque Terre will be a must for most, while the pleasure of staying away from the tourists allows you to enjoy the Italian Riviera in peace.

One of Our Top Recommended Trips for 2026… Here’s Why
Forbes recently said Chiavari is ‘so delightful, authentic and complete as a holiday destination you can’t help but wonder why it hasn’t yet exploded with international travellers.’ I couldn’t agree more. If you want to explore the Riviera with the benefit of staying in Chiavari, 2026 is the time to go! − Hope Johnson, destination expert

Key Information

Trip Code: TEH2
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Italy
Carbon Footprint: 30.3kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner
All accommodation
Tour leader throughout
All transport and listed activities
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip local taxes (approx. €24) are not included.

5 days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Good fitness required

Terrain:

Combination of cobbled sections, dirt tracks and traditional footpaths

Highlights

Experience the best of the Italian Riviera: Scenic trails and culinary perfection

Discover the magnificent landmarks of Genoa, including a pesto-cooking class inside a palace

Hike the paths of the Berissi Valley and meet the person who’s saving them

Master the ancient recipes for corzetti pasta and gnocchi

Walk the beautiful yet lesser-known island of Palmaria and explore Porto Venere

Use your free day to independently explore the iconic villages of the Cinque Terre

Itinerary

First Destination: Chiavari, Liguria
Next Destination: Chiavari, Liguria

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Chiavari, Liguria
Next Destination: Chiavari, Liguria

Begin your adventure in Chiavari, an elegant coastal town on the Italian Riviera with marble-paved arcades, a seaside promenade and an easy train connection to the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere.

Around 6pm, say ciao to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Italian welcome by arranging a group dinner at the hotel.

Want more time in Chiavari? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Meals included:Dinner

Depart Chiavari by train, travelling 35 minutes to the historic port city of Genoa. Here, we meet a local guide for a walking tour, which includes the Roman Catholic cathedral, magnificent palaces, alleys of the medieval centre, and panoramic views from the Belvedere terrace.

Around midday, we head inside the Palazzi dei Rolli, a grand Genoa palace, for a hands-on pesto-cooking class. As part of the experience, we have an introduction to the elaborately frescoed halls of the property and the history of the family that owned it, before joining a chef to learn a traditional pesto recipe. We enjoy our creation with three types of focaccia, washed down by a glass of regional white wine.

At the end of the cooking class, enjoy free time to explore before returning to Chiavari by train.

Meals included:Breakfast

We’re back on the train this morning, riding three minutes to Lavagna. At the station, we meet our local walking guide and begin our hike in the Berissi Valley. Our easy-going route showcases the local scenery of slate quarries, dry stone walls, and olive oil producers; it’s a unique insight into what life would have been like before the modern development seen elsewhere, and a chance to reflect on what must be done to protect the area from development and urbanisation.

To further elaborate on these issues, we meet the president of the Pietre Parlanti Association who, through her passion and ability to unite the residents and visitors, has succeeded in recovering more than 25mi (40km) of paths for walkers, some of which we’ve trod today.

We have a packed lunch in a scenic spot, before returning to our hotel for some free time. At 5.30pm, join our guide for an orientation tour of Chiavari’s historic centre, in which we see the highlights of the town and enjoy a glass of wine, farinata (a chickpea crêpe) and/or snacks.

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Today has been left free for you to explore the local region. We highly recommend taking the 50-minute train to the famous Cinque Terre, a string of five ancient fishing villages perched gloriously above the Italian Riviera. The rail journey takes you to Monterosso, the first of the five towns.

Alternatively, you could take the train to other beautiful towns and villages, such as the fishing village of Camogli, the seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure or pastel-coloured Portofino with its high-end boutiques and seafood restaurants.

Meals included:Breakfast

Transfer to the seaside town of Sestri Levante this morning, where we visit Azienda Vinicola Bisson. Known as the cellar of the abyss, this innovative wine producer pioneered an aging technique, in which they drop their bottles 195ft (60m) beneath the surface of the Ligurian Sea. It’s said the consistent temperature of 15C (59F) and gentle roll of the water provides a unique character and aroma to their wine. Learn all about this process on a guided tour, which takes in the winery and underground cellar and includes a tasting of two wines and snacks.

After, we transfer to the restaurant, La Sciamadda dei Vinaccieri Ballerini, where we journey even deeper into the local cuisine, joining a chef tutor to master the art of making the Ligurian pasta corzetti and gnocchi using ancient recipes and original wooden moulds.

Dinner will be our prepared pasta with two different sauces (Genoese pesto and a walnut sauce), served with a glass of wine and spoon of tiramisu.

Full and full of newly acquired cooking skills, we return by train to Chiavari.

Meals included:Breakfast

Today will be one to remember. We leave Chiavari in the morning and transfer (1hr 30min) by bus to the port town of Porto Venere. Here, we catch a boat to Palmaria island, which has just 50 residents, no cars and a pristine landscape.

To explore the island, we enjoy a 4mi (6km) coastal walk, which, aside from showcasing the beauty of Palmaria, takes us past the ruins of military outposts and views of the Cinque Terre, plus we enjoy a packed lunch with more vistas.

Finishing the walk, we return to the mainland for a guided tour of Porto Venere, after which you have free time to explore some more.

Then, we return to our hotel for our farewell dinner, an excellent chance to relive some of our favourite moments from the adventure.

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

You’ve mastered regional recipes, sipped local wines and walked some of the finest trials in the Italian Riviera, but now’s the time for one final breakfast before starting your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 260 1517

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

Hotel Stella del Mare, Chiavari

Hotel Stella del Mare is a family run hotel offering a cosy atmosphere. Set in the heart of Chiavari just 200m from the seafront promenade, the hotel features a rooftop restaurant and the rooms are decorated in a modern style.

Room upgrades: For even more comfort, Hotel Stella del Mare offers a superior room upgrade for a special price.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement.

Please speak to your sales representative for more details about accommodation on this trip.

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Walks profile: All walks take between one and four hours, depending on the day. They require a moderate standard of fitness. This trip will likely be unsuitable for those with knee problems.

Terrain: The terrain and path type varies between traditional footpaths, forest and coastal trails.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Stella del Mare, Viale Enrico Millo, 115, 16043 Chiavari GE
Phone: +39 0185 322446
Recommended arrival time: You’re welcome to arrive any time, but there is a welcome briefing at 6pm
Airport: Pisa (PSA)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a 1hr 45min drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

There are no required vaccinations for this trip.

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Liguria is well-known for its delicious cuisine; classic regional dishes include pasta with pesto or walnut sauce, focaccia bread and, of course, plenty of seafood.

With an abundance of fresh local produce and plenty of restaurants to try, food is a highlight of the trip. Vegetarians are well-catered for in Italy, but please inform us when booking.

The Liguria region generally has a Mediterranean climate with hot, mostly clear, summers and mild winters. The best time to visit is early July to late August, with August being the hottest month, averaging highs around 27C (80F).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

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Walks & Food of the Italian Riviera

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Stay in the Riviera’s ‘secret city’ for an adventure of glorious walks, regional food and renowned wines

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

5 days of Walking & Trekking

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Hotel Stella del Mare, Chiavari

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Italy

Reviews

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Walks & Food of the Italian Riviera

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Stay in the Riviera’s ‘secret city’ for an adventure of glorious walks, regional food and renowned wines

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

5 days of Walking & Trekking

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Hotel Stella del Mare, Chiavari

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Italy

Reviews

You may also like

Sicily Food & Wine

Coastal Walks of Catalunya

The Adventure Begins Here