Post on 22-Feb-2019
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �1
To do: - local dress - local support - reading list
CINQUE TERRE DESTINATION GUIDE
Cinque Terre is a special part of the world. I blah, blah blah, blah
blah blah. When I walk there I see stuff and it’s great to see stuff.
People don’t see enough stuff. Go there and see some stuff. I’ll
organise it for you.
Cinque Terre is a special part to the world. I blah, blah blah, blah
blah blah. When I walk there I see stuff and it’s great to see stuff.
People don’t see enough stuff. Go there and see some stuff. I’ll
organise it for you. But only come if you like walking.
Cinque Terre is a special part to the world. I blah, blah blah, blah
blah blah. When I walk there I see stuff and it’s great to see stuff.
People don’t see enough stuff. Go there and see some stuff. I’ll
organise it for you. Give me a call: (03) 5973 5586
Jodie Cinque Terre Specialist
jodie@rawtravel.com
ph. (03) 5976 3763
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �2
The rugged Cinque Terre
coastline, with its pastel-
coloured fishing villages
and terraced hillsides
covered with vineyards
and olive trees,
constitutes one of Italy’s
most impressive
landscapes. The Cinque
Terre are five (cinque)
fishing villages along
the Liguria coast, south
of of the resort town of
Levanto.
The walks between the villages are spectacular and surprisingly
rugged in parts, a hiker’s delight. There is a wonderful sense of
discovery as you hike between villages using either coastal paths
(recently rebuilt ) or the more challenging routes through the
mountains and vineyards. The Cinque Terre walks are suitable for
anyone of reasonable fitness and walking ability. A railway (and ferry)
links the villages and makes it easy to get between them and back to
your base at the end of the day.
It is an amazing destination that never fails to thrill visitors with its
scenery, charm and excellent local food & wine specialities.
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SELF GUIDED WALKING Travelling self-guided allows you to walk from place to place
progressing from one comfortable accommodation to the next in
your own time. You walk without a guide, following our walk notes
and marked maps. No technical expertise is required so anyone who is active and in good health can do it.
This is ideal for anyone who is hesitant about group travel or wants
to travel with their own friends and set their own pace. It’s also great
for those who are restricted to travelling at a particular time as you can choose your own departure date (dependant on availability of
accommodation of course).
You will always be following the detailed track notes & maps that will
be provided to you plus the markers on the trails which give directions and walking times. It is not difficult to find and follow the
trails. You will receive a detailed set of notes for each day’s walk
which gives you clear directions to follow for each day. This
information pack is given to you in Italy so that you do not need to
transport from Australia.
ACCOMMODATION Our hotels are 3 star centrally located in the towns and are
comfortable hotels which have been chosen for their great locations
and helpful hosts. Your room will be ensuite and have the usual
amenities you’d expect of a good 3 star hotel. Details of your accommodation will be given to you at the time of confirming your
booking as with flexible dates we have to confirm availability on your
chosen days in our chosen properties. If our preferred property is
full on your chosen dates then we reserve the right to book you into
an alternative accommodation of which you will be informed in advance.
Rooms are ensuite and have towels and the usual amenities you
would expect of a hotel.
ARRIVAL INFORMATION You will need to make your way to the starting point in Milan Central
rail station - you will be given your rail tickets prior to your departure and once your balance is paid. Your trip documentation will be sent
advising your hotel details before you leave Australia and your trip
notes and maps will be given to you at the hotel in Levanto.
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �4
Please note that the hotel details of this hotel and others on your
trip trip may vary according to availability on your chosen dates. RAW Travel reserves the right to use alternative accommodation of a
similar standard where needed. You will be advised of your hotels
when your booking is confirmed.
TRANSPORT, TRANSFERS &
LUGGAGE Train to and from from Milan. You will be met in Levanto and
transferred to your hotel and your luggage will be transferred by
private car from Levanto to Santa Margherita Ligure . Otherwise your
main luggage will stay at your accommodation each evening as you
will come back to there after each day’s walk.
MEALS Only breakfast is included on our Cinque Terre trips, allowing you to
choose where to eat lunch and dinner on your own schedule &
budget - the food options are superb and reasonably priced. There is
no shortage of places to stop and eat when you are on the Cinque
Terre and passing through towns and villages. Allow around €6-12
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �5
for lunch and €12-25 for dinner depending on your tastes and
budget.
IS THIS THE RIGHT TRIP FOR ME? When considering booking a trip it’s important that you look at the
descriptions in these trip notes relating to the accommodation, food
and difficulty level to ensure that it matches your expectations.
Particularly with the physical difficulty rating it’s vital to select a trip
that is realistic for your ability. This is also a self-guided trip so you should be confident in travelling by yourself and following directions.
With physical gradings it’s important to understand that a label, of
say ‘moderate’ can mean two differ completely different things to
two different people depending on their experience, fitness level and mental attitude. For our Australian based walking trips there is now a
track grading scale that we refer to (developed as an industry
standard). For overseas walking trips you need to rely upon
interpreting the information given and relating it to your own fitness
levels and abilities.
So if a trip describes daily activity of 5-7 hours a day walking then
you must ask yourself are you currently doing walks of that distance
in comparable terrain? So if a walking trip involves ascents of
500-1000m each day then you should go and walk a mountain with a 1000m ascent and see how you cope.
While we often see amazing improvements in people’s fitness with a programme of regular training before a trip you have to be realistic
about whether you can commit to regular training with your current
lifestyle. If you feel that you would be unable to commit to doing the
training to achieve that level of fitness then you should consider
another trip that is less demanding. This is the only way to accurately judge whether you can cope with the demands of any given trip.
WHAT’S IT LIKE UNDERFOOT? Underfoot you will experience a variety of tracks and trails on this
trip. Some sections of the Cinque Terre are on single-track paths that
can be rocky in places, sometimes with steps through the terraces
that are a famous feature of this landscape. Tracks are also common - perhaps gravel forest roads, walking tracks or unsealed roads and
coming into the towns you follow regular footpaths.
PHYSICAL RATING - GRADE 3 On most days you will walk between 2.5 - 5.5 hours on hilly terrain.
There are some flat sections on the coastal path such as the via D’ell
Amour but there are also some steep sections climbing up to the
paths between villages so you should be reasonably fit to make the
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �6
most of the options on offer. Alternatively you may choose to skip
the more difficult sections as this is a self-guided trip and use train or boat transfers instead.
We expect people to have a good level of fitness where they are
taking regular physical exercise in the lead up to the event. This can
be from walking, cycling or going to the gym. You will also need to practice hiking in a mountain environment with your equipment that
you’ll be taking to Italy. You should prepare for walking several hours
(5-7 hours per day) a day with ascents and descents, so your training
should reflect this in the led up to the trip. Choose hills to train on
and push yourself to do long days to prepare yourself adequately.
Please refer to the Australian walking track grading system for more
details.
IMPORTANT NOTES 1. Self-Guided
This RAW Travel trip is self-guided. We will provide you with excellent track notes with maps and instructions on how to get to each day’s
walk and maps showing the locations of your walks each day. You
will follow the many way markers along the trail and there are always
other walkers to ask if you’re in doubt.
2. Insurance
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �7
Make sure that your insurance covers you for emergency rescue.
Phone your insurer directly if you are not certain.
3. Water
Always ensure you have enough to get to your next destination and
on hot days carry at least two litres of water. Likewise it is good to
carry some snacks to make sure you have sufficient energy between meals and locations.
4. Phone
Phone reception is good in most places along the walks and SIM
cards can be picked up locally.
PACKING LIST Your main luggage stays back at your accommodation so you carry
only a daypack when out walking to carry a jacket and personal
effects such as Camera, sunscreen, water, snacks, blister kit. You do
not need to carry more than 2 litres of water maximum as there are
fairly frequent water stops all along the way.
Travel Documents
• Travel insurance, air ticket
• Credit card & spending money
Personal Items
• Blister kit, rehydration salts and any personal medication you use
• Alarm clock and LED head torch
• Water bottles or Camel Bak system (2-3 litres recommended)
• Sunscreen, hat and high UV sunglasses
• Comfortable hiking daypack (30L+) with padded shoulder support
& waist straps
• Waterproof bags for pack rain protection while walking (garbage bags are fine)
Clothing
• Well worn in boots or walking shoes / outdoor trainers with ankle
support
• 3 pairs of walking socks
• 3 T-shirts (lightweight quick drying tec fabric) or long sleeved
Trekking shirts
• 2 pairs of shorts and at least one lightweight trousers (for walking
in - avoid wearing Jeans!)
• Waterproof jacket (& possibly over trousers in wetter months Oct/
Nov/Apr)
• Broad brimmed sunhat
• Beach towel & swimwear in warmer months for the beaches
• Clothes for evenings out
Optional but highly recommended
• Walking poles. Good for balance & taking weight off your knees on
descents.
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �8
Other Suggestions
• Camera
• Spare batteries for camera
• Reading & writing material
• Spare pair of comfortable shoes/trainers for evenings
• Knee brace - not essential but useful for injury
• Hand sanitiser - optional
• Miniatures of your usual toiletries (shampoos & soaps provided in
hotels)
• Snacks - though these can be purchased locally
• Mobile & charger
LOCAL DRESS something.
LOCAL SUPPORT something
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �9
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism.
Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative
aspects of tourism on the local cultures and environments that we
visit and highlight the positive aspects. Please see our online policy for more details on our social and environmental approach and
commitment.
For more details please visit our website where we have a
downloadable document detailing our responsible travel practice and philosophy.
HEALTH No vaccinations compulsory. Tetanus recommended.
Although there are no specific health requirements for this trip
please be aware you need to be in good health to undertake this trip
due to the sometimes demanding conditions that exist in these areas. You should consult your doctor if you have any medical
conditions to assess your suitability before departure.
We recommend that you carry first aid supplies for common
ailments as well as any personal medical requirements.
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �10
Your first aid supplies should include:
• headache tablets
• diarrhoea treatment (both a blocker to bring relief from the
symptoms and an antibiotic)
• band-aids
• blister pads for your feet and zinc tape
• antiseptic for cuts & scrapes
• lip balm
• high factor sunscreen
We recommend using zinc oxide tape/moleskin to cover ‘hot spots’ on your feet to stop potential blisters developing.
SAFETY Fire PrecautionsPlease be aware that local laws in Italy governing tourism facilities
differ from those in Australia or your home country and not all the
accommodation which we use may have a fire exit, fire extinguishers
or smoke alarms.
Traffic and Driving on the Other Side of the RoadDepending on where you come from please note that drivers in this
part of the world may drive on the opposite side of the road from
what you are used to. Make sure you walk on the right side and look
both ways before crossing any road. Be aware!
Petty Theft & Personal SafetyWhile travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty
theft, particularly in bigger tourist cities. We recommend that you
exercise caution when walking alone at night and only on main, well-
lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your
bag over the back of your chair and wearing a money belt will reduce
any chance that your valuables should go missing.
VISA Australian citizens visiting Schengen countries (of which Italy is part)
do not need to apply for visas if staying for not more than 90 out of
180 days.
ELECTRICAL Generally 230V two pin round plugs are used in Italy but there are some
places using three pin round plugs.
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �11
TRAVEL INSURANCE Clients must have insurance to cover themselves for emergency
search & rescue for this trip.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including
emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also
covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage
and personal effects.
When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the
group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance
company’s 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by
your leader. If you have credit card insurance your tour leader will
require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for
details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and
emergency contact telephone number.
Our preferred insurance company is CoverMore as they provide an excellent service. Apply for insurance on line.
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �12
READING LIST something
RAW TRAVEL NEWSLETTER We have a free email newsletter full of traveller’s stories and
experiences as well as news on new trips that we are running. Please
send us an extract from your travel journal at the end of the trip.
If you have any suggestions to add more information to our
destination guide that you think other walkers would find useful
please email: info@rawtravel.com. And of course email us if you
have any questions leading up to your trip.
We hope you will love the Great Ocean Walk as much as we do and
we look forward to you joining us on other RAW experiences.
The information in these trip notes has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does
not form part of the contract between the client and RAW Travel.
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �13
RAW Travel - Camino de Santiago Notes For The Road
Money ExchangeItaly uses the Euro.
The exchange rate at the time of writing is:
$1= €0.67
Take some in cash to avoid having to change money at the beginning
of the trip.
ATM availability: There are a large number of ATM cashpoints that
accept Visa and Mastercards in towns.
Credit card acceptance: In major restaurants and shops.
Spending MoneyEvery traveller is different and therefore spending money
requirements will vary. Breakfast is included but lunch and dinner are not included and you will have to pay for these meals, any snacks
and drinks en route or evening drinks. Allow €25-45 per day. Some
travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to
purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own
spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping.
TippingIt is customary to leave some small change in cafes and bars for
good service and 10% in restaurants.
Emergency FundsPlease also make sure you have access to an additional €300 to be
used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our
control (e.g. a natural disaster, or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate
a change to your planned route. This is a rare occurrence but it is
well worth being prepared!
CommunicationsMobile coverage is fairly consistent though there may be the odd
place where it cannot be relied upon. Global roaming charges are
very expensive and pre-paid cards such as Travel Sim are a good idea
(www.travelsim.net.au).
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �14
Tear off section to take with you on your travels. This section
contains information that will come in handy on the road and is optimised for travel and printing. Simply print from this
page until the end of this guide and pack with your other
travel documents.
Alternatively if your phone is not locked to a carrier here then you
can buy a SIM card locally.
Emergency ContactIn the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, our Melbourne HQ can
be reached on +61 3 9787 4366
Outside of office hours please call: +61 478 649 848
Other Sightseeing Activitiessomething
Transport Connectionssomething
Fooddishes to try
Useful Phrasesbasic language
Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Cinque Terre �15