Clifftop villages, vineyards and pesto
Tour Cinque Terre and Beyond
Journey along Italy's shimmering Riviera coast where colorful villages meet quiet hills and locals share the stories, flavors and rhythms of Ligurian life.
Tour Details
Explore Liguria’s coast and hills - from the iconic Cinque Terre villages to hidden fishing towns, vineyards, and olive groves.
Price
From US$5,690 per personGroup Size
Maximum 10 guestsDuration
6 days / 5 nightsDepartures
May/October 2026Starts/Ends
La Spezia to Genoa
Inclusions
Boutique stays, guided experiences, and meals with wineAccommodation
Charming luxury 4 star accommodationActivity Level
Steep uneven terrain - not suitable for mobility challenges
Highlights
Why You'll Love This Tour
Wander through pastel-hued Cinque Terre villages, feeling the sea breeze and rhythm of daily life on Italy’s Riviera.
Drift along the Ligurian coast at sunset, when the cliffs glow gold and the villages shimmer in evening light.
Learn the secrets of true pesto, blending basil, pine nuts, and olive oil just steps from where they grow.
Gain a new appreciation for Ligurian wine, watching “heroic” winemakers tend their cliffside vineyards with passion and perseverance.
Connect with local guides, producers, and artisans, each sharing their deep love for this land and sea.
What our guests say
your untold italy tour Includes
5 nights in charming luxury 4 star accommodation – 2 nights at seaside hotel and 3 nights in boutique hotel in Genoa
Guided walking tours, pesto making, olive oil tasting, wine tasting, cooking class, food tour, ceramics workshop visit, boat tour, and food tour
5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 aperitivo and 4 dinners as specified in the itinerary, wine and bottled water is included with meals other than breakfast
Air-conditioned minibus/minivan will get you around on tour.
Tips and gratuities are included for local guides and your driver. Tips are not included for your tour host.
We meet in central La Spezia and drop off at Genoa train station
Not included
Fly into Florence, Rome or Milan. La Spezia can be reached in an hour and half by train from Florence or 3 hours from Rome and Milan.
No one books a trip expecting the unexpected – travel insurance ensures you’re covered if plans change. See our trip FAQ below for more information and suggested providers.
Nearly all meals are included – you’ll have one free meal to explore the local food scene at your own pace.
Tour Overview
Tour Cinque Terre and Beyond Description
If you’ve dreamed of the pastel-hued houses of the Cinque Terre but long for a quieter, more authentic experience, this journey is for you. Stretching between sea and mountains, Liguria is a place where steep terraces meet glittering coves, and every meal tastes of salt air, olive oil, and sun-warmed basil.
Flavors, Villages, and Local Life
Discover the beauty of the Cinque Terre by boat, drifting past Monterosso and Vernazza as the cliffs glow in the afternoon light. Wander narrow lanes with a spritz in hand or gaze from a hilltop trattoria where pesto, trofie pasta, and crisp white wine are served with unforgettable views. At a family-run winery, meet “heroic” winemakers who farm vines clinging to near-vertical slopes – and taste the reward of their devotion.
Genoa and the Riviera Beyond
In Genoa, the once-powerful maritime Republic, explore a world of ornate palaces, bustling markets, and artisans keeping age-old crafts alive. Learn to make authentic Ligurian pesto at a basil farm, and share stories over lunch with locals who embody the region’s warmth. Then follow the coast to Santa Margherita Ligure and walk to Portofino, where pastel houses frame the sparkling harbor and time seems to slow.
Discover Liguria
This five-night journey blends iconic views with everyday life – the taste of olive oil pressed nearby, the hum of a local piazza, the calm of the sea at sunset. You’ll leave Liguria not just with photos, but with a feeling: of connection, simplicity, and the quiet joy of discovering Italy beyond the crowds.
Cinque Terre and Beyond Itinerary
We often don’t publish specific destinations in order to preserve the local flavor of your trip and allow you to enjoy special surprises along the way.
Day 1-2
Cinque Terre like a Local
Visit the fairytale villages of the famous Cinque Terre and take in the best views from the sea on a sunset boat cruise. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the villages perched on the sea in Corniglia at a farm-to-table restaurant.
Wander terraced vineyards with a glass of crisp white wine in hand. Feast on typical extra virgin olive oil fried starters, classic pesto pasta and so much more.
See Details
- Places: La Spezia, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia and Bonassola
- Activities: Private Cinque Terre boat tour, free time in Vernazza, Corniglia visit and Winery visit
- Accommodation: Grand Hotel Portovenere (or similar)
Day 3
Ligurian Cooking and Liquid Gold
Sink your fingers into spongey focaccia dough and knead away tension in traditional pasta dough as we learn to make local dishes. Savour the spicy taste of fresh ‘liquid gold’ extra virgin olive oil on your tongue and walk along a private coastal path to one of the most beautiful villages in Liguria – Portofino.
See Details
- Places: Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino and Genoa
- Activities: Cooking class and coastal walk to Portofino
- Accommodation: Grand Hotel Savoia (or similar)
Day 4-6
Ligurian Tastes and Traditions
Taste the best of Ligurian cuisine on a food walking tour through the labyrinth of streets in Genoa and peek inside historic palazzi from the 1600s. Visit a basil farm in the countryside, pound out the very best homemade pesto and meet local artisans keeping alive time -honored traditions.
See Details
- Places: Genoa and Celle Ligure
- Activities: Food walking tour and Palazzo visit, Pesto making class, Basil farm visit, and Ceramic workshop visit
- Accommodation: Grand Hotel Savoia (or similar)
Over 1000+ satisfied guests
Departures
Upcoming Dates and Prices
Book now →Untold Cinque Terre and Beyond
Mon 25 May - Sat 30 May 2026- Book now →
Untold Cinque Terre and Beyond
Tue 6 Oct - Sun 11 Oct 2026
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Private Tour
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Frequently Asked Questions
Our Cinque Terre and Beyond tour departs from the port city of La Spezia in the early afternoon at the La Spezia train station.
Our Cinque Terre and Beyond tour ends after breakfast at our city center hotel in Genoa.
La Spezia can be reached in an hour and half by train from Florence or 3 hours from Rome and Milan.
For onwards travel, there are direct trains back to La Spezia, Rome and Milan.
Please let us know well in advance if you have any dietary needs, including allergies or an aversion to seafood/fish. The good news is there are many options for vegetarians in Liguria thanks to the delicious vegetable based dishes. We’re happy to work with tour accommodation and restaurants to ensure that you have suitable meal options.
You’ll feel completely at home – whether you enjoy a glass of wine or prefer to skip it. Our tours celebrate the stories, traditions, and people behind Italy’s incredible food and wine culture, so there’s always something meaningful to experience. Non-alcoholic local options are happily provided, and every tasting, vineyard visit, or shared meal is about connection, not just what’s in the glass.
Absolutely! We always welcome solo travelers in our groups and generally have at least a couple of solo guests join.
No, please be advised that this tour is not suitable if you have mobility issues as Liguria is full of steep inclines. Light to moderate physical activity levels are required on this tour as our guided walks range from 1-2 hours at a time. Please get in touch if you have concerns.
Alongside USD, we offer payment in Australian, Canadian and New Zealand dollars, Euro and British pounds using the mid-market rate at time of payment on xe.com. Please reach out to us at info@untolditalytours for a quote.
Pay a USD $500 deposit per person to secure your place. Then three easy instalments at 180 days, 120 days and 90 days prior to departure or as specified on our tour booking page. The balance is due 60 days before departure or on the date specified on the trip booking page. Email us if you’d like to break up the instalments even more.
Our Cinque Terre and beyond tour offers unbeatable value for money and includes 4 star accommodation, luxury transportation, most meals, guided tours, entrance fees, artisan visits, local experiences, a dedicated tour host and more.
Most guests find they spend money on souvenirs, a few snacks and additional services such as laundry and spa treatments. You have one free time dinner but our guests often find this a welcome relief from the sheer amount of food during the rest of the tour.
When you book a tour with us, we take care of all the details so you can sit back, completely relax and enjoy your Italian experience.
Yes our 2026 tour schedule has an opportunity to combine this tour with another Untold Italy experience. It can be combined with our Tuscany in Fall, Dolomites & South Tyrol, and Piedmont in Fall tours. Please reach out for more information.
The unexpected can occur and becoming ill or injured in a foreign country is a very daunting experience, therefore we require guests take insurance with international evacuation coverage for all trips.
Please consider cancelation insurance also because refunds are made available only per our
terms and conditions, and we are unable to make exceptions for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies.
You should book a policy as soon as the trip has been confirmed. Some companies to consider:
- World Nomads – simple and flexible travel insurance for independent travelers. Includes 24×7 assistance when abroad
- Safety Wing Nomad Insurance – designed to meet the unexpected medical and travel needs faced by people traveling outside of their home country
- Travelex (USA residents only) – comprehensive travel insurance options covering medical assistance and delays
Unfortunately these providers may not offer policies for those aged over 69. In this case you can try Travel Insurance Master – a service that allows you to compare quotes and insurance policies.
Discover Liguria
Tucked between the mountains and the Mediterranean, Liguria is the graceful curve of Italy’s Riviera - a region of terraced hillsides, fishing villages, and the grand maritime city of Genoa. Beyond the famous Cinque Terre and Portofino, quiet coastal towns and sun-drenched trails invite you to experience authentic, everyday Italian life.
Read
Liguria Travel Guide
Uncover the highlights of the region
Listen
Untold Italy Ep. 106 Beyond the Cinque Terre
Favorite places to visit in Liguria
