untold CINQUE TERRE AND BEYOND

Wine and food discovery along Italy’s sun kissed riviera

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Our coastal Italy tour

Price from $US 4,850 / person • Deposit: $US 500
DEPARTURES:  OCTOBER
STARTS: LA SPEZIA
ENDS: GENOA

TOUR DETAILS

• DURATION: 6 days/ 5 nights
• GROUP SIZE: Max 10 guests
• ACTIVITY LEVEL: Steep inclines – not suitable for mobility issues
• DEPARTS: La Spezia
• ENDS: Genoa

TOUR DETAILS

PRICE

From $US 4,850 / person

DURATION

5 Nights / 6 Days

GROUP SIZE

Maximum 12 guests

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Steep inclines – not suitable for mobility issues

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES

LOCAL IMMERSION

FOOD AND WINE FOCUS

riomaggiore tour
cooking lesson cinque terre
cinque terre private tour
liguria ceramics
liguria food tour

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Delicious Ligurian food and wine
  • Meet the locals
  • UNESCO Heritage Cinque Terre
  • Sunset boat ride
  • Coastal towns including Monterosso, Vernazza, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino
  • Pesto making

UPCOMING TRIPS

2026 Departures

INCLUSIONS

We have strived to make our Cinque Terre and beyond tour as all inclusive as possible with no hidden surprises.

Included in your tour price

  • 5 nights in charming luxury 4 star accommodation – 2 nights at seaside hotel and 3 nights in boutique hotel in Genoa
  • Guided orientation walking tours with expert local guides
  • Unique experiences: Pesto making, olive oil tasting, wine tasting, cooking class, food tour, ceramics workshop visit, boat tour, and food tour
  • Meals: 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
  • Luxury air-conditioned transport
  • Tips and gratuities for drivers and guides
  • Group arrival and departure transfers

Not included

  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Flights and local transportation to the tour departure point
  • Incidentals such as laundry, individual transfers, snacks and drinks, spa treatments
  • 1 dinner

CINQUE TERRE AND BEYOND TOUR DESCRIPTION

Inspired by the pretty pastel colored houses of the Cinque Terre, but not a fan of crowds? Then come tour Liguria with us. This tour is for those who want to see the beautiful villages of the Cinque Terre, as well as the less traversed yet equally impressive people, places, and food of this beautiful northern Italian region.

Join us on our five night tour of Liguria and prepare to understand what makes this land stretched between the sea and the mountains tick. We tantalize all your senses as we feast on fried anchovies paired with local wine and zingy green pesto mixed into freshly made trofie pasta, all the while gazing out upon stunning Medieval villages that hang over the sea.

Our Liguria tour begins in La Spezia – the gateway to the Cinque Terre before we whisk you away to our gorgeous coastal hotel away from the crowds. We soak in the beauty of the iconic seaside villages in the best way possible – by boat. There is time to wander in the most beautiful villages of Monterosso and Vernazza and relax with a basil flavored gelato or a spritz in hand.

Another day, we enjoy the incredible view of the five towns from above at a friend’s hilltop farm-to-table trattoria, far from the madding crowds. We visit a family-run organic winery passionate about rediscovering ancient grape varieties and learn just what heroic winemaking is all about.

fritti genoa tour of liguria
liguria tour higlights
wine tour liguria
liguria focaccia

Then it’s onwards to Genoa, the once powerful maritime Republic. Together we delve deep into the culture of this vibrant port city with an incredible street food scene, historical alimentari and trattorie and gorgeous palazzi. We learn about the important crafts in the region like beautifully decorated ceramics and have the opportunity to get to know some locals in town.

We day trip to the charming fishing village Santa Margherita Ligure and walk to Portofino, soaking in the picture perfect colored houses along a dramatic coastline.

Food and wine is central to our tour, not least because Liguria is a region with a very special terrain and climate where unique produce thrives. We’ll taste real extra virgin olive oil and roll up our sleeves to learn how to make the real Ligurian pesto at a basil farm, and some traditional dishes from Genoese home cook and Untold Italy podcast guest Enrica Monzani.

This exclusive tour allows you to visit bucket-list destinations like the Cinque Terre in the best possible way before getting you off the trodden tourist path. It will leave you forever entranced by beautiful Liguria.

basil tour italy
pasta class cinque terre
pesto making italy
cinque terre boat tour

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.

Places: La Spezia, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia and Bonassola 

Hotel: Grand Hotel Portovenere (or similar)

liguria pasta class

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.

Places: Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino and Genoa

Hotel: Grand Hotel Savoia (or similar)

genoa palazzo

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.

Places: Genoa and Celle Ligure

Hotel: Grand Hotel Savoia (or similar)

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.

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.

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.

Yes we can set up a payment plan that works for you. Please reach out to us at info@untolditalytours to organize this once you have paid your trip deposit.

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 several opportunities to combine this tour with another Untold Italy experience such as our Fall Beyond Bologna and Dolomites 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

The home of the Italian Riviera, Liguria is a narrow strip of land that hugs the Mediterranean Coast in the uppermost North West corner of Italy. It is a region of relaxed fishing villages, glitzy resort towns, untouched mountain towns, and the impressive capital city of Genoa.

Whilst Portofino and the Cinque Terre are firmly entrenched on many a tourist’s travel radar, the region remains largely undiscovered, offering visitors a real chance to discover ‘authentic’ Italy. Discover black pebbled beaches, historical boutiques, and UNESCO world heritage palazzi, with a cone of basilico gelato in hand!

liguria guide

Liguria Travel Guide

Uncover the highlights of the region

read the guide
cervo liguria

Beyond the Cinque Terre

Favorite places to visit in Liguria

listen to podcast

2026

Want more information about this trip?

Receive a PDF copy of this itinerary with detailed descriptions of each day, prices, inclusions, and more information to help make sure this Untold Italy experience is the right one for you. Why not share it with friends and family too!

request itinerary