Itinerary: 

DAY 1: WELCOME TO GENOA

Welcome to ‘The Vertical City!’

Transportation to accommodations in the city center will be arranged from the Genoa Airport, or from the train station from those arriving from Verona.

Enjoy the afternoon to rest, unpack or explore the nearby streets.

Our local hosts, Roberta and Daniela, will welcome us with an evening aperitif followed by a lovely dinner of Genoese specialities at a nearby restaurant.

Included: Airport transfer, Aperitif, Welcome dinner

DAY 2: GETTING TO KNOW GENOA & GOLD LEAF GILDING

On our first morning, we will be guided by a native of the Genoa area on a walking tour through the delightful confusion of winding alleys and medieval streets of this historic port town, exploring secret spots and the rich traditions of art and architecture, visiting old shops, historic palaces and churches along the way.

For lunch, we’ll indulge in the Genoese staple, Farinata, when we stop to dine on authentic, Liguarian cuisine at Sa’ Pesta, the oldest ‘osteria’ in the city.

The afternoon will be spent in the last remaining Gold Leaf Laboratory in existence in Genoa where Master craftsman, Pozzo Marco, will share his family expertise of gold gilding and lead us through a workshop to create our own gold frames to take home! The rest of the day will be yours to roam, relax and discover the endless possibilities for a scrumptious evening meal.

Included: Breakfast, Tour, Lunch, Gilding Workshop

DAY 3: ALL ABOARD! EXPLORING PORTOFINO & THE BAY BY BOAT

After breakfast, we’ll jump onboard a local train bound for the Golfo Paradiso, disembarking in the colorful fishing town of Camogli.

We’ll stroll along the promenade of this stunning setting along the Italian Riviera, admiring the unique houses and crystal bay waters, stopping for a cappuccino before we reach the harbor.

We’ll board a boat setting out for the cove of San Fruttuoso, taking our time to enjoy a slow, local lunch and an optional dip in the bay before arriving at our next stop - Portofino! From the boat, we’ll have incredible views of the Portofino Promontory stretching into the Liguarian Sea. After docking in Portofino, we’ll explore the Piazzetta, the San Giorgio Church and there’ll also be some free time for further exploration of the area.

Santa Margherita Ligure will be the last port to explore on this boat tour. A quieter coastal village, this stop will offer the opportunity for leisurely wandering, shopping and snacking our way down the cobbled streets.

We’ll return to Genoa and the rest of the night is yours to continue discovering all the city has to offer.

Included: Breakfast, Train Ticket, Boat Tour, Lunch

DAY 4: THE FLAVORS, HISTORY & VERTICAL LANDSCAPE OF GENOA

Today we’ll find ourselves in a quieter part of town, high atop a hill, to admire the city from above. By way of the funicular, a fixed railway cable car, we’ll reach the charming, peaceful neighborhood, Castelletto.

We will be guided through the Antica Farmacia Sant’Anna, an ancient pharmacy and herbal dispensary. Here, we will meet Frate Ezio, the Friar, and learn about the plant- based remedies produced at the pharmacy dating back to the 16th century.

A quick walk will bring us to the Spianata Castelletto to take in the breathtaking, panoramic views of the sea. From here, we’ll experience another exciting mode of transport and descend down to the city center using a liberty style lift.

On to an incredible cooking class where we learn how to create the authentic, Genovese condiment known as pesto, using the simple marble mortar and pestle. Lunch will be an indulgent delight as we relish its herbaceous deliciousness spread over focaccia, paired with a local wine.

Take the afternoon to visit the nearby Palazzos, do a little shopping, savor fresh gelato, or simply enjoy the seaside air. We’ll come back together in the evening for dinner.

Included: Breakfast, Tour, Pesto Class + Glass of Wine, Dinner

DAY 5: GULF OF PARADISE

Destined for Sori, one of the smallest villages of the Golfo Paradiso, we’ll leave Genoa after breakfast.

In Sori, our local guide will lead us on a tour of the Baroque Church of Santa Margherita and the oratory before bringing us to her own family home! Nonna Tina will teach us to prepare fresh pasta, to identify different herbs and how to combine both to make flavorful, stuffed pansotti. We’ll enjoy lunch together in their beautiful garden.

Fueled by our lunch of handmade pasta, we’ll make our way to our accommodations for the next few nights at an eco-friendly, family run hotel in the hills of Levanto. This small, Ligurian hamlet is surrounded by lush greenery and the sparkling sea.

The hotel will offer a free shuttle service to bring you to and from the Levanto city center in the evening, should you choose to continue your explorations there or choose to treat yourself to dinner in one of the city’s wonderful restaurants..

Included: Breakfast, Pasta class, Aperitif

DAY 6: CINQUE TERRE

This morning we will explore the iconic, isolated seaside villages of Cinque Terre! We’ll walk the tangled, carless streets of Riomaggiore, Manarola and Vernazza, soaking in the views of beautiful beaches, bustling centers, jagged cliffs and colorful homes.

Mid-day we will make our way back to the hotel for free time to relax.

In the evening, we’ll take a scenic train ride to Monterosso, another of the five Cinque Terre villages, where a local winemaker will lead us through a vineyard tour. This immersive experience will unveil the unique challenges and rewards of producing wine in this particular region. In the barrel cellar of this family-run estate, we’ll savor a night of tastings featuring the distinctive wine of Cinque Terre, paired with local fish specialities.

Included: Breakfast, Wine Tasting, Dinner

DAY 7: CARRARA MARBLE QUARRY & STONE CARVING WORKSHOP

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll move towards the Tuscan border to visit the Carrara Marble Quarry. Recognized as the capital of marble extraction and production, this Quarry dates back more than 2,000 years to the Roman Times. We’ll witness the extraction process and will be educated on the social history of the stone before adventuring to the top of the 1000M quarry in rugged, all-terrain vehicles.

After a crisp glass of prosecco overlooking the quarry with panoramic views of the valley, we’ll descend back to the base for lunch and an exciting, hands on carving class led by a master stone carver. Each of us will be assisted in molding and slotting this sacred stone into an artistic piece to take home.

Back at the hotel in Levanto, the evening is yours to explore.

Included: Breakfast, Quarry Experience, Lunch

DAY 8: THE GULF OF POETS

On our last full day, we’ll explore the stunning seaside village of Porto Venere and the Gulf of Poets, named for its inspiring beauty.

In the morning, we’ll catch a train to La Spezia, where we’ll board a boat captained by a local seaman. He’ll tour us around the 3 islands, Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, teaching us about the local mussel farming operations while we travel through protected marine areas. Along the way, we’ll make a stop to enjoy a delectable lunch of mussels and for those feeling inspired, this will be a chance to dive off the boat into the crystal clear waters!

Back at the hotel, you’ll have free time in the afternoon to relax and organize for the trip home the following day. In the evening, we’ll sit down for our final meal together and reflect on the incredible sights, tastes and experiences we’ve shared.

Included: Breakfast, Boat Tour, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: ARRIVEDERCI

You and your fellow travelers will begin your journey home. Transfers to the Genoa airport will be arranged based on your flight schedule. We will arrive in Genoa by Noon. Transfers to Milan are available for an additional charge.

Included: Breakfast, Airport Transfer

Tour Cost

• €4,070 per person (Twin-share)

• €5,080 per person (Single)

What’s Included?

• Accommodations ( 8 nights at boutique hotels )

• Meals ( 7 breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 2 aperitifs, 4 dinners )

• Airport Transfers

• Transportation to all scheduled activities 

• An english speaking tour leader

• Tickets and entrance fees to scheduled activities

What’s not included?

• Flights

• Travel insurance (Mandatory)

• Local city taxes ( ~ €30 per person for the entire trip)

• Additional meals & drinks

• Gratuities

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for this trip is required- let’s face it, things happen. We recommend a policy with a “cancel for any reason” clause to be better safe than sorry.

PAYMENT TERMS 

Deposit - To secure your spot on this tour, a €500 deposit is required.  This deposit will be refundable for up to 10 days after booking. If the deposit is paid within 90 days of Day 1 of the tour, the deposit is non-refundable.

Balance - The remainder of the tour cost will be due 90 days prior to the start date of the tour. Our tour operator will be in touch with payment details. 

CANCELLATION POLICY

• If you cancel within 10 days of your booking date, you will be refunded the full deposit (minus a 3% transaction fee.) After 10 days, this deposit becomes non-refundable.

• If you cancel 89 to 60 days prior to Day 1 of the tour, you will receive a 50% refund of the balance (the tour cost - the deposit).

• The tour is non-refundable within 60 days of the Day 1. 

• If a tour is canceled because we did not meet the minimum number of travelers, or for reasons beyond our control, you will receive a full refund.

• Life happens. If you must cancel due to a family or medical emergency, please reach out and we can discuss next steps. 

IMPORTANT

Do not book your flights until we can confirm this departure. We need to meet the minimum number of participants required for this trip (8) before confirmation. We will let you know immediately when this trip is confirmed.

Details in the itinerary may be changed and tweaked near or during the trip. Rest assured, any changes will serve only to further enhance and enrich the quality of the experience.

Accommodations

There are 8 single rooms available. These rooms will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. The remainder of the rooms will be shared and solo travelers will be paired together, two travelers per room in two single beds. All rooms have a private bathroom.

Is this trip right for you?

The tour requires a certain level of physical fitness since the itinerary is busy, active and involves a good amount of walking on both flat and uneven surfaces. For that reason, good mobility is required. There will be trains, boats, gondolas and other vehicles that travelers must be able to navigate independently. Some hotels will have limited room availability on the main level. Not every hotel has elevator service. On a few occasions, group members will be responsible for handling their own luggage.

PLEASE NOTE: In small group travel it’s important to remember that one person’s lack of health, well-being and/or mobility may have a negative impact on the other group members. If you are on the fence about your abilities, kindly reach out to us before booking so we can assess this trip's suitability for you. You may also wish to consult your healthcare provider.

Dietary Considerations

If you have restrictive dietary requirements, we encourage you to reach out to us ahead of booking to ascertain our capacity to accommodate you in a way that suits your needs. While we can guarantee an awesome experience, we cannot necessarily guarantee a destination’s ability to provide nourishment to satisfy every diet.

Limitation of Liability

The organizer shall not be liable for any damage/injury (physical or otherwise) to participants as a result of the physical activity performed during the trip, the consumption of alcohol, breakage of equipment and materials or for any other reason which, within the limits of professional diligence, could not have been foreseen or resolved. The organizer is not responsible for expenses (transportation, meals, hotels) not included in the program but necessary to reach the meeting point or to leave the finishing point at the conclusion of the trip.

Photo / Video release

Occasionally, our tour operators may videotape and/or photographs guests and activities for promotional use. Please notify us if we are not free to use images of you or your group.