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Cinque Terre Private Tour: Explore Villages & Vineyards
4.9
116 Ratings
Riomaggiore
Experience the authentic beauty of Cinque Terre on a private trekking tour with a native guide. Explore the villages, vineyards, and learn about the history and regional wine. Personalized service for small groups. No hiking? No problem, we have a plan for you too!
Experience the authentic beauty of Cinque Terre on a private trekking tour with a native guide. Explore the villages, vineyards, and learn about the history and regional wine. Personalized service for small groups. No hiking? No problem, we have a plan for you too!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Via Telemaco Signorini, 687 - Here, we hike the hillsides, talking about the vineyards and the history of Cinque Terre. We pass farmers, who we sometimes stop to talk to, and locals as we go through the villages. We want you to feel like one of us here. You are not being on a bus tour with 40 people running through the village in 20 minutes. Your…
- Via Telemaco Signorini, 687 - Here, we hike the hillsides, talking about the vineyards and the history of Cinque Terre. We pass farmers, who we sometimes stop to talk to, and locals as we go through the villages. We want you to feel like one of us here. You are not being on a bus tour with 40 people running through the village in 20 minutes. Your guide does not leave your side while in the village. This is truly a personal experience one has with us. The trek goes from Riomaggiore up & back towards Groppo before heading down into Manarola. It will take about 4 hours of hiking, photos & learning before you can get a bite to eat in Manarola. The rest is an easy train ride to the beach resort of Monterosso. Here, you walk along the boardwalk through the tunnel to Old Town. Tour this small village before catching the Ferry Boat along the Cinque Terre Coastline to Riomaggiore. Here you walk up through the marina & to the train station where we meet in the morning. Changes can be made to accommodate anyone who does not want to hike. Ask for details.
What's Included
- Walking sticks available
- Ferry boat ride (weather permitting)
- Walking sticks available
- Ferry boat ride (weather permitting)
What's Not Included
- Cinque Terre Train Pass (we recommend you purchase this day train pass) s
- Lunch
- Cinque Terre Train Pass (we recommend you purchase this day train pass) s
- Lunch
Additional Information
Enjoy a private day with a local resident in Riomaggiore, offering an exclusive glimpse into Cinque Terre and its origins. Journey back in time through ancient vineyards, accessible only with a local guide, and discover the wines and rich history dating back to the 9th century. Gain insight into the challenges faced by the local people. This unique tour…
Enjoy a private day with a local resident in Riomaggiore, offering an exclusive glimpse into Cinque Terre and its origins. Journey back in time through ancient vineyards, accessible only with a local guide, and discover the wines and rich history dating back to the 9th century. Gain insight into the challenges faced by the local people. This unique tour is unmatched. Participate in quizzes about herbs and various plants. Not a hiker? No worries. Allow us to create an experience tailored for your enjoyment. We prioritize YOUR experience, something only a local can provide.
- Wear comfortable shoes with good traction
- Boats can stop running due to weather
- We do our best to fit this day to meet your medical needs if there are problems. We Do Not Run
Location
Bar Stazione eredi Soldani Eliseo
Piazza Rio Finale
We meet at the Riomaggiore train station in front of the Station bar at around 8:30 am. Upon booking, we will give detailed instructions on reaching us. If you are staying in Riomaggiore, we can meet in the evening before our trek. The Cinque Terre Train Pass is not included. I live in Riomaggiore.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(116 Ratings)
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1 star
Dawn
Jul 3, 2025
SUPER views, FUN workout via adventurous hiking, plus a little history! - Doing this hike has been on my “bucket list” for several years, and Pall did not disappoint! I was traveling with friends, but they went to Florence, so I did this hike solo. Pall asked if I wanted the easy-ish hike or the less easy hike. I really was looking for a challenge, so up, up, up we went.
What an amazing and beautiful adventure it was! Pall is a USA transplant who has lived in Italy for 26+ years! He speaks perfect Italian plus a couple of other languages and he really has embraced the history and culture of small town Italian life. We started in La Spezia wandering through a beautiful green market where everyone from the small towns comes to pick up most everything they need. We took a train to Riomaggiore where the hike began. It was especially interesting to learn about the history of the 5 lands and get to see numerous spices growing wild and olive trees, as well as a few grape vines. As we climbed up to the top of each hill between the towns, Pall pointed out why there were so many levels (plateaus) and how they were constructed. I don’t want to give it all away, but think agriculture. He also explained what caused the population to go from 8000 in some towns in the 1800s to 800 currently.
I considered this hike a good workout. I’m 61 years old, so let’s just say, most anyone could do it. Not to say that I’m not TOTALLY impressed that Pall does a tour this long and hard or even harder nearly every day! I think I walked about 8 miles on our 6 hour tour. We stopped for lunch in one of the towns. It seems people in every town know and like visiting with Pall.
Pall was very accommodating too! He actually met me right outside of my cruise terminal. The tour was by train, foot and boat, so you really get to see Cinque Terre from all vantage points.
I will definitely do this tour again if I’m ever in that area again!
I highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicholas_m
Jun 11, 2025
Perfect experience - This was one of our favorite experiences in a one-week tour of Italy! It was absolutely beautiful, informative, and not even a little rain could ruin it. Our guide was wonderful and loved showing us all the herbs growing along our route through the vineyards and teaching us about the traditional foods and wine made here. I was impressed with how far we hiked up mountains without feeling exhausted. I'll be recommending this trek to friends and family for sure!
Review provided by Viator
Paul_p
Jun 9, 2025
Unforgettable Day in Cinque Terre with Paul - Spending the day with Paul was like exploring the Cinque Terre with a longtime local friend. His deep knowledge, personal stories, and connections to the area brought the landscape and history to life. From hiking through terraced vineyards to an unforgettable dinner at Billy’s (complete with a personal touch), every moment felt authentic and special. Easily one of the most memorable days of our trip—highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Bfd7
May 29, 2025
Perfect day, ace tour guide Paul, something for everyone, avoid the crowds, see & experience Cinque Terre - This was an incredible tour!!!
We truly did it all: explored Cinque Terre by foot, train, and boat. We learned about the region's geopolitical history, current events, and everyday life. We learned all about the fascinating viticulture (and now tourism) that sustains and defines life in Cinque Terre. We got a good feel for the 5 towns on the sea and 3 towns slightly inland. We especially enjoyed the hike between the first 2 towns, far from the crowds- as would anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
Paul did a terrific job. He is meant to be a tour guide! His encyclopedic knowledge of Cinque Terre's history and present were so impressive. His passion for sharing this with others is clear. We especially enjoyed looking at and smelling such a wide variety of fruits and herbs; we felt as if we were in the Garden of Eden with the bounty that surrounded us constantly. We ate some local delicacies that made the day that much more special. We pitied the big tour groups, as they crowded city streets, as well as the solo travelers, who wouldn't learn and experience as much as we did.
Thank you to Paul and we recommend this tour to anyone who wants to really enjoy and experience Cinque Terre!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon_b
May 11, 2025
Great guide. - The hike was perfect. Paul paced it well. His detailed knowledge of the area and close relationships with other locals made the experience great. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Nss_786
Apr 28, 2025
Outstanding! - I was originally supposed to be on another tour which was cancelled last minute and I was so sad at the thought of not being able to experience Cinque Terre but luckily came across Pall at the last minute. He was so incredibly helpful. I was worried about navigating the trains and making it in enough time so he picked me up from La Spiza, from where we went to Riomaggiore. There was only other person on the hike who was such a lovely person. We had such an amazing time hiking. We skipped all the crowds, and got all the magnificent views while also learning about the history, topography and ecosystem of Cinque Terre. It didn’t feel like a check on a bucket list but a truly immersive experience. We even got to ride on the grape harvest monorail which is definitely a once in a lifetime experience! Ending with the ferry and drink was just perfect. As I told him, he and this tour was like “ Sciacchetrà” just exquisite! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pat_c
Apr 12, 2025
This was the best tour we... - This was the best tour we never taken. Paul created a perfect day for us and customized the day to our interests. I can not recommend this tour enough. Worth every penny!
Review provided by Viator
Jmagoo_13
Apr 4, 2025
Incredible Trek - I had an amazing experience trekking with Pall! He’s incredibly knowledgeable about the terrain, local culture, and nature, which made the journey not only enjoyable but also really informative. What stood out the most was how friendly and supportive he was throughout the trek. He’s also very understanding and adaptable, which made it easy to relax and fully enjoy the experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide—highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kris_s
Nov 20, 2024
Must walk Cinque Terre with Pall Forloney - Amazing trek with Pall (Paul) on this one day trek. He met us at train station in La Spezia as we drove from Hilton Grand Vacation Club in Selvatelle. Pall grew up in USA but has been in Italy for 25 years. He knew many people along our trek. He is very safe, attentive to hikers abilities and knows shortcuts and alternate routes along the way. His knowledge of flora is impressive with him pointing out rosemary, basil, cumin, thyme, Irish strawberries(scrumptious), kiwi, etc. Pall has a unique skill with the cell phone camera (selfies are not great and most people are well intended but are not good photographers). He knows where to take photos along the way, where to position us and the background/lighting and we end up with photos consistent with what we experienced. Amazing history, amazing land and people and a VERY special man is Pall. Our expectations were exceeded. Peter and Kris Sneed. Michigan, USA 🇺🇸
Review provided by Viator
Michael
Oct 23, 2024
Fantastic hike - Will never forget this incredible hike in the hills and through the terraced gardens of Cinque Terre with our very knowledgeable guide, Pall.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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