Bonassola, Cinque Terre
The spectacular coastal path linking the five Cinque Terre villages
offers some of the best coastal walking in Italy. The ancient fishing villages
of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manorola and Riomaggiore cling to the rocky
cliffs, and are surrounded by steep terraced vineyards. Guided walks follow the
coastal path and ascend using cobbled mule tracks onto the aromatic hillsides
above. Regular trains and ferries provide access along this spectacular stretch
of coastline.
Slightly to the north, and just a few minutes away by train, lies the charming
seaside village of Bonassola, an ideal base from which to enjoy the
popular coastal path and peaceful trails through the unspoilt hills.
- Visit the five unique coastal
villages of the Cinque Terre
- Outstanding coastal walking from the charming resort of
Bonassola
- Two-centre option with Bagni di Lucca and San Quirico
Detailed information
| No Manchester flight supplements
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Book a Classic Walking holiday from Manchester Airport and you could save up to £35 per person on the cost of your holiday.
Don't delay, this offer must end on 31 Janaury 2009. To book, please call our friendly reservation team today:
UK number: 0845 470 7558
Overseas number: 0044 20 8732 1250
Classic Walking: 10, 17 May; 7, 14, 21 June; 6, 13, 20, 27 Sept 2009
No flight supplement save £35 – Now from £755
| Classic Walking programme details |
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On these holidays there is a choice of two guided walks of varying difficulty each day.
ITINERARY
Day 1: arrival day |
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Day 2: explore the tiny hamlets above Bonassola,
with their superb views over the resort, or continue
over the headland to the nearby town of Levanto.
Day 3: follow the Via dell'Amore, through tunnels and
along walkways cut into the cliff between the villages
of Riomaggiore and Manorola. Continue beneath the
terraced hillsides to Corniglia, set atop a headland
and surrounded by vineyards and the picturesque village
of Vernazza.
Day 4: take the train north to Framura and from here
enjoy a delightful wooded path that contours through
sea pines and chestnut trees.
Day 5: free day - perhaps take the coastal train to
Genoa, rich with the history of Columbus, or to the
naval port of La Spezia, home to the Amedeo Lia art
collection.
Day 6: walk along the dramatic path to the tip of the
peninsula at Portovenere before admiring this remarkable
stretch of coastline on the return journey by boat.
Day 7: ascend on cobbled mule tracks from the
colourful harbour at Vernazza to the Santuario della
Madonna di Reggio, set high on the aromatic hillside,
with panoramic views of the Cinque Terre villages below.
Day 8: departure day |
Local transport to and from the walks
Local transport is not included in the cost of your
holiday. Please allow €45 (approx £35) per week
for local transport.
Maps
Your leaders will of course carry all the neccesary
maps, however if you would like a map for your own personal
enjoyment then the best is the Kompass 1:50,000 sheet 644
'Cinque Terre'. Maps can be obtained from The Map Shop,
Tel: +44 (0) 1684 593 143, or from local shops in Bonassola.
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| Footpath information |
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Easier Walks: 4 to 6 miles with 600ft to 1,300ft of ascent. |
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Harder Walks: 5 to 9 miles with 1,800ft to 2,700ft of ascent. |
There are few level paths along this stretch of coast. Most walks include steep ascents and descents sometimes on stone steps. [Back to the top]
| Dates and prices |
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Single room supplement: none
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| Average temperatures |
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| April |
15°C |
8°C |
6 |
72mm |
| May |
19°C |
12°C |
7 |
63mm |
| June |
22°C |
15°C |
8 |
50mm |
| September |
23°C |
15°C |
7 |
82mm |
| October |
18°C |
12°C |
5 |
120mm |
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| Travel to resort |
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Transfer from airport - If you book this holiday 'with flight' you will arrive at Pisa airport. The onward journey to Bonassola by coach takes around 2hrs.
Latest HF Holidays flight information updated 19/10/08 (provisional).
British Airways
Gatwick - Pisa
Out 08:10 - 11:20
Return 12:05 - 13:15
Jet 2
Manchester - Pisa
Out 07:00-11:00
Return 13:50-15:20
Manchester flight supplement: £35
See our Special Offers page for available discounts
Airport Parking: To book secure airport parking throughout the UK visit Purple Parking or Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Airport Hotels: To book airport hotels throughout the UK visit Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Airport Lounges: To book airport lounges visit Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Making your own travel arrangements
Flights to Pisa: The nearest and most convenient airport is at Pisa.
www.ryanair.com flights from Bournemouth, Doncaster Stansted, Liverpool &d Glasgow Prestwick.
www.easyjet.com flights from Bristol & Gatwick.
www.jet2.com flights from Belfast, Edinburgh, Leeds/Brafford, Manchester & Newcastle.
www.ba.com flights from Gatwick.
• The easiest option is to join the HF Holidays' transfer (supplement £20 single). Please contact our Reservations Dept to book your place. The HF Holidays coach is timed to connect with the
flight times above.
• Pisa Airport has its own railway station and you could travel by train from here to Bonassola. Trains take approximately 2½ hours and involves changing at Pisa Centrale and La Spezia. Italian trains are very cheap and a single ticket should cost about €10. For train times and further information visit the Italian railways website: www.trenitalia.com, select 'English' on the top line. Upon arrival at Bonassola station it is just a couple of hundred metres walk to the hotel.
Flights to Genoa: Genoa Airport is equally convenient but has a smaller range of flights:
www.ryanair.com flights from Stansted.
• From Genoa Airport you would first need to take the number 100 bus to the central railway station. Buses run every 30 minutes and currently cost €3 per journey - see www.airport.genova.it . From Genoa trains take between 1½ to 2 hours to reach Bonassola, depending on the number of stops. For train times and further information visit the Italian railways website: www.trenitalia.com. Upon arrival at Bonassola station it is just a couple of hundred metres walk to the hotel.
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| What the holiday includes |
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- Return economy class air travel - 'with flight' option.
- Airport transfers - 'with flight' option.
- 7 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms.
- Half Board - Breakfast & evening meals
- Services of two HF Holidays' leaders.
- 5 guided walks.
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| Where you'll stay |
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HOTEL DELLE ROSE
This comfortable,
three-star hotel, run
by brothers Enrico
and Roberto
Bernadin, is situated
in the quiet coastal
resort of Bonassola,
just a few minutes
from the beach and
with easy access to the Cinque Terre villages.
There are 27 en-suite bedrooms, a restaurant, comfortable lounge and adjacent
ice cream parlour owned by the same family. |
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Two Centre Option
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Bagni di Lucca / Bonassola
With flight: £1,245
No flight: £1,045
Price includes transfer between resorts, via Pisa Airport
To book this Two Centre holiday click
here
San Quirico / Bonassola
With flight: £1,295
No flight: £1,095
Price includes transfer between resorts, via Pisa Airport
To book this Two Centre holiday click
here |
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