Exploring the Five Villages of Cinque Terre by Kayak
(9 days & 9 nights in Italy)
Join us for an unforgettable kayak adventure along the soaring coastline of Cinque Terre, an enclave of five villages perched precariously above the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Also known as the Italian Riviera, this region of Italy boasts not only incredible kayaking but an intricate network of hiking trails between the villages allowing visitors to experience the beauty from both sea level and a bird's eye view. Accessible only by boat or train, the five villages remain untouched by the encroachment of development, which changes the character and charm of such special places. This is a destination that offers an authenticity, a slower pace, yet, provides a diversity of activity that truly sets it apart.
Enjoy five days of paddling from village to village, our lodgings wonderful Inns and hotels with panoramic views of the Mediterranean. A special addition to the trip is an exploration of Porto Venere which was a major trading center throughout Medieval times. Its wide quayside offers a multitude of cafes and quaint shops and, with some careful wandering, you may discover the most delicious pesto to be found anywhere in Italy. We'll leave that discovery to you!
What makes this trip especially interesting is that it offers so much more than just the paddling. The spectacular vistas of the Ligurian Coast are complemented by the food, the wine, and the subtle play of light on the colors of the landscape. These are all qualities that contribute to the essential nature of what Italy has to share. Participate in an authentic Slow Food cooking class, a full day of gustatory comeraderie with hands-on preparation, involved cooking, and the resultant feast by mid afternoon, a fitting culmination to the day's "work".
There is no better way to create a memorable journal of your experience than a photographic record of where you have been and those with whom you have shared your adventure. Our uniquely structured photography workshop lends itself to just that... a process that develops a sense of effective composition rather than technical complication. Our instructor and Tuscan guide, is a noted photographer in the region. His approach is positive and reinforcing and provides you with the opportunity to grow and test your skills whether you are looking through the viewfinder of a high-end DSLR camera or framing your shot on the screen of a point-and-shoot. Photo opportunities abound from ancient Roman baths and hidden Etruscan ruins, to the day to day activity and commerce in the local butcher shop, Macelleria, a place where our group will have a chance to feast on a sampling of meats, cheeses, and wines that will constitute our late day picnic lunch in the field! This will be a "full" day excursion in more ways than one.
So come join us on our maiden voyage to Cinque Terre. "Piano, piano, piano", as the Italians say, "slowly, slowly, slowly" enjoy life, perhaps as it should be.
*The first and last days listed are international travel days
Click here to view detailed itinerary
$4750 per person double occupancy; singles add $600.
Price includes accommodations for 9 nights in Italy, meals as noted on itinerary, kayaking equipment, qualified and highly trained guides, and transportation once in Italy as noted on itinerary.
