Australians can explore Italy’s picturesque Ligurian Hills on foot, sampling local wines and cuisine along the way, on a self-guided, inn-to-inn hike offered by one of Europe’s leading self-guided walking tour operators, On Foot Holidays.
In the foothills of the majestic Apennine Mountains, the Ligurian Hills are bucolic Italy at its finest, with a fierce pride of local traditions, food and wine. To add to the allure, On Foot Holidays is offering Australians and Kiwis the chance to enjoy a low footprint, high immersion sojourn through the region in 2025 but at current 2024 prices if the hike is booked by September 30, 2024.
Liguria is a coastal region in north-western Italy near the French border, known for its mountains, rolling hills and seaside ports. On Foot Holidays’ seven-night holiday begins with two days of walking through vineyards and woods, followed by high ridge walking, before finishing at the picturesque fishing port of Camogli.
The route is rich in history. In the Middle Ages, merchants led mule trains loaded with sea salt along the path and the route was also used in 218BC by Hannibal and his elephants on the way to fight the Roman Empire.
The walk begins in the town of Montalto Pavese and travels south through the hills and down to the sea. Along the way, travellers will pass vineyards, villages, ancient market towns, meadows, castles, villages and wild horses, with much of the area untouched for centuries. Guests will stay in small, family-run B&Bs, offering authentic Italian hospitality with sophisticated home cooking and local wines.
The route can be walked from May through to October and is rated medium to hard in difficulty, with four to seven hours of walking each day.
The seven-night walk costs £1205 per person, twin-share (approximately A$2318 depending on exchange rates), and includes seven nights’ accommodation, all breakfasts, four evening meals, five picnic lunches and all luggage transfers, meaning walkers simply carry a day pack. A single supplement is also available and walkers can opt to extend or shorten their walking holiday.
Australians and Kiwis can do the walk this year or, if choosing 2025, pay current 2024 prices if they book by September 30, 2024, beating a forecast price rise estimated at 5-10 per cent.
Rated one of Europe’s leading self-guided walking tour operators, On Foot Holidays offers 34 self-guided walking tours across Europe. Accommodation and information packs are provided for all the routes. Walkers select their departure dates, luggage is transferred between hotels each day and all routes are designed by locals and tested by staff from On Foot Holidays.
