Trip Details September 200413 nights in EuropeAug 29 Depart SFO (Overnight – flight arrive Monday Aug 30 Arrive Milan, travel by train to Cinque Terra – Vernazza Aug 31 Hike trails linking 5 towns Sept 1 Relax and swim at Vernazza Sept 2 Take train to Milan, then on by train and ferry to Cadenabbia Sept 3 Tour Lake Como, ferry ride to end of lake Sept 4 Take bus to Soglio Sept 5 Hike Panorama trail Soglio area Sept 6 Hike to Sciora Hutte Sept 7 Hike back to Bondo, take bus to Silvaplana and hike to Coaz Hutte Sept 8 Hike down to Pontresina, and take funicular to Muottas Muragl Sept 9 Hike to Georgy’s Hutte Sept 10 Hike down to Bernina Suot, take train to Poschiavo and bus to Sfazu, hike to Saoseo Hutte Sept 11 Hike back to Sfazu, take train to Bellano on Lake Como, hike to Oro Sept 12 Return to Milan, fly home Estimated Cost:Airfares run from $800 to $1,300 per person from SF to Milan. You maybe able to find cheaper flights on the WEB. Land Transportation, Accommodations, and Meals cost the two of us approximately $200/night or $2,600. The moderate price for this trip is very good compared to commercially priced tours to similar areas. Seven night commercial packages (without airfare from the US) will run to $3,400 per person, more than four times our cost. For examples see. Country Walkers Tours Switzerland What Else Should I Know?Breakfast is included with accommodations in traditional European style, dinners are at the local restaurants (except at the hutte which serve dinner themselves), some lunches are enjoyed on the hiking trail, but often there is a restaurant along the trail. Breakfast was not included in Cinque Terra, but you can get it conveniently at a local cafe or serve yourself if you have taken a private apartment. Meals do not include the wine, beer and alcoholic beverages, unless included in the restaurant menus complementarily.
Walking and hiking is easy to moderate. Some hiking is done at elevations up to 3,000 meters. It is also important to have good walking shoes or light weight hiking boots. Heavy weight hiking boots are not necessary.
Because this is a simple walking and hiking oriented trip we recommend that each participant plan on traveling as light as possible. Ideally one smaller sized (carry-on sized) and camera bag, purse or small shoulder bag are recommended. Ideally one of the new rolling backpack style bags or a travel pack with backpack straps is suggested. If you do the hutte portion of this trip we suggest you use a very light weight backpack, 2500-3100 cubic inch is enough capacity if you travel light and this can be you only bag. REI has a variety of packs you can see either:
Rolling Backpacks Carry on Backpack Luggage I used a GoLite RacePack for the trip. There are now many ultralight pack solutions. If you decide to take this trip and actually find it enjoyable. Any contribution toward developing future tours and the Web site is welcome. |
Travel Journal
Just Walking Together 