Italy • Culinary
Riviera Cooking & the Cinque Terre
Ligurian cuisine is traditionally known for its natural and pure ingredients composed of fresh products from the garden, the sea, and the woods.
Most characteristic is the abundant use of wild herbs, such as the aromatic rosemary, thyme, sage and borage. Fresh basil is not only used for the famous Genovese pesto sauce but adds flavour to many Italian dishes. Stay in a 17th century estate only a few minutes away from the most picturesque coastal villages of the Cinque Terre. The aristocratic family who owns the estate formerly spent their summer holidays in this ancient agricultural estate where tenacious farmers work hard to produce the particularly fragrant olive oil and the quality wine of the Ligurian Riviera.
From NZ$7,040 per person, twin share
6 Days / 5 Nights • Daily, year-round • Italy
Price quoted is a lead-in rate. As pricing may vary seasonally and according to standard/category selected, please contact us for a quote on your specific requirements.
Tailor-made journey. This itinerary can be tailor-made, with the number of days, places visited, and activities varied to suit you.
About
About this journey
Olive groves and vineyards are skillfully cultivated thanks to the experience of the old farmers and the enthusiasm of the youngest descendant of the noble family. Olives, grapes, vegetables and fruit (which are used to prepare the delicious jams and preserves) are cultivated without the use of pesticide or chemicals, thus guests will be able to taste 100% natural products. Fresh herbs are grown in the gardens for guests to pick and use in their meals to get a true taste of Italy.
Cooking Class: your class will be held by an experienced chef who was born in and grew up in this area. Your hands-on lessons will feature typical Ligurian cuisine and simple, yet fresh and flavourful ingredients, most of which will be picked from the garden of the farmhouse.
The journey
Day by day
Day 1 — Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terra
Private transfer from Levanto rail station to the farmhouse and your accommodation. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2 — Monterosso › Levanto › Monterosso
Enjoy your breakfast on the enchanting flower filled terraces, tasting organic and local products. After you will make your way to the cooking school in Monterosso where you will learn from an experienced chef about the typical recipes of the Ligurian region. He will teach you how to prepare classic Ligurian recipes such as focaccia in Genovese style, vegetable quiches and the renowned pesto.
After lunch meet your guide and drive to the local train station where you will take the train to Levanto.
Levanto is a small village called “the northern door of the Cinque Terre“, famous for its 20th century villas overlooking the sea, typical colourful houses, narrow roads and the small vineyards on the mountains behind the village, producing the famous “Sciacchetra wine“ (a dessert wine).
You will visit the village, the ancient church of Sant’Andrea (the symbol of the village with its black and white striped facade) and a local shop, where you will learn about local wines, extra virgin oil and typical products (honey, marmalades, olive pates and sauces). Visit a gastronomic shop where you will enjoy a light dinner before returning to Monterosso by train.
Day 3 — Monterosso › Vernazza › Riomaggiore › Monterosso
After a private transfer to Levanto, meet your guide for a full day tour of the Cinque Terre. You will visit the villages of Monterosso, Riomaggiore, Corniglia and Manarola, situated along this stunning area of shoreline dotted with villages and rocky cliffs. In Monterosso admire the picturesque cliffside dwellings, and Vernazza, be charmed away with the colorful waterfront town, that sprang up in the 1200s before arriving in quaint Riomaggiore.
Return to Monterosso by train.
Day 4 — Monterosso › Corniglia › Manarola › Monterosso
This morning attend your second hands-on cooking class with the local chef. He will teach you how to prepare classic Ligurian recipes including “pansoti” and “pesce alla ligure”. After a delicious lunch, take the train to Corniglia where you will go on a short hike and walk through Ligurian vineyards before reaching Manarola.
Return to Monterosso by train.
Day 5 — Monterosso › Santa Margherita Ligure › Portofino and San Fruttuoso › Monterosso
Today you will have a private guided excursion to Portofino and San Fruttuoso. Meet your private guide in Levanto, then travel to Santa Margherita Ligure by train. Walk to the ancient city centre of Santa Margherita and along the elegant seaside promenade, where you will learn more about this village – one of the most elegant seaside resorts in Italy.
Next, head to Portofino by public bus or public boat and enjoy a walk in this wonderful small village. From Portofino you can travel by public boat to San Fruttuoso, a small fishing village in a deep inlet along the coastline of the Portofino promontory, one of the most evocative places in Italian Riviera. After a private transfer to Levanto, enjoy dinner in a gourmet restaurant and then transfer back to the farmhouse.
Day 6 — Monterosso
Private transfer to Monterosso train station where arrangements end.
Pricing • New Zealand dollars, per person
By season and category
2026
| Season | Twin, per person | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-star | ||
| 01 Apr – 31 Oct | NZ$7,040 | Enquire → |
2027
| Season | Twin, per person | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-star | ||
| 01 Apr – 31 Oct | NZ$7,295 | Enquire → |
Price quoted is a lead-in rate. As pricing may vary seasonally and according to standard/category selected, please contact us for a quote on your specific requirements.
What’s included
- 5 nights’ accommodation
- 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner
- Meet & Greet at Monterosso al Mare Railway Station
- Private arrival and departure transfers in Monterosso
- English-speaking local guides
- Private sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Two private cooking school lessons
- Entrance fees as per the itinerary
Not included
- City tax paid directly to your hotel
- Shared boat and train tickets
- Gratuities
Booking conditions
- Pricing varies due to fluctuations in exchange rates; please contact us for current pricing or other changes
- This programme is not available for a single travelling alone
- Surcharges may apply during events, festivals, public/religious holidays, or other high-demand dates
- Please enquire about a modified version of this itinerary from November to March
Journey operated by World Journeys and booked through Fine Travel.
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