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Backpacking Italy's Tuscan Countryside and Ligurian Coast - Alumni

Join a group of NOLS grads and instructors for a week of hiking in Tuscany and along Italy's Ligurian Coast as we connect comfortable inns by foot, shuttle and train.

Linking together our string of small hotels and inns gives us the chance to savor Italian cuisine and culture while mixing with other, mostly European travelers. Anticipate sightseeing and exploring the region's iconic landmarks, villages and rural areas. Sleeping and dining at country inns allows us to considerably lighten our loads on our daily hikes along the coasts and hills of Tuscan Italy. We organize a luggage shuttle that will keep your load to a small daypack when hiking between destinations.

The trip starts and ends in the city of Turin and participants should consider staying extra days on either end of the trip to explore the sights of Italy.

It may be helpful to think of this trip as divided into three sections. There’s some urban, self-guided adventuring in Pisa, Lucca and Siena in addition to the beginning and end in Turin. There is a coastal exploration element, including day hiking along the trails and around the fishing villages of the Portofino Peninsula and Cinque Terre National Park. Finally, there are days of hiking and sightseeing in Chianti and Panzano, enjoying the villages and vineyards of the classic Tuscan countryside. These sections are connected by foot, shuttle, or train.

This trip will re-acquaint you with NOLS backpacking techniques in a convivial, relaxing and visually stunning location. Instruction is geared to your interests, with optional walk-up peaks, Italian "word(s) of the day," time for journal-writing, photography, and more. Of course, non-alumni adult friends and family members are also invited— this is a great way to introduce them to NOLS.

Overall Difficulty*:

*Inn lodging means cultural interaction, comfortable rooms, cooked meals. A luggage shuttle will keep day packs light.