description - CairnStoneAdventureTours.com

Best Of Italy
May 4 – 16, 2013
574.215.4779
CairnStoneAdventureTours.com
[email protected]
TRIP DESCRIPTION (R2, 3-12-13)
SAT, May 4
Leave Chicago O'Hare at 2:00PM for flight to Rome. We will fly through the
night landing in Rome at 9:30AM (Italy is 6 hours ahead of USA).
SUN, May 5
Arrive mid morning at Fiumicino Airport of Rome (AKA Leonardo da Vinci
Airport). After clearing customs, we will be transferred to the Regio Hotel.
Our hike will be to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum and
Circus Maximus. It will be early to bed this evening.
MON, May 6
We will hike the heart of ancient Rome including Spanish Steps (Piazza di
Spagna), Trevi Fountain, Parliment, Piazza Rotunda, the Pantheon, San
Luigi, Piazza Narvona and then lunch at the colorful and exciting Campo de
Fiori. Then on to the Tiber River Walk, Vatican City and St. Peters Square.
TUE, May 7
We will check out of our hotel, take our charter bus to Florence and check into the Albion Hotel
and Hotel Magenta (both great hosts). A hike featuring all the highlights of this Renaissance gem
will take place in the afternoon. The hikes will range from 3 to 7 miles and there will be flexibility
in scheduling museum and gallery visits.
WED, May 8
Today we will take a 45 minute drive into the Tuscan countryside and enjoy a wonderful but
challenging hike that ranges from 2.8 to 8.0 miles. A trail lunch is set up at a lovely Tuscan farm
en route. Following the hike we will take a short visit to the quintessential Tuscan gem of San
Gimignano before enjoying a wonderful dinner at the Tuscan Resort of Locanda. My wonderful
friends Massimo, Susanna, and Sara will host us. (See page 3 for cooking school opportunity)
THU, May 9
This will be a repair day for hiking and everyone will have a
free day to enjoy this amazing city. Contact firenzeturismo.it
for information on all of the attractions in Florence. Also,
anyone interested in Susanna's cooking school can check for
more info here.
FRI, May 10
We will leave our hotel for the coastal town of La Spezia with a
stop en route at the walled city Lucca and a delightful low level
hike along the River Serchio. The hikes will range from 2 to 6
miles and will finish at the historic walled city and everyone will
pick their own piazza for lunch. Following lunch, we will head
for the Italian Riviera and the incredible Cinque Terre. Our
hotel is the Firenze e Continentale, which features a breakfast
room with a wonderful view.
SAT, May 11
After a short walk to the Trenitalia Termini we will take
the 15 minute train ride to Monterosso, the fifth village in
Cinque Terre. We will hike back toward village one,
Riomaggiore. Cinque Terre is an exceptional place on
the Italian Riviera with hiking trails connecting five
ancient villages that are accessible only by boat, train or
foot.
March 5, 2013
2013 Best Of Italy
Page 1 of 3
Best Of Italy
May 4 – 16, 2013
574.215.4779
CairnStoneAdventureTours.com
[email protected]
SUN, May 12
This morning we head for the Italian Alps and beautiful Lake Como and Bellagio, one of the
prettiest towns in Europe. It is about a four hour drive and once we get to Como the ride is
spectacular! Our hotel―the Britannia Excelsior―is actually located in Cadenabbia, a 15 minute
ferry ride from Bellagio. Really cool hikes ranging from 2 to 6.5 miles will be held on the Bellagio
peninsula and a great buffet dinner will be held in the grand dining room of our hotel.
MON, May 13
A cool hike in the nearby resort village of Menagio will take place. Much of the hike is in a river
valley park. The rest of the day can be spent enjoying this wonderful resort area before another
buffet dinner at our hotel.
TUE, May 14
This morning we check out and take our charter bus to Venice, one of the world's most beautiful,
unique, and charming cities. Our hotel is The Season's Hotel in Meastre and is only a 25-minute
shuttle bus ride to the Grand Canal in Venice. You will have most of the afternoon and all evening
to stroll Venice.
WED, May 15
You will have all day to enjoy Venice. For more information on attractions visit
en.turismovenizia.it.
THU, May 16
Sadly we head to the Marco Polo airport for our 11:35AM flight home with a stop in Philadelphia
before landing at O'Hare at 7:19PM.
WEB LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION
SUN
Colosseum in Rome, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus
MON
Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), Parliment, Piazza Rotunda, the
Pantheon, San Luigi dei Francesi (San Luigi), Piazza Narvona, Campo de Fiori, Tiber River Walk, Vatican
City, St. Peters Square
SUN - WED
Medieval Sienna, Florence, Tuscan countryside, Cypress Trees, Love in the Olive Groves, Chianti
district, Medieval Siena, Resort Locanda Le Boscarecce,
THU -FRI
Florence, Michelangelo's David, Brunelleschi's dome on the Duomo, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Arno
River and the Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, Palazzo Pitti, (Pitti Palace), La Spezia, Lucca, Cinque
Terre, More Cinque Terre, Hotel Firenze e Continentale,
SAT - WED
Monterosso 360 photo tour, Riomaggiore al Mare - video, more on Cinque Terre, Lake Como, Bellagio,
Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda, Venice Ferry Ride Cadenabbia,
March 5, 2013
2013 Best Of Italy
Page 2 of 3
Best Of Italy
May 4 – 16, 2013
574.215.4779
CairnStoneAdventureTours.com
[email protected]
COMMENTS
The price for the trip will remain the same as announced at $2,890. There will be no change in the final
payment amount. I feel that is an excellent price and I am really excited about the trip.
The trip price includes:
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Round trip airfare from Chicago to Rome and Venice to Chicago
Lodging in 3 star hotels
Deluxe motor coach for Italy airport transfers and ground transportation
Breakfast everyday
Deluxe trail picnic in Tuscany
Deluxe banquet in Tuscany
Two dinners in Bellagio (Cadenabbia)
Entrance to Villa Gerli park on the Bellagio hike
Nine month training and coaching program with Ron Gunn
Custom Italy Cairn Stone Tours shirt
Guide service in Italy
Course maps and course setups in Italy
Sag wagon (Fiat 500) for Tuscany hike
Bi-monthly newsletter
The Trip Price DOES NOT include:
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Shuttle to and from O'Hare airport (Aprox. $50 R/T door to door)
Airline luggage fees
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Trip cancellation insurance [INSURANCE INFO]
Museum and gallery admissions
Colosseum tour
Cooking school (Details below)
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Railroad and park fees in Cinque Terre (about €14) [Euro to Dollars]
Ferry fees in Bellagio (about €14)
Bus shuttle in Venice (about €7 round trip)
Gratuity to Italian bus driver
Travel and lodging costs for Devil's Lake and Manistee test hikes
Occasional jog pot for training hike park fees
Coach Ron Gunn
Cooking School Option:
Wed May 8th – Also, Suzanna can do a cooking school today starting at 10:30AM. It will
include making homemade pasta, sauce, main dish, and dessert – all Tuscan style. The cost is
€50 per person and includes lunch.
If you are interested please contact Ron Gunn by phone or email. If enough are interested I will
arrange for this class. (Phone and email at top of page)
March 5, 2013
2013 Best Of Italy
Page 3 of 3