Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa
Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa. Meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief en ontvang inspirerende reistips en routes voor je volgende groene reis.
Liguria
Liguria is a narrow strip of land, less than ten kilometers wide in some places. It is wedged between the Apennines and the Mediterranean Sea. That is what makes it so special: nowhere else in Italy are the mountains and the sea so close together.
Most visitors know Liguria for the Cinque Terre. But it’s the hinterland where things really get interesting for NTL travelers. Finale Ligure is one of Europe’s best-known mountain biking destinations, with trails that descend from beech and chestnut forests to the Mediterranean scrub overlooking the sea. And the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri—a 442-kilometer route along the mountain ridges from Ventimiglia to Tuscany—is one of Italy’s most beautiful long-distance trails, and virtually unknown.
Nature Travel Lab selects small-scale accommodations in Liguria that can be booked directly with the owner.
All about nature in Italy
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The most beautiful regions for nature lovers
South Tyrol
Tuscany
Abruzzo
Piedmont
Valle d'Aosta
Sardinia
Sicily
Umbria
Molise
Le Marche
Veneto
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Liguria
Trentino
Puglia
Lake Como
Lake Garda
Lazio
Emilia-Romagna
Campania
Basilicata
Small-scale nature stays Italy
Choose your favorite region and discover our tips for the best small-scale Nature stays with a sustainable focus. You book directly with the owner, so you are guaranteed the lowest price.
Special accommodation in Italian nature
Find unique small-scale Nature stays in Italy. From glamping to luxury boutique hotel and from B&B to vacation home or agriturismo. They are all special and different, but they all have an eye for sustainability.
Our sustainability criteria for overnight stays
Using these sustainability icons, you can easily see in what area an overnight stay is active with its sustainability policy.
Zero footprint
Architecture
sustainable/local construction
Food
organic/local cuisine
Social
family/local runned/social projects
Wellbeing
Sauna/yoga/wellness/treatments
Surroundings
Environment/recycling
Choose your region
Sicily
Tuscany
Valle d’Aosta
Piedmont
Basilicata
Puglia
Campania
Veneto
Lombardy
Lombardy
Lake Garda
South Tyrol
Sardinia
Emilia-Romagna
Umbria
Le Marche
Trentino
Abruzzo
Liguria
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Lazio
Nature in Liguria
Liguria is Italy’s narrowest region—a slender strip of land between the Apennines and the Mediterranean Sea—and it is precisely this narrowness that makes it so special. Nowhere else in Italy are the mountains and the sea so close together. The region is home to nine regional nature parks, one national park, and three marine reserves, stretching from the Ligurian Alps in the west to the Cinque Terre National Park in the east.
The hinterland is surprisingly wild. Covering 87 km², the Parco del Beigua is Liguria’s largest regional park, with landscapes ranging from rolling hills to rugged forests teeming with wildlife. The highest peak in the Ligurian Apennines, Monte Saccarello at 2,201 meters, overlooks three countries. Closer to the coast, olive groves and Mediterranean scrub alternate with limestone cliffs—a landscape that still makes you stop in your tracks even halfway down a bike descent.
The Alta Via dei Monti Liguri connects it all: a 442-kilometer long-distance trail through the Ligurian Alps and the Apennines, from Ventimiglia to the Tuscan border. Spring and fall are ideal—pleasantly warm, peaceful, and with nature at its most beautiful.
Hiking & Mountain Biking in Liguria
Liguria has two sides for active travelers. Along the coast, the Cinque Terre is the best-known hiking area: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Sentiero Azzurro as its classic coastal trail. But if you really want to hike, head into the hinterland. The hills and mountains of the Apennines offer countless hiking opportunities, from peaceful trails through olive groves to challenging routes to higher peaks.
For mountain bikers, Finale Ligure is a household name. The trails around the Finale Outdoor Region range from beech and chestnut forests at an altitude of 1,000 meters to Mediterranean scrub with views of the sea—a variety you’ll find in few other European MTB regions. Well-known trails like the Toboga Canova, the NATO Base, and the Rollercoaster attract riders from all over the world. The hinterland of Pietra Ligure and Finale Ligure boasts more than 1,370 kilometers of trails—enough to keep you busy for several weeks. And unlike in a bike park, the entire area is freely accessible: here, everyone rides through the open countryside, not on a closed circuit.
Where to Stay in Liguria
Liguria offers two completely different ways to spend the night in nature. And Nature Travel Lab has selected a base for both.
Ostello Bello is located on the coast in Finale Ligure, 300 meters from the beach and right in the heart of the Riviera’s outdoor capital. It’s the perfect base for mountain bikers, climbers, surfers, and hikers, with bike storage, its own workshop, a shuttle service to the trails, and all the information you need to explore the region.
In the hinterland, in the hills above the coast near Magliolo, lies Tecciù di Cuppi: six wooden bungalows right in the heart of the region’s most famous MTB trails, from the Toboga Canova to the Rollercoaster. After a day on the bike, guests can enjoy a swimming pool, sauna, restaurant serving local cuisine, and a bar. Peace and adventure are just a short walk apart—and the sea is only a half-hour drive away.
Two destinations, one region. Book direct with the owner through NatureTravelLab.com.
“Nature is our greatest ally and inspiration.”
– Sir David Attenborough
Special spots in nature
We select the nicest accommodations with all a focus on sustainability policies. Think luxury Treehouses in the middle of nature or a boutique hotel in the countryside. Sustainability categories range from organic cuisine and mindfull focus to waste separation and zero-waist policy.
Luxury overnight stay in nature
The accommodations all have something unique and of course a location in or near nature. Spending the night in nature does not always mean sleeping in a tent. Find special and luxurious nature stays for your active vacation or just for your slow travel experience.
Comfortable overnight stay in nature
The overnight focus on sustainability policy gives attention to comfort and quality.
They often use their own vegetable garden or local cuisine. Much attention is paid to the quality of the accommodation, the environment and the guest.