Luxury Walking The Amalfi Coast 8 Day Vacation Package

ITALY

Walking The Amalfi Coast

At a glance

7 nights family-run hotel with small outdoor swimming pool and en suite facilities
4 days centre-based guided walking
All transport by private minibus
Low altitude throughout, not suitable for severe vertigo sufferers
Moderate walks, leisurely pace; good level of fitness recommended

Walk the stunning Amalfi coast and explore the fascinating ruins of Pompeii

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most dramatic coastlines in Europe. Mountains jut steeply out of the Mediterranean and picturesque towns nestled in the coves below. Walking the ancient hillsides studded with lemon groves and framed by deep gorges, we descend from the Agerola Plain to the quaint towns of Positano, Ravello and of course Amalfi itself. No visit to the Bay of Naples would be complete without a trip to see the remains of Pompeii under the imposing volcanic cone of Mount Vesuvius. The best is saved till last with arguably the world’s best coastal walk: the ‘Walk of the Gods’. Away from the trails we partake in the favourite traditional pastime and sample incredible food and wine just like the Italians do.

The perfect combination of idyllic coastal views, heritage sights and picturesque towns make the Amalfi Coast our most popular destination for walking. We have been operating this trip for over 15 years, using the comfortable Hotel Due Torri run by the friendly Acampora family who offers genuine Italian hospitality and ensures each guests has a wonderful stay.

Day 1

Start Bomerano.

Day 2

From the hotel it’s a short stroll to the village square (or in the case of Bomerano, a triangle) and the start of today’s walk. The circular route provides a good chance to stretch the legs; following a mixture of paths and tracks ascend to the top of Monte Tre Calli to be rewarded with spectacular wide-open views of the jagged coastline and seemingly endless blue sea. The Agerola Plain and the village of Bomerano are laid out below us and on a clear day we can see as far as the famous island of Capri, a haven and idyllic hideaway for many celebrated artists and writers over the past 200 years. After admiring the majestic scenery descend to Bomerano and enjoy some rest time before a hearty dinner (10 km, 4.5 hrs walking including stops).

Day 3

Start walking towards Amalfi, a town popular with the British since Edwardian times when the upper classes favoured the town as a pleasant place to spend their winters. The route has a downhill bias, following the path down from Bomerano at 700m to the shores of the Mediterranean, accompanied by wonderful coastal views. There are sections of steps today (approx. 2000 in total), but there are also plenty of opportunities to rest and go at your own pace. On arrival in the town you will see the large Duomo (Cathedral) dominating the town with its brightly-coloured tiled cupola (dome), which along with the baroque facade and interior, is a typical example of regional architecture. Take some time to explore the town, swim in the small bay or enjoy a well-earned gelato before taking the transfer back to Bomerano (9km, approx. 5 hrs walking including stops).

Day 4

Drive to Bay of Naples; visit fascinating ruins of Pompeii and take a walk up Mt Vesuvius.

Transfer to the Bay of Naples, the area spanning between the region’s capital city, Naples, and the town famed for its lemon groves, Sorrento. Situated on the lower foothills of the volcano dominating the Gulf, Pompeii was a thriving port town until Vesuvius’ catastrophic eruption spanning two days in 79AD during which the city was buried in ash and pumice. Lost for 1700 years, Pompeii is now a UNESCO World Heritage site as the perfectly preserved remains give us an amazing insight into life in a Roman city, complete with bathhouses, bakeries and homes- some of which are still have walls adorned with detailed frescoes. You may take some time to explore the site this morning, perhaps opting for a detailed tour accompanied by a local guide. After lunch, travel by bus high up onto the slopes of Vesuvius to view the volcanic crater. Depending on weather conditions, it may be possible to take an extended walk around the caldera and beyond, led by an expert volcanologist (optional).

Day 5

Guided walk through Valle delle Ferriere N.P. to Ravello

Starting from Amalfi, follow the stream gently upwards through lemon groves, past the shells of former paper factories (a major local industry from the 12th to 19th centuries) and medieval ironworks into the Valle delle Ferriere National Park. Continue on, crossing wooden bridges and following shady paths carpeted with wild flowers in season, to the beautiful moss-clad waterfalls within the closed gates of the nature reserve. Exodus groups have exclusive access to this beautiful protected area; a real privilege as entrance is restricted to those with prior authorisation. The route then follows the track back before turning up to the quaint village of Pontone. We stop to take in outstanding views of Amalfi and enjoy a picnic lunch in the charming village piazza before proceeding up to Ravello, a town much favoured by the Bloomsbury set and other artists and intellectuals due to its secluded location and inspirational scenery. Take some time to explore at your leisure; perhaps visit Villa Cimbrone with its meticulously landscaped gardens, (9km, approx. 4 hours walking)

Day 6

Free day to relax or take a boat to Capri, visit Naples or Herculaneum (all optional).

Day at leisure to relax at the hotel or go down to the seafront. The hotel also offers private transfers (payable locally) to the most popular attractions in the region not covered during the rest of the week, including the city of Herculaneum. Also destroyed during the disaster of 79AD, Herculaneum was buried in mud rather than ash and it is said that this lead to the site being even better preserved than the bigger Pompeii. You might instead choose to take a ferry to the chic island of Capri and the funicular through lemon groves up to Capri town (seasonal). These optional excursions can be arranged locally by your leader. Alternatively, spend the free day by the pool or in true Italian style in a café, sipping espresso and watching the world go by!

Day 7

Walk of the Gods’ with superb panoramic views all the way to Positano; return by boat to Amalfi; try some locally-made Mozzarella cheese.

A fitting finale to the week is one of the world’s finest day walks. Leaving the hotel it’s a short stroll through the quiet village of Bomerano before we join the ‘Sentiero degli Dei’ (Walk of the Gods), thus named as it provides some of the most evocative views in the world, of ragged cliffs speckled with tiny villages and extensive views of the sparkling Mediterranean sea. The route follows undulating hills, carpeted with flowers in season, the contours of the land and the coast. The trail is broken by insights into local life, passing shepherds huts and ancient stone houses carved into the limestone before we descend a long series of steps to the colourful Positano, an almost vertical town clinging to the rock face of a sheltered bay. Take some time to explore the alleyways lined with wisteria and designer boutiques or have a dip in the clear water of the beachfront before returning to Bomerano by boat and bus (seasonal) in the late afternoon. During the week many meals will have included some delicious local smoked mozzarella cheese and before dinner we will have the chance to see how it is made and taste the mouth-wateringly fresh final product.(12 km, approx. 6 hrs walking including stops).

Day 8

End Bomerano.

What’s included

All breakfasts, 4 packed lunches and 6 dinners
All accommodation (see below)
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What’s not included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request from GBP220)
Visas or vaccinations

Cycle Cilento & the Amalfi Coast

Your chance to

Discover the rugged Cilento National Park
Cycle along the stunning Amalfi Coast
Enjoy the Italian warm hospitality and succulent cuisine
Explore the beautiful towns of Amalfi and Ravello

At a glance

5 days cycling with 100% vehicle support
100% tarmac roads
Mainly undulating with a few steady climbs
6 nights 3 and 4-star hotels and 1 night farmhouse
All breakfasts and 1 dinner included
E-bike hire available on request

Cycle along the stunning Amalfi Coast
Cycling is a great way to explore the stunning natural and cultural treasures of Campania. This tour takes us through the best routes and contrasts of the region, from the relatively unknown and unspoilt Cilento to the popular lively Amalfi Coast. The Cilento National Park is largely undisturbed by the 21st Century and as we cycle through quaint fishing villages we realise that the traditional way of life is still very evident. We also visit the Greco-Roman city of Paestum, with its three major Doric style temples, before heading to the lovely town of Minori on the Amalfi Coast. Here we cycle on some of the most scenic routes in the world, while visiting beautiful towns including Positano and of course Amalfi itself. All the cycling will help to build our appetite for the fine food that the area is famous for!

Day 1: Start in Palinuro, on the southern coast of Cilento N.P.
Those on the group flight will fly to Naples and get a transfer to the start hotel in Palinuro, a lively picturesque village on the southern coast of Cilento (approx. 3 hours drive from Naples). Capo Palinuro is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty and impressive underwater caves. Please note that the departures on the 25th March, 7th and 14th October 2017 will start in the lovely seaside town of Marina di Camerota. The cycling route on Day 2 of these departures will be very similar to the standard followed on the other departures, only slightly shorter (50km, rather than 55km).

Day 2: Cycle along the most undeveloped stretch of coastline in southern Italy, then inland to the Mingardo Canyon and abandoned village of San Severino.
We start early in the morning with a scenic ride along the Southern Coast of the Cilento National Park, the most unspoilt stretch of coastline in southern Italy, offering spectacular views of the Gulf of Policastro. We arrive in the lovely coastal town of Marina di Camerota for a short break and then climb inland to the amazingly located village of San Giovanni a Piro. We cycle around the impressive Mt Bulgheria and to the Mingardo canyon before making our way back to Palinuro.

Day 3: Ride to Capo Palinuro then to the mediaeval village of Pisciotta; descend to the coast and Casalvelino.
From Marina di Camerota we follow the beautiful coastline to the peninsula of Capo Palinuro to the mediaeval village of Pisciotta. From here we climb gently to the town of Ascea. En route back to the coast, we cycle past the ancient Greek settlement of Velia with its pink gate dating back to the 4th Century BC, before heading to the plain of Casalvelino, where we stay in a lovely agriturismo.