TOUR AT A GLANCE -Amalfi Walking Tour
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departures 2010: Sept 11 & Sept 28 & private departures
Departing from: Salerno at 9:00 a.m. on Day 2.
Tour finishes: Naples train station at 10 a.m. on Day 8.
Trip Price: €2,100 per person based on double occupancy.
Single Supplement €200.
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All dates are Guaranteed departures. You can create your own date for a small group
Spread along the shores of the sparkling Mediterranean, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
It offers an extraordinary palette of colors, with bright azure skies, white limestone cliffs, deep blue seas, and green citrus orchards lit by the dazzling Mediterranean sun. We hike ancient paths from bustling coastal towns through rustic woodlands and up along the cliffside trails to villages perched atop craggy outcrops. We take you beyond the crowds to experience the hidden treasures and authentic culture of this Italian paradise.
The trip starts in the authentic coastal town of Salerno. We transfer to the charming village of Minori, where we stay two nights at a lovely family-run hotel with majestic views over the sea. On Monday we make a full-day excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pompeii. We have a guided tour of this incredible Roman site preserved in time by the ashes of Mount Vesuvius. On Tuesday we find ourselves high in the hills in the village of Ravello, famous for its gardens and villas. We have two beautiful hikes in the area, leading us to our final destination, Praiano-Positano. That evening we will join Mamma Angela and her husband Catello (a professional chef) in their home for a cooking lesson and dinner where they will show us how to prepare some local dishes. We celebrate our final meal together on the shores of a small cove just below our hotel.
(Luggage is transfered by van. 1 night Salerno, 2 nights Minori, 2 nights Ravello, 2 nights Praiano – Positano. End in Naples.)
Day 1 -Saturday – arrival Salerno (Note, the Sept 28th departure starts with arrival on a Tuesday): The trip starts in Salerno, which is easily accessible by train. Our hotel is conveniently located close to the station on a lively yet quiet pedestrian street. We are just a five-minute walk from the historic center of old Salerno with its great cafés, restaurants, and shops. O/N Salerno. Hotel included.Dinner not included.
Day 2 – Sunday – Convento di San Nicola: Meet your guide(s) at 9:00 a.m. in the hotel. A short bus transfer takes us to Maiori to start our first hike up into the mountains. Our path is lined with holm oaks and chestnut groves. It takes us out onto a long ridge that traverses the mountainside, offering breathtaking views of coastal villages and the shimmering sea below. We stop at the Convent of San Nicola for a picnic lunch and then slowly descend down into Minori, our home for the next two nights. We stay at the three-star Palazzo Vingius with stunning views over the sea. While in Minori, we visit a remarkably preserved 1st century AD Roman villa. There’s time to relax and take in the views from your hotel room before meeting at a seaside café for an aperitivo and then dinner. O/N Minori. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 3 – Monday – Pompei-Minori: Today we take a morning transfer to Pompeii for a guided tour of this outstanding archaeological site.
In 79 AD, a massive eruption at nearby Mt. Vesuvius buried the city under a 6-meter blanket of ash and rock. Due to its fine state of preservation, the excavations now give us an extraordinarily real image of daily life in a Roman city. Pompei was rediscovered in the 16th century, but excavation only began in 1748 and has continued systematically up to the present time. We spend a half day visiting the site with a specialized guide, seeing the villas, temples, theatres and markets that once bustled with life in ancient times. Optional afternoon walk. Dinner tonight is in a local trattoria in Minori. O/N Minori.Breakfast, dinner, and hotel included.
Day 4 – Tuesday – Valley of the Mills to Ravello: A short bus transfer takes us along the spectacular road to Amalfi. This charming coastal town was once an important naval power from the 8th to 12th century. You have free time this morning to explore Amalfi’s ancient medieval quarters and put together a picnic lunch before heading out on our hike through the Valley of the Mills. On the way we visit the last operating paper mill in Amalfi that makes fine paper from Egyptian cotton that returning merchant ships brought to Amalfi as far back as the 10th century. A quiet, wooded path leads us past the fascinating ruins of these mills. We make our way up the valley and into the mountains. Our walk ends in the delightful village of Ravello, our home for the next two nights. Overnight at the Hotel Giordano. O/N Ravello. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 5 – Wednesday – Valle del Dragone, Amalfi, Ravello: Our trail winds its through trellised lemon groves to emerge in the piazza of Pontone village, a 12th century defensive stronghold. Time to enjoy a mid-morning cappuccino at the café before continuing on to the Torre dello Ziro, an imposing tower that was part of the defensive system of walls and towers that protected Amalfi from Saracen pirates. We are rewarded with a stunning views across the Valle del Dragone to the gardens and villas of Ravello. The hike continues down to the coastal village of Atrani for lunch. In the afternoon, we have an optional walk up to Ravello or you can take the bus. Tonight is a free night dinner, so you can go light or else try one of Ravello’s fine restaurants. O/N Ravello. Breakfast and hotel included. Dinner not included.
Day 6 – Thursday – Valle delle Ferriere: Start directly from the nearby village of Scala with great views of perched villages and shimmering sea. Hike through the beautiful Valle delle Ferriere past streams, woods, and old ruins to end in the village of Pogerola. We finish our day in the town of Praiano, near Positano, our home for the last two nights. Mamma Angela and her family provide a wonderful cooking class in their home high above Praiano, followed by dinner. O/N Praiano. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 7 – Friday - Footpath of the Gods: Today we head to beautiful Positano via spectacular Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods). This four-hour hike takes us through groves of cypress and fields of wildflowers, past ancient stone huts, and across the hillside along narrow trails overlooking the sea. We reach the village of Nocelle, a picturesque neighboring village of Positano, and continue on to Montepertuso for lunch. Then we descend through olive groves and vineyards to beautiful Positano. Perched on a steep slope on a small bay, Positano’s brightly painted houses and brilliant bougainvillea make it one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. We have free time to explore, shop or have a swim before heading back to our hotel. Our final dinner is at a trattoria right on the beach below our hotel. O/N Praiano. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 8 – Saturday – Departure: We leave at 8:30 a.m. for the Naples train station, arriving around 10:00. Breakfast included.
The walks in Amalfi, though not long in terms of distance, can be strenuous at times as we ascend or descend mountain paths or a series of old stairways that have been used for years to link the villages of the region. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, swim in the hotel pool or venture down to Amalfi’s beaches for a dip in the sea. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms.
Useful links – Amalfi Coast: general information, weather forecast, photos, history, and more.
Pompeii Archaeological Site: official site of Pompeii, with good maps, photos, history of the excavations, etc.
Pompeiana: more serious website devoted to current research on the site
Mount Vesuvius: Wikipedia has a great site
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Italy has more sites in the list than any other country!
General Information
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Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with some challenging climbing. We usually walk 4-5 hours per day, divided between morning and afternoon. Some days have a shorter option. The paths are sometimes steep, ascending and descending ancient stone staircases linking one village to the next. Trip Cost includes: All accommodations (7 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels); 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners; all luggage transfers; guided visit of Pompeii; cooking class; bilingual guide(s); all van, bus, and boat transfers as noted in the itinerary including the final transfer to Naples train station on Day 8.Getting there this will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page) Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.  We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
