Customwalks: Guided walking tours in Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Croatia.
Amalfi Coast & Capri Island Hiking Tour Write a review
Your adventure starts in vibrant Naples, where you spend one night in the historic center of the city at the four-star Palazzo Alabaldieri or similar. The next day, you have a guided visit to incredible Pompeii, followed by lunch at a beautiful family-run winery in the hills above Ravello. You stay two nights on the coast in lovely Minori, two nights amongst sumptuous villas and gardens in romantic Ravello, and two nights in Praiano, where our hotel is perched above the shimmering sea. We take you on spectacular hikes that link together ancient villages, monasteries, and watchtowers. On our penultimate day we take you to explore the exquisite island of Capri. The aptly named "Path of the Gods" provides you with one last breathtaking hike high above the sparkling waters of the Amalfi coast.
Amalfi Tour Includes
Booking: Please e-mail us at info@customwalks.com to receive a booking contract or simply click on the BOOK NOW button or the 'Contact Us' tab. Thanks!
Amalfi Coast & Capri Island Hiking Tour itinerary Request full itinerary
Independent arrival in Naples. You are pre-booked into the four-star Palazzo Alabaldieri (or similar), located in the heart of historic Naples, near many great cafés, restaurants, and shops. Overnight Naples. Hotel included. Dinner is not included.
Meet your guide(s) and the rest of the group at 8:30 this morning for a transfer to the archaeological site of Pompeii for a guided visit. In 79 AD, a massive volcanic eruption at nearby Mt. Vesuvius buried the city under a 6-meter blanket of ash and rock, and the fine state of preservation gives us an extraordinary image of daily life in a Roman city. You have a half-day hiking of the site with a specialized guide, seeing the villas, temples, theaters, and markets that once bustled with life in ancient times. You then have a transfer to a winery on the fertile slopes of Vesuvius, where Gaetano will welcome us to his family estate and give us a visit of the winery, a tasting, and then lunch. From there, we continue to Minori village and our hotel, the Palazzo Vingius (or similar), a family-run three-star hotel with gorgeous views over the sea. Meet up again later this evening for a welcome drink before dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Minori. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and hotel included.
After breakfast on the terrace, we begin our hike into the mountains overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean with breath-taking views of the coastal villages below. We hike out of Minori up steps that lead us along the famous path of the lemons through the lemon groves and into ancient hamlets perched above the sea and eventually stop along the mountainside for a picnic lunch. Afterwards, we return to our lovely hotel in Minori to relax to relax by the pool or enjoy the hotel spa before dinner in the village. The hike: 9.3 km, 566m total elevation gain. 3/ 3,5 hours. Overnight Minori. Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner and hotel included.
A short ferry ride this morning takes you to the delightful island of Capri. From Marina Grande you take a thrilling taxi ride along the precipitous road to the village of Anacapri, then a chair-lift takes you to the top of Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island. At 600 m (1900 ft.) above sea level, you have a spectacular view over the island and back towards the mountainous coastline. From here, you have a 2.5-hour walk back to Capri along a panoramic path, the "Sentiero del Passetiello." The walk takes you back to the charming town of Capri, where you can visit the popular piazzetta or have a lemon granita with your guide before catching the ferry back to Minori and then we transfer totransfer to Ravello, our home, for the next two nights. We will enjoy a lovely dinner in a local trattoria. Overnight at the Hote Graall. The hike: 4.5km, 50m elevation gain, 560m elevation loss, 2 hours. Overnight Ravello. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
A short transfer along a spectacular coastal road brings us to the famous village of Amalfi, which was an important naval power from the 8th – 12th centuries. Explore the colorful city streets and then visit the fascinating Paper Museum, which shows how the people of Amalfi made paper out of cloth using a technique they brought back from Asia during the Crusades. We begin a hike through the “Valley of the Mills” on an ancient path used today by woodsmen and their donkeys to access this ruggedly beautiful area. Our walk ends back in Ravello. You have free time to visit this serenely beautiful town's lovely gardens, villas, convents, and churches. The hike: 9km, 650m elevation gain, 3 hours. Overnight Ravello. Breakfast and hotel included. Dinner not included.
After a short transfer to nearby Campidoglio, hike under the beautiful cliffs of Punta d'Aglio and then head down through the beautiful Valle delle Ferriere. The trail passes the eerie ruins of what were once thriving water mills. We eventually reach the village of Pogerola, where we have a light lunch and then take a flight of steps down into the town of Amalfi, where you'll have some free time to explore or even go to the beach for a swim. We transfer from Amalfi to Praiano, where we spend the night. Your hotel for the last two nights is the 4-star Villa Maria Pia (or similar). The hike: 9km, 550m elevation gain, 1000m elevation loss, 3 hours. Overnight Praiano. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Today we take you to Positano via the spectacular "Sentiero degli Dei" - Path of the Gods. This wonderful four-hour hike takes you through stands of cypress forest, fields of wildflowers, and past ancient stone dwellings. Traverse the coastal mountains on trails which offer breathtaking views of the sparkling coastline stretching out far beneath you. At the village of Nocelle, you continue into a deep gorge with imposing limestone walls, and emerge at the quaint village of Montepertuso. From there you head down old staircases through olive groves and vineyards to world-famous Positano, considered to be the most beautiful town on the Amalfi coast. After some time off to walk around town or take a quick swim, we go back to Praiano and enjoy a lovely farewell dinner and drink a toast to a great tour and new friends. The hike: 9.5 km, 700m elevation gain, 1300m elevation loss, 3.5 hours. Overnight Praiano. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Departure: We leave at 9:00 a.m. for the Naples train station, arriving around 10:30. Breakfast included.
Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour we make new discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes they are bad, like a trail has been washed away. The result is that we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding new wonderful elements to the tour or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured, our goal is to always provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary prior to departure.
Though not long in terms of distance, the hikes 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. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms. Please look at the photos to view the typical staircases that are part of the trails. We often climb or descend a staircase for 10 or 15 minutes, at our own pace, and then traverse on a more open path.
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.
Mount Vesuvius: Wikipedia has a great site
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Italy has more sites in the list than any other country!
Activity Level 3+ out of 5 = Moderate Plus:
In general: This is a Moderate tour for fit hikers who will find the hikes a satisfying workout, while less-fit hikers will find them challenging but do-able and have a great sense of achievement at the end of the week.
Terrain: Rolling to hilly terrain with frequent steep ascents and descents. The "+" indicates that they also involve more rugged, rocky, or steep terrain than the standard 3-rated tours.
Actual hiking time: Between 3-5 hours per day, mostly in the morning but also in the afternoon.
Distances: Usually 8 - 10 kms (5 - 6 mi) per day. Max distance on this tour, 9.5 kms (6 mi).
Surfaces: Trails are a mix of compact earth or dirt tracks, gravel roads, and rocky, uneven wooded trails. You will also encounter centuries old stone stairways and rocky steps.
Footing: Good, but you have to pay attention to where and how you place your feet. Proper hiking shoes with thick soles with good treads are required. Sports sandals, running shoes, and tennis shoes are not adequate.
Specifics: Though not long in terms of distance, the hikes in Amalfi 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. Be sure to look at the photos to view the typical staircases that are part of the trails. We often climb or descend a staircase for 10 or 15 minutes and then traverse on a more open path. The most challenging hike is on the last day when we hike the "Path of the Gods," a 12 km (7.5 mi.), four-hour hike.
Hiking Poles: Highly recommended but not required, and if you habitually use hiking poles you will regret it if you don’t have them.
Compared to the Cinque Terre: The Cinque Terre is the perfect example of a 3+ rated tour. Our most common comment about the Cinque Terre hike and other tours rated 3+ is “More challenging than I expected but I am glad I did it”. Amalfi is very similar to the Cinque Terre hike as there are staircases, and sustained ups and downs, but the
Amalfi tour is slightly easier than the Cinque Terre.
Other: This tour is appropriate for “sporty and fit” first-time hikers who enjoy hiking and who have good balance. People with hip and knee issues might find a 3+ tour challenging because of the terrain and the duration of the hikes.
Moderate Plus Tours: Amalfi is the easiest of this group, then Dolomites Lite, followed by the Cinque Terre, Sardinia, Northern Greece Meteora & Zagori, and Andalusia.
As a point of reference, what is a 1 out of 5 Activity rating? A 1 out of 5 rated tour is a tour without any hiking. Hikes would be in towns, cities, and villages, and the countryside hikes would be on paved, or gravel/dirt roads, and occasionally on some packed earth trails. Elevation gain and loss would be negligible.
As a point of reference, what is a 5 out of 5 Activity rating? A 5 out of 5 rated tour is a tour that would be physically challenging and technically difficult even for very fit and experienced hikers. The hikes would have steep ascents and descents on narrow, exposed trails with challenging footing, such as on scree fields, or through rock falls and boulders. Distances would be up to 25 km/16 miles per day and feature ascents of over 1,000 m/3,200 feet in a day. A 5 out of 5 tour would also mean that you would be carrying a heavier-than-normal pack. None of our tours are rated 5 out 5. Our most challenging tours are 4.5 out of 5, and they are the Dolomites Alta Via (because of some exposed trail that requires some technical expertise) and our Republic of Georgia tour which has some long hikes with over 1,000 meters of elevation gain.
Getting There: the trip starts with your independent arrival at our pre-booked hotel in Naples, which is well connected to Rome and other cities by train.
Air: you can fly directly into the Naples airport, which has flights from throughout Italy and the major European hubs. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to the central train station every 30 minutes. Rome Airport is your next best option (also known as “Fiumicino”). There is a direct train from Fiumicino to the main “Roma Termini” train station every 30 minutes.
Rail: Naples is well connected to all major cities by train. You could even come all the way down from Milan on a high-speed Eurostar or new Italo train, passing through Bologna, Florence and Rome. Florence is about 3.5 hours by train, Rome 2.5 hours. See the Trenitalia website (in English) at this link. For alternative high-speed rail travel, see the Italo website.
For complete information on using the Italian train system, see our blog post.
Getting Away at the End of the Trip: the trip ends after breakfast on Saturday with a 1.5 hour van shuttle from Praiano/Positano to the Naples Central train station, arriving in time for 11.00 a.m. train connections. We can also arrange a transfer for you to the Naples Airport, at your expense. If you decide to stay in Praiano on the last day and travel independently, you need to take a bus from Praiano to Sorrento and a train from there to Naples. It takes about 2.5-3 hrs.
If you book a trip with us you will receive detailed information about how to get to the start of your trip, or e-mail us with any specific travel questions.
5
I loved the CustomWalks Amalfi Coast and Capri hiking tour! I would give it 10 stars if I could! The tour exceeded my expectations! We made new friends, ate great tasting food, drank excellent wine, and simply enjoyed every minute of every day. I can't say enough about our guides, Dennis and Francesca! They are fantastic! This was my first tour with CustomWalks (even though I did go on an REI tour of Cinque Terre run by CustomWalks back in 2019 with Dennis as our guide). I highly recommend CustomWalks to anyone considering a small guided tour.
5
I loved the Amalfi Coast and Capri hiking tour! I would give it 10 stars if I could! The tour exceeded my expectations! We made new friends, ate great tasting food, drank excellent wine, and simply enjoyed every minute of every day. I can't say enough about our guides, Dennis and Francesca! They are fantastic! This was my first tour with CustomWalks (even though I did go on an REI tour of Cinque Terre run CustomWalks back in 2019). I highly recommend CustomWalks to anyone considering a small guided tour.
5
5
This was a fabulous trip. Beautiful scenery, great food and wine and the perfect amount of hiking. Dennis is a great guide. Takes care of everything and is fun, to boot. Don't avoid this trip if you have a fear of vertigo like I do. The folks at Customwalks assured me that the trails are wide and it would not be an issue. They were absolutely right. One of my best trips ever.
5
Fabulous way to see the Amalfi coast and our amazing guide, Dennis, made it seamless. He was full of facts and fun at every juncture. It was a wonderful experience with great girlfriends, and Dennis made it all work...whether changing a hike, chasing and loving every animal in Italy... he truly made it unforgettable. He also helped create an etched memory for me by letting me place a special bracelet above the Trail of the Gods....memorable for all who were there. Thank you , Dennis. Until our next journey !!! Big hug to Billy !!!!
5
Our Amalfi walking tour was amazing. Our guide, Dennis, made the experience seamless- from transportation, to local knowledge, contacts and of course language; he had it covered. The itinerary was great, just enough hiking to feel good and cover a lot of ground, but also time to relax and enjoy the towns and local color. In addition, Dennis remained flexible when we had special requests requiring small changes to his plans. He was unflappable and a lot of fun to have along with our group. This tour is a nice way to see the Amalfi coast in a close-up and personal sort of way.
5
This is the best way to see the Amalfi Coast. Every day we hiked stunningly beautiful trails, meandering between lemon orchards, shady oak forests & olive groves. We were the only people on the trails. We had gorgeous views of the Mediterranean and postcard perfect villages. The cooking class by an Italian family in their own home was a pleasure and a special treat. The boat ride to see the coast from the sea was a welcome break from the hikes. Our guides, Ilaria and Marco were top of the line, knowledgeable, friendly, funny, full of energy and love for their country and this particular region.I highly recommend this trip. Is the only way of seeing this spectacular part of the world without elbowing your way among 1000 other people.
5
This is the Italy of your dreams and fantasies: Unbelievable scenery of mountains plunging down to the sea, great food, great culture and guides that go above and beyond the call of duty. You will be on spectacular solitary trails going up and down ancient stone steps -- lots of steps! -- but you will want to build up your appetite for some of the best meals of your life. CustomWalks does a great job in avoiding the touristy areas and crowds that can occur on the Amalfi Coast. Be prepared for sensory and cultural overload (note: you can't really prepare for it). The whole adventure was memorable, but my personal favorites were the small villages we passed through on foot (the best way to sightsee), the group camaraderie, the guides who saw to every detail and answered every question, the hotels, and, of course, the meals. Things really went off the chart when we had our cooking lesson in the home of a \real Italian mom!\
4.5
This was a fantastic way to see the Amalfi Coast . Some spectacular walks with lots of steps at times . Even though this is such a well known and visited area we walked on trails that were virtually deserted with stunning scenery and coastal views Combined this with visits and staying in Ravello and near Positano . Atmospheric restaurants where our guides Manu and Ulysses were well know . In short we had a great time combining good exercise with an abundance of fun limoncello filled nights .
4.3
We did this tour in 2009 in a similar fashion except we started in Salerno. We LOVED Minori. We were able to visit the former villa of Gore Vidal in Ravello. Interesting walks away from the crowds was great. Food was terrific especially in Minori. The first walk is very interesting but also quite challenging. Stay hydrated. The cooking class was fun too..
If you have any questions or specific requests about any of our tours, we’re here to help. You can fill in the form below, send us an email, or call us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
I loved the CustomWalks Amalfi Coast and Capri hiking tour! I would give it 10 stars if I could! The tour exceeded my expectations! We made new friends, ate great tasting food, drank excellent wine, and simply enjoyed every minute of every day. I can't say enough about our guides, Dennis and Francesca! They are fantastic!
This was my first tour with CustomWalks (even though I did go on an REI tour of Cinque Terre run by CustomWalks back in 2019 with Dennis as our guide). I highly recommend CustomWalks to anyone considering a small guided tour.
by Marie F
I loved the Amalfi Coast and Capri hiking tour! I would give it 10 stars if I could! The tour exceeded my expectations! We made new friends, ate great tasting food, drank excellent wine, and simply enjoyed every minute of every day. I can't say enough about our guides, Dennis and Francesca! They are fantastic!
This was my first tour with CustomWalks (even though I did go on an REI tour of Cinque Terre run CustomWalks back in 2019). I highly recommend CustomWalks to anyone considering a small guided tour.
by Marie F
