Walking The Amalfi Coast - Summer Edition

Enjoy a warm welcome from our local hosts, the Acampora family, who run our base for the week: Hotel Due Torri. If you have time, you may want to get out and explore the village, Bomerano, a quaint retreat high up in the hills and away from the often-busy Amalfi Coast below. Once everyone’s ready, we enjoy a welcome briefing at the hotel – a great chance to get to know the group a little, meet our leader and ask any questions you may have.Please note: It is possible the order of the itinerary will be changed to ensure the best possible conditions for each activity during the trip. All listed activities and services will be included. Your leader will inform you of any changes locally after assessing conditions.If you wish to tailor your journey by adding extra nights, speak with your sales representative for detailed information on available pre-tour, post-tour and extension packages. ...more ...less

Our walk starts in Ravello, a town favoured by the Bloomsbury Set and other artists and intellectuals due to its secluded location and inspirational scenery. Before setting off for the walk, we have free time to explore the town and visit Villa Cimbrone or Villa Rufolo with their meticulously landscaped gardens and breathtaking sea views (optional). The route today is mostly downhill but does include a considerable number of steps. After descending across the Dragon Valley, we follow a stream until reaching the coastal village of Atrani for a refreshing dip before ending the walk in Amalfi.

Today we visit Castellammare di Stabia, a seaside town popular with the local people. A spectacular 10-minute cable car journey takes us to the summit of Mount Faito (3,710ft/1,131m), a peak in the Lattari Mountains, where we can enjoy views over the Sorrento Peninsula, Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius.  We then take a route known as the Trail of the Angel to the Monastery of San Michele. It's a gentle, gradual ascent crossing rocky limestone sections and shade-giving beech forests. Along the way, we pass old ice houses known as neviere. These were once used to store snow through  summer before it was sold to wealthy Neapolitans, who would use it to chill their drinks and food. We then enjoy a packed lunch before taking the same path back to Castellammare, where we catch the 20-minute train to Sorrento. The afternoon is free for sightseeing. In the event of adverse weather conditions such as strong winds or cable-car running services limitations, the daily schedule may require to be adjusted. Your tour leader will be arranging alternative activities in the area.

Transfer to the slopes of Vesuvius to view the volcanic crater, which also overlooks the beautiful Bay of Naples, the waters of which span between Naples, the regional capital, and Sorrento, the town famed for lemon groves. Depending on weather conditions, we will join an expert volcanologist on an extended walk around the caldera and beyond.After lunch, we travel by bus to Pompeii. On the lower foothills of the volcano dominating the Gulf, Pompeii was a thriving port town until Vesuvius catastrophically erupted over two days in 79 CE and the city was buried in ash and pumice. Lost for 1,700 years, it is now a Unesco World Heritage site,  the perfectly preserved remains providing an amazing insight into life in a Roman city, complete with bathhouses, bakeries and homes – some of which still have walls adorned with detailed frescoes. We will  explore the site this afternoon accompanied by a local guide.

Leaving the hotel, we have a short stroll through Bomerano before we join the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods), one of the finest walking trails on the planet. It follows rolling hills, the contours of the land and the coast, providing highly evocative views as we go – ragged cliffs speckled with tiny villages and extensive vistas over the sparkling Mediterranean. The trail is broken by insights into local life, passing shepherd huts and ancient houses carved into the limestone. We can admire Positano from the last viewpoint before returning to Bomerano, where we are transferred to Conca Dei Marini (30 minutes) by private bus. The afternoon is free to relax in this idyllic bay, which is quieter than most on the Amalfi Coast and away from the usual tourist crowds. Please note: Some parts of the trail today are rocky and there are frequent ups and downs, which can be a little hard on the knees. With breaks for water and snacks, this hike is of Activity Level 3 (Moderate) difficulty but doable for all those in good fitness. The challenge will no doubt be repaid by the magnificent views.

Enjoy a day at leisure to relax at the hotel or go to the seafront. The hotel also offers a range of private transfers to some of the most popular attractions in the region. Options include visiting Herculaneum, which was also destroyed during the Vesuvius eruption. The city was buried in mud rather than ash; some say this led 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. Furthermore, Sorrento or the National Archaeological Museum of Naples are also possible.Please note, all these optional excursions are subject to availability and payable locally (activity prices are dependent on the number of people joining). The tour leader will assist you with bookings and arrangements. Alternatively, spend the day by the pool or in true Italian style in a cafe, sipping espresso and watching the world pass.

Leaving the Agerola Plain, we descend by private bus to Amalfi, the oldest maritime republic in Italy. Quintessentially Mediterranean, Amalfi is a cluster of little white houses, buildings and shady porticoes, dominated by a large cathedral with brightly coloured tiles typical of the region. We wander through hidden narrow alleys and sun-filled piazzas, before continuing by fast boat (approximately 20 minutes) to Positano.  En route, we enjoy enchanting views of sheer cliffs and rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches. There is no better way of approaching Positano than from the sea – the contrast of this colourful, near-vertical town against the verdant cliffs and blue waters will leave you mesmerised. We have a few hours to explore this chic, picture-perfect village on foot before we return to our hotel in the late afternoon by boat and private bus.

This morning marks our last breakfast at the hotel, which may feel more like a second home by now. If your flight leaves later this evening, you’re welcome to make use of the hotel facilities after check-out and enjoy an optional lunch here. Alternatively, speak to your leader for recommendations on what to do in the village.