Walking the Amalfi Coast
If a walking tour is part of your travel wish list, consider parking in one of the walking tours of Italy- a country with a wide variety of tours offered by various companies (along with cycling if that interests you more!)
The region of Campania is the gateway to Southern Italy. It has been a sought-after place since Roman times when it was known as the ‘campania felix’, happy land, thanks to the beautiful countryside, small islands and spectacular coastline.
The best of the coastal scenery is on the southern side of the Peninsula around the resorts of Positano, Praiano and Amalfi. Situated above these famous resorts is the little visited Agerola Plain, an area dotted with villages such as Bomerano and criss-crossed by a network of minor roads, mule tracks and pathways linking towns, villages and terraced mountainsides. The hustle and bustle of the main resorts contrasts with the slower pace and style of life up on the plain. Whilst generally busy all year round, the resorts along the Amalfi coast are not to be missed, as all retain most of their original character with narrow cobbled streets and fascinating churches, monasteries and cathedrals.
A visit to the Bay of Naples is not complete without seeing the incredible Roman remains beneath the volcanic cone of Vesuvius. In 79 AD the two Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were engulfed in volcanic ash and pumice when Vesuvius erupted, preserving the buildings and leaving a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the Roman people.
This trip (one of the most popular offered by Exodus and well rated by customers) is priced from $1675 plus international flights.
Included are accommodations for 7 nights in a family-run 3 star hotel in Bomerano, a small village in the municipality of Agerola. Hotel Due Torri is well known for its great local cuisine and fun pizzamaking demonstrations. All twins, singles and triple rooms have en suite facilities. The hotel is set high above the Amalfi Coast in the village of Bomerano at an altitude of approx 700m. Being higher up in the hills offers the benefit of cooler nights, although beaches are not too far away and there is a newly built small outdoor swimming pool at the hotel. The village is very quiet and provides a relaxing retreat from the busier towns by the sea.
Meals included are all breakfasts, 4 packed lunches and 6 dinners. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more details or to book this trip.
Summarized Itinerary:
Day 1 Fly to Naples.
2 An impressive walk to top of Monte Tre Calli for great wide-open views of the coastline.
3 Follow mule tracks and steps down to Amalfi; free afternoon to explore the famous cathedral.
4 Drive to Bay of Naples; visit fascinating ruins of Pompeii and take an optional walk up Mt Vesuvius.
5 Guided walk through Valle delle Ferriere N.P to Ravello.
6 Free day to relax or take a boat to Capri, visit Naples, Ravello or Herculaneum (all optional).
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.
8 Fly home.
Grade: Leisurely/Moderate (A/B).
The pace of the walks is leisurely, so we have plenty of time to rest and enjoy the views. However, on some of the walks the terrain encountered is similar to the one you would find on a moderate trip, therefore the trip is graded as Leisurely/Moderate.
During the daywalks, the terrain and type of path will vary from manmade paved tracks, tarmac to forest trails. The Monte Tre Calli walk involves some steep climbs and descents on slightly lose terrain.
Optional walks on Mount Vesuvius are on rocky cinder/gravel trails and likely to be loose underfoot, with steep sections and quite large drops in places. Routes to the coast involve large descents on many steps, so walking poles or sticks are strongly recommended. In places the paths are a little exposed and not suitable for severe vertigo sufferers.
All walks take between 4 and 6 hours including lunch stops and require a moderate level of fitness. On a couple of days, particularly on Day 3 (Bomerano to Amalfi walk) and Day 7 (Walk of the Gods), there are considerable sections of steps (some of which can be avoided by taking the bus).
The laid-back attitude in the south of Italy not only affects the pace of life but public services, most notably the buses. Delays are quite common and some waiting around at bus stops should be expected. Public transport is normally used in order to reduce your carbon footprint.
If Walking the Amalfi Coast looks appealing to you, be sure to contact me as soon as possible!
