OVERVIEW
Enjoy our self-guided hiking tour including the main highlights of the Amalfi Coast & Sorrento Peninsula, with the option to visit Capri & the Pompeii ruins.
The Amalfi Coast has been chosen by National Geographic as “One of the fifty places you should visit in your lifetime” and they go on to describe it as “ Italy’s most scenic stretch of coastline”. Immerse in a bright landscape and a fascinating heritage you walk around Amalfi and its neighbors: Atrani, Ravello and Positano: a mixture of memorable sights and unique environments. The journey continues to Sorrento. According to tradition, the name is associated to the legend of Sirens, mythological creatures who bewitched sailors with their song. Sorrento Peninsula was one of the favorite seaside resort for Roman aristocracy who built its villas along the shore. Sorrento is today one of the most well-known and visited holiday resort towns in Southern Italy and with its terraced lemon orchard along the hillsides it is also famous for lemon production. Perfect base to reach the archaeological ruins of Pompeii.
- ACTIVITY: Self-guided walking tour
- NAME: Amalfi & Sorrento walks
- TRIP CODE: ICAC&S
- DURATION: 8 days/7 nights
- GRADE: easy to moderate
- 2023 PRICES: Starting from Euro 1150.00 per person sharing twin/double room
GALLERY
-
- path of gods
-
- jeranto hike
ITINERARY
Arrival on your own in Amalfi. We are going to provide accurate pre-departure information about how to reach by local transportation the first hotel on the Amalfi Coast. (Private transfer from Naples on request). Overnight: Hotel*** in Amalfi
Walking – easy to moderate 4- 5 hours. Today you enjoy an easy gradual ascent along the valley of the ancient mills towards the celebrated village of Ravello. Starting from your hotel, you pass the vibrant streets of the historical centre before going into a green area, walking along a fresh river and passing the ruins of several abandoned mills. The pathway climbs out of the valley and softly takes us, through lemon groves and narrow alleys surrounded by dry stone walls, into the hilltop village of Pontone, with its panoramic tiny square: a perfect spot for a picnic lunch. Before reaching Ravello, you enjoy some dramatic views of Amalfi and Atrani from the ruins of Torre dello Zirro: an ancient lookout tower of the powerful Maritime Amalfi Republic. Stairs bring you to the well known Ravello, a town of a rich and noble traditions, exemplified in the magnificent historical villas with theirs incomparable gardens. The afternoon is free to explore the town. We strongly recommend to visit Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. You return to Amalfi following ancient stairways down to the admirable village of Atrani, a maze of narrow white washed alleys.
Overnight: Hotel*** in Amalfi
Walking – easy to moderate 4.5 hours.Today you discover the Ferriere valley. Taking a local bus you reach the starting point of your next walking experience. Ferriere valley is an interesting nature reserve into the rugged landscape of the Lattari Mountains. You pass through striking vertical cliffs, little waterfalls and natural springs immersed in an unchanged microclimate which allows for the preservation of the Woodwardia radicans, a rare type of long leafed fern from the pre-glacial age. Continuing in the valley through the chestnut trees you reach the hamlet of Pogerola and then, down along ancient flight of steps, the village of Amalfi.
Overnight: Hotel*** in Amalfi
Walking – easy to moderate 4.5 hours.Today’s journey is along one of the most spectacular trails overlooking the Amalfi Coast, as well as one of the main highlights of your adventure. By public bus you climb up the zigzag coastal road enjoying impressive views on the land terraces built over centuries and preserved by local communities. The walk begins in Bomerano and offers terrific coastline landscapes looking out towards the famous Isle of Capri with the famous cliffs marking lands end. Along the pathway you can admire the full splendor of the Divine Coast. Arrived at Nocelle, a tiny mountain village, you descend through lush terraces and olive groves to the vertical charming resort of Positano. There is time to explore the labyrinth of alleyways surrounded by scarlet bougainvillea and elegant boutiques, before taking the bus or boat to Amalfi.
Overnight: Hotel*** in Amalfi
Walking – easy to moderate minimum 3.5 hours. Today you visit the world known island of Capri. The ferry leaves Amalfi in the morning. Arrived to the island, after passing the famous “Piazzetta”, you walk towards the Arco Naturale and following a coastal path you reach the spectacular Faraglioni, the peculiar rocks jutting out of the sea. During the afternoon you have several options for exploring Capri at your own pace. You may choose to relax in the island’s chic shops or take a walk to visit the Convent of San Giacomo, dated back to the 14th century, and the Gardens of August. From Capri you can easily take a local ferry to Sorrento: your next destination for 3 nights.
Overnight: selected accommodation in Sorrento
Walking – minimum 3h,30min.Depending on your interests, today you could take the train to Pompeii in order to visit the world’s most captivating Roman excavation and experience a real intact image of this ancient world. If you prefer to walk you can enjoy a lovely walk on the Sorrento peninsula. From your accommodation you reach the village of Nerano by local bus and from its square you start soon walking through the extraordinary terraced landscape. The area offers some of the best views on the Southern side of Sorrento Peninsula and a very interesting walk along the dismissed mining plant. Considered a must see for both its historical relevance and its environmental uniqueness, the area, in recent years donated to FAI (Fondo Ambientale Italiano – Italian Environment Fund), keeps interesting witnesses of the mining activities which started in 1918 and ended in 1956. You walk along the pristine area and through the ruins admiring the wonderful tiny beach framed by the turquoise seawater and the beautiful Montalto watchtower. Later you may opt to reach the fisherman village of Marina del Cantone where you may have a lunch in a local fish restaurant, enjoying a break on the beach, or extend your walk to Recommone beach and finally reach by local bus your charming accommodation.
Overnight: selected accommodation in Sorrento
Walking – minimum 3h,30min – 4 hrs.Today you reach the Village of Termini by local bus and from the main square, walking along the road that once was the ancient “Via Minerva”, you reach the finis terrae with its watchtower and the lighthouse of Punta Campanella. In Roman times was known as Cape Minerva due to the presence of a temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva. It marks the point of separation between the Amalfi Coast and the Bay of Naples and it is the westernmost point of the peninsula. In front of you have the eastern cliffs of the island of Capri where was nestled Villa Jovis, from there the Emperor Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire. This stretch of coast has had for centuries a strategic relevance to control the maritime traffic of the area and during your walk you notice boats of any size crossing this part of the Mediterranean sea : it has been the same since the distant past. The trail reaches the heights of Monte San Costanzo with terrific sights along the way. From the highest point you may enjoy a 360° view over the Island of Capri, Vesuvius, Bay of Jeranto, Marina del Cantone, the Amalfi Coast. You then reach the village of Termini from where a short bus ride takes to your next accommodation.
Overnight: selected accommodation in Sorrento
Your trip ends after breakfast. From Sorrento you can easily take a local train to Naples. Private transfers on request.