| Amalfi Walk details |
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Departures 2008 :
May 17
October 4 | Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Dates: October 4 - 11, 2008 MAY DATE IS SOLD OUT, SORRY!
Departing from: Salerno at 9:00 a.m. on the Sunday, Day 2.
Tour finishes: with transfer to Naples train station on Day 8.
SPECIAL OFFER Price: €1,950 per person based on double occupancy. Sign up before July 4 and save €200 Euro. SPECIAL OFFER Price is only €1,750 per person! Single Supplement €200. |  |
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Gorgeous views in all directions
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The Roman ruins of Pompeii against
the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius
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Watch out for traffic on
the path
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Lemons for "Limoncello"
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Hike high above the sea
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Don't forget the great pasta
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Flamboyant architecture in Amalfi
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Learn how to cook
like an Italian
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Explore beautiful coastal towns
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Looking for romantic sunsets?
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Amalfi Walk |
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Amalfi Walk Itinerary
Preview - Spread along the shores of the sparkling Mediterranean, the Amalfi is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe. The Romans called it Campania Felix (blessed country) because of its fertile soil, temperate climate, and sheer physical beauty. It offers an extraordinary palette of colours, 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. On this enchanting walking adventure, we take you beyond the crowds to experience the hidden treasures and authentic culture of this Italian paradise. The trip starts in the coastal town of Salerno. Originally Greek, Salerno became an important Roman town and flourished again in the 10th to 13th centuries. After one night in Salerno we transfer to the charming village of Minori, where we stay two nights at a lovely four-star hotel. 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 walks 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. They will show us how to prepare some local dishes made with the freshest ingredients from their backyard garden. We celebrate our final meal together on the shores of a small cove just below our hotel.
The walks, 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. (We have highlighted and underlined some useful links for you)
Day 1 - Saturday - arrival Salerno: 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. Hotel included.
Day 2 - Sunday - Convento di San Nicola: Meet your guide(s) after breakfast this morning at 9:00 a.m. in the hotel. We then have a short bus transfer to the village of Maiori where we begin our first hike, up into the mountains overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean. Our path is lined with holm oaks and chestnut groves, opening out onto a long ridge that traverses the mountainside, offering breathtaking views of the coastal villages and bright blue 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 four-star Villa Romana with a rooftop pool and solarium. While in Minori, we visit a remarkable Roman villa (from the 1st century BC) with well-preserved mosaics, nestled into the heart of this maritime village. We meet before dinner at a seaside café for an aperitivo, a chance for your guides to tell you a bit more about your trip. Dinner and hotel included.
Day 3 - Monday - Pompei-Minori: Today we take a morning transfer to Pompei 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. Breakfast, dinner, and hotel included.
Day 4 - Tuesday - Valley of the Mills to Ravello: A short bus transfer takes us along the spectacular coastal road to the famous village of Amalfi. This charming coastal town was once an important naval power in the 12th and 13th centuries. Every street hides a charming square, and we take time to visit the Piazza dei Dogi, still known by its former name "Piazza dei Ferrari" due to the blacksmith shops that used to line the square. Another street takes us to the Vagliendola quarter, renowned for its tower houses. You will have some free time this morning to explore Amalfi and put together a picnic lunch before we head out on today's hike. We exit Amalfi via the Valley of the Mills, arriving at an ancient mountain path that is still used by woodsmen and their donkeys to access the remote valleys and woods of this ruggedly beautiful area. On the way we visit the last operating paper mill in Amalfi. From the 10th century until just a century ago, Amalfi was renowned for the production of fine paper made from cotton. It was used throughout Europe by kings, nobles and popes. Today, our path leads us past the eerily fascinating ruins of these mills as 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. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 5 - Wednesday - Pontone, Valle del Dragone, Torre dello Ziro, Amalfi: We leave on foot this morning and take the path down to the village of Pontone, a defensive stronghold for the area during the 12-13th centuries. We wind our way through trellised lemon groves to emerge into the village piazza where we have time to enjoy a mid-morning cappuccino at the local café. We exit the village past a pretty chapel, and begin our ascent onto the spur that contains the Torre dello Ziro, an imposing tower that was part of the defensive system of walls and towers that protected Amalfi from marauding Saracen pirates. To get to the tower we walk along a rocky spine, past shady pine trees and through fields of wildflowers to enjoy stunning views across the Valle del Dragone to the gardens and villas of Ravello. From here we also have dramatic views down onto the rooftops of Amalfi, Atrani, and the stunning coastline. We retrace our steps and then head down to the coastal village of Atrani, with its rabbit warren of alleys and a beautiful church. Optional lemon-themed lunch in Amalfi. In the afternoon, we have an optional walk up to Ravello or you can take the bus. Your guides will give you a brief orientation of Ravello, then you have free time to explore the gardens and villas of what many consider to be the most beautiful village in Italy. Tonight is a free night for dinner, so you can go light or else try one of Ravello's fine restaurants. Breakfast and hotel included. Dinner not included.
Day 6 - Thursday - Ravello to Pogerola, Valle delle Ferriere: Today we start our walk directly from the nearby village of Scala. The hike starts with great views of the villages and nearby sea as we make our way to the beautiful Valle delle Ferriere, one of the most important protected areas of the region. The trail passes through streams, woods, and old ruins and ends in the village of Pogerola. From there you can take a bus to Amalfi or keep walking to the village of San Lazzaro. We walk to a village called Campidoglio, then through the Valle delle Ferriere that will take us to Pogerola. You can also take another trail that joins the Pogerola-San Lazzaro hike close to the spring. We finish our day in the town of Praiano, near Positano, our home for the last two nights of the trip. Tonight we will meet Mamma Angela, her husband Catello and family for a wonderful cooking class in their private home in Praiano. The lesson will be followed by dinner. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 7 - Friday - Footpath of the Gods: Today we head to beautiful Positano via the village of Bomerano, from where we will start our walk along the fabulous Sentiero degli Dei (footpath of the Gods) to Positano. This four-hour hike takes us through groves of cypress and fields of wildflowers, past ancient stone huts, and across precipitous hillsides and narrow ledges overlooking the sea. We reach the Vallone di Grarelle, with its many caves and deep coves, and continue to Nocelle, a picturesque neighboring village of Positano. A walk through the village brings us to the old footpath that leads to Montepertuso, before crossing the Vallone Porto, a deep gorge with striking limestone walls. From here we take the old steps down through olive groves and vineyards to the center and the beach of Positano. It is the setting of Positano that sets it apart as the most beautiful -- and now the most fashionable -- town on the Amalfi coast. Positano is perched on a steep slope on a small and protective bay, its brightly painted houses covered in bougainvillea. The town used to be an out-of-the-way fishing village whose residents also grew lemons and olives on narrow, terraced fields. Its cube-shaped white houses with flat-domed roofs and small front porch recall the Arabic influence due to the continued presence of the Saracens. This is also why there are there are numerous lookout towers along the area's rugged coastline. Our final dinner will be in a small cove just below our hotel. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 8 - Saturday - Departure: We leave at 9:00 a.m. for the Naples train station, arriving around 10:30. Breakfast only.
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
| Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with some challenging climbing. We usually walk 4-5 hours per day, evenly 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. Proper hiking shoes with good ankle support or lightweight hiking boots are essential. We recommend that all participants begin a regular conditioning regimen of hiking, running, or walking at least 3 months prior to departure -- including some steep ups and downs! This will ensure that you are in good shape to enjoy all that this great trip has to offer.
Weather: We have scheduled our departures to avoid mid-summer heat and crowds while still benefiting from an ample amount of sunshine. Temperatures generally range from 75° to 85° F during the day, dropping approx. 10 degrees at night. Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear (see Gear List).
Trip Cost includes: All accommodations (3 nights in 3-star hotels, 4 nights in 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.
Not included: round-trip airfaire; visa fees; insurance (compulsory on all trips), lunches and snacks, two dinners, alcoholic beverages; entrance fees other than Pompeii; and spending of a personal nature. Reservations and payment: In order to reserve a space on the trip, a non-refundable deposit of €200 is required. Please contact us at info@customwalks.com or go to the Reservations page on our website for more information. We will send you a trip agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of payment and cancellation.
Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page)
General Information: This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the CustomWalks Ltd. reservation information and trip agreement. Please read this information carefully and e-mail us (or use the "Contact Us" page) if you have any questions. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance which you can do through CustomWalks Ltd or by clicking on the logo below (another window will open up on your screen).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited. Send us an email or fax to reserve your trip. Full trip details including detailed pre-departure information, train timetables, and a gear list are sent upon receipt of deposit.
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