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Map of Amalfi Coast: Hike & Kayak including Italy

From Naples to Amalfi, explore Italy's spectacular coastline on foot

Lace up your boots and set your eyes to the spectacular and sparkling Mediterranean horizon for this scenic hiking trip on the Amalfi Coast. Stroll through the lush Mulini and Ferriere valleys, say 'buongiorno' to local farmers along the 'Pathway of the Gods', hitch a ride on a boat to the glamorous island of Capri, and paddle to secluded beaches by kayak. There's no doubt about it: the Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful parts of Italy if not the world.

Start
Naples, Italy
Finish
Amalfi, Italy
Destination
Italy
Style
Original
Theme
Multi-Active Adventures, Walking & Trekking
Code
ZGXA
Physical rating
Ages
Min 12
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Naples is the perfect place to make discoveries. Perhaps descend below Naples’ streets to discover the famous catacombs, before indulging in a traditional pizza in one Naples' many eateries. Buon appetito!

  • The ancient Roman town of Pompeii has been frozen in time under the shadow of the very volcano which destroyed it, Mount Vesuvius. Explore the vast ruins, including the House of the Faun and the Temple of Apollo, then ascend the volcano and explore hidden sulphuric vents with a specialist volcanology guide.

  • Walk the Path of the Gods along the spectacular Sentiero degli Dei, one of the most scenic trails in the world

  • Descend into the mysterious Valley of the Mills, where the canopy keeps the temperature pleasant throughout the summer months

  • The island of Capri isn't just a lavish retreat for Roman emperors of the past and their modern day equivalents. Powerful cliff faces enclose secluded coves, grottos and spectacular Mediterranean scenery

Is this trip right for you?

  • This hiking trip requires a good level of fitness and health, due to the varied terrain and potentially hot temperatures. Many of the hiking days involve steep hills and lots of steps that you'll need to be able to walk up and down. Walking times vary between three and six hours a day, but the rewards are worth every step.

  • Summer temperatures around the Amalfi Coast can be extreme (up to 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

  • As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. If you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is bookable at an additional charge, subject to availability. Please ask your booking agent for more details.

Itinerary
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Welcome to Naples, the capital of the region of Campania. Please make your own way to the joining hotel, which is located in the historic centre of the city. No activities are planned before this evening's group meeting, so you may arrive at any time. If you arrive early, use your free time during the day to discover some of Naples' impressive architecture and grandiose monuments, many of which date back to the Spanish rule of the 16th and 17th centuries. Maybe check out the Royal Palace of Naples or head through a grand plaza to Museo di Capodimonte. Naples is a major European cultural capital since the time of the Greeks. After the group meeting, perhaps seek out an authentic Neapolitan pizza for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel in Naples (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
In the evening you will meet your trip leader and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting. This is usually at 6 pm, but you will be advised as to the exact time and place in a notice near the reception at your hotel. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. In this meeting, your leader will give you a brief description of what lies ahead on the trip. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

After a leisurely breakfast, board your private minibus to the Pompeii archaeological site. Here, without question, lie some of the world’s most fascinating and preeminent ruins. Finely preserved, they give you an extraordinarily real image of daily life in a Roman city with villas, temples, theatres and bustling markets. Walk along the chariot-marked streets that were nestled under the shadow of Vesuvius until the fatal eruption in 79 AD. Visit the magnificent amphitheatre and the ‘Villa of Mysteries’. You can also visit the Roman Forum and basilica, temples, public baths, and the tiny Odeon created for music recitals. After lunch your private minibus will pick you up for our next destination: Vesuvius. Take a walk around the very rim of Vesuvius' crater, with sulphuric gases and steam still emerging from the gravel. A scenic drive (approximately 1 hour) will then take you to the Agerola high plain. Along the way, you'll be dazzled by views over the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
Accommodation
  • Hotel in Agerola (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Pompeii - Archaeological Site
  • Guided Hike along Vesuvius' Crater Rim and Summit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Walking time: approximately 3 hours (4 km).

Many people prefer to wander the ruins of Pompei at their own pace so we do not include a cultural guide at the site. If you wish to have a fully guided tour your leader can arrange a local guide at extra cost.

Today is a free day for you to relax or enjoy some of the area's walking trails. Perhaps walk to the viewpoint of ‘Punto Panoramico’ for great views of the Amalfi Coast. From here descend through a spectacular landscape, which overlooks the Isle of Capri and the densely forested mountains of Cilento National Park. Your path leads you through an archetypical Mediterranean landscape with vineyards, chestnut trees, oaks and pretty sections of shrubs and flowers. You will spot many old ruins speckling the hillsides. In spring, you can smell the Italian herbs and you will walk past steeples of limestone rocks, through lush vineyards, chestnut trees and aromatic flora, and beside ruins speckled on the hillsides. Alternatively visit the village of Bomerano where you will have the opportunity to sit down for lunch or taste some of the local limoncello.
Accommodation
  • Hotel in Agerola (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Punto Panoramico Hike - Free
  • Bomerano Limoncello Tasting - EUR5
  • Orrido di Pino Hike - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning perhaps enjoy a coffee before embarking on what has become one of Italy's most famous hiking trails, the 'Sentiero degli Dei' (Footpath of the Gods) which will bring you all the way to Positano. This path winds its way through unique scenery and boasts unrivalled views along the coast. Walk through forests and fields of wildflowers, past ancient stone huts and beside sheer walls of granite. Glimpse local farmers tending their crops by hoe and elbow grease, herds of goats feeding beside the trail beside their shepherds, and teams of workmen commuting by mule. By late morning you will reach Vallone di Grarelle, then continue to the hamlet of Nocelle, a picturesque village situated above Positano. A walk through the village leads to what’s known as the Montepertuso Crossing – a deep gorge with limestone walls. From Montepertuso it's just a short walk down the old steps, through olive groves and vineyards, to beautiful Positano (though you can take a bus instead if you like). From Positano continue to Amalfi by boat and enjoy the scenery from a different view point.
Accommodation
  • Hotel in Amalfi (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sentiero degli Dei (Footpath of the Gods)
  • Boat Cruise Positano to Amalfi
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Walking time: approximately 5-6 hours (7-10 km). Your luggage will be transferred for you between Agerola and Amalfi, so all you need to take with you today is your day pack.

Accommodation providers on the Amalfi Coast are experiencing unprecedented demand post covid. Therefore it is possible the group may be spilt between nearby hotels. Your tour leader will advise the details of this on day 1 (if your departure is affected).

Today is dedicated to the rightly famous Isle of Capri, a place where Roman emperors used to come as tourists. You will take a ferry from Amalfi to Capri, following the beautiful coastline and passing the islands of the mythical sirens that were mentioned in Homer's Iliadand Odyssey. As you approach, witness Capri’s coastline in all its glory: mighty cliffs, shard-like rock formations, crashing blue seas. Have your camera at the ready on this short cruise. When you arrive in Capri, you will see the popular sights, then take a beautiful circuit walk. During this walk you will pass Villa Jovis (the ruins of the most impressive Roman villa on the island, once home to Emperor Tiberius), see a historic monastery and explore the winding alleyways of the village of Capri. Part of your walk follows untouched coastline and passes many impressive grottoes, and there's time to dip your feet in the water. Your walk can be extended or shortened in many ways today, depending on the wishes of the group. Late in the afternoon you will travel by boat back to Amalfi.
Accommodation
  • Hotel in Amalfi (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Villa Jovis Archaeological Site
  • Boat Ride to Isle of Capri
  • Capri Coastal Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Walking time: approximately 4 hours (10 km)

Get ready for a magical day of walking. Start in the quiet backstreets of Amalfi, heading up to the village of Pontone. Walk on the narrow ridge and then beneath shady pine trees and through fields of wildflowers. This brings you to a viewpoint from which you can see across the Valle del Dragone (Valley of the Dragon) and the luxurious gardens and villas of Ravello. A series of ups and downs takes you to the ruins of the famous watchtower (Torre dello Zirro). After retracing your steps to pretty Pontone, you can enjoy a drink under the shade of lemon trees and gaze down upon the town of Amalfi. Then walk down into the shaded Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Watermills). Here you will find remnants of Europe’s earliest paper mills, strewn among thick foliage fed by the valley's streams. You may pass locals collecting wild mushrooms and stout men carrying half their body weight in lemons on their heads. The path takes you deep into the valley and the entrance of the nature reserve ‘Valle delle Ferriere’. This is one of the most interesting nature reserves of the area and an ideal place for lunch. From here it's an hour back down to Amalfi, past the Museo della Carta (paper museum). We then gather on the beach of Amalfi for another unique experience: paddling along the stunning coastline. After a brief introduction, we will outfit everyone with paddle and offer some basic kayaking instruction (if needed!), and then embark on our trip along the coast towards the amazing small little beach of Santacroce. Upon arrival why not have a relaxed ‘aperitivo’ on the beach and then slowly paddle back to Amalfi.
Accommodation
  • Hotel in Amalfi (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Valle delle Ferriere (Iron Mill Valley)
  • Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Watermills)
  • Kayaking to Santcroce Beach
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Walking time: approximately 4 hours (10 km). Please note that the kayaking activity today is weather dependent and may be cancelled in adverse weather conditions.

From your hotel you will follow the Valley of the Dragon up to Ravello – another highlight of the coast. The French novelist André Gide once described this town as being ‘closer to the sky than the seashore’. For centuries, its lofty position and sunny, dry climate has made it an appealing place for writers, artists, musicians and travellers. Ravello also boasts two magnificent villas – the superb 11th Century Villa Rufolo which was once a papal residence and later the home of Wagner, and Villa Cimbrone, a sumptuous 19th Century mansion with fabulous gardens and unequalled views over the Gulf of Salerno. Retrace your steps along a rather steep mule track down again to Amalfi. Sweeping panoramas will reward your efforts.
Accommodation
  • Hotel in Amalfi (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Villa Cimbrone
  • Valley of the Dragon Nature Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Walking time: approximately 4-5 hours (9-12 km)

After breakfast this morning, your 'Walking the Amalfi Coast' adventure comes to an end. There are no more activities planned for today and you're able to depart at any time. From here, it's easy to arrange onward connections. You may wish to board one of a number of ferries that sail from Amalfi to Salerno or Naples. Alternatively, there are local SITA buses that run to Sorrento, Salerno or Naples where you can catch onward rail connections. Your leader will be able to assist.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
If it is all ending too soon you may want to consider extending your trip by adding another one of our Italy Active trips. The Cinque Terre: Hike, Bike & Kayak trip starts in Levanto, taking in the best of the Ligurian Coast and the Portofino Peninsula, and the 'Italian Lakes: Hike, Bike & Kayak' trip focuses on Lake Como and Lake Garda. The start locations for both trips can easily be reached by train. Check the Italian Railways website on trenitalia.it or ask your leader for assistance. Many departure dates coincide to create the perfect combination. Please speak to your booking agent for more details.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

7 breakfasts

Transport

Private minibus, Public bus, Boat, On foot, Kayak

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights)

Included activities

  • Pompeii - Archaeological Site
  • Guided Hike along Vesuvius' Crater Rim and Summit
  • Sentiero degli Dei (Footpath of the Gods)
  • Boat Cruise Positano to Amalfi
  • Villa Jovis Archaeological Site
  • Boat Ride to Isle of Capri
  • Capri Coastal Walk
  • Valle delle Ferriere (Iron Mill Valley)
  • Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Watermills)
  • Kayaking to Santcroce Beach
  • Villa Cimbrone
  • Valley of the Dragon Nature Hike

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Amalfi Coast: Hike & Kayak trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. This trip requires a good level of fitness and health, due to the varied terrain and potentially hot temperatures. Many of the hiking days involve steep hills and lots of steps that you'll need to be able to walk up and down. Walking times vary between three and six hours a day, but the rewards are worth every step.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Please note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.
3. Since the start of Covid-19 access to Mt Vesuvius has become more and more limited due to Covid restrictions. There may be times when it is impossible to secure entry to the hike. If this occurs the activity will be replaced by a “Pasta Experience”,at a local “Pastificio” (pasta factory).
4. This trip has different Start and Finish Point accommodation depending on the time of year - please check the Accommodation section for further details.
5. Accommodation providers on the Amalfi Coast are experiencing unprecedented demand post covid. Therefore it is possible your group may be spilt between nearby hotels. Your tour leader will advise the details of this on day 1 (if your departure is affected).
6. Due to limited storage space on transport travellers can bring one piece of main luggage only (20 kgs max). It cannot be guaranteed that excess luggage can be transported, and fees may apply.

Essential trip information

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