Highlights of the Amalfi Coast

Those of us on the group flights touch down in Naples and will be driven
1hr20m south, past Vesuvius and Pompeii, up and over the Sorrentine Peninsula
to Bomerano – a tiny village on the west side of the Agerola Valley. Our
hosts for the week are the charming and friendly Giovanni and Nicola
Acampora, owners of the Hotel Due Torri. Surrounded by vineyards and
orchards, their family-run property has a pool and fabulous views of the
surrounding Lattari mountains; an ideal location to escape the crowds.

Day 2

Leaving the Agerola plain we descend by private bus to Amalfi, Italy’s
oldest maritime republic. Quintessentially Mediterranean, Amalfi's townscape
is comprised of a cluster of little white houses and buildings, narrow
alleyways and shady porticoes, dominated by large Duomo Cathedral with its
bright coloured tiles which are typical of the region. We spend the morning
sightseeing, relaxing in one of its sun-filled piazzas, or visiting the
interesting Paper museum (optional). Later, we continue by fast boat (approx.
20 mins) to Positano. En route we enjoy the famous enchanting views of the
sheer cliffs and rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches that have drawn
people to this stunning coast for centuries. There is no better way of
approaching Positano for the first time than from the sea, as the contrast of
this near vertical town of colourful buildings 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.

Day 3

A busy day today as we travel to the Bay of Naples by private bus (approx. 1
hr) to explore two of the most famous archaeological sites in the world,
Herculaneum and Pompeii. Both the towns and its people got buried under the
ash and magma of Mt Vesuvius after the AD79 eruption, but it was only much
later in the 18th century that these ancient cities came to light once again
through excavations. The eruption affected the sites in different ways:
whilst Pompeii is known to be home to a more extensive and vaster collection
of Roman homes, shops and bathhouses as well as the to the iconic plaster
bodies, Herculaneum ruins, frescos and the recently discovered 300 skeletons
along the seashore are much better preserved. Entrance tickets to both sites
are included in the trip and you can decide to explore alone, at your own
pace, or led by a knowledgeable local guide (optional). We return to the
hotel late afternoon (approx. 1hr) to enjoy a delicious dinner and cooking
demonstration.

Day 4

Today we walk a section of one of the world's finest trails. Leaving from our
front door step it's a short stroll through the quiet village of Bomerano.
Here we’ll drop into a local cheese maker to see how the delicious local
mozzarella is made. And, yes, we’ll taste some.  We then we join the
famous 'Path of the Gods' which runs all the way to Positano. Luckily, having
already visited Positano earlier this week, we can skip the hard part and the
1700 steps downtown, and we take a circular walk instead, offering some
equally fantastic coastal views along the way. Please be aware that some
parts of the trail are rocky and there are frequent ups and downs which can
be a little hard on the knees. With breaks for water and snacks as well as a
rewarding stop for a barbecue lunch (weather permitting), this short hike is
of moderate difficulty but doable by all those in good fitness, and the
challenge will be no doubt be repaid by the magnificent views! (Walking time:
approx. 2.5-3 hours; Distance: 6km; Ascent: 100m Descent: 100m)

Day 5

How will you spend a free day on the Amalfi Coast? We recommend considering a
trip up to the slopes of Mt Vesuvius to peer into the crater, followed by an
excellent wine tasting at a renowned local winery located right below the
majestic volcano. Alternatively, you could opt to take a visit to Sorrento
for a nice seafood lunch and to enjoy the sweeping views over the Bay of
Naples. Pedestrian lanes, little boutiques, limoncello shops and restaurants
make it an easy and enjoyable place to spend a day at leisure. There is no
need to pre-book these excursions prior departure as your tour leader will
help arranging them locally on request.

Day 6

We leave the hotel after breakfast and take the bus down to Amalfi and board
the boat to Capri. The journey along the Amalfi Coast is spectacular with
small coves and bays of clear azure water overlooked by towering cliffs. The
time spent on Capri is unguided and on arrival you are free to explore
independently. Your tour leader however might recommend to avoid the hassle
of public transport on the island and make the most of your time by arranging
an excursion by local taxis and cable car (optional, payable locally). A
beautiful walk will take you up to Capri town and along a network of small
pedestrianised streets to visit the remains of Villa Jovis, the former home
of the fearsome Roman emperor Tiberius. A walk around the spectacular
coastline is recommended and allows you to see a natural rock arch and the
famous Faraglioni, rock stacks which stick vertically out of the sea. There
is also time to do a spot of shopping in some of islands boutique shops
before we return by boat and bus to our hotel.

Day 7

Today we visit the romantic hilltop town of Ravello for some of the best
views of the Amalfi coastline. Ravello also has a grand Duomo but Villa
Cimbrone (visit included) and Villa Rufolo (optional) are the real gems of
the town. Set amidst elegant gardens, the villas balconies stand at the edge
of the cliffs offering stunning views aptly described by André Gide as
'closer to the sky than the seashore'. There is time to wander, enjoy a
coffee and soak up the atmosphere before we return to the cooler climes of
Bomerano in the afternoon. The reminder of the day is free for
relaxation.  We enjoy a farewell dinner and say goodbye to the friendly
staff and group.

Day 8

Our tour ends in the morning of day 8. Those on the group flight are usually
transferred to the airport in the afternoon for their inbound flight. This
means there may be more free time to enjoy a nice walk into town and some
last minute shopping opportunities.