Amalfi Coast Walking - Coastal Hotel

Our trip starts at Naples International Airport (NAP) at 11.15am. Please meet your driver, who will be holding an Explore signboard, in the arrivals hall next to the 'Welcome Area' kiosk. This is a complimentary transfer and if you'd like to join, the latest time your flight can arrive is 10.45am. If you plan to arrive later than the 11.15am transfer, you'll need to make your own way to our accommodation. Taxis are available at the airport and should cost in the region of €120 Euros. The drive to Maiori usually takes around an hour and 15 minutes. The small town of Maiori has the largest beach along the Amalfi Coast, backed by a waterfront promenade. Our base for the week is the three-star Hotel Sole, a small hotel run by a mother and daughter team, located right on the seafront in Maiori. The hotel's comfortable, en-suite, sea-facing rooms are on the 5th and 6th floors (there is an elevator) and all have either a terrace or balcony. The hotel has a restaurant, with pizza oven, on the ground floor and there's a terrace with stunning views on the 6th floor. Tonight, we'll enjoy a welcome supper at our hotel and your trip leader will brief everyone on the week ahead.

This morning, we'll take a short public bus east along the coast to the medieval fishing village of Cetara. It's a traditional fishing village, where for centuries fishermen have caught bluefin tuna, and today there are still many small fishing boats in the harbour. The village has developed a reputation for its food and there are countless fish restaurants. We'll have the opportunity to explore the pretty beach and meandering streets before heading off on our walk towards Vietri Sul Mare. Our walk takes us up above the coast with far-reaching views towards the Bay of Salerno. Our destination, Vietri Sul Mareis, is the 'first town' of the Amalfi Coast and is famous for its ceramics and pretty coloured houses. Here, you'll have some time to explore the shops and ceramics studios before heading back to Maiori by public bus. Today's 8 kilometre/5 mile walk is graded as leisurely, with a total ascent of 300 metres/984 feet and descent of 350 metres/1,148 feet. We expect it to take us approximately 3 hours.

Today we'll walk from our hotel in Maiori to Minori along the spectacular Sentiero Dei Limoni (Path of the Lemons), with breathtaking views towards Capri and along the Amalfi Coast. The route passes through terraced lemon groves, up and down ancient staircases and through alleyways. En-route, we'll visit a lemon farm where we'll take a tour and have the opportunity to taste different lemons. At Minori, we'll visit the world-famous Pasticceria de Riso, that sells delicious pastries made by Italy's most-revered pastry chef, Salvatore de Riso. From Minori, we'll continue up to Ravello on steep, ancient steps. Once we reach Ravello we'll stop for lunch, there's a good choice of cafes and restaurants, and you'll have some free time to explore. We'll then continue our walk, descending 300 metres/984 feet back down the cliffs into Atrani, and finally walk on to Amalfi. In the late afternoon, we'll take a public bus (a journey time of approximately 20 minutes) back to our hotel in Maiori. Today's 10 kilometre/6.2 mile walk is graded as moderate, with a total ascent and descent of 550 metres/1,805 feet. We expect it to take us approximately 5 hours.

A short bus ride inland this morning brings us to Valico di Chiunzi in Tramonti. Tramonti is a traditional farming area, set 300 metres above sea level, with far-reaching mountain views and is a largely unexplored part of the Amalfi Coast region. There are 13 small villages and 11 churches that sit proudly above the Amalfi Coast in the foothills of the Lattari Mountains. On arrival in Valico di Chiunzi, (the highest inhabited point of Tramonti), will have the opportunity to admire Vesuvius and the entire Gulf of Naples before entering the Tramonti Valley. Our walk today will take us across the whole of the Tramonti Valley, from the upper part of Castagneti to the lower areas filled with lemon groves. Along the way we'll have the opportunity to visit a traditional cantina (wine cellar) for a small traditional food and wine sample. After a short presentation from our host, we'll continue our walk which follows ancient paths that link the villages: we'll pass small vineyards, lemon groves, farmland, old stone houses, centuries old chestnut groves and churches. At the end of the walk, we'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant, where we'll try sharing plates of homemade pizzas. Once we've refuelled, we'll continue the short walk to Pucara, and then take the public bus back to Maiori. Today's 9 kilometre/5.6 mile walk is graded as leisurely, with a total ascent of 100 metres/328 feet and descent of 500 metres/1,640 feet. We expect it to take us approximately 4 hours.

Today is a free day to spend as you wish. You might choose to relax in Maiori, visit Amalfi or Positano by bus, or take an optional daytrip to Herculaneum and Pompeii. Both cities were devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Pompeii is hailed as one of Europe's most compelling archaeological sites, due to the unique way that the volcanic ash has perfectly preserved so much of the city. Walking around the paved streets and buildings of this UNESCO World Heritage site provides a fascinating, if ghostly, insight into Roman life. Unlike Pompeii, the mainly pyroclastic material that covered Herculaneum, carbonized and preserved more wood in objects such as roofs, beds and doors, as well as other organic-based materials such as food and papyrus. Note, the trip to Herculaneum and Pompeii is organised locally with the assistance of your tour leader, so you do not need to book it in advance.

This morning, we'll take the public bus to Scala via Amalfi where our walk begins. We'll head upwards, via some steep steps, towards the small village of Minuta. We'll then enter the Ferriere Natural Park, an area which was famed for its papermaking and ironworks. Both industries have disappeared, but you can see the watermills that were once powered by the river. We'll walk though ancient woodland, sometimes alongside the river and should see some waterfalls. We'll continue downwards to Pontone and into Amalfi and then take a public bus to our hotel. Today's 6 kilometre/3.7 mile walk is graded as leisurely, with a total ascent of 100 metres/328 feet and descent of 400 metres/1,312 feet. We expect it to take us approximately 5 hours.

The Walk of the Gods is justifiably regarded as one of the greatest coastal walks in the world and makes a fitting finale to our week on the Amalfi Coast. This morning, we'll head to the village of Bomerano on the Agerola Plain by private bus. From here, the high cliff path contours west with magnificent views of the Bay of Salerno and Capri. The trail passes under huge limestone cliffs and above picturesque stone farmhouses until it reaches the attractive village of Nocelle. From here, we'll descend down an ancient stairway, past pretty flower gardens, into Positano. A poor fishing village until the 1950s, Positano has grown into a chic town that is a favourite with Hollywood stars. There'll be time to enjoy the town before catching our public bus back to our hotel for our final evening. Today's 11 kilometre/6.8 mile walk is graded as moderate, with a total ascent of 330 metres/1,083 feet and descent of 900 metres/2,953 feet. We expect it to take us approximately 5 hours.

Departing Maiori this morning, we'll drive to Naples International Airport (NAP) where we'll arrive about 8.30am - this is where our tour ends. The earliest time you should book a flight to depart today is 10.30am.