Italy: Highlights of Calabria
Italy: Highlights of Calabria
9 Days Starting in Minori and ending in Catania
Visiting: Amalfi Coast , Civita, Pollino National Park / Civita, Tropea, Tropea / Stromboli, Reggio Calabria, Catania, Taormina/Catania
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZMSK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a journey south in Calabria, from the striking Amalfi coastline to Sicily’s Catania, visiting the best spots along the way. From the pristine waters and the stalwart fortifications of Tropea, all the way to the smoke gently floating from the volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands – Calabria is a hidden gem for those who stray off Italy’s beaten path. With plenty of opportunity to relax and soak up the Mediterranean sun seaside, you’ll also get to raise your heart rate with a hike through Pollino National Park and a fishing experience with the locals on a traditional boat. Explore the active volcanoes scattered across the Aeolian Islands and wander the historic and charming streets of Taormina, Catania and Tropea. A mixture of culture, nature, history and cuisine (this is Italy, after all), this trip has everything and more!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Amalfi Coast
Location: Amalfi Coast
Accommodation: Hotel in Minori (Amalfi Coast)
Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure begins in the quaint small town of Minor, on the UNESO World Heritage listed Amalfi Coast. This peninsula's rocky coasts, azure seas and whitewashed villages are quintessential Italy and this small town accommodation provides all the iconic views of Amalfi Town without the tourist crowds. You'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, perhaps stroll along the coast or find a gorgeous little restaurant for pizza and wine with a view.
Day 2: Civita
Location: Civita
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning you'll travel to Civita by boat, train and private vehicle. Civita was founded by Albanian refugees in the Middle Ages and the Civitesi are recognised as an ethnic minority by the Italian Government. Their language, arberesh, is a mixture of Italian and Albanian and is only spoken here and in some parts of Sicily. Take a walk around this fascinating village, then perhaps choose to visit a local shop with regional delights, or just walk in the scenic hills instead.
Day 3: Pollino National Park / Civita
Location: Pollino National Park / Civita
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast today, you’ll hike into the beautiful Pollino National Park that surrounds Civita. With sheer cliffs, narrow canyons and a diverse range of wildlife including the peregrine falcon, eagle owl and the recently reintroduced Egyptian vulture, this area is a wildlife lover's paradise. If you'd like to opt out of the hike, you can kick back on the terrace of your guesthouse and enjoy the scenery and hospitality of the locals. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Tropea
Location: Tropea
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast this morning, you’ll transfer from Civita to Paola, before taking the train on to Tropea. Tropea has a striking sense of timelessness, created by the streets full of faded buildings and the iconic fortifications that line the city’s cliffs. Explore the town as you head out on an orientation walk. You may want to visit the local Norman cathedral, the Duomo, which holds an icon of the town’s celebrated protectress, the Madonna of Romania. There’s also the Museo Diocesano, a tiny museum hiding in the Palazzo Vescovile next to the Duomo, which is full of religious art and wooden statues. If you’d prefer some time by the water, feel free to head to the beach and marvel at the looming structures on the cliffs nearby.
Day 5: Tropea / Stromboli
Location: Tropea / Stromboli
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
If the weather is fine, you'll head out on a boat trip to the island of Stromboli. You will stop here to visit the island of San Vincenzo where you will have time to swim in the deep blue sea of the Aeolian Islands, shop along the main street or stop in a local restaurant for dinner. Depending on the time of year, you will depart Stromboli again in the evening and cruise to the Sciara del Fuoco (Stream of Fire) which marks the path of the lava flows that occur during Stromboli’s eruptions.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Reggio Calabria
Location: Reggio Calabria
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Depart from Tropea by train as you travel on to Reggio Calabria, the gateway to Sicily. The city’s placement in a major earthquake zone has caused much destruction over the years, meaning only a few historical sites remain in comparison to the rest of Italy. However, this has resulted in a charming mix of architecture, balanced between the surviving old buildings and the modern structures. Embark on an orientation walk, before visiting the widely renowned National Archaeological Museum of Reggio. This building is arguably the most important tourism destination that the region has to offer, featuring an excellent collection of exhibits from Greek-influenced sites across Calabria, including the Bronzi di Riace, two giant bronze statues found on the sea floor in the 70s. Later in the evening, perhaps hunt down some of the city's spectacular restaurants for grilled swordfish or pasta with cauliflower and broccoli (both are dishes typical to the area) and a glass of local wine, or wander past the city’s panoramic waterfront.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Catania
Location: Catania
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Bid farewell to Reggio Calabria and travel by ferry to Messina in Sicily, where you’ll enjoy a Messina (a traditional boat ride). You'll experience the thrill of a fishing trip with the locals and learn about the traditions and natural wonders of the Strait of Messina. After, board a private minibus to the atmospheric city of Catania. The city has a unique energy and an interesting blend of young and old. On one hand, there’s a gritty, attractive bar culture that fuels an exuberant nightlife full of flavour and laughter. On the other hand, the city's very core boasts one of the fabled Late Baroque towns – the UNESCO World Heritage site, Val di Noto. You’ll get the opportunity to explore both sides of this curious city by walking through its grand piazzas and wide roads. The evening is yours to enjoy, so perhaps get a gelato or a granita to cool off at the end of a busy day of exploration.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Taormina/Catania
Location: Taormina/Catania
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Take a day trip to the charming city of Taormina. Start things off with an orientation walk, where you’ll notice the Greek influence in the architecture. Walk through the back streets and gardens, and perhaps visit the world-famous Greek theatre and the cathedral. The whole afternoon will be at your leisure, so there's plenty of time to explore at your own pace. Have a drink in the Mediterranean sun or dig into some traditional Sicilian pasta before heading back to Catania for your final evening. Perhaps, head out with your newfound travel companions for one final pasta dinner together and toast to the Calabrian adventures you shared.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 9: Catania
Location: Catania
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your journey come to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to stay on in Catania, just speak to your booking agent to organise any additional accommodation.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights) -
Meals
8 breakfasts -
Civita - Hike in Pollino National Park
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Tropea - Aeolian Islands Cruise (Vulcano, Lipari, Stromboli)
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Reggio Calabria - Archaeological Museum
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Messina - Felucca sailing
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Taormina - Day Trip
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Messina - traditional boat sailing
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Tropea - Stromboli by Night
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Civita - Nature based hike
Transport
- TRANSPORT IN EUROPE
- Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.
- TRAINS
- The main mode of transportation on this trip is by train. Italian long-distance and inter-regional trains are comfortable and often decked out with air-conditioning. Toilets are always available. Some of the trains have snack bars (or vending machines) and power points next to the seats but that cannot be guaranteed on every journey. Regional and metropolitan trains are usually a bit more basic and can be quite busy, but this just adds to the experience. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long (and short) distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre of your next destination.
- PRIVATE VEHICLES
- Our private vehicles are locally sourced and are air conditioned and comfortable, which makes travelling enjoyable. On some days we will be covering long distances, which will make these days feel longer, however spectacular views and interesting stops along the way make up for it.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- TWIN SHARE BASIS
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
- FACILITIES
- Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, excluding Days 2&3. Availability is limited due to small properties we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Due to the terrain the means of transportation on this trip is a mix of local trains, private vehicles and public buses. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. Trains are comfortable and all have toilets, however can often be quite busy, especially in peak summer season. Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.
Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Many hotel rooms in Europe are not equipped with air-conditioning, and the cooling system on local trains can be broken on a regular basis. Note also that during peak holiday season beaches can be quite busy. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
Hotel rooms in Europe can seem rather small by American or Australian standards and often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
If you have more time to explore the region you can extend your trip and see more of Italy by starting your travels in Rome. Check out our trip 'Rome to Sicily' (trip code ZMSFC). Most departure dates are designed to create this perfect combination trip. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions