Amalfi Coast: Pompeii & Pizza Family Holiday

Enjoy a family vacation taking in Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii and authentic Neapolitan pizzas

Southern Italy is famous for beautiful beaches, picturesque towns and, of course, wonderful pizzas and gelatos. The Amalfi Coast offers all this and more. From our family-run hotel, we strike out on foot, bus and boat to explore the dramatic coastline, ruins of Pompeii, and the winding streets of Positano and Amalfi. We also try our hand at ceramics, paper making and even create an authentic Neapolitan pizza. Add to this a trip up the mighty volcano Mount Vesuvius and, in season, a thrilling kayak excursion along the colourful coastline and you have a week that will live long in the memory.

Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here

Responsible Travel

Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company.

On this trip, we will spend the nights in the family-run Hotel Le Due Torri in Agerola, a relatively unknown area of Amalfi, bringing income to an area that does not usually benefit from tourism. The hotel recently installed solar panels which provides hot water for their rooms and all food provided are homemade, using locally produced and sourced goods where possible. On one of the evenings before dinner, clients have the opportunity to learn from their hosts how to prepare a traditional Neapolitan pizza.

This trip is packed with exciting activities for the whole family which really highlights the best natural and cultural treasures of the Amalfi Coast. Children have the opportunity to showcase their creativity through a series of activities such as pottery painting in a local artisan’s ‘bottega’ and experimenting the ancient way of paper making in Amalfi. Such activities are also great to foster interaction with locals. Our money spent at various historical sites goes towards the maintenance of these places and the wages of those working there.

In March 2019, Exodus Travels launched the Exodus Travels Foundation where we support initiatives all around the world. But it cannot exist without travellers who care. Get involved or learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus here…

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Vaccination

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, four packed lunches and five dinners are included.

Breakfast is continental style with a choice of cereals, bread, eggs, ham, cheese, fruits, pastries, yoghurt, orange juice and milk, plus an array of teas/coffee.

Included packed lunches usually consist of a sandwich filled with a choice of cold meats, tuna, or local cheeses.

All evening meals are taken in the hotel, where the standard is excellent and the chef takes great pride in showcasing the best of regional foods, including dishes such as scialatielli all’amalfitana (homemade pasta with seafood) and branzino all’acqua pazza (sea bass in crazy water). Dinners usually consist of four courses, commencing with antipasti, followed by soup and/or pasta, a main meat dish with salad or vegetables, and dessert.

On certain evenings, there is the opportunity to learn how to make Neapolitan pizza. Please note, drinks are not included with meals but available to purchase.

Several dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free, are also well catered for. Please advise us of any dietary requirement on booking.

Weather

Southern Italy, in common with a lot of the Mediterranean, possesses a hot, dry climate in summer, with cooler but slightly damper spring and autumn periods, and at coastal levels mild, damp winters. Rainfall is expected in winter months with an average of one day in three affected.  It is particularly important to note the high temperatures during summer, which can often reach 35C (95F) by the coast. Unseasonable cold spells are possible at any time of year, during which you will need warm clothes, especially in the hills up in Bomerano where evening temperatures can be lower than expected. It is important to be equipped for cooler weather in early spring, late autumn and winter.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

It is designed for ages 9 to 12 but is also suitable for ages five to eight or 13 to 16 (depending on the departure date). Our goal is to have similarly aged children on each departure, which allows the leader to better adapt the pace of the trip as required.

Our Family Activity Levels are aimed at children in the primary or ‘Designed for’ age group. We are confident it is also suitable for those in the ‘Also for’ age range; however, if your child is in this secondary category they may find it either a little easier or tougher. Please see the Family Activity Levels on our website for further information.

When grading our trips, we consider multiple factors: the pace, how busy an itinerary is, and the level of activity involved. Then there’s the amount of time a family will spend travelling. The weather is an important factor too.

This holiday aims to show you the best parts of the Amalfi Coast using a mixture of private buses, boats and sightseeing on foot. Though there is no strenuous physical activity involved, some days will be busy and in summer the heat and humidity can be tiring. Travel time is kept to a minimum wherever possible (maximum two hours on the bus per day) and the private vehicles used are comfortable and have air conditioning.

On most days, you will be back at the hotel at the end of the afternoon, with a couple of free hours before dinner to rest or enjoy the hotel pool. There is also one free day and leisure time at the beach included.

There are two walks included in the trip. During the visit to Mount Vesuvius, the vehicle will take you to an altitude of approximately 3,280ft (1,000m); from there to the crater, you will need to ascend on a path which is approximately 490ft (150m) long and quite steep in places. Along the Path of the Gods, you will be walking on a marked path; however, the terrain can be rocky or uneven at times and there are parts that are a little exposed, therefore not suitable for severe vertigo sufferers. This walk usually takes around 90 minutes.

The kayaking excursion will last approximately four hours including stops. Each minor should be accompanied by one adult in a double kayak. No previous experience is necessary, but participants must be able to swim. Please note that kayaking is normally possible only between the months of May and September. Furthermore, please note that due to safety reasons in the event of rough sea conditions at any time of the year, the activity will not take place. Where this is the case, your guide will arrange an alternative trip to the island of Capri or to the coastal town of Sorrento.

Please be prepared for some drives on winding coastal roads throughout the trip.

In unexpected weather conditions, the boat journeys may be replaced with minibuses.

The family-run accommodation is comfortable with air conditioning and private bathrooms and a small outdoor pool (seasonal). See the relevant section in the Trip Notes for further details.

Please note, there is high demand for our Amalfi tours. As such, it’s likely there will be more than one Exodus group at the Hotel Due Torri. The hotel is also open to non-Exodus guests. Our team of leaders are well used to this and any additional groups are either on a different tour or follow an alternative itinerary. This includes the same excursions but taken in a different order, usually reverse.

It is also worth noting that during the high season, usually May to September, popular towns along the Amalfi coast such as Positano, Amalfi itself and the island of Capri, can be quite busy.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.