Trails & Treasures of the Amalfi Coast – Premium Adventure

Enjoy the acclaimed hikes and beauty of the inimitable Amalfi Coast – in style

The Amalfi Coast combines natural beauty and the patient labour of humankind, who transformed the steep mountain slopes into a cascade of terraced lemon groves, with traditional villages and chapels scattered all around. A dramatic coastline offers wonderful views, different with every step you take, and the smell of rosemary and citrus trees fills the air. Fields of multicoloured roses overwhelm the eyes and sandy beaches invite you to the shore. It offers an extraordinary palette of colours, with azure skies, white limestone cliffs, deep blue seas, and bright citrus orchards lit by the dazzling Mediterranean sun. This intoxicating sensual feast inspires a celebration of the goodness of life itself.

We begin this Premium Adventure in charismatic Naples before travelling south to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. Upon reaching the Amalfi Coast, we stay at beautiful properties in picturesque Cetara and iconic Amalfi, enjoying scenic walks and a full-day trip to a jewel of southern Italy, the island of Capri.

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

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local tour leaders keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• We spread the economic benefit of tourism to lesser-known areas of the Amalfi Coast, such as Cetara and Raito.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• Erosion on and adjacent to popular paths is a growing problem and our trip leaders encourage clients not to stray from paths to minimise this.
• We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

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

There are no required vaccinations. However, ticks are known to be present in this region and can carry Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. Please take care to protect yourself. You can read more about ticks here.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, one lunch and three dinners are included.

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

The one included lunch is taken in an excellent local restaurant. For lunches that are not included, there will be time to purchase picnic supplies or if the walk allows it, our tour leader can make a reservation at a local restaurant (subject to availability).

The included dinners are at carefully selected restaurants. In some cases, this is on the hotel premises; in others, in a special location that will be sure to provide a memorable meal in beautiful surroundings.

Several dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free, are also well catered for if the hotels/restaurants are aware in advance. Please advise us of any dietary requirement upon booking.

Weather

Southern Italy, like much of the Mediterranean, has a hot, dry climate in summer and cooler but sometimes wet spring and autumn periods. Unseasonable cold spells and rain are possible at any time of year, so we recommend bringing some warm clothes, especially useful where evening temperatures can be lower than expected. Summer can be very hot with daytime temperatures in July and August reaching up to 34C-37C (93F-99F) on the coast.

What to expect in the low season (October to March)
A common misconception about the Amalfi Coast is that it is very warm year-round. Autumn and winter may be cooler than you’d expect; although usually milder than northern Italy, average temperatures in December, January and February range from lows of around 8C (46F) to highs of 15C-17C (59F-63F). Prepare for periods of colder weather (with temperatures sometimes dropping to 2C/36F) especially at higher elevations – there may even be snow on the Lattari Mountains.

During the winter up to early spring, there is also more rain than usual (with an average of one day in four affected) but there are still plenty of enjoyable crisp sunny days. Overall, the Amalfi Coast is still a great destination in winter as the coastline is beautiful year-round and you have the chance to visit the sights without the summer crowds and traffic.

Is this trip for you?

The Amalfi Coast is home to some of the best-loved walks in Europe: the varied scenery and temperate climate make this a heaven for hikers and ramblers.

This trip involves five days of walking with low altitude throughout and has an average rating of Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). See below for more information on what the trip involves.

• Duration of walks: Usually between four and six hours, including lunch stops. While our expert leaders will ensure the walking pace allows time to rest and enjoy the views, being in good health and fitness is essential to fully enjoy the walking experiences.
• Terrain and path type: These vary from paved tracks to forest trails. Some sections involve long staircases, steps, some steep climbs and descents on slightly loose terrain. There will also be some narrow pathways alongside sheer drops, so you need to be comfortable with heights. The walk on Mount Vesuvius is on rocky cinder/gravel trails and likely to be loose underfoot, with steep sections and some large drops. On most days there are considerable sections of steps (more than 1,500), so the walks are best suited to those not suffering from knee and joint problems.
• Climate: The Amalfi Coast and the surroundings normally benefit from a relatively mild and sunny climate, but heatwaves and heavy rains are also possible. This, along with consecutive walking days, may increase the difficulty of the trip, bringing it closer to Activity Level 3 (Moderate).

Considering all of this, we recommend you arrive physically prepared to tackle slightly more challenging routes by exercising regularly before the trip. You should also bring suitable equipment with you, including sturdy hiking boots and walking poles, and stay hydrated at all times.

If you would like to know more about the difficulty of the walks, speak to your sales representative to discuss the trip in further detail. You can learn more about our Activity Levels here: www.exodus.co.uk/activities/adventure-activity-holidays/info/activity-levels

Note 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 busy.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.