Hiking Amalfi Coast & Naples - 11 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Naples and transfer to Ischia

We’ll welcome you at Naples (Napoli) airport then we’ll catch the ferry to Ischia.

This island is so important for the area; it has been inhabited for thousands of years as a strategic point for Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Spanish, French, and many other civilizations. Its name most likely comes from the Greek word for "vase"—in fact, the island has a long tradition of pottery-making.

After an aperitif—featuring chilled Ischia spumante—to introduce the tour, we’ll take you to one of our favorite local restaurants to celebrate your first day of vacation with a tasty dinner based on the freshest catch of the day.

Day 2: Guided tour of Ischia

Today we’ll have a proper tour of the island of Ischia. We’ll start by covering its fascinating and complicated history. Since the island has been conquered by almost everybody in the Mediterranean, these various cultural influences are still very noticeable in many ways, from architecture to cuisine, art and even on the features of its inhabitants. Most emblematic of this long history is Castello Aragonese, an imposing fortress made out of volcanic stones and encircling and entire village. Its first structure dates back to 474 B.C, but its actual shape was the result of a large renovation done by Alfonso V of Aragon in 1441.

We’ll also stroll on the most popular streets of the island, like the shops of Corso Vittoria Colonna at Ischia Porto, or the relaxing Sant'Angelo village and the elegant boutiques surrounding Piazza Santa Restituta at Lacco Ameno. Of course, we'll make time for an al fresco lunch!

Day 3: Monte Epomeo hike & relaxing at thermal baths

We suggest starting the day with an early hike to the fascinating Monte Epomeo, the highest point on the island. After one hour of an easy uphill trail, you’ll be rewarded by unparalleled views over the Gulf of Naples, from Capri to Mount Vesuvius to the Amalfi Coast.

After your hike, you'll have earned a rest.  What’s better than a relaxing afternoon at one of the more 30 historic thermal baths of Ischia, the Mediterranean island with the largest number of natural thermal springs. One we suggest is the Giardini Poseidon (Poseidon's Gardens), the quintessential thermal bath of Ischia. They were created back in the 1960s by Gernot Walde, a German doctor who had the idea to surround the natural thermal baths with 20 acres of luscious terraced gardens. You’ll have plenty of pools secluded in the garden to discover, and the entrance fee includes access to a sauna, as well as a beach with a lounge chair and umbrella.

If you're looking for something more adventurous, you can hike to the secluded Baths of Cavascura, a magical small thermal bath nestled in a canyon.

Day 4: Guided tour of Capri

Capri, the most exclusive destination among the Bay of Naples and a famous hideaway of poets and artists, will delight you with its beauty and natural elegance. With our local guide, you’ll visit the Gardens of Augustus and Villa Jovis, the ruins of Roman Emperor Tiberius lavish island home.

The day must include a chair-lift ride to the summit of Mount Solaro and an optional boat trip to the famous Blue Grotto. The place is crowded with boats, but it’s still magical.

If you want to add some hiking, we definitely suggest the scenic Sentiero dei Fortini, taking you all the way from the Blue Grotto to the solitary Lighthouse of Punta Carena. Here you enjoy a drink and one of the most beautiful sunsets of your life, followed by a casual dinner at one of the snack bars nearby.

If you want something a little more romantic, find a restaurant in the picturesque village of Anacapri on the slopes of Monte Solaro. The town is a little more authentic then Capri town itself and has a distinctive charm.

Day 5: Positano & Praiano

The Amalfi Coast town of Positano looks like a seashell inset in the green tufa of Lattari Mountains. Our arrival by boat it’s the perfect way to take in its colorful houses and beat the traffic along the narrow Costiera Amalfitana road. Positano is easy to visit on your own, with the Piazzetta town square at its heart, where you can do some shopping. The leather sandals of Positano are a must, or just have something with lemon, from a cold granita to a refreshing gelato to a more iconic Limoncello.

If you fancy some hiking before moving to Praiano, we’d suggest the trail to Montepertuso, "the mountain with a hole" that looms over the village.

Our accommodation for the night is the off-the-beaten-path village of Praiano, at an absolutely romantic hotel overlooking the cliffs, with charming rooms decorated in blue and whites tiles.

Day 6: Hiking the Sentiero degli Dei

Today we’ll start with a shuttle up to the village of Bomerano. Here it’s worth having a second breakfast with the local “fior di latte”, ultra-fresh mozzarella served with crunchy bread. Then you’ll be ready to hike along the majestic Sentiero degli Dei, the Path of the Gods, which takes you all the way to Nocelle, a small, ancient village over Positano. This is definitely one of the highlights of the whole tour. The trail is a natural balcony suspended over the Amalfi Coastline, offering breathtaking views at every turn. 

We’ll have a lunch stop with a local goat shepherd who has maintained his traditional craft and is proud to let us taste his homemade products. You’ll love his cheese, accompanied by some local red wine!

Day 7: Amalfi & Ravello

Today we'll visit Amalfi town, the pearl of the gulf, and stunning Ravello, probably the most exclusive destination on the coast, and definitely the one with the best views.

Amalfi was once one of the four maritime powers ruling the Mediterranean. The most important building of its Golden Age is its stunning Norman-Arab cathedral, officially the Cathedral of Saint Andrew the Apostle, which contains the tomb of St. Andrew and dominates the bustling Piazza Duomo.

Ravello is surprisingly peaceful compared to Amalfi. That's thanks in part to the tortuous road up from the coast, which keeps the big tour buses away from this jewel, perched hundreds of meters over the sea. Ravello deserves a visit for its location and views. You can wander its flower-lined, cobblestone lanes and visit the scenic gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, where you’ll find quintessential Mediterranean serenity.

Day 8: Amalfi free day

After a walking day up to the cliff of Ravello, you deserve a full relaxing day in Amalfi.

Since the village is filled with day-trippers, we’d suggest spending the morning on the water, and the afternoon shopping in its fancy shops. Then get a table on a restaurant terrace, order a bottle of local wine and sit back to watch la dolce vita pass by as the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea. What a way to end the day! 

You’ll have time to visit the Cathedral, and we suggest walking around the back into its cloister, the Moorish-style Chiostro del Paradiso with a lush tropical garden, and then down into the subterranean crypt with the tomb of St. Andrew the Apostle, whose remains were brought here from Istanbul in the 4th century.

Day 9: Naples free day

Naples is a city filled with art, and you can discover its many artistic treasures, from the Baroque to the modern. 
The walls of the city are covered with graffiti, including some murals from contemporary artists such as Banksy. VIsit the MADRE contemporary art gallery, with installations from artists such as Jeff Koons. Then take a trip back in time, immersing yourself in the magnificent gardens of Capodimonte Museum, once the hunting preserve of the Bourbons. End your journey with the museum's most famous masterpiece, Caravaggio's astounding Flagellation of Christ. 

When you need a break for sustenance, stroll the colorful, narrow streets of the city center. Street food is available on every corner. Favorite Napoli specialties include a “cuoppo”—a brown paper cone filled with fried seafood and vegetables, plus fried pizza, fried zucchini flowers, fried mozzarella, and arancini, a fried rice ball stuffed with ragu.

Day 10: Hiking Mount Vesuvius

Today you’ll climb up to the still-smoking caldera of Mount Vesuvius, admiring views of the Bay of Naples and the Campania region along the way. 

You’ll walk on gravel along the trail marked built after the 1944 eruption. At the top, the view opens up over Naples and the whole town, on the clear days you can spot the Circeo Peninsula in the distance. The walk to the top of Vesuvius is a fitting way to start winding down your tour of the region, since you'll admire the whole coastline where you've spent so much time in the last week.

Day 11: Pompeii

Pompeii Archaeological Park is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world. And after you're spellbinding visit, you'll understand why.

It was AD79 when the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the city of Pompeii and neighboring towns in a blanket of ash, pumice, and poison gas. The city lay buried for more than 1500 years, but now, excavations allow us to see how the people of Pompeii lived. 

During our guided visit of Pompeii, you’ll walk a lot, visiting the best-known of the city's mosaic- and fresco-covered houses, as well as many lesser-known ruins that will make your last day absolutely special.