Overview
The Amalfi Coast has long been exalted as the most inspiring in all Europe, and across the Bay of Naples lies the enticing Isle of Capri, a jewel soaring out of azure seas. We’ll hike this breathtaking coast from top-of-the-world Ravello, to the highest point on Capri, across the Sorrento Hills, and along the brooding crater rim of Mt. Vesuvius above Pompeii. Between hikes, we’ll watch mozzarella di bufala being made, visit an olive farm, and explore the haunting ruins at Herculaneum and Pæstum. Our Italy Trip Leaders have a genuine passion for sharing their love of La Bella Italia.
This was the trip of my lifetime. I have been home for one week and I can't stop smiling remembering my trip to Italy while being in the good care of JoAnn, Andrea, and Zuzana! Way to go, Wilderness Travel, for employing such a great team of trip leaders.
— Carole B., Alta Loma, CA
Days 1-3
Naples / Herculaneum / Pæstum / Ravello
After a pizza lunch in the city where it was invented, we stroll in the Roman city of Herculaneum, buried in ash (yet remarkably preserved) when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. We explore Greek-era Pæstum, with its iconic Doric temples, and hike up to entrancing Ravello, with its incredible perch above the sea. Another hike brings us down to the seaside town of Amalfi, with lunch in a village square.
Naples / Herculaneum / Pæstum / Ravello - Days 1-3
Azienda Agrituristica Seliano
Day 1 (1 night), Paestum, ItalyThis charming agriturismo close to Paestum has been in the same family for generations, and a stay here offers a glimpse into Italy’s rural life. Guest rooms are simple but large, clean, and comfortable, as befitting an accommodation on a real working farm. Dinner made with farm-fresh ingredients is served family style in the main dining room, and there is a lovely pool set among attractive gardens scented with roses and orange blossoms—a welcome pleasure after a long day of exploring. An interesting side note: our accommodation is run by descendants of the Bellelli family, subject of a renowned portrait painted by Edgar Degas in the mid-1800s that now hangs in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.
Hotel Rufolo
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Ravello, ItalyWith a rich history and an incredible location on the edge of Ravello, Hotel Rufolo is the quintessential stay where famous writers and artists often passed through. The hotel’s guest book even has a lovely quote from writer Lucette Desvignes describing the hotel, “from the medieval towers to the infinity of the sea…all is yours and you take it with you when you leave.” Guest rooms have been renovated with comfortable beds, tiled bathrooms, and lovely balconies overlooking the gardens and water.
Days 4-7
Sentiero degli Dei / Positano / Capri / Sorrento
On the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods), we hike across terraced hillsides to Positano, with its houses draped in bougainvillea. Ferrying to Capri, our hikes lead along stone-paved lanes to imperial Roman villas and up Monte Solaro for panoramic views. In the sunny Sorrento Hills, we visit an olive oil farm run by the same family since 1849 and hike through fragrant lemon and walnut groves to seaside Sorrento.
Sentiero degli Dei / Positano / Capri / Sorrento - Days 4-7
Hotel Gatto Bianco
Days 4 to 5 (2 nights), Capri, ItalyJust steps from the main square, the Hotel Gatto Bianco enjoys a central location right in the heart of the isle of Capri. Light and airy guest rooms, each with balcony or terrace, are decorated in traditional Caprian style with bright furnishings and hand-painted majolica floor tiles. Enjoy the casual island ambiance in the hotel’s terraces and patios filled with sweet-smelling flowers, and after our day’s hike, try a massage or spa treatment at the hotel’s beauty center. And don’t forget to make friends with Matisse, the resident white cat, the hotel’s namesake! Capri has always attracted the rich and famous—luminaries from King Farouk to Clark Gable to Jacqueline Kennedy have stayed at this hotel.
Hotel La Favorita
Days 6 to 7 (2 nights), Sorrento, ItalyThis beautiful 85-room hotel enjoys a great location in the historic center of Sorrento, just a block or two from the sea and the Piazza Tasso. Guest rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable, and feature white interiors with hand-painted Majolica tiles from Vietri sul Mare, famous for its colorful ceramics. While here, take advantage of the rooftop terrace and pool with its breathtaking views of the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.
Days 8-9
Mt. Vesuvius / Naples
Our last hike takes us along a crater rim above the great abyss of Mt. Vesuvius’ caldera, followed by lunch and wine tasting at a winery on the volcano’s slopes. Depart on Day 9 via Naples.
Mt. Vesuvius / Naples - Days 8-9
Hotel Palazzo Alabardieri
Day 8 (1 night), Naples, ItalySet on a pedestrian side street just a few blocks from the waterfront and close to historical sites, restaurants, and high-end fashion shops, the Palazzo Alabardieri offers a warm ambiance and a relaxing place to stay in the bustling city of Naples. Guest rooms in this former palazzo are quiet, clean, and well appointed, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.
Amalfi and Capri
