Amalfi Coast Walking - Hotel Risorgimento

The authentic village of San Lazzaro will be our home for the duration of our tour. Sitting 650 metres above sea level, you can get a feeling for slow-paced village life at one of the handful of local bars and restaurants. Naples International Airport (NAP) is our closest airport. We offer two complimentary transfers from the airport to our hotel in San Lazzaro. The first will be at 12.45pm (to join this one, your flight should arrive no later than 12.15pm), and the second is at 7pm (to join this one, your flight should arrive no later than 6.35pm). After clearing immigration head to the 'Welcome Area' kiosk in the arrivals hall where your driver will meet you holding an Explore signboard. As we need to arrange the transfer vehicles some time in advance and to help us monitor flight arrivals, if you have not booked your flights through Explore you must let us know your flight details and which transfer you would like to join at least 30 days before the start of your trip. If you do not tell us these details, we'll assume that you're travelling on the earlier transfer. There may not be room on the later private bus for you, in which case you'll need to take a taxi at your own expense - this costs in the region of €120. If you plan to arrive later than the second transfer, you'll need to make your own way to the accommodation. If you don't wish to take either of the included transfers and will be making your own way to meet the group at the hotel, please tell us in advance so the tour leader does not spend time looking for you at the airport. Our base for the week is the historic Albergo Risorgimento, a traditional, family-run three-star hotel, built in 1878. Situated just a few minutes' walk from the village's main square, it's perfectly located for exploring sleepy San Lazzaro and beyond. Tonight, we'll get our first taste of the south with a welcome supper here at our hotel. A note about the walks on this holiday: This trip combines both leisurely and moderate - grade walks with an average daily distance of 10 kilometres. You should be confident of your ability to enjoy the higher grade walks and note that grading is not subjective - just because a walk falls within the leisurely grade category does not necessarily mean that you will find it leisurely. Please read the daily walk descriptions and details carefully before deciding whether this is the right trip for you. You may also find it useful to take a look at our customer reviews on the trip web page. Our farm stay is at 600 metres above the Amalfi coast and much of the hiking on this trip is along ancient paths and stairways. There are some lengthy ascents and descents along these stairways on days 3, 5 and 7. We'll be walking on all kinds of terrain from well-worn and sometimes steep stone steps, to rugged mule trails - these surfaces can be tough to navigate and put pressure on the knees. We recommend wearing hiking boots with ankle support and using walking poles.

This morning we travel in our own bus to Trafore, just a short journey across the Agerola Plateau. To ensure that we're not displacing the locals who are reliant on the public bus network, we've taken the decision to use private charter vehicles throughout this tour when we're not hiking direct from our accommodation. Our hike cimbs steadily up to a ridge, following a gravel track at first and then a footpath through the forest to reach a high point from where there's a great view towards the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. We continue through the forest through part of the high Ferriere Valley, a protected reserve which we'll explore in greater depth later in the week. Eventually we descend on some rock cut steps back down into the village and to our hotel. This evening, there's the option to join a pizza-making demonstration at our hotel followed by a pizza supper (cost is €20 pp). Today's 9 kilometre/5.6 mile walk is graded as moderate. It has a total ascent of 433 metres/1420 feet and descent of 522 metres/1713 feet. We expect it to take around 3.5 hours.

We'll explore two Italian icons today, Amalfi and Ravello. In the morning, we'll take a bus from San Lazzaro to Ravello. Often referred to as the hidden gem of the Amalfi coast, Ravello is located high up on the rugged coastal cliffside. Famous for its Moorish architecture, the village has attracted artists and writers for generations, thanks to its tranquil atmosphere as well as its enchanting streets, brimming with spots for al-fresco coffee. Here, we'll have some time to explore, browse the shops and there's the option to visit the town's famous, manicured gardens before taking some lunch at a local cafe or perhaps buying a bite to eat at the local bakery. After lunch we'll start our hike down to the famed harbour town of Amalfi. Much of the route descends on ancient footpaths and staircases. Some of the steps are quite high and staircases lengthy. This is likely to be quite different from your usual walking terrain so we will take it at an easy pace with plenty of stops to admire the terrific coastal views. Our hike takes us past fragrant lemon groves and farms cultivating olives, fruits, and vines, giving us a real snapshot of life on the Amalfi coast. On arriving in Amalfi, we'll have free time to explore. Indulge in the baroque charm of the Duomo di Sant Andrea or take in the ancient Roman basilica. Cool off with a swim on the public beach and don't forget to taste typical Italian gelato at one of Amalfi's many gelaterias before we catch our private bus back to San Lazzaro. This evening, there's the option to join a mozzarella and pasta making class at a local agriturismo, followed by a dinner at the farm, to sample what you've prepared (cost is €30 pp). Today's walk covers 4.5 kilometres/2.8 miles and is graded as leisurely due to its length although some may find the steps a bit challenging. It has a total descent of 325 metres/1,066 feet. We expect it to take around 2 to 2.5 hours.

Today's walk starts at our hotel. From here, we'll navigate the ancient limestone stairway that takes us high above San Lazzaro, rewarding us with views towards Salerno and Campania's scattered villages and towns. We'll work our way past woodlands and valleys before crossing the Vallone di Ferriere. Surrounded by limestone cliffs, this valley has a unique microclimate, creating a habitat for plant species not commonly found in southern Italy. Working our way out of the valley, our path delivers views of the coast before we descend on a series of stairways to Amalfi, where a private bus waits to take us back to San Lazzaro. Today's walk covers 13 kilometres/8.1 miles and is graded as moderate. It has a total ascent of 360 metres/1,181 feet and descent of 1,015 metres/3,330 feet. We expect it to take around 6 hours.

Starting early, we'll take a bus to Amalfi, where we'll catch a boat to the island of Capri. The view from the ferry ride gives us an unobstructed panorama of the coast - be sure to look up and spot the clusters of villages clinging to the dramatic cliff face. Capri has been high up on holiday bucket lists since the Roman times when it was visited as a coastal resort. Easily explored in a day, Capri is petite, measuring just seven kilometres long and 3 kilometres wide - 600-metre-high cliffs lend it its imposing presence. Our island walk will wind us through the vibrant streets, teeming with boutiques and cafes, via grand houses and kitchen gardens to the coast. We'll breathe in the scent of bougainvillea as we head to less populated parts of the island and climb the limestone cliffs for a spectacular view of the mainland and the Mediterranean that separates us. After our walk, we'll have time to explore Capri's main town, visiting Emperor Tiberius' palace and Villa Lysis before heading back to the mainland. Today's walk covers 10 kilometres/6.2 miles and is graded as leisurely. It has a total ascent and descent of 400 metres/1,312 feet. We expect it to take around 4 hours. Note: Occasionally the ferry does not operate due to inclement weather. In this instance, our trip to Capri will be rearranged.

Today we have nothing scheduled, so you're free to recoup and explore the local area at your leisure. If you'd rather explore further, there's an optional day trip to Herculaneum and Pompeii. Both cities were devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and give us a fascinating (if ghostly) insight into Roman life. The UNESCO-listed city of Pompeii has been almost perfectly preserved in volcanic ash, sitting unchanged since the time of the eruption. Herculaneum is another town preserved by the eruption, here you can see roofs, beds, and doors, as well as organic-based items such as food and papyrus, as they once were, centuries ago. The trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum is organised locally, so you don't need to book in advance. A private return bus transfer costs €60 per person plus entrance fees of €14 for Herculaneum and €19 at Pompeii. All optional actvities need to be paid in cash euros which can be withdrawn from the ATM in the village.

The grand finale of our Amalfi coast walking tour has to be the Walk of the Gods. Regarded as one of the greatest coastal walks in the world, this hike delivers some of the most breathtaking views of the southern Italian coast. We'll follow the high cliff path as it contours west from Bomerano, opening to views of the Bay of Salerno and Capri. Passing under limestone cliffs and above an old stone farmhouse, we'll reach the village of Nocelle. From here, we start our descent down a lengthy ancient stairway into Positano. Once a poor fishing village, Positano has gained popularity and is now a must-visit spot. We'll take time to enjoy the beach town before boarding our private bus back to the hotel for our final evening. Today's walk covers 11 kilometres/6.8 miles and is graded as moderate. It has a total ascent of 330 metres/1,083 feet and descent of 900 metres/2,953 feet. We expect it to take around 5 hours.

Our trip ends at Naples International Airport (NAP). We offer two complimentary transfers from our hotel to the airport. The first is timed to arrive at the airport at 8am (the earliest your flight can depart is 10am). The second is timed to arrive at the airport at 2.30pm (the earliest your flight can depart is 4.30pm). Note: If you\ re travelling on the second transfer, please be aware that you will need to check out of your room after breakfast. Luggage can be stored at the hotel and you are free to relax in the common areas.