Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Italy Sorrento Peninsula & Amalfi Coast Hiking
Day 1 Arrive in Naples & Transfer to Vico Equense
45-minute airport transfer
Welcome to Italy! Your MT Sobek guide will meet you and the group at Naples airport for a 45-minute transfer to the hotel. Stop along the way to savor your first slice of Neapolitan pizza in the city from which it originates. Upon arrival at the colorful seaside town of Vico Equense, settle into your comfortable hotel. Refresh, then meet up for a welcome orientation and your first Italian dinner together with the group.
Accommodation: Hotel Torre Barbara
(D)
Day 2 Marvel at Ieranto Bay
2-3 hours/4 miles of moderate hiking
Today, hike around the magnificent Bay of Ieranto on the farthest point of the Sorrentine peninsula. Pliny the Elder believed that this majestic turquoise cove was where Ulysses met the sirens on his way home to Ithaca. Start your hike in the little village of Nerano and down a path lined with fragrant Mediterranean bushes descend to the Baia (Bay). Marvel at crystal-clear waters, take in fantastic views of Capri and the massive Faraglioni stacks, then return the same way to enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Torre Barbara
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Admire the Gulf of Naples from Mount Faito
20-minute train transfer
3-4 hours/5 miles of moderate hiking
Take the cable car from Castellamare di Stabia on the coast and whoosh to the top of Mount Faito, a 4,500-foot peak in the Lattari Mountains. Your 5-mile loop hike comes replete with spectacular vistas of the Sorrentine Peninsula, the island of Capri and the Gulf of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius in the distance! Visit the Monastery of San Michele, the warrior angel who inspired the saints Catello and Antonino to build this sacred place in a beautiful beech forest. Enjoy a scoop of gelato in Castellamare before hopping on the Vesuviano train back to Vico Equense.
(B, L)
Day 4 Discover Capri & Sip Aperitifs in Sorrento
Two 30-minute boat transfers
3 hours/4.5 miles of easy hiking
Enjoy a boat ride to the stunning island of Capri, with its steep cliffs rising from the sea. Walk to the imperial Villa Jovis, built by the Roman Emperor Tiberius at the eastern extreme of the island. Delight in a lunch of Italian specialties. Later, from Tragara Belvedere viewpoint, soak up the panoramic beauty of the island from the bay of Marina Piccola and its pristine beach to the famous Faraglioni sea stacks. Walk along the Pizzolungo trail and marvel at beautiful villas, including the uniquely designed Casa Malaparte. Continue to Sorrento by boat, sip an aperitif and spend some time roaming the pretty town.
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Walk on the Path of the Gods from Agerola to Positano
30-minute private van transfer
4-5 hours/5.5 miles of moderate hiking
Hike on the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) and travel back in time to when the Greeks settled villages like Agerola and Positano to ease commerce between the coast and the inland areas. From alpine Agerola, descend into Positano while admiring cultivated terraces, ancient dry walls, and the privately owned archipelago of Li Galli that once belonged to the famous Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way. Spend some time in the jet-set nest of Positano before transferring to Maiori for the evening.
Accommodation: Reginna Palace Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Explore Ravello, Mount Lattari & Amalfi
Two 20-minute private van transfers, possible 20-minute boat transfer
2-3 hours/4 miles of moderate hiking and guided tour in Duchy di Amalfi
Take a scenic drive to Ravello, a delightful town on the slopes of Mount Lattari that has inspired artists like Miro, Turner and Wagner. Hiking along the Dragone River Valley, make your way down to Amalfi and the Natural Reserve of Mount Lattari. Marvel at waterfalls and prehistoric plants such the 6-foot Woodwardia radicans. At the end of the valley, find the remarkable Cathedral of St. Andrew, built way back in the 9th century. Explore the cathedral and the area with a guide before heading back to Maiori for the evening.
Accommodation: Reginna Palace Hotel
(B, D)
Day 7 Take the Path of Lemons & Relish Handmade Pasta
4-5 hours/5.5 miles of easy hiking
Walk from the Maiori village to the village of Minori on the Path of Lemons. Delight in the fragrance and wildflowers as you pass cascading terraces planted with lemon trees. This area has been renowned for its handmade pasta production since the 16th century, and you'll learn more about pasta and its historical impact on the local economy during a visit to the Vico dei Pastai. Feast on local fusilli furitani and ndunderi for lunch. Round off the day with a visit to Villa Marittima Romana, a splendid showcase of 1st-century Roman architecture. Return to Maiori for an evening at your leisure.
(B, L)
Day 8 Explore Ancient Paestum & Go Cheese Tasting
Two 1.5-hour private van transfers
Guided tour of Paestum and cheese tasting
Today you'll travel from Maiori to Cilento to visit the Greek temples at Paestum, one of the region's most impressive archeological sites. Before delving into history, make a stop at a local farm to taste buffalo mozzarella and yogurt that the region is famous for. Powered by delicious dairy, enjoy a guided tour of Paestum and roam inside its ancient walls and gates, see the forum and the seaside temples of Hera and Athena. In the afternoon, drive back to Maiori and enjoy your farewell dinner in the evening.
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Bid Farewell to the Amalfi Coast & Return to Naples
1-hour private van transfer
All good things come to their end, and so does your journey around the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast. Say arrivederci to this bedazzling corner of the earth and transfer to Naples airport at 9am.
(B)
