Langdale Walking & Adventure Holidays

INTRODUCTION
The Amalfi Coast is a stunningly beautiful coastline south of Naples, famous for its amazing views, orchards, terracing, hairpin bends and charming villages. Many of the homes and hotels are only accessed via charming pedestrian alleyways and staircases built into the pathway. This is a real adventure, where travelling on foot is the only way to truly discover the hidden charms and treasures of the region, nestling deep in lemon groves, beside ancient olive trees or tucked into the steep mountain sides. A twist or bend in the path can reveal pretty cottages, a village scene,a monastery, a cave or a secluded cove without a soul in sight, and always with the sparkling azure blue Mediterranean Sea for company. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and perfect for walking and exploring.

English speaking local guides will lead us along dramatic trails, footpaths and stone stairways which were once the only way to move from village to village, or to ancient chapels and monasteries. We start in Cava de' Tirreni, surrounded by the Lattari Mountains and often called the "little Switzerland", and our journey takes us from Vietri sul Mare, the gateway of the Amalfi Coast, to the delightful Positano.   A highlight of the week will be a walk on the crater of Mount Vesuvius and a tour of Pompeii, the ancient city frozen in time by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79.

Cava de' Tirreni bristles with history and traditions. Here we see a genuine, Italian way of life, with unique local architecture and the famous "Borgo Scacciaventi" arcades. The town is a perfect starting base for exploring the villages on the southern end of the Amalfi Coast, incluing Vietri sul Mare, famous for its ceramics, and Cetara, a small fishing village untouched by mass tourism.

Amalfi is the most popular town on this mountainous stretch of coastline. Legend says that the Greek God, Hercules, loved a nymph called Amalfi and sought the most attractive place in the world to immortalize her. We explore its historical buildings, including the 9th Century Cathedral with its famous cloister (Chiostro del Paradiso), one of the Amalfi's greatest attractions.

Positano is on the coast to the west of Amalfi, a classic and up-market resort with exclusive boutiques and enchanting landscapes. Scrambling up the rock face, we follow several trails, where we will be able to enjoy even more striking views including the famous "Path of the Gods".

Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. Our visit includes the summit of Mount Vesuvius and its crater, and Pompeii, the world's most captivating Roman excavation, where we see impressive examples of everyday life from 1st-Century Rome before the devastating eruption in AD 79.

Isle of Capri. We travel by boat from Positano for a visit that includes the "Piazzetta", Roman ruins, Faraglioni Rocks and, walks along the cliff paths. There is also time to visit the Island's chic shops.

Day 1 - Saturday 9^th October 2010 - Travel to Italy
Met on arrival by our agents and transfer (1hr 10 minutes) from Naples International Airport by private coach to the hotel in Cava de' Tirreni, a delightful little town where we spend the first two nights of the holiday. The town is rich in history and less touristic than other places on the Amalfi Coast, with its narrow streets and alleys nestled in a landscaped valley called "The Green Gate" of the Amalfi Coast. In past centuries it was an important market centre and well known for the Abbey of the Holy Trinity which spread its temporal and spiritual influence over Southern Italy. Dinner in local restaurant.

Overnight: 4-star Hotel Victoria in Cava de' Tirreni. D

Day 2 - Sunday 10^th October 2010 - Walking from the Abbey of Cava to Vietri sul Mare
A local bus drops us off at the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, the starting point of our first walk. We attend a guided visit of the Benedictine monastery founded in the 11th century, enjoying the atmosphere of this captivating place. After the visit we have the pleasure of an easy walk along a network of paths, used for centuries to link the Abbey with the villages of the Amalfi Coast. Following chestnut woods, then paved pathways and set of steps we reach the first jewel of the coast, Vietri sul Mare, well-known for its art of pottery and ceramics. Every building here, from the town hall to the fruit store, is decorated with fine painted tiles. This walk gives the perfect introduction to the Amalfi Coast with views on azure sea and green mountains. Return to Cava de' Tirreni by local train (5 minutes) 6km approx. 3 hours hiking Grade Easy.

Overnight: 4-star Hotel Victoria in Cava de' Tirreni. BLD

Day 3 - Monday 11^th October 2010 - Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii
We drive by private coach for a full day's visit to Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii. A private transfer brings us to the summit of Mount Vesuvius; here we can visit the crater and enjoy panoramic views over the Bay of Naples. Afterwards we reach the world's most captivating Roman excavation and experience a real, intact image of this ancient world accompanied by a local authorized guide. The devastating eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79 trapped the 25000 inhabitants of Pompeii, many of whom left impressive examples of everyday life in 1st-Century Rome. Later, we return to Cava de' Tirreni by local train (26 minutes) for Dinner in a local restaurant. 4 km, approx. 1 hours hiking + four hours walking tour in Pompeii. Grade Moderate. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight: 4-star Hotel Victoria in Cava de' Tirreni. BLD

Day 4 - Tuesday 12^th October 2010 - Hiking to Cetara and visit of Amalfi
Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Our luggage is transferred to our new hotel by our agents. A local bus brings us to the start of our walk. We follow a path that takes us on a mule-track through chestnut and oak trees, arriving at a striking viewpoint. From here we enjoy outstanding coastal scenery as we descend to the attractive fisherman's village of Cetara. This lovely, traditional fishing village is famous for its gastronomy, which is based on lemons, tuna and anchovies. Its products are exported all over the world. From there we travel to Amalfi by public bus. We have free time to explore this renowned and delightful coastal town with its illustrious maritime history. Here we spend the next two nights of the holiday. Dinner at the hotel. 8km approx. 4 hours hiking. Grade Moderate. BLD

Overnight: 3-star Hotel Amalfi in Amalfi.

Day 5 - Wednesday 13^th October 2010 - The Valley of the Mills
A very scenic day starts in Amalfi with a relaxing circular tour of the Valley of the Mills including attractive cultural visits and a gorgeous walk. There is an optional: visit to the mill and the paper museum before taking to our trail. Passing along old ruins of watermills, some dating from the 11th century, the path becomes unpaved with wood and stone steps and wooden fences. The trail continues going up, with the valley on your right side and passing some streams and a small stone arch bridge. The path then becomes stone paved and we walk slightly uphill to the village of Pontone, through terraced lemon groves surrounded by the typical landscape. We climb up to the Torre dello Zirro, a medieval tower perched on a cliff, with spectacular views over Amalfi and Atrani. After a brief walk on the tarmac road and up a flight of steps, we reach the delightful village of Ravello where we visit the scenic gardens of Villa Cimbrone. This is one of the best viewpoints on the Amalfi Coast, including the stunning 13th-century Villa Rufolo. We leave Ravello on foot for the village of Atrani along panoramic steps. Dinner this eveining is at the hotel. 13km, approx. 6 hours hiking. Grade Moderate.

Overnight: 3-star Hotel Amalfi in Amalfi. BLD

Day 6 - Thursday 14^th October 2010 - Path of the Gods
We check out of the hotel and our agents arrange for our luggage to be transferred to our next stop. Depart by local bus. Today we enjoy a stunning walk on the "Path of the Gods", one of the most spectacular Italian trails overlooking the Amalfi Coast. In bygone years this was the only way to get from the small isolated villages to the cultivated terraces.

As we descend, we admire the entire peninsula including Capri and, on the other side, the Gulf of Salerno. This wonderful path, through stunning scenery above the seashore, takes us to the village of Nocelle and then to Positano. Lunch is a delicious picnic organised by our local guide. 10km approx. 4 hours hiking. Grade Moderate.

Overnight: Hotel Pasitea in Positano. BLD

Day 7 - Friday 15^th October 2010 - Island of Capri
Today we set sail for the highlights of the stunning island of Capri, taking a boat from Positano or Sorrento. After a refreshment stop on the famous "Piazzetta" of Capri, we walk towards the impressive Roman ruins of the Villa Jovis, once Tiberius's pleasure palace. We continue along the Arco Naturale on a coastal path until we reach the spectacular Faraglioni, the peculiar rocks jutting out of the sea.

In the later part of the afternoon we have several options for exploring Capri at our own pace. We may choose to relax in the island's chic shops or take a walk to visit the Convent of San Giacomo which dates back to the 14th century, and the Gardens of August before returning to Positano. 7km approx. 4 hours hiking. Grade Easy.

Overnight: Hotel Pasitea in Positano. BD

Day 8 - Saturday 16^th October 2010 - Departure
It is time to say "arrivederci" to Italy. After breakfast we have free time in Positano. Transfer (1hr 25 minuted) by private coach to Naples International Airport for the return flights to the UK. B

B = breakfast    L = lunch    D = dinner

Hotels
Accommodation is in three delightful hotels. Rooms have full facilities and each hotel provides a high level of service:

Three nights : 4-star Hotel Victoria in Cava de' Tirreni

Two nights: 3-star Hotel Amalfi in Amalfi.

Two nights: 4-star Hotel Hotel Pasitea in Positano.

Please note that the following flight times, flight numbers and routings are the latest known and are subject to change and confirmation by the airlines. All times are local.

For reasons of safety, weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary to make changes to the programme without advance notice, but every effort will be made to avoid this if at all possible.

E&OE