Global Adventure - Hike the Amalfi Coast and Cilento National Park in Southern Italy

Itinerary Highlights:   Following our arrival day in Naples, Days 2-4 will be spent hiking the “Alta Via dei Monti Lattari” (medieval mule tracks).  From the high plain of Monte Faito, we walk to the mountains above Positano, with gorgeous views of the Amalfi Coast, descending through cypresses and olive groves to the old fortress of Santa Maria al Castello.  We will walk along beautiful pastures and orchards with wild orchids and Mediterranean herbs, through small hamlets and down to the seashore.  As we travel along the impressive cliffs of the headlands, we will come across medieval churches and watchtowers, rich with Greek and Roman legends. Day 5 will bring us to the city of Amalfi, where we can visit the beautiful “Duomo”, tour a paper museum and a lemon farm.  The following day we ferry to the island of Capri and take a chairlift to the peak of Monte Solaro and hike past the lighthouse, several fortresses and fields of flowers to the Blue Grotto before returning to Amalfi.  The next two days are spent hiking through several charming hamlets, trails called the “Valley of the Dragon” and the “Valley of the Mills”.  In the nature preserve “Valley delle Ferriere” we'll admire the beautiful waterfalls.  This day participants will have the opportunity to take an optional 3 course Italian cooking class (not included in trip price) or have free time on their own.  The “Path of the Gods” travels along the high plan of Agerola with unrivaled views of the Amalfi Coast to a monastery and small villages before descending to the beautiful village of Positano.  The following day we visit the famous Greco-Roman archaeological site of Paestum, stopping at a Mozzarella farm for some cheese sampling.  The final two days of hiking will be in the Cilento National Park, along coastal trails traveling through Roman harbors, and fishing villages where the picturesque Mediterranean landscape and sea breezes bring to life Ulysses’ myth about the Siren’s.  Here we will have the opportunity to learn the secrets of cooking the famous fusilli dei Cilento on our last evening before returning to Naples and departing for home.

Time of Year:   Spring time with temperatures ranging from mid 50’s to mid 60’s and lots of flowers in bloom

Lodging:   8 nights in comfortable hotels and 2 nights in Agriturismos (farm stays), with shared two person rooms

Food:   Included: all breakfasts (provided by lodging establishments), 8 dinners, 2 lunches.  The dinners at the Agriturismos will be made with local organic produce.  Other dinners and lunches will be at restaurants.  Remaining lunches and dinners will be on your own. Vegetarian options readily available, cannot guarantee other dietary needs can be accommodated.

Leader’s Experience:   Linda Shewey (lshewey@comcast.net) has been a Mountaineer’s hike leader for 13 years and has led several multi-day trips.  This will be her second GA trip, the first one to be international.  She has hiked several of these trails in 2020 (just prior to COVID) 

Participant Requirements:    Must be a current Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file.  This outing includes several consecutive days of hiking easy/moderate trails, on varied terrain, so participants need to be in good aerobic condition with good balance, and willing to hike in rocky terrain with some areas of exposure to steep drop-offs.  Participants should have a positive attitude, ability to be flexible, an inquisitive nature, appreciation for the natural world and early cultures, and a demonstrated ability to get along well with groups.  Day packs, sun protection, sturdy shoes and trekking poles are required equipment.   Participants will be required to carry medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance for the trip, at their own expense.  COVID vaccination and booster (for recent variants) are required of participants.  In addition, participants are expected to practice conservative covid behavior before and during transit to the trip including masking in busy public spaces, to carry covid self-tests on the trip and use them proactively at any time when they experience a symptom commonly related to covid.  Any positive test will mean that the participant will need to leave the group and quarantine at their own expense for at least 5 days (or longer if not symptom free) before flying home.  Travel Delay insurance is recommended to cover quarantine costs (hotels, food, transport).

Note:  As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe.  You are responsible for your own safety and that of your fellow travelers. You must have the ability to navigate on trails with a map and compass.  See daily trip profile, attached.

Trip Price Detail:    $3000 including all lodging, all transportation from the Naples hotel to the Naples airport at departure, luggage fees, entrance fees, boat and gondola fees, lemon tour, pasta making, mozzarella tasting, English-speaking tour guide, all breakfasts, 2 lunches, 8 dinners.  Not included are your airfare (approx. $1300), transportation from Naples airport to hotel (about $5), seven lunches/three dinners and wine tasting (about $150), travel medical insurance (about $200) and tips for guides/drivers/hotels (about $200).

Registration Instructions:   Please complete the application form.  PERMISSION REQUESTS AND APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BEFORE REGISTRATION OPENS.  After the leader’s approval, please pay the 50% deposit ($1500) in order to hold your space on the roster.  Registration will close on Jan 15, 2023 or whenever the roster fills.  A place on the roster can only be help with payment of the deposit.  The balance of the trip payment is due by Feb 15, 2023.

Application     Trip Agreement    Release
Supplemental Information

Cancellation Policy:  If you have to cancel from this adventure, the following cancellation fees will be assessed :
* If you cancel up to 16 days before departure, the cancellation penalty is $640.  
* If you cancel within 15 days of departure you will not be eligible for a refund. 

Cancellation fees may be waived if someone  takes your place on the roster.

Arrive no later than 4pm in Naples, Italy on Sunday April 16, 2023, and transfer to the local hotel.  We will gather together in the evening for dinner and tour guide introduction.  The following 10 days will be spent in hiking and cultural activities in the area accompanied by our local tour guide.  The trip ends the morning of day 12, April 27, 2023 in Naples where participants can arrange flights home.