Relaxed Trails of the Amalfi Coast

At Macs Adventure we have different trip types, Classic, Slower Adventures, Pilgrimages, In Style and Discovery. This tour is a Slower Adventure, with more relaxed hikes and plenty of time for cultural immersion and sightseeing. Its easy-going pace and flexibility allow you to really experience the best of the Amalfi Coast. This trip offers diverse experiences - from charming villages with vibrant houses to a laid-back lifestyle on the picturesque piazzas, an ever-changing coastline, island adventures on Capri, and the well-preserved ruins of Pompeii. Most walks are easy to moderate and around 2-3 hours. They are well-marked and easy to follow, taking you along pathways and small paved roads. Be prepared hiking from the hilltop villages to the coast as this will involve some steep steps. Alongside all the hiking, there's still plenty of time to savor the Dolce Vita of this stunning coastline.

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This tour is graded easy to moderate and the hikes are anywhere between 2 and 9 miles (3 and 14 km) in length. Since this is a Slower Adventure trip style we have made every effort to ensure that most hikes are fairly short which gives you more time to explore the villages and creates a more relaxed pace. However, even though the hikes are short, the terrain, at times, can involve steps and some elevation gain and loss (between +1345ft/410m and -1410ft/430m) and at times you will have to negotiate typical Mediterranean terrain which can be rocky, but this is minimal overall. We have also tried to limit the elevation gains and losses as much as possible, but in this region of Italy it is impossible to find hikes that are completely flat! 

As there are some steep trails, stone steps and plenty of ups and downs, it is recommended you to do a bit of training before your trip, at least a few weeks before you depart. If you are a frequent walker and comfortable with some hills, you will have no trouble doing this trip. And even if you are not, if you take your time, you will be successful! Hiking poles may be a help for those comfortable using them.

We specifically choose your hotels to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. All offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food and drink. The hotels mentioned in the itinerary are subject to availability, and early booking is highly recommended for June-September in particular, as this is a very popular area. We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed, but because of limited availability (especially June-September) we may have to accommodate you at an alternative location of the same or better standard (a supplement may be possible). Alternative details will be noted on your accommodation sheet. There are room upgrade options in the hotels used on this trip, please speak to our Sales team at the time of booking if this is something you are interested in.

Additional Nights

It’s easy to request an extra night at any location during this itinerary or at the beginning or end. Please notify us when booking should you wish to add extra nights.

Single Rooms & Solo Hikers

This tour is available for solo hikers but we would recommend that you are experienced in hiking and navigating alone and there is a solo hiker supplement payable. If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning. In Italy, this is generally a light continental breakfast with baked goods. Lunch and dinner are not included but are available from your hotel or nearby restaurants. The food of the Amalfi coast is strongly influenced by local produce. Traditional specialities include seafood and gnocchi alla sorrentina.

The routes are waymarked in some areas, but not in others. However, we provide the Macs Adventure Smartphone App making it simple to follow the route using a smartphone. Rest assured that by downloading the route maps in our app, that this will continue to work even in areas without any cellular or internet reception. For extra reassurance there are also turn-by-turn route notes within the app too for the hikes.

During the walk, public buses or trains will not be necessary unless you wish to skip a stage, or if you elect to use your free time to optionally visit Pompeii. The tour does offer opportunities to visit Positano and Capri by ferry, and you will find information at your hotel in your materials or at the front desk on ferry timetables and fares, which are only payable locally in cash.  While these ferries do not need to be pre-booked, you should plan your day around the timetables and show up early before your desired ferry departure to ensure you are able to board as they can fill up quite quickly during the busy season. More information on the ferries can be found here.

This Amalfi Coast self-guided tour is available from late March to October. You can start your tour on any date in the season. We recommend to not start between the end of July and late August as this is the hottest time of year when it is unpleasant to hike in this area. Hotel bookings during that time are also almost impossible to secure due to it being the Italian summer vacations, and the hiking routes tend to be crowded, so we feel it’s best to avoid travelling during this period.

Spring in the Amalfi Coast is sublime and April, May and June are absolutely lovely. May is when most of the wild flowers tend to be in bloom. Autumn is a perfect time of year as the landscape is made up of a gold and red pallet so September and October are unmissable.

Please note that you should ideally book 6 months in advance if you are intending on travelling in early July, at the end of August or in September. Early booking is recommended in order to secure the best choice of accommodation at this busy time of year. It is best if you have some flexibility regarding your dates and itinerary.

The Amalfi Coast is known to have long, hot summers with July and August being the hottest months. Always make sure to stay hydrated and carry plenty of water while out exploring. During summer it is not unlikely for the temperatures to rise above 86 degrees Fahrenheit / 30 degrees Celsius during the day. It can therefore be too hot for walking and isn’t a time best suited for everyone. You will have to start early to miss the heat of the day and carry a lot of water (additional weight) with you. The towns and villages however are buzzing at this time of year which is great to see.

The months before and after the summer season will be sunny but a little cooler, which could be preferable. Spring on the Amalfi Coast is sublime with wildflowers in bloom and a more comfortable temperature; April, May and June are absolutely lovely. Autumn is a great time of year as the landscape is made up of gold and red pallet and it cools down during the night, September and October are unmissable.

Due to climate change, there are more frequent bursts of torrential rainfall, which are known to have triggered mud and landslides in the Amalfi Coast area in the past. However, our local partners keep us informed of any geological risks i.e., a necessity to do an alternate hike due to the trail being closed. This does not happen very often but it’s good to be informed that this could potentially be the case, and we will of course inform you if this arises.

This tour starts in Ravello.

We recommend flying into Naples Airport (NAP). From Naples we offer a private transfer to your first accommodation in Ravello.

Coming from the Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome you need to change trains in Roma Termini to get to Salerno. Total travelling time to Salerno is about three hours. From Salerno we offer a private transfer to your first accommodation in Ravello.

**Please advise your Sales Specialist whether your included transfer should be from Naples or Salerno.

This tour ends in Sorrento. The simplest way is to take the Curreri shuttle bus from Sorrento to Naples Airport (NAP) which takes 1hr30. Or you could take the Circumvesuviana train to Naples Train Station which takes 1hr30 and ALIBUS shuttle bus to Naples Airport. 

Alternatively, we can arrange a private transfer at an additional cost, please let us know if this is of interest.

Going back from Sorrento to the Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome you have to change trains in Napoli Afragola and Rome Termini. Total travelling time is about 4 hours.

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 44lbs/20kg per person. Extra bags must be requested in advance at extra cost to avoid an on trip surcharge.