Amalfi Coast of Italy with G Adventures

Looking back from the pier in Amalfi Italy

G Adventures is a Canadian based company offering over a 1000 small group tours to over 100 countries. This blog details my trip from Naples to Amsterdam with stops in Pompeii, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and Bomerano Italy on their local living and hiking tour.

Day one Naples

A great jumping off point for your trip to the Amalfi Coast is the city of Naples. From pizza to Roman ruins Naples has a lot to offer. The city is serviced by train, air and has a cruise ship port as well. The hotels there are quaint and have that European charm. The people are friendly, and most speak both Italian and English. Two things that Naples is known for are pizza and Nutella. While flatbread has been eaten for centuries a chef from Naples is credited with making the modern pizza. There are no shortages of pizza places in Naples so you might have to try a few to find the one you like the best.

Day two Pompeii

While only 17 miles from Naples the drive takes you over the mountains and past one big volcano... Mount Vesuvius. It takes about 40 to 45 minutes in all but offers fantastic views of the Italian coastline and the city of Naples. G Adventures had arranged a guided tour at Pompeii and scheduled it right when they opened to avoid the crowds later on in the day. Pompeii is still being unearthed with new discoveries happening every day. If you love history this is right up your alley. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD buried the town with up 20 feet of volcanic ash preserving the city as it was in that period. You can see the Roman culture and engineering feats all in this one place. Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day three Amalfi

The drive to Amalfi follows the coastline up and over the steep mountains. The views are great so have your camera ready! We stayed at Sant' Alfonso Agriturismo a beautiful place over looking the blue Tyrrhenian sea. Our hosts were spectacular from the moment we arrived and made us feel welcome and a part of their family. Remember Amalfi is built on the side of a mountain range and both the roads and steps can be steep. Luckily the agriturismo had a tram, normally used for groceries and getting their daughter to school in the morning, to bring the luggage down and back up the hillside. All of our meals were provided and made with the freshest ingredients with a cooking demonstration as well. My husband was invited to join and was given the task of making the risotto, with instructions of course. A wonderful place to base our Amalfi adventure from.

The hiking starts

Over the next four days we hiked through the small towns along the Amalfi Coast. Using Sant' Alfonso as the base our small group headed to the towns of Ravello, Bomerano, Atrani and Amalfi. Sometimes there were steps, other times passing through the small corridors between buildings or taking a dirt path to a waterfall. We would head out after breakfast and either return on foot or meet up with our van driver. Plenty of time to stop along the hikes for a beer or a glass of wine or a sparkling water. Lunch was either a sandwich made that morning from the agriturismo or stopping at a local eatery for a bite. Not only were the coastal views fantastic but being off the beaten path we were able to enjoy a taste of the local culture all while making new friends abroad.

The last hike

Saving the best and longest hike of the trip for our last day, Positano. To reach Positano you hike along what is known as the Path of the Gods. The entire trail stretches a little over 5 miles and runs along the coast with breathtaking views. Depending on your speed it takes around three to four hours to complete but it is well worth it. A stop along the way is the Kiosk of the Path of the Gods, a lemonade stand to wet your whistle so you can finish the hike to Positano. You do not want to miss it and the freshest most sour lemonade you ever had. The hike concluded in Positano with the group meeting at the dock later in the day for a boat ride back to Amalfi. Positano can be a little touristy, head to the smaller cafes and restaurants on the side streets for great coffee, wine and food.

Summary

Would I do it again, absolutely and so should you. The Amalfi Coast is a wonderful place to visit and one that you will want to return to time and time again. G Adventures is a top notch tour company and will not disappoint you.

Want more information on the Amalfi Coast or Italy or G Adventures, just fill out the contact form or email me at Robin.meyers@envoyage.com