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Walking along high cliffs, through pretty woodlands and along ancient pathways that connect the villages, we explore this region at a relaxed pace taking time to see the cultural sites. Our base is at San Lazzaro, a small town at 650 metres with wonderful views across the Bay of Salerno. Most of the walks are downhill towards the sea and we return each evening to our base: the higher altitude means that it is cooler than at the coast. None of the walks are too tough and we aim to do no more than 4 or 5 hours each day giving you ample time to enjoy the Italian experience. Three of the walks involve long descents of steep steps.
We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
Accordingly you should allow approx. €10 for gratuities for local staff.
Local Currency: Euro.
Recommended Currency for Exchange: Euro. We recommend you take some Euros cash with you in order to avoid having to change money at the beginning of the trip.
Where to Exchange: Naples Airport or one of the towns such as Amalfi.
ATM Availability: There are a number of ATM cashpoints at Naples Airport and in the main towns of Amalfi and Positano but there are no easily accessible ATMs near the hotel.
Credit Card Acceptance: In the larger towns it is fine. Please note that the hotel does NOT accept credit card payments - please ensure you have enough Euro cash to pay for any extras such as drinks.
Local Costs
| |
UK |
Italy |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
€3.00 |
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
€2.40 |
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
€2.40 |
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
€4.50 |
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
€18.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
€35.00 |
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
€18.00 |
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
|
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
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Visas are not required by U.K., CAN, US, AUS and NZ citizens. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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Vaccinations & Protection
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
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Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against Hepatitis A, Polio, Tetanus, and Typhoid. Check latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Altitude: On Trek
Gradient chart
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Climate
The Amalfi Coast is an ideal place to visit at any time of year, though the seasons are quite different:
During the spring and autumn there will generally be warm to hot sunny days (reaching 20-28°C) and cool nights (10-20°C). In the early or late season (April and October) daytime temperatures are lower and tend to be between 15°C and 20°C. At night it is between 7°C and 12°C. Occasionally it will rain and so you must bring a rain coat, waterproof trousers and a warm jumper. In July and August it will be much hotter and can reach 35°C on the coast during the day. However, as the farm is located at 650m above sea level it does not suffer from the very hot temperatures found by the sea. In the winter season (late October, November, December, February and March) it will be cold both at night (as low as 0°C) and during the day (5-10°C). Rain will be more frequent. You need to bring appropriately warm clothes for winter walking such as fleeces, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves and woolly hats and warm evening clothes.
Please pay special attention to the clothing list we recommend.
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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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In the winter daytime temperatures average around 10 degrees and fall to about 5 degrees at night. Rainfall is more likely at this time of the year.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
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One main piece of baggage and daypack. Total allowance: 44lb/20kg. Remember you are expected to carry your own luggage so don't overload yourself.
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One main piece of baggage and a waterproof day-sac (20-30 litres recommended). You just need to carry what you need for the day which may include a raincoat, jumper, camera, sun-cream etc. On hot days you will carry fewer clothes but more drinking water.
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Clothing
The following are essential: waterproof jacket, fleece jacket or jumper (the evenings can be cool), T-shirts, comfortable walking trousers, shorts, sunhat, sunglasses and high factor sun-cream. Between April and early October you should expect to live in T-shirts and shorts during the day, but please be aware that temperatures and the weather change quickly and it is much cooler at night. You should definitely bring warmer clothers, waterproof jacket and trousers - be prepared. For around-town wear you may like to bring some slightly smarter clothes - the Italians dress well when they go out. There are opportunities to spend time at the beach, so bring a towel and swimming costume. Please note that from October to early April it will be cooler during the day and from November to mid-March it can be cold. It is also likely to rain. You should come prepared for this and bring waterproof trousers and jackets, walking boots, warm clothes, woolly hat, gloves and scarves.
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Footwear
We recommend you bring walking boots - leather or fabric are both fine. Some of the paths are a bit rocky underfoot and so you could twist an ankle if not wearing boots. Trainers are not recommended. Make sure that your boots are worn-in and comfortable before the start of the trip. We recommend that you wear/carry your walking boots as hand luggage on the international flight: should your luggage be delayed, your well broken-in boots will be irreplaceable.
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Equipment
You will need a water bottle (preferably 1-2 litres), and high factor sun cream. You may like to bring trekking poles, particularly as some of the descents can be long and a bit tough on the knees. It is a good idea to line your daypack with a good quality plastic bag - this will go a long way in protecting your gear from any rainstorms we encounter.
Tap water: is safe to drink in most places but water sources along the trail are non-existent. We encourage our clients not to buy mineral water because of the negative environmental impact with plastic bottles. Energy snacks including chocolate and sweets are recommended whilst walking.
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Personal First Aid Kit
For an exclusively designed Explore Medical Kit, visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
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General Information
General Information
Transport on tour: We use private transfers between Naples airport and our base at San Lazzaro. All other transfers are made using public buses and boats. Please note that the published bus timetables are not often adhered to and that delays can be expected when waiting at the bus stops.
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Electric Supply & Plugs
For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Maps & Books
Recommended Maps: Michelin: Strade e sentieri della Costiera Amalfitana (1: 25,000) Carta Turistica e dei sentieri (Tourist and footpath map) - Matonti maps.
Recommended Books: Axel Munthe: The Story of San Michele, Julian Tippett: Landscapes of Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast, Eyewitness Guide: Naples & the Amalfi Coast, Lonely Planet: Naples & the Amalfi Coast, Colin Amery & Brian Curran Jr: The Lost World of Pompey, Robert Harris: Pompeii (a novel), Michael Grant: Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum.
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