Guided Walking & Sightseeing at Sorrento

• Our experienced leaders offer the choice of two different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness
• Our leaders are friendly and welcoming making your holiday fun and sociable

Easier Walks    Harder Walks

Walks are on good but sometimes steep paths

Itinerary One

Sat 14 April, Sat 28 April, Sat 12 May,  Sat 1 September, Sat 15 September, Sat 29 September, Sat 13 October.

Day 1: Arrival day

The journey to the hotel in Sorrento is by coach. You should arrive at the hotel with time to settle into your room and perhaps enjoy a stroll into the town. On the first evening your leaders will explain more about the walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests.

Day 2: The two gulfs

An introductory walk into and around the town of Sorrento will show you the location of all the amenities and facilities you may need during your stay. It will help you get a feel of the town and may, for example, include a visit to the St Francesco Gardens. Having explored the town you take a short bus ride to the ridge above the town to a point near the village of Fontanelle.

Easier Walk: 5¾ miles with up to 890 feet ascent and 620 feet descent

Harder Walk: 7½ miles with up to 600 feet ascent and 1,800 feet descent

Day 3: Vesuvius and Herculaneum – Excursion

This full day coach excursion takes you to two of the most famous sights in the Bay of Naples; the summit of Vesuvius, one of three active volcanoes in Europe, and the buried city of Herculaneum.

 Day 4: The heights of Positano

The former fishermen's village of Positano slopes steeply away from the sea on the south side of the peninsula and promotes itself as Italy’s most nearly vertical town. Houses are built on terraces in a Moorish style with flat roofs and balconies beneath arcades. The town was made popular and fashionable by writers and artists, such as Franco Zeffirelli and John Steinbeck. The bikini was invented here in 1959. It is possible to wander through the narrow streets to the cathedral with its colourful dome.

Easier Walk: 3 miles with up to 750 feet of ascent and 1,650 feet  descent

Harder Walk: 5½ miles with up to 1,000 feet of ascent; 2,850 feet descent

Day 5: Free day

Each week there is a free day where no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently, or visit local places of interest.

• Naples: Easily reached by the Circumvesuvian Railway or by fast ferry across the bay, Naples has a wealth of interesting sights to explore. The city has been ruled by Greeks, Romans, Normans, Angevins and Bourbons, all of whom have left their mark. The harbour is one of the most important in the Mediterranean and the old part of the city, the Quartiere Vecchio di Spacca, is full of famous churches and ancient palaces. Many visitors head for the National Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of wall paintings, mosaics, sculpture and artefacts from Pompei and other ancient sites (closed Tuesdays). Other sights worth visiting include the imposing Castel Nuovo; and the 14^th century Cathedral of St Genaro.
• Herculaneum: Also easily reached using the Circumvesuviano Railway, the famous site of Herculaneum is an extremely popular free day option.  
• Ischia: This fascinating island sits at the opposite end of the bay from Capri but is volcanic in origin giving it a very different appearance. It can be reached by ferries from Marina Piccola. Visit the superb gardens of la Mortella
• Positano: it is possible to reach this charming town by public bus. Please ask your leaders for details
• Sorrento: Enjoy the old town and perhaps a leisurely fish lunch in the old harbour.

Day 6: The Path of the Gods

You will start the walk from Nocelle, near to Montepertuso which you visited yesterday. You will head eastwards, following the amazingly beautiful path known as the ‘Path of the Gods’, a name given to this route in 1877 in one of the first books to describe walks in the area.  The route ascends and descends at more than 2,000 feet above the fantastic coastline and the Bay of Salerno, with views of Positano and as far as Capri. 

Easier Walk: 3½ miles with up to 1,125 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 5½ miles with up to 1,695 feet of ascent and descent

Day 7: Mount St Constanzo

Today we head to the village of Termini, set in an idyllic landscape at the end of the peninsula. A small factory in Termini produces a distinctive liqueur called Limoncello which is produced by steeping lemon zest in alcohol. This can be visited during the day.

Easier Walk: 4½ miles with up to 700 feet of ascent and 1,800 feet descent

Harder Harder: 5½ miles with up to 1,600 feet ascent; 2,700 feet descent

Itinerary Two

Sat 21 April, Sat 5 May, Sat 19 May, Sat 8 September, Sat 22 September, Sat 6 October.

Day 1: Arrival day

The journey to the hotel in Sorrento is by coach. You should arrive at the hotel with time to settle into your room and perhaps enjoy a stroll into the town. On the first evening your leaders will explain more about the walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests.

Day 2: In the land of the Sirens

An introductory walk around the town of Sorrento will show you the location of all the amenities and facilities you may need during your stay. It will help you get a feel of the town and may, for example, include a visit to the St Francesco Gardens. Having explored the town you take a 20 minute bus ride west along the peninsula to the village of Massa Lubrense.

Easier Walk: 5 miles with up to 400 feet of ascent and 500 feet descent

Harder Walk: 8 miles with up to 1,100 feet of ascent and 1,200 feet descent

Day 3: Pompei – Sightseeing Excursion

The buried Roman city of Pompei is a short journey away from Sorrento using the Circumvesuvian railway. Pompei was settled as early as the 8^th/9^th century BC, and blossomed as a commercial centre. In 80 BC it came under the direct domination of Rome, and much building and renovation work was done. Trade and commerce made it a flourishing provincial centre with a population of up to 20,000. The city was nearer to the sea than it is today and was sited near the mouth of the River Sarno. A 3km wall surrounded the city with 11 towers and 8 gates.

Day 4: Ravello and Amalfi

The world famous ‘Amalfi Drive’ will take you to Amalfi, a former maritime trading republic which once rivalled Venice in its importance. Situated on the southern coast of the peninsula the town’s narrow streets and stepped paths cling tightly to the steep hillsides. Another option to the walks is self-guided sightseeing.

Easier Walk: 3½ miles with up to 1,060 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 6 miles with up to 1,670 feet of ascent and descent

Day 5: Free day

Each week there is a free day where no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently, or visit local places of interest.

• Naples: Easily reached by the Circumvesuvian Railway or by fast ferry across the bay, Naples has a wealth of interesting sights to explore. The city has been ruled by Greeks, Romans, Normans, Angevins and Bourbons, all of whom have left their mark. The harbour is one of the most important in the Mediterranean and the old part of the city, the Quartiere Vecchio di Spacca, is full of famous churches and ancient palaces. Many visitors head for the National Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of wall paintings, mosaics, sculpture and artefacts from Pompei and other ancient sites (closed Tuesdays). Other sights worth visiting include the imposing Castel Nuovo; and the 14^th century Cathedral of St Genaro.
• Herculaneum: Also easily reached using the Circumvesuviano Railway, the famous site of Herculaneum is an extremely popular free day option.  
• Ischia: This fascinating island sits at the opposite end of the bay from Capri but is volcanic in origin giving it a very different appearance. It can be reached by ferries from Marina Piccola. Visit the superb gardens of la Mortella
• Positano: it is possible to reach this charming town by public bus. Please ask your leaders for details
• Sorrento: Enjoy the old town and perhaps a leisurely fish lunch in the old harbour.

Day 6: Anacapri

Less than 5 miles long, the little island of Capri lies around 3 miles off the Sorrento peninsula. Having arrived at the harbour both groups take the funicular up to Capri Town. Here the Easier group catch a small bus that winds up the cliff to the village of Anacapri; the Harder group walk up. Amble through the quiet gardens to the cliffs at the southwest corner of the island. From the viewpoint at Migliare there are spectacular views of the coastline.

Easier Walk: 5 miles with up to 970 feet of ascent and 1,800 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 5½ miles with up to 1,700 feet of ascent and descent

Day 7: Mount Faito

Today you head for Mount Faito which lies to the northeast of Sorrento in the Lattari Mountains.

Soak up the extensive views and perhaps enjoy refreshments before starting the walk. Walk through the beautiful beech woods that cover much of these slopes. With the extensive views and cooler temperatures it is easy to see why some of the more affluent locals like to live up here. An alternative offers some real mountain scenery with superb, long views right down the peninsula and across to Capri.

Easier Walk: 5½ miles with up to 950 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 7 miles with up to 1,600 feet of ascent and descent

Please note that the Itineraries outlined are provisional and could be subject to change. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leader will talk every evening about the next day's walk.

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at the hotel. On other days we’ll use the hired transport to explore the surrounding area. The cost of transport to and from the walk is payable locally.