Walking the Amalfi Coast

Day 1: Start in the village of Bomerano, Agerola

Enjoy a warm welcome from our local hosts, the Acampora family, who run our base for the week: Hotel Due Torri. If you have time, you may want to get out and explore the village, Bomerano, a quaint retreat high up in the hills and away from the often-busy Amalfi Coast below. Once everyone’s ready, we’ll enjoy a welcome briefing at the hotel – a great chance to get to know the group a little, meet our leader and ask any questions you may have.

Day 2: An impressive walk to the top of Monte Tre Calli for wide-open views of the coastline

From the hotel, it's a short stroll to the village square (or in the case of Bomerano, a triangle) and the start of today’s walk. The circular route provides a good chance to stretch your legs; following a mixture of paths and tracks, we summit Monte Tre Calli to be rewarded with spectacular wide-open views of the jagged coastline and seemingly endless blue sea. The Agerola Plain and the village of Bomerano are laid out below us and, on a clear day, we can see as far as Capri, an idyllic island hideout for many celebrated artists and writers over the past 200 years. After admiring the majestic scenery, descend to Bomerano and enjoy a rest before a hearty dinner. Ascent: 1,598ft (487m); descent: 1,598ft (487m); time: five hours

Day 3: Follow mule tracks and steps down to Amalfi; free afternoon to explore the famous cathedral or the Paper Mill Museum

Start walking towards Amalfi, a town popular with the British since Edwardian times when the upper classes favoured it as a pleasant place to spend their winters. The route has a downhill bias, following the path from Bomerano at 2,297ft (700m) to the shores of the Mediterranean, accompanied by wonderful coastal views. There are sections of steps today (approximately 2,000 in total), but there are also plenty of opportunities to rest and go at your own pace. On arrival, you will see the large duomo (cathedral) dominating the town with its brightly coloured, tiled cupola (dome), which along with the baroque facade and interior is a typical example of regional architecture. Take time to explore the town, swim in the small bay or enjoy a gelato before the transfer back to Bomerano.

Day 4: Drive to Mount Vesuvius, take an optional walk up its vast crater, admire the Bay of Naples and visit the fascinating ruins of Pompeii

Transfer to the slopes of the Vesuvius to view the volcanic crater, which also overlooks the beautiful Bay of Naples, spanning between the region’s capital city, Naples, and the town famed for its lemon groves, Sorrento. Depending on weather conditions, it may be possible to take one of the many extended walks around the caldera and beyond, led by an expert volcanologist (optional). After lunch, travel by bus to Pompeii. On the lower foothills of the volcano dominating the Gulf, Pompeii was a thriving port town until Vesuvius’ catastrophic eruption spanning two days in 79 CE during which the city was buried in ash and pumice. Lost for 1700 years, it is now a Unesco World Heritage site as the perfectly preserved remains give us an amazing insight into life in a Roman city, complete with bathhouses, bakeries and homes – some of which still have walls adorned with detailed frescoes. You may explore the site this afternoon, perhaps opting for a detailed tour accompanied by a local guide.

Day 5: Walk from Ravello to Amalfi through the forests of the Valle delle Ferriere natural reserve

Today's walk starts in Ravello, a town much favoured by the Bloomsbury set and other artists and intellectuals due to its secluded location and inspirational scenery. Before setting off for the walk, we have free time to explore the town and visit Villa Cimbrone or Villa Rufolo with their meticulously landscaped gardens and breathtaking views out to the sea (optional). The route today is mostly downhill but it does include a considerable number of steps. After descending and taking a quick stop in the village of Pontone, we continue through wooden bridges and shady paths carpeted with wild flowers in season, to the beautiful moss-clad waterfalls within the closed gates of the Valle delle Ferriere National Park. Finally, following the stream gently downwards through lemon groves, past the shells of former paper factories (a major local industry from the 12th to 19th centuries) and medieval ironworks, we reach Amalfi. Ascent: 702ft (214m); descent: 1,480ft (450m); time: five hours

Day 6: Free day to relax or take a boat to Capri, visit Naples or Herculaneum (all optional)

Enjoy a day at leisure to relax at the hotel or go down to the seafront. The hotel also offers a range of private transfers to some of the most popular attractions in the region and not covered during the rest of the week. Options include visiting Herculaneum, which was also destroyed during the Vesuvius eruption. The city was buried in mud rather than ash; some say this led to the site being even better preserved than the bigger Pompeii. You might instead choose to take a ferry to the chic island of Capri and the funicular through lemon groves up to Capri town. Please note, all these optional excursions are subject to availability and payable locally (activity prices are dependent on the number of people joining). The tour leader will assist you with bookings and arrangements. Alternatively, spend the day by the pool or in true Italian style in a cafe, sipping espresso and watching the world pass.

Day 7: Path of the Gods with superb panoramic views all the way to Positano; return by boat to Amalfi; try locally made mozzarella

We take one of the finest walks on the planet. Leaving the hotel, it's a short stroll through the quiet village of Bomerano before we join the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods), which provides some of the most evocative views in the world, of ragged cliffs speckled with tiny villages and extensive views of the sparkling Mediterranean. The route follows undulating hills, the contours of the land and the coast. The trail is broken by insights into local life, passing shepherds’ huts and ancient stone houses carved into the limestone before we descend a long series of steps to the colourful Positano, an almost vertical town clinging to the rock face of a sheltered bay. Take time to explore the alleyways lined with wisteria and designer boutiques or have a dip in the clear sea before returning to Bomerano by boat and bus (seasonal) in the late afternoon. During the week, many meals will include delicious local smoked mozzarella; before dinner, we have the chance to see how it is made and taste the mouth-wateringly fresh final product. Ascent: 670ft (205m); descent: 2,349ft (716m); time: five hours

Day 8: End Bomerano, Agerola

This morning marks our last breakfast at the hotel, which may feel more like a second home by now. If your flight leaves later this evening, you’re welcome to make use of the hotel facilities after check-out and enjoy an optional lunch here. Alternatively, speak to your leader for recommendations on what to do in the village.