Amalfi Coast & Bay Of Naples

Day 1
Fly to Naples; transfer to Bomerano, a journey of 1½ hours from Naples airport (depending on traffic).

Day 2
Leaving the Agerola plain we descend by bus to Amalfi. The town is the largest on the coast and a real highlight and was popular in Edwardian times with the British upper classes as a winter holiday destination. The large Duomo Cathedral dominates the town with its bright coloured tiles which are typical of the region. Continuing on by bus we climb to the romantic town of Ravello and the best views of the coastline. Ravello also has a grand Duomo but the Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone are the stars of the town. Set amidst formal gardens their balconies stand at the edge of the cliffs enjoying stunning views and were aptly described by André Gide as 'closer to the sky than the seashore'. There is time to wander, enjoy a coffee and soak up the atmosphere before we return to the cooler climes of Bomerano.

Day 3
We transfer after breakfast to the Bay of Naples where we will spend the morning visiting the intriguing city of Herculaneum. Buried in AD 79 by a giant mudslide, triggered by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius, the perfectly preserved remains give us an amazing insight into the life of a Roman city. After lunch we will travel by bus high up onto the slopes of Vesuvius itself. Depending on weather conditions, you may choose to be led by a specialist Volcano guide through one of the many incredible walks around the crater of Vesuvius (optional).

Day 4
Time to take to the trails today and enjoy one of the world's finest day walks. Leaving from our front door step it's a short stroll through the quiet village of Bomerano before we join the 'Walk of the Gods'. The route follows the contours of the land for the majority of the day with amazing views of the Amalfi coastline far below. In season the meadows are carpeted with flowers and the coastal waters teem with cruisers and pleasure boats. Our destination today is Positano, a near vertical town of colourful buildings reached by a network of ancient paths and tracks. On the way there is plenty of time to admire the beautiful views of the Amalfi before we descend 1500 steps to the beautiful coastal town of Positano. There is time for private exploration before we return in the late afternoon to our hotel by boat and bus.

Day 5
Relax around Bomerano, take an unguided walk either through the hills or down to the sea or maybe enjoy a boat ride along the coast to some famous Amalfi coast towns. Alternatively a private transfer can be arranged to the vast buried city of Pompeii (optional).

Day 6
We return to the Bay of Naples and a day of sightseeing in this fascinating city including the Piazza Plebiscito and the National Museum (optional). Naples has a mixed reputation as a city but the electric atmosphere and mix of modern and historic architecture make Naples a unique Mediterranean City. After the sightseeing there will be free time to explore before we return to our hotel.

Day 7
We leave the hotel after breakfast and take the public bus down to Amalfi and board the boat to Capri. The journey along the Amalfi Coast is spectacular with small coves and bays of clear azure water overlooked by towering cliffs. The time spent on Capri is unguided and on arrival you are free to explore. A beautiful walk will take you up to Capri town and along a network of small pedestrianised streets to visit the remains of Villa Jovis, the former home of the fearsome Roman emperor Tiberius. A walk around the spectacular coastline is recommended and allows you to see a natural rock arch and the famous Faraglioni, rock stacks which stick vertically out of the sea. There is also time to do a spot of shopping in some of islands boutique shops before we return by boat and bus to our hotel.

Day 8
To Naples; fly to London.