A great way to see a little of the Sorrento pensinsula, the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida,... Peter Smith, 2018 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all Massa Lubrense to Naples Day 1 Fly to Naples; transfer to Massa Lubrense Those on group flights fly to Naples, to be met by the tour leader on arrival. A transfer of approximately 1 hour 15 minutes takes us to the lovely fishing village of Massa Lubrense, our base for the next two nights located right at the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula. Enjoy a warm welcome from local hosts and enjoy a delicious dinner in the hotel's restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Naples. Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Walk to beautiful Sorrento; free time for sightseeing and enjoy a delicious limoncello tasting; return to Massa Lubrense. We start the day with a walk to the beautiful coastal town of Sorrento, hometown of Limoncello, the famous lemon based liqueur. Perched on top of a cliff, the town is known for its sweeping views over the Bay of Naples and its charming and elegant historic centre. There will be some free time to stroll around at our own pace or take a drink in the lively Piazza Tasso, before enjoying a refreshing limoncello tasting (included). In the afternoon we continue our walk back to Massa Lubrense; dinner and overnight in Massa Lubrense. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 Boat to Capri; free time for optional walk, explore the glamorous town's centre or take a boat tour to explore the island's best swimming spots. In the morning we set off for our sailing adventure in the Gulf of Naples and head to our first stop: the idyllic island of Capri. Capri's intriguing combination of fabled beauty and hedonism has charmed its visitors for centuries, from Roman Emperors to contemporary Hollywood stars. During our stay we explore beyond the elegant cafes and designer boutiques and get to see the more unspoilt and authentic part of the island. The rest of the day is free with many optional activities: we recommend taking the chairlift up to the top of Monte Solaro to enjoy breathtaking views of the entire Gulf of Naples. In the afternoon explore the island's flower-filled gardens and Roman villas, or take a leisurely boat tour around the island with time for a swim in hidden coves and lesser-known sea grottoes. Don't miss a visit to Capri town, arguably the most chic and glamorous Mediterranean place in Europe! Take a stroll in the pretty town's lanes, and enjoy an Italian aperitivo in the famous "Piazzetta", where everyone comes to see and be seen! Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Walk along the unspoilt western coast of the island and take a boat trip to the iconic Blue Grotto, Capri's most famous sea cave (optional). Today's walk starts from Punta Carena and continues along stunning, rugged coastline following the fortress system built by French and British in the 19th century. We finish at the Blue Grotto, Capri's most famous attraction. An optional boat trip is available for those who want to explore the dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cave (weather dependent and payable locally); transfer by public bus and overnight in the peaceful residential village of Anacapri. Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Spectacular walk to discover Capri's rugged nature, caves and stunning view points; late afternoon boat to Ischia. Starting from Capri's iconic 'piazzetta', we walk past colorful villas and flowery gardens and reach Grotta di Matromania, a hidden cave tucked into the island's limestone crags and site of ancient pagan worship ceremonies. Later we continue on to Terrazza di Tragara, a spectacular panoramic trail offering postcard views of Capri's iconic Faraglioni and the summit of Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island. In the afternoon we take a hydrofoil to the volcanic island of Ischia, the biggest in the Gulf of Naples and home to some of the prettiest beaches and best hikes of the whole Campania region. Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Panoramic coastal walk from the colourful harbour to the quaint fishing village of Sant'Angelo. Today's walk follows a panoramic coastal trail which, on a clear day, offers stunning views of Naples. After passing through the lovely countryside village of Piano Liguori, surrounded by green vineyards, we reach the picturesque fishing village of Sant'Angelo, where we have time for a swim and a visit to the famous Maronti beach. Here jets of steam created by underground volcanic activity rise up through the sand. The sand is so hot in places that locals use specially-made containers to cook food such as chicken or clams underground! Private Transfer to Ischia town. Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Optional visit to Castello Aragonese; sail to the pastel-coloured Procida, rated as one of Italy's most beautiful islands; enjoy a short walk and spectacular island views; boat to Naples. In the morning we have some free time to enjoy an optional visit the iconic Aragonese Castle, dating back nearly 2,500 years. We then take a boat to the volcanic Procida, the Bay of Naples’ smallest island and its best-kept secret. Mercifully off the mass-tourist radar, the island's perfect blend of sun-bleached streets, lemon groves and pastel-coloured houses makes it a real joy to the eye and soul. Procida's special charm has also led to it featuring in a number of films including the classic Il Postino and The Talented Mr Ripley. Our short walk starts from the most picturesque and charming spot on the island: the hamlet of Corricella. After passing through the narrow streets of the village we walk up to the fortified medieval district Terra Murata or ‘walled land’, dominated by its castle from where we enjoy marvellous views. In the afternoon we take a hydrofoil to the colourful city of Naples, where we take a quick orientation tour before enjoying a farewell pizza night in the historic centre; overnight in Naples. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 8 Transfer to airport; fly to London. Our tour ends in Naples in the morning of day 8. Depending on the group flight departure time, there might be some free time to explore the famous historic neighbourhood of Spacca Napoli, Toledo street, Umberto I Gallery and the Plebiscito Square. Meals included: Breakfast
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Italy No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Hotels We spend the first two nights in Massa Lubrense, two nights in Anacapri, two nights in Ischia and the final night in a central hotel in Naples. All rooms at the hotels are en suite, and all of them offer free Wi-Fi. The hotels are all 3-star and have been chosen for their warm hospitality and character; some of them have a pool. List of hotels normally used: Massa Lubrense: Hotel Il Piccolo Paradiso Capri: Hotel La Bussola Ischia: Hotel Europa or Hotel Bellevue Naples: Hotel Chiaja
Reviewed June 2018 Peter Smith Trip: Island Hopping in the Bay of Naples Island Hopping in the Bay of Naples A great way to see a little of the Sorrento pensinsula, the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida, and a little of Naples. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The day 4 “The Old Walk of the Forts” on eastern Capri, the day 5 walk on Ischia, and the day 8 morning walk in the centre of Naples were all great. The afternoon of day 4 was clearer, so we went up via the Observatory route and back down the main route of Monte Solaro as an optional walk - incredible views of Capri, the Sorrento peninsula and Mount Vesuvius. What did you think of your group leader? Carlotta was knowledgeable, engaging and fun. We felt safe on foot as she navigated the crazy traffic - as only a Neapolitan can. She went with us to various local restaurants for those of us who like to eat on Italian hours. This is my first Exodus guided trip where we had a local group leader - she had a much better feel for the place. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Sorrento (day 2), Capri harbour (days 3 and 5) and Capri town (day 5) were uncomfortably packed with other tourists at the end of May. Naples (days 7 & 8) was busy, but mainly with local people. To explore the area more (including Pompei and Paestum), we stayed in Sorrento prior to and Naples after the Exodus trip. Is there anything else you would like to add? In past trips, we have found that sometimes Exodus used local public transport too much, even when it was very slow and had inconvenient timings. I think Exodus is improving. The trip may cost a little more, but was much more satisfying. We and our luggage were efficiently transported to and from the ferries, and Carlotta changed our ferry when one was going to be late.
Reviewed May 2017 Cherrill Bates Trip: Island Hopping in the Bay of Naples Island Hopping in the Bay of Naples A really enjoyable trip in a very scenic part of Italy What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The walk on Ischia - and as always getting to know the other members of the group What did you think of your group leader? We had two - Salvatore and Giovane. They were both excellent, looking after the group with great care and giving us a good insight to the way of life in this part of the world. They also provided 2 very tasty picnic lunches for us with local delicacies Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for some energetic walks with lots of ups and downs Is there anything else you would like to add? One suggestion - the 1st walk on Capri was carried out after the boat trip and started with a long uphill section in the full heat of the day. We believe that it might be better to take a half-day off in Capri town instead, and start the walk the following morning - from the Blue Grotto end. This would mean that the walk would end with a picnic lunch at the lighthouse and the opportunity for a swim.
Reviewed April 2017 Elizabeth Plumb Trip: Island Hopping in the Bay of Naples Island hopping in the bay of naples Really enjoyed the whole trip. great guides! fantastic scenery and hotels OK. included food could have been better, especially the breakfasts. Only one hotel gave any fresh fruit. Walks on the mainland, Capri and Ischia were excellent, but Procida was not very inspiring until the last veiw, but it was very boring to get there. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The continuing amazing scenery also the picnics organised by our guides were fantastic What did you think of your group leader? they were both excellent. very knowledgeable and approachable. nothing was too much trouble Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It would be uncomfortable to do those walks in the heat of the summer. There is a lot of walking involved to the hotels and to the restaurants as well as on the itinerary walks. Is there anything else you would like to add? highly recommended
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