Southern Italy: The Amalfi Coast and Volcanoes of Aeolian Islands

Arrive in Naples
Welcome to Italy! The Southern coast of Italy offers a diverse geography of beautiful coastal seascapes and towering volcanic mountains.

During your adventure, you’ll get to know your expert Italian guide who will lead you and help you explore life along the southern coast. You will also be accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, who is committed to making your experience a fun and rewarding one while cheering you on as you stretch beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges in your own way!

Arrive in Naples, Italy (NAP) before 3:00 PM today. You will be picked up at the Naples airport by your Italian guide and transferred to your hotel.

Check into your hotel and take some time to relax before dinner tonight.

Enjoy a lively welcome dinner at a local restaurant as you get to know your fellow travelers this evening. Share stories and learn about why each woman on your trip is excited to explore this beautiful region of Italy!

Dinner

Overnight: Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

Naples
In the morning, join an art historian guide for a walking tour of downtown Naples and learn about the history of the art and architecture of the city. Along the way, you will visit the San Carlo Theater and the striking Sansevero Chapel, which is home to Cristo Velato, an incredibly beautiful marble statue.

Make your way along Spaccanapoli, the lively main street of the old historic center of the town and sample some delicious, traditional Neapolitan street food for lunch. Enjoy such specialties as cuppetiello (a tasting of mini arancini), frittatine (fried stuffed pasta balls), and sfogliatelle (ricotta-filled pastries).

This afternoon, venture to the iconic Caffe Gambrinus and taste the world-famous Neapolitan coffee in the company of the female owner of one of the most historical tailors in Naples.

Enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

Walking/Hiking Information 2 hours, 3 miles of city walking

Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

Naples
Hike the trail to the crater of Vesuvius National Park, where you will enjoy the volcano’s majesty and the amazing views of the entire Gulf of Naples.

After your hike, proceed to a winery at the base of Mt. Vesuvius for a delicious lunch where each course will be paired with a specific local wine.

Explore Pompeii, one of the world’s most fascinating archeological sites, which was both destroyed and preserved by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

What visit to Italy would be complete without enjoying a slice of pizza? Enjoy dinner with the group at a local pizzeria in Naples tonight.

Walking/Hiking Information 3 hours, 3 miles, 600 ft elevation gain, 750 ft elevation descent, dirt and gravel terrain

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

Naples
Take a scenic drive to the Amalfi Coast and Agerola where you will share a picnic lunch with the group.

After lunch, hike along the breathtaking “path of the gods” to Positano, where you will have time to explore at your own pace before heading back to Naples.

Enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

Walking/Hiking Information 4 hours, 5.5 miles, 150 ft elevation gain, 2000 ft elevation descent, dirt and gravel terrain

Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

Naples
Today, you will take a ferry ride to the fabled island of Capri. Hike along trails to the largest and most opulent of Tiberius’ twelve villas on the island, Villa Jovis. Walk through Mediterranean vegetation, with the scent of oak and myrtle permeating the air while you take in vast views of the mainland and the Faraglioni, three towering rock formations just off the coast.

Enjoy a merenda (small bites in the afternoon) today in a local home before you return to Naples.

After returning to Naples, you will board the overnight ferry for Lipari.

Tonight’s dinner is on your own in the ferry cafeteria.

Walking/Hiking Information 3 hours, 5 miles, 850 ft elevation gain, 850 ft elevation descent, dirt, gravel, and asphalt terrain

Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Overnight Ferry

Naples to the Aeolian Archipelago
If you are hungry before making landfall, you can have breakfast on your own in the ferry cafeteria this morning. Otherwise, you can wait to enjoy a quick group breakfast in a cafe upon arrival to the island.

After breakfast, visit the archeological museum which is tucked inside Lipari Castle on the island’s eastern bay between Marina Lunga and Marina Corta. Be sure to take in the Greek acropolis and the Norman cathedral on the island.

After a lunch of local fish, you will continue on to Panarea, the only car-free island of the archipelago. Check into your hotel before dinner.

Have dinner as a group this evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Lisca Bianca

Aeolian Archipelago
Take a private boat to Vulcano this morning where you will disembark and hike to the top of the island. From this vantage point, it is possible to observe numerous volcanic phenomena, including smoke clouds, vapor spouts, and sulphuric mud holes known for their therapeutic properties. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

Return to your hotel and take the afternoon to relax at the pool, explore the village on your own, venture to the beach, or hike the island on your own.

Cap off the day at dinner with a female anthropologist who will share how the fisherwomen had a significant impact on the islands in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Walking/Hiking Information 2 hours, 3 miles, 1250 ft elevation gain, 1250 ft elevation descent, dirt, gravel, and sand terrain

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Lisca Bianca

Aeolian Archipelago
Board a private boat to Stromboli this morning. The most active volcano in Europe, Stromboli has been erupting for at least 2,000 years at intervals of approximately 15 minutes, and the lava flows all the way down to the sea. Spend a full day here exploring the island and hiking the beautiful ascent. You’ll have a picnic lunch with the group along the way. After a full day of exploration, head back to Panarea via boat and have the evening and dinner on your own.

Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Hotel Lisca Bianca

Aeolian Archipelago to Catania
After breakfast today, you will embark a boat bound for Milazzo, a picturesque Sicilian village.

Upon disembarking, drive to Catania, which is cradled amidst the splendid greenery of the surroundings while opening out to the sea. Catania is known for its grand piazzas, wide roads, and architecture made of volcanic rock.

Join your guide on a walking tour of the city center where you will see incredible examples of traditional Sicilian Baroque architecture as well as ancient remains dating back to Greco-Roman times. Enjoy lunch on your own today in one of the city’s many local restaurants.

After a day of exploring the city, you will have the opportunity to visit the Ursino Recupero Library for a private after-hours visit with the curator. The library features majestic, towering bookshelves which house many ancient historical manuscripts. Don’t forget to look overhead, as the ceilings are beautifully decorated with ornate works of art.

Make your way to your home for the next two nights – a family-owned agriturismo accommodation on the slopes of Mt. Etna.

Enjoy dinner with the group after you check in.

Walking/Hiking Information 1 hour, 3 miles of city walking

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Il Picciolo Etna Resort

Catania
Today you will visit Europe’s largest active volcano, Mt. Etna. This towering mountain dominates the skyline of eastern Sicily. You will start your walk at Rifugia Sapienza, which is at 6,000 feet above sea level. Hike among cinder cones and extinct craters over this desolate expanse of the upper portion of Mt. Etna. A spectacular panoramic view of the coast awaits you.

In the afternoon, if weather and volcanic conditions allow, you will take 4×4 Jeeps up to 9,500 feet and then continue on foot to 11,000 feet above sea level.

Stop at a winery on the slopes of this legendary volcano. Meet the owner and sample some of his delectable wines before driving back to your farmhouse.

Spend tonight’s festive farewell dinner celebrating all the incredible sights and amazing accomplishments you experienced with your traveling companions during your time in Italy.

Walking/Hiking Information 4 hours, 2 miles, 700 ft elevation gain and loss, dirt, gravel, and sand terrain

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Il Picciolo Etna Resort

Depart Catania
Say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends as you transfer to the Catania airport for your flights home. Depart Catania, Italy (CTA) any time after 12:00PM today

Breakfast

Please note: AdventureWomen will attempt to adhere to the itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, and cultural) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. AdventureWomen reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participants.