Italy’s Volcanoes and Amalfi Coast
Inn-Based Hiking Tours
10 Days, 9 Nights 28 MI+/45KM+
Trip Highlights
Join us as we hike (and eat!) through the heart of Italy! Embark on an unforgettable adventure through Italy’s rich volcanic history with our expertly designed itinerary. This journey blends captivating history, stunning natural landscapes, and the flavors of Italian cuisine for a truly immersive travel experience. Our journey begins in the vibrant city of Naples where we will immerse yourself in a half-day tour of its world-renowned historic sites and savor the city’s most iconic culinary creation—authentic Neapolitan pizza. Next, explore the glamorous Island of Capri before heading to Mount Vesuvius. Witness the awe-inspiring site of one of history’s most famous eruptions and take a guided tour of Pompeii’s ancient streets, frozen in time by volcanic ash. We then venture to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and experience jaw-dropping hikes with panoramic coastal views that showcase the natural beauty of this Italian gem. From the Amalfi Coast, ferry to Stromboli Island to witness the dramatic, still-active Mount Stromboli. Explore this fiery volcano by foot and by boat for an up-close encounter with nature’s raw power. We conclude our adventure in Sicily at the majestic Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. Discover its fascinating landscapes and volcanic features while savoring Sicily’s culinary delights.
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Amalfi Coast Hiking
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Mount Vesuvius & Pompeii
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Island of Capri
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Mount Stromboli
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Sicily
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Mount Etna
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Exquisite cuisine
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Inn-Based Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
10 Days, 9 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
10-15 lbs. -
Group Size
4-12
Receive a PDF info packet via email which includes:
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This is a level 2 trip featuring moderate hikes (up to 5.8 miles) with some elevation change (up to 2,100 ft.), with light day packs only. You must be able to handle own luggage during boat transfers. The boats may be bumpy and roads, particularly on Day 4 are windy; plan accordingly if you experience motion sickness. The weather can go from sunny and quite warm, to cold and snowy as we move from sea level to nearly 10,000 ft. in elevation (on Mt. Etna) so be prepared for varying conditions.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Accommodation: Hotel in Naples
Benvenuto in Italia! Welcome to Italy! We will meet at the Naples airport (NAP) at 1 pm, so please be sure your flight lands by noon. Your guide will take the group to our hotel, about a 35-minute drive. We’ll check into our rooms and then meet for our orientation meeting. At 4 pm we’ll head to the historic city center of Naples for a locally guided tour. We’ll visit some outstanding monuments including Piazza Plebiscito, Galleria Umberto I, the Naples Cathedral, and San Gregorio Armeno. What better way to celebrate our fist night together in Naples than with dinner at a local pizzeria!
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 5.7 mi. (9.1 km.)
Elevation Gain: 984 ft./300 m.
Elevation Loss: 984 ft./300 m.
Accommodations: Hotel in Naples
After an energizing breakfast at our hotel, we’ll transfer by boat about 1.5 hours to the island of Capri! Upon arrival, we’ll take funicular railways to the famous Piazzetta. We’ll explore the Roman palace, Villa Jovis, inhabited by Emperor Tiberius and continue towards the impressive rock formation, Arco Naturale. The rock formation, contrasted by the green island vegetations and the stunning blue sea is quite a sight. Moving on to the Belvedere of Punta Tragara, we’ll take in the superb views of the Faraglioni: the famous rock formations that have been the subject of countless paintings and films. We’ll return walking through beautiful alleys and you’re welcome to take a dip in the blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea before we our boat departs for Naples. We’ll have dinner in Naples tonight.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 5.2 mi. (9.1 km.)
Elevation Gain: 656 ft./200 m.
Elevation Loss: 656 ft./200 m.
Accommodations: Hotel in San Lazzaro
This morning’s hike is to the caldera of Mount Vesuvius! This sleeping volcano last erupted in 1944, and the biggest, most famous eruption occurred in 79 CE. It’s a relatively short hike but fairly steep and with some stairs. We then continue on to the Archaeological site of Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a guided visit and to learn more about this staggering history. Excavations are still in progress today and many areas are well-preserved including the amphitheater, the Forum, thermal baths, and the Villa des Mystères, etc. The castings of men and women surprised by the ashes on this tragic day gives understanding to the abrupt nature of this natural disaster, even after two millennia. After taking time to explore this uniquely preserved ancient city, we take a 1-hour transfer to reach the San Lazzaro plateau on the Amalfi Coast and our hotel. Dinner this evening is at our accommodations.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 5.8 mi. (9.4 km.)
Elevation Gain: 328 ft./100 m.
Elevation Loss: 2133 ft./650 m.
Accommodations: Hotel in San Lazzaro
After we’ve fueled up on breakfast, we’ll take a 30-minute transfer to Agerola to start a panoramic excursion along the Sentiero degli Dei or Path of the Gods. This place has a mythological origin: it is believed that the gods themselves created it with their footsteps when they came to save Odysseus from the sirens. This wonderful trail has breath-taking views throughout. As we descend the stairs towards Positano, in a colorful and fragrant Mediterranean scrub forest, we will pass small villages and take in incredible views overlooking the Amalfi Coast up to Capri and the Gulf of Salerno. Once in Positano, we’ll explore narrow alleys with colorful houses, small local craft shops, and taste some gelato or lemonade made with local lemons. Take your time to enjoy a swim before returning to the hotel with a private transfer back to our hotel in San Lazzaro for dinner.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 5 mi. (8.1 km.)
Elevation Gain: 1312 ft./400 m.
Elevation Loss: 1312 ft./400 m.
Accommodations: Hotel in San Lazzaro
After enjoying our Italian breakfast we’ll drive 55 minutes Minori. From this charming village, we begin our hike and soon start climbing stairs up through fragrant lemon trees, meeting panoramic views of the coast toward Ravello. This beautiful town has attracted several artists over the centuries. They all came here for inspiration: Wagner, Wolf, Bernstein, Mirò. Take a break here to appreciate the beauty and understand just why these artists were drawn here. Our visit to Villa Rufolo is highlighted by its wonderful gardens and the Villa Cimbrone with its terrace “dell’infinito,” the Terrace of Infinity. We will pass through the village of Atrani where we can relax with a drink on a terrace or enjoy a swim. We’ll finally continue on another 40 minutes and end in Amalfi where we will have a delicious dinner at our hotel.
Day 6
Travel Time: 6 hours
Accommodation: Hotel on Stromboli
Today we will rest our legs from the trails and make our way to the island of Stromboli. We’ll first drive about 1.5 hours to Naples where we’ll enjoy some of their famous street food options and then board a ferry boat. We’ll relish the views and the rest day on this 4.5 hour ferry ride through the Aeolian islands and disembark on the black sand beach where the port is positioned. At the base of Mt. Stromboli volcano lies the small village, home to approximately 500 residents, where we can take some time to explore before dinner.
Day 7
Accommodation: Hotel on Stromboli
Our hike today depends on the volcano’s conditions, so we’ll remain flexible and be ready for whichever of two plans unfold: morning hike/evening boat ride or morning boat ride/evening hike. As this is an active volcano (in almost continous eruption for the last 2,000- 5,000 years), we will follow the advisement of officials and we will have a specialized local guide. The trail brings us towards the Sciara del Fucoco or “the road of fire,” a magnificent depression created by numerous collapses on the volcano’s Northwest flank. We’ll walk through volcanic ash and typical Mediterranean vegetation, up to the 1,315 ft./400 m. limit. In the evening, we’ll take an early evening cruise from Stromboli to admire the volcano’s activity from the sea, an incredible spectacle offered by the sprays of fire spewed out by the volcano.
Please note: as we are hiking an active volcano, our itinerary may be altered according to the volcano’s current conditions
Day 8
Accommodation: Agriturismo on Etna, Sicily
Today we’ll say ciao to Stromboli and transfer by boat to another island in the Aeolian chain, Sicily, around 1.5 hours. We’ll disembark on the Eastern side in Catania where Mount Etna lies. This area is particularly well known for its excellent wines and local fruits and vegetables due it the fertile volcanic soil. We have quite the treat for the next two nights, staying at an Agriturismo farmhouse lodge. We’ll enjoy a product tasting and farm tour this afternoon and you can also enjoy the pool, wine bar, and grounds.
Day 9
Accommodation: Agriturismo on Etna, Sicily
From our farmhouse, we’ll drive 35 minutes to the Rifugio Sapienza where we will take a cable car and then a 4×4 vehicle to reach an elevation of 9,515 ft/2900 m. From here, we begin our trek towards the summit of Mt. Etna. Once at the Torre del Filosofo area we will gain about 1,312 ft./400m to reach the crater. According to meteorological and current volcanic conditions, our specialized local Etna guide will lead us among craters and recent lava flows in the summit area, sharing fascinating insights and wonders of Europe’s highest active volcano. The 4×4 vehicle transfer will bring us back to the cable car station to get back down to Rifugio Sapienza where our private shuttle will return us to our accommodations.
Please note: as we are hiking an active volcano, our itinerary may be altered according to the volcano’s current conditions
Day 10
Travel Time: 1 hour
After we enjoy one last, fresh, Italian breakfast, we’ll head to the Catania airport and say our goodbyes. What an incredible 10 days we’ve had, exploring the heart of Italy. We will arrive to the airport about 10 am so plan for flights no earlier than noon.
Trip Dates
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What's Included
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A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, training, packing, and preparing for the trip
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Transportation for the duration of the tour including private transfers, ferries, boats, cable car
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Naples Airport (VCE) pick up on Day 1 and Catania Airport (NAP) drop off on Day 10 (CTA)
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9 nights of lodging including 3- and 4-star hotels
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All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 10
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Specialized local guides in Naples, Stromboli, and Etna
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Entrance fees to Vesuvius, Pompeii, Villa Cimbrone, Stromboli, and Etna
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Stromboli boat tour and local product tasting in Etna
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and emergency communication device
What's Not Included
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Transportation to Naples and from Catania, Italy -
All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
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Beverages, drink bills, telephone bills, Wi-Fi bills and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
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Backpack and hiking poles
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Clothes, rain gear, and footwear
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Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 10% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated.
Accommodations
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
HOTEL REX LIFESTYLE
2 NIGHTS
Situated just steps from both the seafront and with easy access to some of the best places in Naples, Hotel Rex is an elegant and cheerful hotel to welcome us to Italy! Built in 1927 with only 34 rooms, Hotel Rex is intimate and has all that you need to feel comfortable, including delicious pastry specialties as part of the breakfast buffet.
HOTEL SANT'ORSOLA
3 NIGHTS
This 4-star hotel with its panoramic terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Lattari Mountains is the perfect base for our Amalfi Coast section. Savor a drink on the terrace, a book on the sunbeds, and relax in this excellently located hotel.
HOTEL VILLAGGIO
2 NIGHTS
Hotel Villaggio, a 4-star hotel on the island of Stromboli is an impressive and comfortable accommodation to rejuvenate in the evenings. It is located in close proximity to restaurants, shopping, and Centro Visitatori, a natural history museum. The hotel has a sun terrace and outdoor furniture to take in the fresh sea air and incredible views. Additionally, enjoy the two pools and sunbeds with entertainment at night and direct access to the pool bar. If timing allows, take in the sunset with a cocktail or ice cream.
CANTINA MURGO TENUTA SAN MICHELE
2 NIGHTS
This incredible farmhouse has belonged to the Scammacca del Murgo family since 1860. The estate is suspended between 25 hectares of vineyards, the Ionian Sea, and the active volcano of Etna. The operations at this farm are held to high environmental standards. The old farmhouses have been refurbished into modern rooms that are elegantly furnished and equipped with all the comforts you need. The property also has a swimming pool with the vineyards and the sea as the backdrop.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Trip Start
Trip Start
Naples, Italy
Closest Airport
Naples International Airport (NAP). Transportation to and from Naples is guest’s responsibility.
Day 1
We will pick you up from the Naples Airport at 1 pm. Please be sure to arrive no later than 12 pm.
Trip End
Trip End
Catania, Italy (on Sicily)
Closest Airport
Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA). Transportation to and from Catania is guest’s responsibility.
Day 10
After breakfast, we will have one group airport drop off at 10 am at CTA. Please be sure your flights depart no earlier than 12 pm.
There are inexpensive and easy flights from Catania to Naples, or many other places to continue your travels, or to make your way back home.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.
Guides
Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only locals can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only locals can.
Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 years and older to join scheduled trips
- 10 years and older to join a private tour
Travel Insurance Requirements
Field evacuation, repatriation, and medical insurance is REQUIRED as a condition of partnership terms with our European vendors (field evacuation and repatriation minimum coverage is a combined $200,000 USD).
We recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance and policies meet all Alps requirements.
For information on the recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please click here.
If you already have the required insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.
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