Italy : The Bay of Naples

The Amalfi Coast Walk

Trip code: W08AC 4.8 (81 reviews)

Self-guided walking

8 nights,
hotel-to-hotel

Level: 2
Moderate

15.0Kg CO2e

Headwater
Navigation App

SUMMARY

  • Emerald seas, plunging gorges, balcony views of Vesuvius brooding on the horizon
  • Vertical landscape of pastel villages clinging to dramatic hillsides
  • Stunning walking trails through lemon groves, olive trees and vines; swimming possibilities most days
  • Discover elegant Ravello, Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento
  • Option to visit the enchanted isle of Ischia, Capri or fascinating Pompeii

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • All breakfasts
  • Briefing at the start of your holiday
  • Headwater navigation app
  • Luggage transfers between hotels
  • Walking transfers

TRIP DESCRIPTION

This ever-popular self-guided walking holiday explores the Sorrentine peninsula below the gracious crescent of the Bay of Naples. Travelling at your own pace, you'll combine the elegance of eternal favourites like Ravello, Positano and Sorrento with discoveries most travellers never make such as farmers harvesting olives, fishermen crouched over brightly painted boats mending their nets and the bird's eye view of the entire peninsula from the Path of the Gods above Positano.

From Ravello, whose exotic formal gardens at Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone seem to float ethereally between sea and sky, your route takes you first to Positano's chic pastel houses and enticing pebble beach. It's then on to Marina del Cantone, and the hidden shingle coves few visitors ever find. Finally you reach cliff-top Sorrento. With balcony views over Vesuvius, it's a great base to visit Pompeii or Herculaneum by train, or Capri or Ischia by boat.

You stay at carefully picked hotels throughout your Amalfi Coast walking trip. They range from a beautifully restored villa with stunning sea views in Ravello, to an elegant 4 star hotel in Sorrento overlooking the panorama of the Bay of Naples. For your evening meals you can choose to sample the hotel's specialities or select one of the many fine local restaurants (all payable locally). Lunch options are varied and include picnics in panoramic locations or a trattoria lunch, perhaps delicious mozzarella, grilled vegetables and fresh fish from the sea.

Terrain

This holiday follows stone steps, coastal paths and some forest trails. You need to be a reasonably fit and confident walker, as the frequent ascents and descents, particularly on the coastal paths, make this a more demanding holiday than the distances suggest. On day 3 guests with a fear of heights may have problems with certain sections. Walkers with knee problems may have difficulty descending the stone steps and walking poles are strongly recommended.

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DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Arrive in Ravello

Arrive at your 4 star hotel in Ravello. There's time for a dip in the swimming pool, offering stunning views, before dinner (Pay locally for dinner).

You stay at Hotel Rufolo.

hotel details

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Hotel Rufolo, Ravello

Shops
Market
Bank
Cash machine
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Pool
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


The Hotel Rufolo has been in the Schiavo family since the early 1900s and has seen some illustrious guests over the years including DH Lawrence and Charles Bronson. It boasts a prime location, conveniently located next to the gardens at Villa Rufolo and overlooking the gardens and the azure sea. The hotel has a number of excellent facilities including guests' lounge with terrace, outdoor pool (open from 15 May until 15 October), wellness centre and restaurant with panoramic veranda. Headwater customers are allocated the superior rooms at the Hotel Rufolo, which come with either garden or sea view.

Room upgrades: Deluxe rooms and Junior suite
Deluxe rooms come with a sitting area, balcony and sea view, whilst the junior suites are much larger, with sea view and either terrace or balcony

Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Day 2: Exploring Amalfi (10km/6.2mi)

Descend through citrus groves to Torre dello Ziro (the Saracen watchtower inspired Webster's Duchess of Malfi), then continue along panoramic terraces, to enter the Valley of the Mills (a testament to Amalfi's medieval paper industry) to world renowned Amalfi. A 20 min bus ride (pay locally) to return to picture perfect Ravello, where you can end the day with a visit to the famous Villa Rufolo and Greta Garbo's legendary retreat, Villa Cimbrone.

elevation

You stay at Hotel Rufolo.

hotel details

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Hotel Rufolo, Ravello

Shops
Market
Bank
Cash machine
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Pool
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


The Hotel Rufolo has been in the Schiavo family since the early 1900s and has seen some illustrious guests over the years including DH Lawrence and Charles Bronson. It boasts a prime location, conveniently located next to the gardens at Villa Rufolo and overlooking the gardens and the azure sea. The hotel has a number of excellent facilities including guests' lounge with terrace, outdoor pool (open from 15 May until 15 October), wellness centre and restaurant with panoramic veranda. Headwater customers are allocated the superior rooms at the Hotel Rufolo, which come with either garden or sea view.

Room upgrades: Deluxe rooms and Junior suite
Deluxe rooms come with a sitting area, balcony and sea view, whilst the junior suites are much larger, with sea view and either terrace or balcony

Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Day 3: Ravello/Bomerano to Positano (11km/6.8mi)

We will drop you off in Bomerano to begin today's walk which takes you along the Path of the Gods, the region's most famous walk offering views all the way along the peninsula, with Capri's famous Faraglioni cliffs marking 'land's end'. There's a choice of picnic spots with stunning views as you continue onwards past lemon groves and brigands' treasure troves to Nocelle. Then it's down through lush terraces to the vertical pastel town of Positano and your hotel in the historic centre.

elevation

You stay at Hotel l'Ancora.

hotel details

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Hotel L'Ancora, Positano

Shops
Market
Bank
Cash machine
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


Boasting superb views over Positano and the glittering Mediterranean sea, the Hotel l'Ancora simply oozes style, with a fantastic location just a short downhill walk from the town's beach. Headwater customers are allocated the classic sea view rooms here, which are spacious and airy, and also come with balcony and the majolica tiled bathrooms that are so typical of the Amalfi Coast. Do try aperitivi - or something more! - in the hotel's panoramic restaurant - the views are truly breathtaking.

Room upgrades: Superior and junior suite
Superior rooms are larger than the classic rooms. Junior suites are considerably larger and come with a large terrace with sunbeds and a private jacuzzi

Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Day 4: At Positano

Positano's wide pebble beach is perfect for a lazy day, but if you fancy exploring further afield there's a pleasant walk to Fornillo Bay with its twin Saracen watchtowers. Boat excursions to discover coral lined sea grottoes, as well as trips to the magical mediterranean island of Capri, are available in the harbour.

You stay at Hotel l'Ancora.

hotel details

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Hotel L'Ancora, Positano

Shops
Market
Bank
Cash machine
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


Boasting superb views over Positano and the glittering Mediterranean sea, the Hotel l'Ancora simply oozes style, with a fantastic location just a short downhill walk from the town's beach. Headwater customers are allocated the classic sea view rooms here, which are spacious and airy, and also come with balcony and the majolica tiled bathrooms that are so typical of the Amalfi Coast. Do try aperitivi - or something more! - in the hotel's panoramic restaurant - the views are truly breathtaking.

Room upgrades: Superior and junior suite
Superior rooms are larger than the classic rooms. Junior suites are considerably larger and come with a large terrace with sunbeds and a private jacuzzi

Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Day 5: Positano to Marina del Cantone (12km/7.5mi or 25km/15.5mi)

We take you into the hills near Fontanelle (30 mins) from where you wind through olive trees as you climb gently to Sant'Agata. There are balcony views - making this a fantastic picnic stop - of Capri, Procida and the Li Galli islands, once considered to be the home of the mythical sirens who lured sailors onto the rocks. A paved lane finally leads you down past geranium-decked houses to the small fishing resort of Marina del Cantone.

elevation

You stay at Punta Campanella Resort.

hotel details

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Punta Campanella Resort, Marina del Cantone

Shops
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon


The Punta Campanella Resort is situated in the heart of the village of Marina del Cantone, just opposite the shingle beach. Headwater customers are allocated the superior rooms here, where each room istastefully decorated and coming with balcony and sweeping views over the bay. The hotel also has a panoramic roof terrace (with bar) where you can soak up the sunshine during your stay, as well as spa facilities, with hydro-massage pool, sauna and steam room (payable locally). The hotel also has a restaurant so you can choose to eat in the hotel or to pick from one of the restaurants available locally.



Room upgrades: Junior Suite.

Day 6: At Marina del Cantone (6km/3.7mi)

You'll be tempted to linger in this pretty little village with its pebble beach lapped by incredibly azure waters, but it's a shame to miss out on our optional walk on the gorgeous Jeranto Bay. There are sea views throughout as you climb to the Montalto Tower, perched on its 100m-high cliff-top outcrop with a truly fabulous panorama over Marina del Cantone and the Li Galli islands. You then descend through olive groves and olive growers' dwellings to an atmospheric ancient limestone quarry, with great sea views, before a final ascent back to your hotel.

elevation

You stay at Punta Campanella Resort.

hotel details

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Punta Campanella Resort, Marina del Cantone

Shops
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon


The Punta Campanella Resort is situated in the heart of the village of Marina del Cantone, just opposite the shingle beach. Headwater customers are allocated the superior rooms here, where each room istastefully decorated and coming with balcony and sweeping views over the bay. The hotel also has a panoramic roof terrace (with bar) where you can soak up the sunshine during your stay, as well as spa facilities, with hydro-massage pool, sauna and steam room (payable locally). The hotel also has a restaurant so you can choose to eat in the hotel or to pick from one of the restaurants available locally.



Room upgrades: Junior Suite.

Day 7: Marina del Cantone to Sorrento (7km/4.3mi or 8km/5.0mi)

We give you a lift (15 mins) to Termini from where you wind through olive groves with ever-opening views over the Bay of Naples and its islands, Capri, Ischia and Procida. It's well worth the detour to lovely little Annunziata to visit its pretty Aragonese castle for wonderful views. It's then on to bustling, pastel-coloured Sorrento, with its enchanting gardens, maze of narrow streets and stunning views over to Vesuvius.

elevation

You stay at Hotel Continental.

hotel details

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Hotel Continental, Sorrento

Shops
Market
Bank
Cash machine
Mastercard
AmEx
Pool
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


Situated in a pretty piazza in the very heart of Sorrento, the 4 star Hotel Continental benefits from superb views over Vesuvius. The comfortable bedrooms are all ensuite and with balcony, and feature the local Vietri tiles for which the region is renowned. The hotel boasts excellent facilities including a sparkling outdoor pool and jacuzzi set amongst tranquil gardens, and 2 stylish and modern bars - one with an external terrace looking out over the stunning backdrop of the Bay of Naples. Massages are also possible on request.

Room upgrades: Terrace and Side Sea View.

Day 8: In Sorrento

Staying at your 4 star hotel panoramically overlooking Mount Vesuvius, you're ideally placed to visit Naples or one of its islands, such as Ischia or Capri, by hydrofoil. Alternatively the historical sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum can be visited using the excellent Circumvesuviana Railway.

You stay at Hotel Continental.

hotel details

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Hotel Continental, Sorrento

Shops
Market
Bank
Cash machine
Mastercard
AmEx
Pool
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


Situated in a pretty piazza in the very heart of Sorrento, the 4 star Hotel Continental benefits from superb views over Vesuvius. The comfortable bedrooms are all ensuite and with balcony, and feature the local Vietri tiles for which the region is renowned. The hotel boasts excellent facilities including a sparkling outdoor pool and jacuzzi set amongst tranquil gardens, and 2 stylish and modern bars - one with an external terrace looking out over the stunning backdrop of the Bay of Naples. Massages are also possible on request.

Room upgrades: Terrace and Side Sea View.

Day 9: Leave Sorrento

You stay at Hotel Continental.

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These tour only prices are based on two people sharing. Single supplement from $1491.

These flight inclusive prices are based on two people sharing. Single supplement from $1491.

OPTIONAL UPGRADES
  • Alternative flights, including regional departures
  • Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels
  • Extra night in Positano
TRAVEL DETAILS

Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.

REVIEWS

Loved our holiday, and the walking navigation app was really great. The hotel Taverna del Capitone was wonderful

Judi Ashley, 9 Oct 2023

 

As we only booked 3 days in advance of travel, I found your staff most helpful in booking our trip.

Although we made some compromises on accommodation, which inevitably affected the cost, due to our late booking this was acceptable. In hindsight the necessary upgrades made the trip more memorable than being in a standard room after a long hot hike.



Gerald Payne, 7 Oct 2023

 

We have now completed 3 Headwater holidays and we would definitely use them again. The quality of the hotels is excellent, the app makes the walks easy to navigate and we feel we get a better sense of each area by walking through the countryside, mostly away from busy roads.

Susan Russell, 27 Sep 2023

 

Booked with friends who had already booked the trip - so whole thing was not hugely researched by ourselves. So the whole thing was a wonderful experience

Rebecca Abraham, 25 Sep 2023

 

We loved it.

John Tappon, 23 Sep 2023

 

It is a lovely part of the world.

The hotels were fantastic in every respect. Really made the holiday.

The path of the Gods walk was a good challenge for us. The other walks could have been longer.

Spectacular views everywhere you look!

JACKSON, 27 May 2023

 

The planning of the holiday had been excellent. Although in one resort I was not accommodated in the hotel advertised, the alternative accommodation was delightful, suited me perfectly. and could not be faulted in any way. Transfers between transport hubs and hotels were excellent, so too the moving of luggage from location to location. A trouble-free vacation which I would love to repeat..

DAVIS, 15 May 2023

 

The itinerary and app were excellent. I think we could have opted for a harder level as despite the despicable weather we managed our walks faster than anticipated. I’m not sure the welcome chat was really worth it. It was more useful having your agent at the end of WhatsApp.

BRUCE, 14 May 2023

 

The staff at Headwater were really polite, friendly, helpful and efficient, especially when our flight was cancelled. The different hotels were great (clean, beautifully maintained, friendly staff). Treks were easy to navigate from the detailed descriptions provided and rewarded us with stunning views. It's not the cheapest way to go but Headwater took all the stress out of organising the holiday and for people with busy lives, that's worth a lot.

Mrs Sharples, 24 Oct 2022

 

We had a wonderful holiday! The unique selling point of Headwater is the combination of walking in beautiful scenery and high-class accommodation. The pace of the holiday allowed time to explore the local area as well as enjoy the hotels. The walks were generally very well described, and the maps we only used as back-up on odd occasions. I would thoroughly recommend Headwater....we had a great time ! Thank you !

Mr King, 12 Sep 2022

 

The holiday was in a beautiful region and hotels were mostly excellent. All taxis ran to plan and services received were polite and friendly. Our only issue was that we are experienced walkers and map readers but the described routes had clearly not been updated for many years and were at times near impossible to follow and we did get lost twice! Paths were labelled with the wrong number and 'tiles' did not exist. Also temperatures were well over 30 degrees on some days ( we travelled 1 June) and it was bordering on being too hot to do the walks on some days. It would be helpful if some guidance on this was given in the brochure.

Mrs Blyth, 1 Jun 2022

 

we designed a bespoke itinerary to celebrate an anniversary, which despite several rounds of alteration caused by intervening commitments, was created and implemented to our great satisfaction. This was one of the best holidays we have ever had. The scenery is spectacular, the walking was not too strenuous (despite the unseasonal heatwave), the transfers all ran to schedule and the accommodation of a high standard.

Dr Soul, 23 May 2022

 

We had a very good holiday with some lovely walks in beautiful locations. The weather was perfect at this time of year (2nd - 10th May) for walking and all the 4 hotels were clean and comfortable and all very different. We ate some delicious food and tried some excellent wines. 3 of the walks were consistent with the grading but we found the Path of the Gods very challenging and harder than we had expected. One of the features of the Amalfi coast are the hundreds of steps both in the towns and villages and on many of the walks and this is something that anyone booking this holiday should be aware of.

Mrs Shott, 2 May 2022

 

Provide exactly what you expect and what you hope for. Walks are lovely and well planned and well judged. Everything went smoothly. Hotels were great.

Ms Norton, 24 Aug 2020

 

Amalfi Coast walk was a wonderful holiday, stunning views, passing through olive and lemon groves, watching the locals harvest their olives, accommodation was outstanding with lovely friendly host's felt like part of the family. Enjoyed the days off to wander around the beautiful villages, swim in the sea, perfect. This is our 6th walking holiday with Headwater and we are always impressed with their holidays.

Miss Reid, 7 Oct 2019

 

This holiday was a wonderful way to enjoy not only the the Amalfi coast but also the villages we walked through in 'real' Amalfi. Paths into countryside abundant with food being grown, not only lemon and olive groves but grapes, tomatoes, kiwi fruits and all sorts of beans and other veg. Staying two nights in every location allowed time to explore these beautiful towns and take a trip to Pompeii. Consider staying in Naples for a couple of extra nights.

Mrs Ajder, 16 Sep 2019

 

Great to see an area on foot with sufficient down time to explore independently.

Stress free baggage transfer between accommodation aiding an enjoyable experience

Mrs Martin, 9 Sep 2019

 

This was probably the best holiday we have had with Headwater out of the four we have experienced. One of those was in Tuscany. What we liked was the accurate grade of and types of walks and the well situated hotels - within easy access to the main towns/cities. The first and last hotels - Miramalfi and Continental were accurately starred and very comfortable. The Grand Hotel Continental in particular we found outstanding in quality and service. Our decision to stay another night was the right one as we were able to get round and visit the different sights. We were disappointed with the Hotel California. Although the bedroom was spacious with an excellent view (though the bathroom could have been cleaner) we found the service lacking - a three star hotel with a two star service (the family appeared inexperienced in relation to customer service). There were no lounge areas to relax - we had to spend any time at the hotel in our room. Hotel Punta Campanella was the only hotel were we had half board. We don’t think this was necessary as there were a number of good restaurants close by. Others in the party who stayed at Taverna De Capitano enjoyed the local tavernas at a reasonable cost. We found the restaurant pretentious and the offer of a three course meal was unnecessary. If we were to do this trip again happy to stay in the same hotel without half board package. We did not meet Anna we forgot to attend the meeting. We made contact -she was unable to meet us.

Dr Green, 2 Sep 2019

 

The views were tremendous from the hikes and our hotels. The hikes were well planned with good directions and all the taxi pick ups and drop offs went smoothly and we really appreciated not having to start our hikes up hill out of the hotels. We also liked the itinerary design of 2 nights at each hotel giving us a chance to rest if we chose to. The first hotel was so lovely that it caused us to feel a bit disappointed by the subsequent ones. All the hotels were quiet at night except the Continental in Sorrento where we were given a room on a noisy square even with an expensive upgrade and a prior request for a quiet room. Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento are beautiful but very busy towns full of people and cars so this is not the walking trip if you want tranquility.

Mr Ross, 10 Jun 2019

 

We did the Amalfi coast walking holiday in the first week of June. Just about made it before it gets too hot. The hikes in Ravello and Path of Gods were stunning and every bit met and exceeded expectations. Hotel Miramalfi has a brilliant location where our rooms faced the sea and do not miss going to the deck chair platforms by the sea- below the pool. Highly recommend this one.

Mr Shah, 3 Jun 2019

 

We had a wonderful walking holiday on the Amalfi coast. The hotel's were well chosen for their stunning views, food and comfort. The 2 extra nights in Sorrento ment we had plenty of time to visit Pompeii and enjoy Sorrento. Well done Headwater



Mrs Lammiman, 20 May 2019

 

Excellent walking on spectacular coastline

Dr Ball, 13 May 2019

 

Very interesting walking holiday. Hotel accommodation extremely good.

Mrs Hunt, 8 Apr 2019

 

We enjoyed the holiday immensely thank you.

Mr Alexander, 8 Oct 2018

 

Amazing trek, walk of the Gods the highlight, few inaccuracies in the walking notes so make sure you read the map as well

Ms Waldman, 5 Oct 2018

 

This was our third walking holiday you have organised on our behalf and we have enjoyed all of them. Accommodation has always been good and standards generally very high.

All the drivers/taxis employed were all well turned out, helpful and on time.

Mr Brosinovich, 10 Sep 2018

 

Hotel choice's were all good except for one ( Punta Campanella Resort). The text provided for the hike directions were excellent and we would definitely have got lost without it. All transfer pickup's and baggage delivery between hotels were on time which made the whole trip a absolute pleasure. Overall a well organised holiday which I would highly recommend to anyone wishing to hike the region.

Mr Pederson, 3 Sep 2018

 

An enjoyable holiday. The weather was marvellous. The accommodation was very comfortable. However, our experience was marred by my wife’s injury. Positano was very busy.

Mr Brown, 3 Sep 2018

 

We have traveled widely in Europe and further afield with the experiences of this holiday rating as good if not better than any others. Well done Headwater.

Mr Dey, 25 Jun 2018

 

Headwater were extremely professional. Everything ran smoothly with pick ups, accommodation and trip notes. The trip notes on the Day 3 (Amalfi Coast Walk) which was substituted for the Walk of the Gods (officially closed) were a little confusing and unclear but that is the only complaint we have. The drivers were fantastic always on time and very helpful and friendly with nice clean vehicles.

Mrs Henneker, 14 May 2018

 

Headwater is a very professional company to deal with and our holiday more than met our expectations,we enjoyed every minute of our trip to the Amalfi Coast and we look forward to our next Headeater adventure !!

Mrs Mckinnon, 14 May 2018

 

A very enjoyable holiday walking through beautiful unspoiled countryside with abundant wild flowers and endless lemon groves and olives. The walk descriptions were very detailed, the hotels of a good standard and the transfers punctual with good quality transport. The customer service provided by Headwater was excellent.







Mrs Mills, 7 May 2018

 

Lovely springtime break with fantastic coastal scenery and wildflowers; plus lemon sorbets.

Mr Richardson, 9 Apr 2018

 

The Amalfi coast is an excellent place for fantastic walks, good food and great scenery. Headwater planned a great itinerary with detailed walking instructions. Thank you.

Mrs Webb, 11 Sep 2017

 

We are members of a Nordic Walking Group in North London and when we mention that we were considering a walking holiday a couple of the members enthused about Headwater. We are so glad that they did. Really good advice and guidance.



The walking guidance notes were amazing providing every little detail of the walk, much better than any of the maps.



Apart from the very disappointing hotel in Punta Campanelle the accommodation was very good. I would strongly suggest a change of route away from that Hotel, or accommodation in the village immediately before arriving at the coast.



We will definitely look to have a holiday through Headwater again, but we will definitely research the hotels first.



Many thanks

Robin

Mr Dawson, 29 May 2017

 

Walking is a great way to see a country. Headwater, make the experience easy by removing the hassle of booking hotels and moving bags around. The local information is good and maps walks are generally pretty god.

Mrs Mclaughlin, 8 May 2017

 

Very enjoyable holiday overall, staying in good quality hotels. We did find some of the walking a bit more challenging than we had anticipated. It rained on the day we did the Path of the Gods which made it slippery and therefore extra care needed to be taken. We were warned about the 1,000 plus steps down to Positano but maybe more warning about the descent to Marina del Cantone would be helpful for future walkers.

The guidance notes were very accurate on the whole with one or two minor errors. We didn't get lost.

The taxi drivers were all very pleasant and punctual and we had no problems. Our only criticism is that we were not contacted by a local rep. at all. This may have been because we were slightly delayed on arrival ( only half an hour). We also had to confirm our final taxi pick-up ourselves (via the hotel) as this hadn't been communicated to us in advance- a slight worry on the day before we were leaving.

Mr Mathieson, 19 Sep 2016

 

This was our second time with Headwater. We really enjoyed our holiday. The walks were well chosen and so were the towns where we stayed. The Amalfi coast is stunningly beautuful. Some of the popular walks can get a bit busy - there seemed to be a lot of Americans everywhere. We stayed in 4 different hotels and they were all different in character. The highlight was La Conca del Sogno, a family run hotel in a cove with a beach. Would certainly recommend this holiday.

Mrs Bali, 17 Sep 2016

 

A marvellous combination of: exercise and relaxation in wonderful locations, staying in top hotels with everything superbly organised.

Mr Pearce, 19 Jun 2016

 

Well organised and great routes. Accommodation usually gives more of a local flavour than big anonymous chains.

Mrs McDonough, 4 Jun 2016

 

A perfect way to enjoy the splendours of the Amalfi Coast from a perspective impossible for holidaymakers tied to the roads. The routes were planned so that each day's walking was different - from rugged cliff paths and breathtaking coastal scenery to peaceful lemon and olive groves and friendly villages. While this holiday does not have the same amount of walking we have had previously, we welcomed the days off as an opportunity to catch the ferry over to Capri and visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. All our 'standard' rooms at Amalfi, Positano and Marina del Cantone had wonderful sea views. We upgraded to be sure of a sea view in Sorrento and were booked in to the fabulous Belair Hotel - would really recommend this - and indeed the whole holiday.

Mr Morrison, 30 May 2016

 

What a great way to see the Amalfi/Sorrento peninsula. The walks take you through stunning scenery away from the roads - areas that you would definitely not see from a car or a bus. The Walk along the Path of the Gods is breath taking. You also get the opportunity to see a wonderful array of colourful wild flowers. Don't miss Ravello and the two villas with their stunning gardens. The walk back to Amalfi from Ravello is very interesting for its industrial archaeology.



The Capodimonte and Luna Convento Hotels were particularly luxurious and we had great sea views. The food in both was very good with plenty of choices.



We had booked 2 extra nights in the Capodimonte and were told before leaving the UK that we had half board on one of the nights so we were delighted to find that in fact the price we had paid included dinner on all four nights.



Pompei and Heraculeum are very interesting and a must. If you are going to see them by train from Sorrento, it is a good idea to go early afternoon rather than morning as the trains and the sites are less busy then.



Headwater take note:that we did see a snake crossing the path before Massa Lubrense. My husband said it was only about 2 feet long but I think it was more like 6 feet!! It was jet black. The internet says that this type is completely harmless and in fact is a good garden aid as they eat pests.



If visiting Massa Lubrense on your way to Sorrento, it is worth walking right down from the main square to the terrace overlooking the sea and going down the steps to the restaurant 'Il Cantuccio'. It serves great food in a shaded terrace adorned with colourful flowers and with wonderful views of the sea and Capri.



All in all - what a great holiday!



Janet Hewson 31 May 2016

Mr Hewson, 16 May 2016

 

VERY well organised. HIGHLY efficient. Excellent hotels. Hard to beat

Mr Floyd, 30 Apr 2016

 

Hotels selected were superb (a higher standard than we would normally select for ourselves - that is one of the real pleasures of travelling with Headwater). Pick ups and tranfers were seamless and enjoyable - it was a delight to hear the drivers laugh! Food through out was excellent. Check out board arrangements - Grand Hotel Capodimonte actually provided half board for the duration of the stay (and not just the first night!) and this included a free salad buffet every evenning. Towards the end of the first day walk from Ravello to Amalfi (after the ruined foundry) there is a restored warehouse called Agricola Fore Porte converted to a restaurant/cafe where you can drink fresh lemon juice - a delightful family run business witha multi lingual daughter. Well done Headwater another excellent holiday!

Mr Allan, 24 Apr 2016

 

It was really great because we made it so. Headwater played very little part. The last walk was inadequately replaced with no warning or alternative. The second hotel was silly. You did not get a proper breakfast you had to pay extra. It was not to the standard of the other hotels was a strange choice. At the 3rd hotel there was nothing to do. We could not walk due to the weather. So this too was a strange choice. There were no reps what so ever. It did seem very expensive for what was provided. The taxi company used was excellent we were lucky to have the same driver 3 times. He really was wonderful with lots of recommendations for us. His name was neillo please pass on our regards.

Mis Brooks, 18 Apr 2016

 

We very much enjoyed our holiday. The walking part was not as good as many we've experienced with other companies. This was partly because of its discontinuous nature - walking the Vermillion Coast with Sherpa gave us a full, continuous walk from the start in Colliure to the end at Cadaques. And apart from the 'Path of the Gods' and the walk from Ravello through the valley with the old iron works and paper mills, it was, in parts fairly mundane, particularly the last section to Sorrento. Our extension enabled us to see Herculaneum and Pompeii, and climb to the top of Vesuvius. We also took trips to Capri and to Napoli. So, all-in-all, the holiday was a great success. However, we would have been prepared to pay more for something that was slightly more interesting - better walks and better hotels. Having said that, the Luna Conventa was magnificent! Although the Capodimonte was very good in most areas, many English people we spoke to thought the quality of the dinner very disappointing.

Mr Saunders, 10 Apr 2016

 

Transfers were seamless - friendly drivers and always on time. Good variety of locations and hotels. We feel that we saw most of the Amalfi and Sorrentine peninsular because of the walks organised for us. And probably saw a lot of places normally not seen. We were a little disappointed that we were the only Headwater clients that week but it was apparently at the end of the holiday season. The weather although warm was unpredictable at times and we had one very wet day on which we had to abandon our walk halfway and catch a bus to our next hotel. The food arranged was varied and delicious. Sorrento was an ideal base from which to visit Capri and explore the historical sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum amongst others. We had an and extra couple of days at the Grand Capidimonte hotel which was in a good location to walk down to Sorrento and was the perfect place to end our holiday, it was excellent in every respect.

Mr Tonner, 4 Oct 2015

 

Disappointing

Ms Olson-Williams, 19 Sep 2015

 

well organised travel. route descriptions were accurate and easy to follow. beautiful scenery and well away from the crowds

Mr Black, 13 Sep 2015

 

A good holiday we both enjoyed. The hotels were in great locations, most with fantastic balcony views. Transfer between hotels was prompt in clean modern vehicles. The walks came with good route plans, occasional misleading directions, but no great dramas. Went through some fantastic small villages and great views, especially the walk of the gods.



Mr Unsworth, 8 Sep 2015

 

difficult to fault,made by extreme helpfulness from local agent,Liberata

Mrs McDonagh, 30 Aug 2015

 

A beautiful but very popular and busy part of Italy. Seeing it by means of a walking holiday is an excellent way of minimising the experience of crowds and seeing parts that most tourists do not see. Many of the views are spectacular and some of the foot paths are not to be missed. The end of June is a hot time and walkers need to be able to cope with that. All of the hotels provided typically friendly Italian service.

Mr Lewis, 23 Jun 2015

 

All the arrangements worked well, the route guides were, with one or two minor wrinkles, very clear and accurate, the maps and information were good, the drivers always turned up on time. The hotel in Sorrento was very centrally placed and convenient for the train station and the ferry terminal, which was important to us.

Mrs Senior, 26 May 2015

 

We enjoyed the walking, loved the hotel in Amalfi which was exclusive and liked the hotel in Positano.

However we were the only English amongst a large tour party of Germans in Marina del Cantone and the Hotel Capodimonte was ghastly, appalling, dreadful and full of low cost package holiday tourists and the dinner in the evening at the hotel made me feel closer to my grave.

Mrs Jenner, 9 May 2015

 

This was our first holiday of this type and was not sure what to expect, the route notes given were easy to follow we were collected on time at airports/ train stations /hotels. The agents were excellent with a full briefing one in person and one over the phone and both came back to me with requests that I made for additional information.

The accommodation throughout the holiday was of a very high standard, all very clean and with excellent quality of food.

Well done Headwater we will have no problems in booking through you again.

Nick & Sue Carter



Mr Carter, 6 May 2015

 

It was unfortunate that, having made the booking for this holiday, when the maps and walking guides were forwarded to us, they had been incorrectly copied so that every even page was missing. It took a couple of phone calls to sort this out. Also took a bit of time to clarify travel arrangements to and from the airport. This made us feel a little vulnerable though, actually, the arrangements were absolutely spot on - all the taxis arrived on time and were of a very high standard. The representatives in Italy were exceptionally charming and helpful.

The description of the walks was a little misleading as some sections involved quite a lot of climbing and, in one case, scrambling down a rather precipitous, overgrown gully with loose rocks and stones presenting quite a challenge. The evening meal at the Capodimonte was dire, especially in comparison with the Punta Campanella, which was absolutely lovely. Breakfasts at the Casa Albertina were poor and I have marked the location as 'poor' because I thought it was harsh to expect your customers to climb all those steps to he hotel after the most challenging walk of the holiday involving, potentially, the descent of 1,000 steps through Positana at its conclusion.

You will note, however, that I would book with your company again, and am considering the cycle ride along the Danube for our next adventure! Your staff in the UK are, without exception, very charming. It was unfortunate that our walking guides were not complete at the outset but it was a wonderful holiday so thanks to everyone involved.



Mrs Richardson, 5 May 2015

 

Wonderful walks and spectacular views.

Mr Adler, 1 May 2015

 

Excellent holiday. All arrangements worked well except initial briefing - see below. Local transfers were excellent.

Mr Johnston, 19 Apr 2015

 

Could not fault Headwater for their excellent customer service and organisation. I'm not even going to look at other companies now for any future walking holidays.

Mrs Higgins, 28 Sep 2014

 

Well thought through and excellent administration meant we could concentrate on our walking

Mr Abrahams, 14 Sep 2014

 

Travel arrangements were good, hotels were easy to find and all but one was well maintained. Walks were very well described, distances were not accurate and the number of steps was a joke but the walks were clearly described an the views were wonderful. We saw many rural areas of the Amalfi Peninsular that most people will never see, they don't know what they are missing! are missing

The rest days are a very good idea and gave us chance to do several things we wanted to do, ie go to Pompeii and Capri, without the break I think that the last few days would have felt like hard work.

Mrs Makin, 5 Sep 2014

 

We have just returned from another very enjoyable holiday, all the hotels were very good, in amazing locations with fantastic views. I would definitely upgrade to a sea view room at Grand Hotel Capodimonte, especially if staying on longer in Sorrento. The walks were varied and we had no real problem with the notes. Could be challenging to some as there are defiantly plenty of steps, both up and down, in many places! Walking poles very helpful. But you are rewarded with the views and the hotels.

All our pick ups where excellent by the local agent, and the rep phoned us on the first evening as promised. We know she was easy to contact if we needed her. So, overall, an good holiday exploring this part of Italy, Thank you again, Headwater.



Mrs Moss, 8 Jun 2014

 

We had a fantastic holiday with Headwater and loved every minute of the walks which were well planned, with clear instructions. Everything worked as expected and it was a very easy way to walk the best of the area without any worries. Thank you.

Mrs Welham, 31 May 2014

 

We had a marvellous holiday and really enjoyed the variety of walks and hotels, and the suggestions for days off. The area was so beautiful and arriving on foot in each town was magical.

Minor gripes were: not hearing from the rep (we phoned her on day 2). She told us of a landslide and said she would send us an alternative route, but this didn't happen. We found the alternative route without difficulty. The maps for the Amalfi coast were not helpful (and one was missing). The route notes were sometimes difficult to follow (we had to learn to concentrate!). We became proud of our navigation skills.

Thank you! Where next?







Ms Hall, 26 May 2014

 

This is a lovely area of Italy and all the places we stayed were good. The travel arrangements worked like clockwork and the walks were lovely. My favourite Headwater holiday, so far.

Mis Perry, 18 May 2014

 

Terrific holiday in with superb views, excellent food and wine with delightful walks.

Mrs Young, 18 May 2014

 

Overall holiday was good. Never saw rep, although not really necessary. Big hotels at punta campanella and sorrento not great as they cater for the mass coach trip market and lose personal touch. We met inntravel (or possibly atg) walkers in punta campanella staying in small hotel which was idyllic. Luna convento excellent and set a high bar others did not come close to. Sorrento particularly disappointing as it was in chaos and couldn't handle the number of guests . It was the first time in 50 years travelling i have had to queue (30 minutes) for a dinner table. Food also left much to be desired. A smaller hotel in town might be a better bet and certainly more our preference

Mr Wyatt, 4 May 2014

 

This was our first experience with Headwater although we have previously toured and trekked with a number of other companies. We were overall impressed, and would certainly consider Headwater for other walking or cycling holidays.

Mr Bevan, 4 May 2014

 

On our arrival we were welcomed by our driver Señor Russo who we found to be both entertaining and informative. Throughout our stay he was always punctual and reliable. Although we never actually met the resort agent she rang us to advise about adverse weather condition, diversions and alternative routes. Unfortunately we experienced poor weather but it did not interfere with our enjoyment of the holiday and we managed to complete the planned itinery. Overall all the htels were good and we were delighted to find our accommodation had been upgraded at the Pumta Campanelle where we had the benefit of a suite and a large sun terrace. We have only two observations to make to improve the holiday:

(1) The cost of porterage at 3 euros per bag on arrival and departure should either be included in the holiday cost or guests advised of this in the holiday information.

(2) the time of departure for the airport should be included in the holiday informattion to avoid guests having to make an educated guess based on flight times.

Mr Martin, 27 Apr 2014

 

Could not be faulted to be perfectly honest, excellent accomodation throughout,well balanced walking itinerary, first class route notes and maps.The Amalfi coast was everything we hoped it would be and more, a great holiday.

Mr Ausden, 13 Apr 2014

 

Fantastic locations with carefully selected routes and hotels. Descriptions of the walks for for self guided tour where very easy to follow and very accurate.

Ms Parks, 13 Apr 2014

 

Headwater provides an excellently organised walking experience - choosing breathtaking routes which are brilliantly and minutely mapped out.

Quite the best walking holiday operator I have ever used.

Mr Waite, 29 Sep 2013

 

This was one of our all time favourite holidays owing to the stunning scenery & the very high standard of accommodation offered. The walking schedule was relatively relaxed but the amount of step climbing might be daunting to some, though it would be easy to slow the pace if necessary and to take full advantage of the alternate 'rest days'. It was well worth the time and expense in adding a couple of extra days during which we explored Pompeii and Herculaneum and took a trip up to the summit of Vesuvius. The local bus & train services (although a little basic & crowded) were easy to use and efficient. Our dietary restrictions were catered for very competently and without fuss.

Dr Banyard, 8 Sep 2013

 

The major walks were excellent, views were superb and the route notes very well put together. The heat and lack of shade was the main problem, especially in the afternoon when the long 'downs' and many steps made for hard work. Your choice of bases for hotels was excellent as at all places there were plenty of opportunities to see the local sites using local transport which was very cheap. Our visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum from Sorrento were made even better by the fact that it comes free for over 65 EU citizens making for cheap days out when you consider that the return rail fair was at it's most expensive just over 8 Euros for the 2 of us! Extending our stay in Sorrento at the end gave us the opportunity to chill out at the excellent Hotel Favorita ( the icing on the cake in terms of facilities, service and comfort) and fit in the trips we wanted without being rushed at other times. Well done for putting together such an excellent package.

Mrs Brown, 1 Sep 2013

 

All the arrangements, transfers and pick-ups worked well with the drivers being friendly, helpful and always on time. All the hotels were of a very high standard with large rooms and excellent bathrooms. We had no contact with the representative over there but did not need any help anyway.

All the walk instructions were very detailed and accurate and the only times we made errors was because we were talking and not concentrating on the instructions!

Mrs Turner, 25 Aug 2013

 

A fantastic holiday with excellent organisation, well-chosen hotels and superb walking route notes. Nothing ever goes wrong on a Headwater Holiday. Can't wait to see next year's brochure.

Mrs Walker, 25 Aug 2013

 

We were very disappointed that our walking itinerary was missing from the package sent to us, and we received it only at The end of our second day. We were also expecting to be welcomed by a headwater rep upon our arrival at Luna Convento Hotel, instead we had to call the help line to figure out what to do. Our rep Liberata, told us very bluntly that due to costs cut our briefing could only take place over the phone, with the line being cut every 3 minutes from her end. As a result ot this delay, we missed the visit to Ravello (supposed to be among the must see of the Amalfi coast) and nearly got lost on our first walk. In The hotel in Sorrento I had to sleep on a sofa dressed as bed for two nights, as we were given a double room instead of a twin. As a result I ended up with a bad back for the rest of the week! I would expect a bit more for the price I have paid!!!!

Ms Biagini, 23 Jun 2013

 

We had a lovely time marred only by the fact that 3 of the 4 hotels provided a double bed when we as 2 female friends sharing a room needed our booked twin beds!

Ms Priday, 2 Jun 2013

 

The itinerary was well structured and well organised. Pick up and transfers were punctual and efficient. Hotels were excellent - great locations, wonderful views, comfortable and with a high level of service. The upgrade to the Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento - due to the Favorita being overbooked - was very much appreciated. We were also grateful that a transfer to Sorrento port was organised for us on the last morning.

Mr Castell, 2 Jun 2013

 

We stayed at the Royal Prisco in Positano (not the hotel on the questionnaire) and I cannot change the hotel name - but all comments on the Royal Prisco are 'good'.



Neither did we stay at the Favourita in Sorrento - biut we did stay at the Excelsior Vittoria which was excellent in all respects.

Mr Stather, 2 Jun 2013

 

A very enjoyable holiday. we were particularly impressed by the taxi transfers and their good driving on difficult roads. Always hugely reassuring to be welcomed at the airport, and when the taxi arrives on time, indeed early! The hotels were far more luxurious than we expected, so a real treat.



Mr Plumb, 7 Apr 2013

 


Self-guided walking

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Level: 2
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15.0Kg CO2e

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