Amalfi Coast with G Adventures
This 7-day “Local Living Sorrento” tour not only had a fantastic, varied itinerary with just the right balance of activity and relaxation, but it was also led by the most amazing guide (or Chief Experience Officer, CEO) - Elisabetta. Elisabetta was charming, caring, energetic and very knowledgeable about the local area, as well as Italian culture and history. She looked after us all so well, we just didn’t have any concerns or worries at all from the minute we met her. Our transport was organised and on time, tickets for attractions were bought and ready to go, she cared for one of the group when they fell poorly and she even went out of her way to book my friend and I into a hotel to use the pool on our ‘free day’.
Our group of 12, including my friend and I was really varied in terms of age. We were all English-speaking from Canada, Australia and the UK. We all got on really well and had an absolute ball from the word go.
As well as an amazing tour leader, the location of our ‘home’ and our hosts for the week were also without fault. Our home for the week was il Giardino di Vigliano in Massa Lubrense, a ten-minute drive from Sorrento. Our host was Luigi, a man of many talents: lemon farmer, exporter, limoncello expert, minivan driver and waiter! Luigi’s family cooked four-course dinners every evening for us, which were delicious and tasted all the better thanks to the incredible views over the sea from the terrace.
We both agreed that we entirely ‘switched off’ during this holiday and that was entirely thanks to the people looking after us.
In terms of highlights of the trip, the Path of the Gods hike was certainly one. Arriving early in the morning to avoid the fierce heat of the day, we grabbed a quick espresso in the little village of Bomerano and set off. I think it’s safe to say that we were relieved to see misty conditions on the trail which kept the air nice and cool. Our guide for the day, Vincenzo was really knowledgeable about the local plant life and history of the people living in the area and gave us a great commentary as we enjoyed the views over the sea from high up on the path. Parts of the trail were narrow and the ground was uneven in places so a good level of fitness and decent walking shoes are a must. When the trail ended at Nocelle, we enjoyed a lemon granita before tackling the 1,700 steps down to sea level. We all had very wobbly legs at the end of this ordeal, but arriving in the seaside town of Positano made up for all the pain!!
Another highlight for me was the boat trip to Capri on our own private boat for the day! Covered in cushions it was the perfect place to sunbathe and relax. Before heading across the water to Capri we hugged the Amalfi coast, even stopping to enjoy a refreshing shower from a freshwater waterfall! We visited different coves and enjoyed a swim in the Med both on the way and way back. As the sun was setting our hosts treated us to a beer and we finished the crossing with a little shot of limoncello. Luigi was at the little marina to collect us and take us back for another delicious dinner. That day was really unforgettable.
My friend and I agreed that this really was a taste of la dolce vita, a millionaire’s lifestyle at an accessible price.
Practical tips: take plenty of euros for tips and instances where restaurants and cafes refuse cards – most places seemed to prefer cash and were sometimes a bit put out if you used cards. Other places were fine, so it was a bit of a mix.
The Path of the Gods trail is challenging, especially the steps at the end. Taking the route from Bomerano to Positano at a slow and steady pace took us at least four hours. You must take sturdy trainers or walking shoes.
July is very humid, expect to lose a lot of water when active so take an insulated bottle with you and refill often!