Italy: The Amalfi Coast & Islands - May 24th Journey
May 24-30, 2024
Full Price: 3,975 euros
Activity Level — Moderate
This tour is not suitable for those in a wheelchair or with mobility issues.
Trip Overview
Join our expert Bold Spirit facilitator on this seven-day, women-only, small group adventure to Southern Italy.
Play where the ancient Greeks and Romans did as you explore a landscape of fragrant lemon groves, azure sea, and colorful coastal villages.
You will visit many beautiful areas, including:
Naples
Ravello
Amalfi
Positano
Sorrento
Ischia (the Phlegraean spa island)
This Bold Spirit adventure is about the good things in life: friendship, connecting with nature, R&R, and excellent Italian food.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS
Relax as your expert facilitator manages all the logistics
Explore Herculaneum, an affluent city frozen in time (79 AD)
Swim in the warm sea along the Amalfi Coast
Sip limoncello where it’s made at a local farm
Wander the winding cobblestones in Ravello, Positano, and Amalfi
Devour a meal after a pizza-making class
Indulge in some serious self-care at a thermal spa on Ischia Island
Discover Naples’ best museum
Go wine tasting on the slopes of Vesuvius
Learn about Villa Rufolo in the mountain town of Ravello
Shop boutiques in central Sorrento
Indulge in excellent Italian meals
Taste olive oil and buy from a local maker
Find Italian pottery to take home with you
Meet other bold women who love travel as much as you do!
Activity Highlights
Historical sites
Wine tasting
Food tours
Archaeological site visits
Greek/Roman ruins exploration
Spa time
Swimming in thermal pools
Ferry ride to the island
Walking tours
Strolling in mountain villages
Relaxing on the beach
Connecting with other Bold Spirit women
DETAILED Itinerary
Day 1: Your Adventure Begins
Your journey kicks off in Naples, one of Italy’s most evocative cities with its stately palazzos and buzzing nightlife.
Naples is also the birthplace of pizza and a myriad of other delicacies.
Arrive at the Naples International Airport (NAP). Plan to be at the hotel by 3:00PM on this day. Some guests may want to arrive the day before the tour starts. Ask us about this option.
We will arrange a transfer for you from the airport to the hotel - no need to figure out a taxi.
Take some time to settle in at the hotel and freshen up before meeting the rest of the Bold Spirit Travel crew in the lobby for a drink and orientation.
Naples’ roots are deep, stretching back to the second millennium BC when the Greeks arrived. It makes sense, then, that the city is home to the National Archaeological Museum where some of the best Graeco-Roman artifacts reside - you will visit this treasure trove today after orientation.
The National Archaeological Museum visit will get you ready for the ancient ruins you will see tomorrow at Herculaneum.
We will then head out for a welcome dinner together. Get to know the other women on this trip and learn about what is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Meals: Welcome dinner
Hotel: Hotel Royal Continental or similar
Day 2: The Power of Vesuvius
After breakfast at the hotel, we’re paying Vulcan—or Hephaestus if you prefer his Greek incarnation—a visit. The volcano will be in view all day today and you will witness the damage Vesuvius inflicted in 79 AD as a local guide leads you through the town of Herculaneum, Pompeii’s lesser-known yet considerably more attractive cousin.
Your Bold Spirit journey is about adventure, which is why we choose to avoid the 4 million visitors a year who queue for hours and pack themselves into overcrowded Pompeii.
Instead, you will feel as though you’ve stepped back into Roman times when you experience Herculaneum, the once-affluent city that even today is filled with frescoed villas and sumptuous bath complexes.
Many of Herculaneum’s citizens are believed to have escaped Vesuvius’ eruption; however, 400 well-preserved skeletons were found in 1980. You will get a glimpse of these former residents and other fascinating relics of antiquity as you explore with our local guide. Bring good walking shoes.
After touring Herculaneum, it’s time for wine and lunch.
Enjoy wine tasting on the slopes of Vesuvius and a lunch with volcano and seaside views. Later, we check into our new hotel.
Your base for the next four nights is Sorrento, a charming town right on the water and the gateway into the Amalfi Coast. Grab a towel and swim in the warm Tyrrhenian Sea. Sip a cappuccino or a local limoncello on the main piazza. Feel the sun on your shoulders. Welcome to bliss.
Enjoy dinner as a group this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Hotel Continental Sorrento
Day 3: Lemon Groves and Liquid Sunshine
Do you detect a fragrant breeze? It is coming from the Amalfi Coast’s sugary lemon groves, which cling to steep terraces cut into the rugged cliffs overlooking the sapphire sea.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning. Then, hop in our private van to spend the morning getting to know the tasty side of this area.
Explore an olive oil mill and taste local oil varieties.
Then tour a limoncello grove and factory to learn how this liquid sunshine drink is made and why regional lemons are so important.
Later, sit down for lunch together among the lemon trees.
After lunch, our group heads back to Sorrento in our private van.
Indulge in some downtime to do whatever suits you. Relax with a drink on the terrace. Go shopping in Sorrento’s many boutiques. Have a spritz by the waterside. Take a dip in the hotel pool. There is so much to see in Sorrento and we love how small and easy to navigate it is.
Dinner is on your own tonight. Opt for a meal at the onsite hotel restaurant or head out with some women from our group to try one of Sorrento’s many eateries (like this one).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Hotel Continental Sorrento
Day 4: island time on Ischia
After breakfast, we will transfer to the Island of Ischia by ferry.
The ferry ride is absolutely part of the adventure. You will need a day pack for this full day out.
Located next to Capri, Ischia is lesser known and further off the well-worn tourist route, which adds to its appeal. You’ll discover an island laden with quiet beaches, thermal spas, and lush forest trails.
Our local guide will whisk us off to the Giardini La Mortella when we arrive. Walk the trails in this magical estate and sip a tea in its cafe while enjoying the birdsong and beauty.
Our next stop on Ischia is a gorgeous beach spa. Relaxation is part of the Ischia experience. In fact, the island’s healing thermal waters are a huge draw for visitors from all over the world.
Your adventure with Bold Spirit includes entrance into one of the island’s best thermal water parks, offering numerous pools and an idyllic beachfront with sun loungers and umbrellas. Pop on those sunnies and get ready to unwind.
The spa also boasts a cafe and wine bar, perfect for snacks and lunch. There is also time for massage, facials, and other treatments (booked separately).
In the evening, we catch the ferry back to Sorrento. It’s been a long, rich day.
Dinner is on your own at the hotel or at one of the many restaurants in Sorrento proper.
Meals: Breakfast (lunch is on your own at the spa which has several cafes)
Hotel: Hotel Continental Sorrento
Day 5: amalfi coast gems
After breakfast at the hotel, our private driver will pick us up to explore the very best of the Amalfi Coast.
This is the Amalfi you have seen on postcards and travel shows, the curling coastline featuring dramatic cliffs and colorful villas juxtaposed against the azure sea.
Today you will visit Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano, three villages guaranteed to fill your camera with snapshots of the sweet life. Fragrant lemon groves line the hillsides and darling shops and cafes hide along cobblestone alleyways.
Getting from Positano to Amalfi is part of the fun because we will take a mini-cruise in a boat from one beach-side town to the next. The rest of the tour will be by minibus.
Enjoy a traditional lunch with our Bold Spirit crew during this all-day trip.
In mountainside Ravello, partake in a guided tour of Villa Rufolo and soak up the seaside views. Ravello is a great place to purchase local pottery.
After Ravello, we make our way back to Sorrento for the night.
In the evening, put your feet up at the hotel or head out for dinner in Sorrento. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Hotel Continental Sorrento
Day 6: Naples Bound
We say arrivederci to Sorrento today.
You have the morning to sleep in, walk the waterfront, do some last-minute shopping, and just enjoy Sorrento.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and another long look at the seaside.
Check out of the hotel and head to lunch with the group. Today’s lunch is not your typical sit-down meal. Instead, you’ll be making your own pizza with a local pro.
After lunch, it’s time to head back to big city Naples in our private minibus.
Settle into your hotel room and decide how to spend your last afternoon. You’ll have a few hours to catch anything you missed, such as historic monuments, shopping, or one last flaky sfogliatella.
Our hotel is right by the water in Naples and close to a shopping area with great boutiques called Chiaia.
We conclude our Bold Spirit adventure together with a farewell dinner at Neapolitan eatery. Dig into one more plate of pasta before you leave tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Hotel Royal Continental or similar
Day 7: Parting is such sweet sorrow…
To quote one famous fictional Italian, “parting is such sweet sorrow.”
Alas, our adventure has come to an end. After breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to say farewell to all your Bold Spirit pals before you catch a cab to the airport.
Or choose to stay in Naples a few more days on your own to see Capri and Pompeii.
Or take the train to Rome and see more of Italy…the fast train to Rome takes just a little over an hour from Naples and is easy and fun to use. Ask us for more info on how to extend your adventure.
The Naples airport is an easy 20-minute ride from our hotel. We will help set up your taxi with the front desk.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included:
Seven days and six nights at beautiful hotels in dreamy locations (based on double occupancy, we will pair you with a roommate)
An English-speaking Bold Spirit facilitator accompanying you every step of the way
All meals as indicated in the detailed itinerary (most meals include wine)
Private land transfers for the Bold Spirit group throughout the entire adventure and some ferries
A small group experience—only 12 Bold Spirit women travelers on each trip
Local expert bilingual guides in each destination
All equipment needed for activities
Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
A planning session over Zoom to get you ready for this Bold Spirit adventure
A packing list
Airport pick-up on day 1 of the tour
What’s Not Included:
Round-trip airfare
Cost for additional activities
Taxis to the airport on departure day
Meals not outlined in the detailed itinerary
Alcoholic beverages, unless otherwise specified (most meals include wine)
Personal expenses, such as souvenirs
Travel insurance
Optional private room upgrade
Early hotel check-in
Room service/minibar
Laundry
Tips for guides and drivers
What to Bring on This Adventure:
Comfortable walking shoes and sandals
Dressy attire for nights out
Bathing suit for spa and beach
Day pack or bag
Reusable water bottle
You will receive a detailed packing list upon registering
Travel Insurance
Insurance is strongly recommended for your Bold Spirit trip.
We highly recommend that you obtain adequate coverage for cancellation, curtailment, and loss of luggage and personal effects.
Your deposit and final trip balance can then be recovered via a claim to your insurance provider in the event that you must cancel your adventure due to unforeseen circumstances.
No refunds are issued 90 days or fewer from departure.
Check out insurance options at Tinleg, Squaremouth, and WorldNomads.
Other Considerations
Our itinerary is subject to change based on availability and unforeseen conditions.
The minimum group number for this trip to run is six participants.
Payment dates:
Deposit: 600 euros upon registering
2 subsequent payments
You must abide by Italian rules and COVID protocols. Bold Spirit Travel is not responsible if you cannot enter Italy due to lack of vaccination or other entry requirements.
Refund amounts are determined as follows:
120+ days before trip: Full refund minus non-refundable deposit
120–90 days before trip: 50% of balance minus non-refundable deposit
90 days or fewer before trip: No refund
We use your deposit to secure your hotel room and guides. This is why it is not refundable. Please get travel insurance (see above).
Luggage:
1 wheel-on bag no more than 50lbs
1 day pack
1 purse
Please do not bring more than this on the trip as we have limited space in the van.
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