SEA KAYAKING THE AMALFI COAST

Arrival in Naples or Salerno in case you arrive a day earlier. Naples has an international airport, the closest to the Amalfi Coast. From here you can easily travel by train or bus to Salerno, the meeting point for this trip. We recommend staying at Hotel Montestella in Salerno on this night. Everyone will be picked up in front of this hotel on Day 1. If you’re trip starts in Positano, you have the option to meet your guide at the Salerno Ferry terminal on Day 1 or at the hotel in Positano.

In the early afternoon, you’ll be picked up from Salerno (optional transfer from Naples) by private car and brought to the charming small fishing harbor at Cetara, one of the most authentic spots on the Amalfi Coast. You settle in your beautiful hotel, just outside the village, overlooking the whole bay of Salerno and the Amalfi Coast, and literally a few steps from the beach where you can already go for a first swim. Towards the end of the afternoon, we meet our tour leader and the rest of the group. After a brief introduction of the tour, we will outfit everyone with paddles and PFDs and offer some basic kayaking instruction. Then we go for a short introductory trip toward the small town of Cetara itself. We’ll go for a short stroll through the colorful streets, soaking up its atmosphere. Then we have our relaxed aperitivo on the beach and slowly paddle back to our hotel. In the evening we eat together in the nice restaurant of our hotel, overlooking the Mediterranean.

Accommodation: Hotel**** in Cetara – Meals included: 1 aperitivo, 1 dinner

We’ll enjoy a great breakfast this morning overlooking the Mediterranean and then walk down to our beach. We thoroughly check all our gear again before going for our first kayaking day trip. We’ll begin paddling along the amazing coastline to the east. This coastline has stupendous alternating scenery, ranging from impressive bare cliffs to terraced lemon groves and isolated small beaches.

The first stop we’ll make is on a small beach with a fresh water source, then we continue towards Vietri sul Mare, famous for its ceramics, where we can make a short ‘biscuit stop’ (a drink and a snack). We’ll then paddle around I Due Fratelli, two isolated rocky islands which are the symbol of Vietri. Those who want can opt to paddle towards Salerno. We will have a beautiful view of the city and the mountain scenery behind it from the red lighthouse. We can even choose to go ashore at the beach of Santa Teresa, only a few steps away from the beautiful historical centre.

We will have a picnic lunch on a nice beach between Vietri and Cetara, then paddle back to our hotel where we still have some time for a swim, drink on the beach, or just some relaxation. Those who want can go and get their aperitivo in the beautiful small hamlet of Erchie, a favorite among the local kayakers. In the evening, we go out for dinner together in a nice restaurant in the medieval town centre of Cetara.

Accommodation: Hotel**** in Cetara – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 picnic lunch, 1 dinner

We’ll get an early start as the day’s sea kayaking will take us along one of the most famous stretches of coastline in Italy to our final destination of the beautiful city of Amalfi, the heart of the Amalfi Coast! We start paddling along the amazing coastline to the west. The first small village we pass is Erchie, a small hamlet of just a few houses dominated by a medieval watchtower and a beautiful beach, perfect for a short biscuit stop and a swim. We then continue along the rocky shore, exploring many sea grottos and land on isolated beaches. High above us, we’ll notice the sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Avvocata as we approach one of the most pristine areas of the Amalfi Coast, the amazing headland of Capo D’orso. This area will surprise you with its many sea grottos and small waterfalls.

After we round the cape, we’ll have lunch on a beautiful beach, Spiaggia Cavallo Morto. Post-lunch, we can visit the Grotta Pandora and have coffee on a quaint beach. Now we enter the true heart of the Amalfi Coast, with a number of beautiful coastal villages including Ravello and its beautiful terraced gardens high above the coast. We paddle past Maiori and go ashore in the delightful small town of Minori, where we can taste the famous Delizia al Limone (Lemon Delight, the famos lemon cake of Positano). Here, we have some time to stroll through its narrow streets and have a drink on the wonderful town square. Before landing at Amalfi, we can perhaps make a last stop in Atrani, perhaps the best preserved village of the Amalfi Coast. From here, Amalfi is only a mile away.

Once we arrive in Amalfi, we dock our kayaks and relax in our hotel in the heart of the historical centre, literally two steps from the beach. You could also opt to go for a short stroll through the colorful streets, or maybe make another dive into the sea. In the evening, we join together for a great evening meal. We are taken by private boat to a nice restaurant located in a wonderful little bay nearby. After dinner, we travel back to our hotel in Amalfi, gliding by boat over the glorious Mediterranean.

Accommodation: Hotel*** in Amalfi – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 picnic lunch, 1 dinner

Today is a day off from kayaking. We’ll use the opportunity to discover some of the highlights of the Amalfi Coast: Amalfi itself, of course, but also beautiful medieval Atrani, the smallest town in Italy, and amazing Ravello with its stunning gardens. Alternatively, you could opt for a boat ride to the beautiful island of Capri, where you can see the famous sites as well go for a nice walk along its Roman villas. Or, we can stretch our legs on one of the most spectacular hikes in the region, Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods). This famous hike is on a well-maintained path built into the side of the steep cliffs, mostly downhill with a few short climbs. The views are breathtaking, giving you a completely different perspective of the Amalfi Coast.

We will end our hike in the small hillside town of Montepertuso where we’ll have a delicious lunch overlooking Positano and the clear waters of the Mediterranean. After lunch, we’ll make our way to Positano to catch a ferry back to Amalfi. The ride back on the ferry will give us a teaser of the paddle to come the next day. Back in Amalfi, we’ll have time to relax and enjoy Amalfi’s town centre. In the evening, we’ll join together for a great evening meal. We are picked up by private boat and brought to a nice restaurant located in a splendid little bay nearby. After dinner, we travel back to our hotel in Amalfi, gliding by boat over the glorious Mediterranean.

Breakfast and dinner included.

Today’s sea kayaking will take us along one of the most famous stretches of coastline in Italy to our final destination, the enchanting city of Positano! Our first destination will be the colorful village of Conca dei Marini, dominated by the impressive monastery of Santa Rosa high above it. We paddle along an amazing coastline with lemon groves, vineyards, and charming little villages suspended halfway the water and the sky. Past the villa of Sofia Loren, we reach a beautiful beach for some relaxation. Then we paddle around the headland of Conca with its medieval Torre Saracena (Saracen tower). Our next destination is the amazing fjord of Furore, where we will enjoy a coffee break between the colored fishing boats. Those who want can take a short walk to discover the small hamlet (which has been the set for several movies) and the amazing scenery of the fjord. Then we continue along the coast to the west.

We’ll enjoy some short stops at many of the water access ports along the coast like Marina di Praia, or the delightful, isolated beaches between Praiano and Positano, places where the likes of Liz Taylor and Jackie Kennedy had a good time back in the ’60s. We’ll have lunch at one of the nice restaurants along the way. Arriving in the elegant and cosmopolitan Positano, we will dock our kayaks on the large beach underneath our hotel. You will now have the time for a swim or some relaxation in our comfortable hotel. Or take the chance to explore the steep city streets and wander up into the hillside grabbing a bird’s eye view of the water below. Tonight we’ll celebrate our accomplishments with another wonderful dinner experience on the premises of our hotel overlooking the Mediterranean.

Accommodation: Hotel*** in Positano – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch.

Today, we’ll discover the amazing coastline west of Positano. Although Positano has become one of the most sought-after resorts in Italy, due to its geography it has maintained a larger number of hidden treasures, like a number of wonderful small isolated beaches which can only be reached on foot or by water. There are about 20 of these small beaches which we can practically have for ourselves. We’ll paddle to the west, past the beautiful watchtower of Clavel, towards the headland of Punta Germano, where we’ll paddle into a number of beautiful grottos. In front of us we’ll see The Sirenusas, an archipelago of small rocky islands (also known as Islands of the Sirens), with Capri as the backdrop. Experienced kayakers can take the opportunity to make a paddling loop around these wonderful islands. In Greek, times the islands were believed to be the home of the Sirens; until recently, they belonged to the late Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev.

Some may choose to take the opportunity to continue paddling towards the little inlet of Fiordo di Crapolla, where it is believed that Saint Peter embarked on his way to Rome. Its small pebbly beach with crystal clear water, the remains of the old fishing village, the small chapel, and the Roman villa just above it, make it a unique spot for a short break. Others might wish to relax on one of the beaches. We can have a picnic lunch at Spiaggia di Tordigliano, a beautiful beach, or we can opt to return earlier to Positano and have a great (fish) lunch in one of the beach restaurants.

Back in Positano, we will have some time to stroll through its narrow Moresque streets, do some shopping, or just have a drink on its seafront boulevard. Later, we join together for a great last evening meal and raise our glasses to perhaps our best kayaking adventure ever. After dinner, we might decide to make a last short stroll along the amazing coastline and go for a drink together.

Accommodation: Hotel*** in Positano – Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

The tour ends in Positano after breakfast today (unless you booked an extension – extra days available upon request). You can easily make your own way from Positano to Salerno or Naples, either by boat or bus. A taxi transfer can be arranged on request.