Italy·15 - 21 October 2024

The Awe-Inspiring Amalfi Coast

The legendary Amalfi Coast – a glorious landscape of fragrant lemon groves, breath-taking cliffs, an azure sea, and colorful villages.

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Overview

Journey with us to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Ravello, Positano, and the chic island of Capri to understand why travelers have flocked to this part of Italy for centuries. Visiting the Amalfi Coast is a breathtaking experience, where the dramatic cliffs plunge into the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, and picturesque towns cling to the rugged landscape. Each village along this stunning coastline has its unique charm, from the pastel-colored buildings of Positano cascading down to the beach, to the historic beauty of Amalfi with its impressive cathedral. The coastal drive itself, the famous Strada Statale 163 - 'road of 1,000 bends' - with its panoramic views, is an adventure in and of itself. The Amalfi Coast is also rich in history. We'll visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii in the shadow of the awe-inspiring Mount Vesuvius. And of course, a trip to the Amalfi Coast also means indulging in Italy's finest cuisine, with fresh seafood, fragrant lemons, and homemade pasta taking center stage. This adventure is about all the good things in life: friendship, natural beauty, R&R, and spectacular Italian food.

Highlights

Explore Pompeii, an affluent city frozen in time (79 AD)

Explore Pompeii, an affluent city frozen in time (79 AD)

Swim in the warm sea along the Amalfi Coast

Swim in the warm sea along the Amalfi Coast

Sip limoncello in the very place where it’s made

Sip limoncello in the very place where it’s made

Wander the winding cobblestones of Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano

Wander the winding cobblestones of Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano

Devour a meal after a cooking class

Devour a meal after a cooking class

Feel the wind in your hair on a boat ride to Capri

Feel the wind in your hair on a boat ride to Capri

Shop the boutiques and sip wine in central Sorrento

Shop the boutiques and sip wine in central Sorrento

Indulge yourself with superb Italian meals

Indulge yourself with superb Italian meals

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip.

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Naples

Day 1: Tuesday, October 15th, 2024

Book a flight to arrive at Naples International Airport (NAP) by midday. (Or come a day early if you'd like to rest, relax, and adjust to the local time). Grab a taxi at the airport taxi stand – they are plentiful – and head to your 4-star hotel, the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia in central Naples.

Take time to settle in and freshen up before meeting the rest of the GG2W group in the lobby for a drink and orientation in the early evening. It's time for a walking tour of downtown Naples with our expert guide.

Get to know your fellow travelers and discover what we've planned for the week over a delicious welcome dinner.

Included

Dinner

Not Included

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Pompeii and Sorrento

Day 2: Wednesday, October 16th, 2024

Today, we'll visit Vulcan – or Hephaestus if you prefer his Greek incarnation. Vulcan ruled fire and volcanoes in ancient times, and today, we’ll discover Vesuvius, the volcano that stopped time in 79 AD. Prepare to explore one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Italy. An expert guide will lead us through Pompeii, the ancient city buried under 20 feet of volcanic ash when Vesuvius erupted. This natural disaster has made it possible to look upon life as it was almost 2000 years ago. 

*You may want to bring your walking poles since Pompeii has uneven, ancient streets.

From Pompeii, we’ll hop into our private transport and zip off to lunch and a wine tasting on Mt. Vesuvius. We’ll sample wines from this volcanic area before heading to Sorrento and checking into our new hotel, the Hotel Continental.

You’ll have time to relax and get to know your base for the next few days.

In the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner together in Sorrento.

Included

All Meals

LemonGrove

Amalfi Coast

Day 3: Thursday, October 17th, 2024

Prepare to taste the best of the Amalfi region today.

Our first stop is a local olive oil mill where you'll see how they make the most important Italian ingredient. We’ll explore an olive oil mill and taste local oil varieties. You can also buy olive oil from the source if you like.

Next, we’ll tour a limoncello factory and walk through lemon groves. Learn from locals how this golden sunshine digestive is made and why the regional lemons are so important to its production.

Lunch is at a farmhouse among the lemons.

In the afternoon, we’ll zip back to Sorrento, where you can take time to relax with a drink on the terrace, go shopping and explore this charming seaside town, or read a great book with an Aperol spritz in hand as your gaze at the jaw-dropping view of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

We'll enjoy a lovely meal together this evening.

Included

All Meals

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Capri

Day 4: Friday, October 18th, 2024

Sip your cappuccino at the hotel, then grab your sunglasses and swimsuit – we’re off to Capri in a private boat. This a thrilling way to see the Amalfi Coastline. Weather permitting, we'll visit the famous Blue Grotto.

We’ll dock for lunch on the island and enjoy a meal at a seaside eatery with the waves lapping nearby.  Tuck into a Caprese salad and delicious pasta, but leave room for dessert.

We’ll stop in Capri Town for gelato and free time to explore and shop.

At the end of our day, our captain will take us back to the hotel in Sorrento.

It’s been a big day – enjoy dinner alone in town, or order room service and relax.

Included

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Not Included

Dinner

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Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano

Day 5: Saturday, October 19th, 2024

A private driver will pick us up after breakfast to explore the highlights of the Amalfi Coast. This is the Amalfi you’ve seen on postcards and travel shows, the curling coastline featuring dramatic cliffs and colorful villas juxtaposed against the azure sea.

We’ll visit Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano, three villages guaranteed to fill your camera with snapshots of La Dolce Vita! 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’ll take a mini-cruise in a boat from one beach-side town to the next. The rest of the tour is by minibus.

We’ll enjoy a traditional lunch with our GG2W crew during this all-day trip.

This is our last night in Sorrento. Enjoy this beautiful place for one more spring night before we leave for Naples tomorrow. Dinner on your own this evening.

Included

B-L

Not Included

Dinner

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Naples

Day 6: Sunday, October 20th, 2024

We say arrivederci to Sorrento today. Enjoy a light, leisurely breakfast at the hotel and another long look at the seaside. We’ll have free time this morning to relax or explore.

We're going to put you to work for your lunch today. We'll slice and dice with a local chef and then dig into the fruits of our labor for lunch!

After lunch, we'll hop into the mini-bus and head back to the big city of Naples, about a 90-minute drive.

We’ll check into our hotel in Naples, the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia, and enjoy some downtime.

Tonight, we'll head out for our last dinner together and toast to a great trip shared.

Included

All Meals

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Naples

Day 7: Monday, October 21st, 2024

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 new pals. Take a taxi to the airport to fly out of the Naples International Airport. We can help you arrange this at the hotel. It is a quick ride to the airport from Naples.

Included

Breakfast

You'll Be Staying Here

Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

The Grand Hotel Santa Lucia along the Bay of Naples combines luxury and traditional amenities.

Hotel Continental

Hotel Continental

Hotel Continental is across the street from the beach. From the rooftop deck, you'll have sweeping views of the sea. It's a great spot for breakfast or even a post-dinner limoncello.

Hosts

Say ciao to your trip leader, Regina

Regina Winkle-Bryan

Regina Winkle-Bryan

Regina hails from the Pacific Northwest in the United States (she calls Seattle home). She lived in Europe for ten years and speaks fluent Spanish, some Italian, and a little Catalan. The Amalfi Coast is one of her favorite places. Along with local Italian guides, Regina will lead this trip and introduce you to the best of Southern Italy. Regina also leads the GG2P Barcelona tour.

Add Ons

Arrive one day early in Italy

Includes one night and breakfast at the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia

PRICE$395.00

Playground of the ancient Greeks and Romans

The Amalfi Coast

Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Sorrento, and the Island of Capri - it just gets better and better with each turn of the famous Strada Statale 163 - 'road of 1,000 bends'. You won't believe how beautiful it is driving along the edge of huge cliffs and deep gorges, slicing through lemon groves and whitewashed villages, rising and dipping above the Mediterranean Sea.

The Amalfi Coast

What's Included

What's Included

6 nights at beautiful hotels

All meals as indicated in the detailed itinerary

Welcome cocktail toast

An English-speaking facilitator accompanying you every step of the way

All transportation excluding airport transfers

A small group experience

Expert Italian guides to show you the best of the area

A planning and packing guide to get you ready for this adventure

A pre-tour planning meeting on Zoom

Welcome Gift

Roundtrip airfare to Naples, Italy

Taxi or other transfer to/from the Naples airport (taxi’s are much easier!)

Additional wine, beer, or spirits beyond what is offered at meals.

Spa treatments

All personal souvenir purchases or wines you want to take or ship home

Travel and Medical Insurance (required)

Reviews

"Where do I start??? This trip was one of the most enjoyable, if not THE most enjoyable trip I have ever taken - and I did a lot of traveling before Covid. ... The trip definitely exceeded my expectations based on how well the itinerary was planned, the hotels and restaurants that were chosen and how wonderful it was to have someone like Regina as our facilitator. " Mary H - Langhorne, PA, USA

2022 guest

"If you are contemplating a solo trip Girls Guide is the way to go. I was apprehensive because this was my first solo travel internationally. This trip changed me, it took me out of my comfort zone and made me realize that if you tell yourself you can do something you really can! I was so present and enjoyed every minute of this wonderful experience with some really great ladies." - Tracy D.

2023 guest

The Amalfi Coast trip was one of the best vacations I have ever taken. It was one fun experience after another, with beautiful scenery, culture, great hotels, and delicious food. And so relaxing because there are no worries about logistics; your Trip Leader makes it all happen. - Cathy M.

2023 Guest

FAQs

The trip officially starts the afternoon of October 15, 2024, but if you’re traveling across an ocean to get to Italy, consider arriving a day or two early so you have time to relax and adjust to the local time zone. If you do decide to arrive early, let us know and we’ll help you with arrangements if you like.

Fly into Naples International Airport (NAP) by midday. (Or come a day early if you'd like to rest, relax, and adjust to the local time). Grab a taxi at the airport taxi stand – they are plentiful – and head to your 4-star hotel, the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia in central Naples.

We will have a zoom call about 8 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website that we love that will help you with packing and travel trips.

In October, the maximum temperature is 71°F, and the minimum temperature is 60°F, which represents 22°C and 16°C. 

Regina is a Pacific Northwest native, now calling Seattle home. She spent a decade in Europe mastering Spanish, Italian, and Catalan. The Amalfi Coast is one of her favorite places. Regina leads tours in Southern Italy and Barcelona.

Inquire about this trip

The Awe-Inspiring Amalfi Coast

Italy· 15 - 21 October 2024· 6 nights