VESUVIUS, POMPEII & THE AMALFI COAST

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1 Visit Pompeii and Vesuvius and walk the very best Amalfi Coast trails on this Italian walking and cultural holiday. Enjoy spectacular views and explore the pretty towns of Amalfi and Ravello Hike the exhilarating Walk of the Gods and stroll through Positano Wander through ancient Pompeii and visit the UNESCO giant of Vesuvius A wonderful mix of walking, sightseeing and relaxing on the Amalfi Coast HOLIDAY CODE VCA Italy, Trek & Walk, 8 Days 7 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners, max group size: 16, 6 days walking and sightseeing, max altitude metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction As one of Italy s most breath-taking landscapes, the Amalfi Coast is a beautiful area of dramatic mountains plunging into the sea alongside charming villages, secret coves, lush olive groves, zesty lemon orchards and picture-postcard towns clinging to the cliffs. Described as one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, the romantic and spectacular Amalfi Coast is one of Italy s most picture perfect areas for a relaxed walking holiday. This centre-based holiday takes you on a walking and cultural journey along footpaths with spectacular sea views. We ll explore the beautiful harbour town of Amalfi, the colourful village of Ravello and the pretty centre of Positano. A holiday highlight is the atmospheric and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii overlooked by the towering giant of Mount Vesuvius. After Pompeii we ll walk on Vesuvius which offers spectacular views over the Bay of Naples. We finish the week in style with one of the world s best walks the jaw-dropping Walk of the Gods which offers awesome views of the peninsula. If you re looking for a lovely Italian walking holiday bursting with flavour and colour, then this is the perfect one. Is this holiday for you? This centre-based walking week allows us to see all the spectacular locations nestled in this beautiful corner of southern Italy. The holiday includes 5 days of leisurely walking and, on several occasions the walking is largely downhill towards the sea. There can be as much as 5 hours of walking during the course of the day, mostly on good trails with some stepped sections which can be steep. The ascent of Vesuvius involves a 2-hour round trip and an ascent of about 200 metres on a zig-zagging trail. While there is sufficient walking on each day to satisfy regular hikers, it is intended that this should be a relaxing holiday with a gentle pace. Being centre-based offers the opportunity to have a day off walking and relax if you so wish. A well-planned day at leisure in the middle of the week ensures the perfect combination of walking and sightseeing. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Agerola. A single transfer from Naples Airport is provided. The group will meet at Naples Airport and a single transfer from Naples Airport is provided. After settling in KE Land Only package services begin with a briefing from our guide on the week s activities. In the evening we'll enjoy dinner at our accommodation. MEALS D Day 2: Hike along the Monte Lattari trail for breath-taking views of the Amalfi peninsula. After breakfast we take a brief bus journey to the start of our walk in the rural land of Agerola. Our trail leads us out the village as we follow a lovely footpath which snakes through terraces of tomatoes, lemons and grapes. The Amalfi Coast is famous for its lemons which were originally grown to provide Vitamin C for sailors on long sea journeys. By the 19th century the Amalfi lemon has assumed great social and economic importance and after an enormous amount of work, the previously unproductive rural landscape was transformed into terracing. Small orchards are known as piazzas and accessed by steep staircases. Even today freshly picked lemons are transported on the shoulders of manual workers. We ascend gradually until reaching a superb viewpoint where we'll be treated to our first glimpse of the Amalfi coast and the famed Isle of Capri. We continue along old mule tracks and as we walk we'll enjoy some spectacular views of Sorrentine peninsula. This incredible landscape is truly unique with deep valleys, majestic mountains and jaw-dropping sea views. There are many great viewpoints along the way and we'll pick one of these for our picnic lunch. In the afternoon we'll make our way back to our hotel, but not before stopping to sample some locally produced Limoncello. As one of the most famous aperitifs in Italy, Limoncello is

3 PAGE 3 delicious when served chilled. This popular tipple is a great way to end the walk and don't forget it's very enjoyable after dinner too. DESCENT 650M ASCENT 650M TIME 5 HOURS HOURS DISTANCE 10KM MEALS BLD Day 3: Visit to Pompeii and Vesuvius. We start the day with a private transfer to Pompei where we visit one of the world's most famed towns. The story of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is humbling and even today it's an atmospheric place to wander. As one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilisation, Pompeii is like an open book which lay buried under ash for 1700 years. The site is extremely atmospheric and the best way to take it all in is to take your time and stroll through the archaeological city. Under the towering shadow of Vesuvius, Pompeii is a stark reminder of what lies inside Vesuvius. Here you can walk down Roman streets and visit millennia-old houses, temples, shops, cafes, amphitheatres and villas. In the afternoon we transfer Vesuvius and hike to the top of this sleeping giant. We start by walking up a series of switchbacks as we leave the vegetation behind and make our way towards the crater as were' surrounded with fantastic views over the Sorrento Peninsula and Pompeii. We'll be able to look down into the crater as Vesuvius has had several explosive since Pompeii. The last eruption occurred in MEALS BD TIME 2 HOURS HOURS Day 4: Walk through the Valle delle Ferriere Nature Reserve to picture postcard Amalfi. Today's lovely walk takes us through the cliff top villages and hamlets of Agerola to the pretty town of Amalfi. We start the day by leaving Agerola and follow lovely trails to the unique national reserve of Valle delle Ferriere. This lovely little reserve has a very special micro climate due to its lush vegetation and warm southern wind. Along the way we'll discover rare woodland species and if we're really lucky several types of orchid. Our footpath through this magical woodland takes us to a beautiful moss clad waterfall where we can enjoy a riverside picnic lunch. In the afternoon we'll walk down into Amalfi passing lemon groves along the trail. On reaching this pretty little harbour town there will be time to wander through its charming and compact centre before enjoying a drink in the main piazza. This little town which has given its name to the coast is situated at the mouth of the Valle dei Mulini. Amalfi was once the first of the Four Maritime Republics of Italy and for many years owned a trade monopoly with the East. From afar the town looks like a cluster of white house's clinging to the rock face which are connected to each other by covered alleys and stairs. At the centre of the main square is the beautiful Cathedral of St. Andrew, with its impressive staircase and bell-tower in Arab-Norman style. Amalfi is a great place to return to on tomorrow's free day. DESCENT 900M ASCENT 250M TIME 5 HOURS HOURS DISTANCE 9KM MEALS BLD Day 5: A day at leisure to re-visit Amalfi, take a boat to Capri or visit Herculaneum. Today is free for you to relax and enjoy the local area, take a boat trip to Capri or visit the ancient site of Herculaneum. One option is to head back to Amalfi and people watch from one of the many pavement cafes. Amalfi is one of the most historic towns along the Amalfi Coast, having had a glorious history as a maritime republic and was once equal in status to Pisa, Venice and Genoa. A good place to walk is along the water's edge on

4 PAGE 4 the pretty promenade and towards the marina full of colourful boats with their international flags. Why not visit the focal point of the historic centre, the Piazza del Duomo in front of the cathedral. Clustered with sidewalk cafes and elegant shops, the church is worth a visit with its Byzantine style alongside Moorish arches. Dedicated to St. Andrew, the Duomo di Sant Andrea is a truly beautiful building and inside you'll find amazing frescos and a highly decorated crypt. From Amalfi you can also take the ferry to the Isle of Capri famed as a ritzy island. Capri is an island of myths ranging from sirens charming seafarers to 1950s celebrities in oval sunglasses. It is always good to remember that Capri is a popular day-trip destination so expect it to be quite busy because of its wonderful location and world famous reputation. Alternatively you may wish to visit to the superbly preserved Roman town of Herculaneum. Herculaneum is the sister site to Pompeii, and was buried by the major eruption of Vesuvius. The site of Herculaneum is very atmospheric with preserved wooden lofts, wine racks and beds. MEALS B Day 6: Walk the atmospheric Valley of the Mills to the breath-taking hillside jewel of Ravello. After breakfast we head to Amalfi and the start of today's walk which takes us through the historic Mulini Valley or Valley of the Mills. This historic valley is home to abandoned mills which were once thriving during the 11th and 12th century. This deep valley originated from a huge eruption which devastated the Mediterranean area around years ago. Here you'll find ancient flour mills built of stone which took advantage of the constant stream at the bottom of the valley. The mills used to grind all the types of wheat needed by the Sorrentine people in the surrounding areas. After the establishment of the flour mills it wasn't long until a saw mill was built and a washhouse for laundering clothes. However in the 1940s the buildings were closed and since then they have become almost hidden in the lush greenery. It's a great place to explore and as we continue our walk we can enjoy views across to Amalfi and towards Ravello, the jewel of the Amalfi Coast. Known for its beautiful gardens and historical links to Virginia Wolf, DH Lawrence and Greto Garbo, Ravello is described as the crowning centrepiece of the Amalfi coast and sits high on the hills above Amalfi. There will be time to have a stroll through this lovely little town which was constructed on the site of a settlement believed to have been built by a Roman colony fleeing from the barbarians. The town has a cathedral, an elegant central piazza and striking sea views. DESCENT 760M ASCENT 430M TIME 5 HOURS HOURS DISTANCE 11KM MEALS BLD Day 7: Hike the jaw-dropping Walk of the Gods to the beautiful pastel town of Positano. A grand finale to the week is the spectacular walk of the gods. We start with a short bus journey to Bomerano and join an ancient terraced mule path linking Agerola to the charming coastal town of Positano. Known as the Walk of the Gods this spectacular walk is a must on the Amalfi Coast as it follows a cliff path which offers a panoramic views across the stunning Sorrentine peninsula. The footpath takes you through sections of hillside forests and even today it is still used by farmers, woodmen and shepherds as it passes vineyards which cling to the mountain. Beside the path, you'll find caves and terraces dropping from the cliffs right down to the sea - hence the name Walk of the Gods! We can keep a look out for peregrine falcons and kestrels soaring above. Before long we can make out the pretty pink town of Positano hugging the cliff side. Just before reaching Positano we walk through the village of Nocelle which is the perfect place to enjoy the views and hear chimes from the monastery clock before we begin our descent to the beach. We'll pass fig, olive and hibiscus trees before arriving in Positano. Positano is the Amalfi Coast's most photogenic town, with houses tumbling down to the sea in a cascade of peach, pink and terracotta. There will be time to stroll through the backstreets and before we head back to Agerola by ferry. (Pease

5 PAGE 5 note, the ferry is dependent on sea conditions and if it is not always to travel by ferry we'll transfer to Agerola by bus). DESCENT 900M ASCENT 300M TIME 5 HOURS HOURS DISTANCE 9KM MEALS BLD Day 8: Departure day. A single transfer to Naples Airport is provided. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. A single timed group transfer to Naples Airport is provided. (Please note that should you wish to extend you stay in Naples, unfortunately we are unable to book hotels as KE holidays don't start in the city, but Naples is an easy place to explore and there are regular transport connections between the city and the airport). MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included An experienced English-speaking local guide All transfers included in the land only itinerary Entrance fees at Pompei and on Mount Vesuvius Airport transfers as described All accommodation as described Meals as per the Meal Plan What's Not Included Travel insurance Tips for local staff Some meals per the Meal Plan Miscellaneous personal expenses - souvenirs and drinks etc Any activities or excursions on day 5 Airport transfers as described Meal Plan All breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches and 6 dinners are included. Food Part of the experience of any visit to Italy is the opportunity to taste its wonderful cuisine. The Amalfi region traditionally has a 'Mediterranean' diet, rich in vegetables, pasta, fish and olive oil which latterly has come to be equated with longevity. The soil here is very rich, probably because of Vesuvius, and everywhere we go we will see an abundance of tomatoes, zucchinis, chilli and basil, terraces of grapes, and orchards of lemons, apples, and chestnuts. It is hardly surprising that the Amalfi coast has some of the best cuisine in the world. Breakfast in Italy is traditionally continental in style with bread, pastries or cakes, yoghurt, jam and honey served with tea or

6 PAGE 6 coffee. Alongside the food, Italian wine is excellent and an important part of any meal! Italy is also famous for its aperitifs, from chilled prosecco to campari, vermouth and cinzano all served over ice. Don't forget the zesty local limoncello and the famous after dinner fiery grappas! Joining Arrangements & Transfers On day one of the land only itinerary there is a single timed transfer at around 10:30am from the airport in Naples to the group hotel in Agerola. A KE representative will meet the group in the arrivals hall to organise this transfer. Any clients who are arriving earlier than this and wish to join the transfer should meet the KE Representative in the arrivals hall at 10:30am. If you are arriving later please contact the KE office and we can help organise a private transfer for you. Taxi's are readily available from outside the airport and will cost approximately one way. At the end of your holiday on day 8, there is a single timed transfer from Agerola to Naples airport. This will be arriving at Naples airport at approximately If your onward travel arrangements do not allow you to take advantage of this transfer then please contact the office. Accommodation During this trip, the group will spend 7 nights in a comfortable, family run hotel in Agerola. Staying in the rural dwelling of Agerola provides a great insight into the traditional lifestyles of the local Amalfi communities, as we spend the week exploring the surrounding region from our friendly base. Accommodation is based on twin sharing and if you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired with another solo traveller of the same sex. Group Leader & Support Staff An experienced, professional, English-speaking local guide will lead the trip. Altitude This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip. Spending Money Approximately should cover all miscellaneous personal expenditure, the non-included meals and activities on your free day as well as reasonable tips for the local staff. You can withdraw cash (euros only) from ATM's in Naples and Agerola. If you intend to travel with cash, you should take this in the form of euros or euro travellers cheques. Guidance On Tipping Tips do not form part of the wages of local staff but they are very much appreciated. It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service. It is best if the tip is given at the end of the trip by the group as a whole. We recommend that each group member contributes around to a group pool and that tips are then distributed between the guide and other support staff as the group feels is appropriate. It is a good idea also to have small change for other tips such as in restaurants or for porters carrying your bags at hotels. Free KE Gift

7 PAGE 7 We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance There is no weight limit, other than that imposed by the airline. We ask you to restrict your luggage to one main trek bag and one small daypack. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on an active holiday getting some additional exercise. Whilst regular hiking in hill or back country is the best preparation, Jogging, squash and swimming are also good for developing better cardiovascular fitness and stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single,

8 PAGE 8 authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Climate The Amalfi coast exhibits a typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters. The best time to visit is from April to June and from September to October, when temperatures are the most pleasant. At these times of year, daytime temperatures will vary between 20 and 30 degrees centigrade, falling to between 10 and 20 degrees centigrade at night. Books Lonely Planet Naples and the Amalfi Coast Eyewitness Guides Naples and the Amalfi Coast Cadogan Guides Bay of Naples and Southern Italy Insight Guides Southern Italy Pompeii Robert Harris (fiction) Pompeii The living city - Alex Butterworth (semi-fiction) Maps Gulf Of Naples 1:50,000 Freytag & Berndt The main map covers the Gulf of Naples from Monte di Prcida & the Parco dei Campi Flegrei to the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi. All of Vesuvius is included along with lava flows and their dates. This is a German map but the legend includes English. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Naples International Airport which is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to Joining Arrangements and Transfers in the trip dossier for further details. If flying from the UK there are a number of low cost airlines offering flights to Naples. These include Easyjet who have flights from London, Liverpool & Edinburgh. Other airports may be available. Click on the 'Flight information'

9 PAGE 9 link below for further information on booking low cost airlines. Alternatively if you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the trip is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found

10 PAGE 10 at and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

11 PAGE 11 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Hiking boots Trainers or sandals Socks Underwear Trekking trousers Waterproof jacket Waterproof overtrouser Thermal baselayer shirts T-shirts and/or casual shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Sunhat Warm hat Sunglasses Daypack 30 litres Headtorch and spare batteries Sun protection (including for lips) Water bottles 1 litre (x2) Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial handwash Swimwear Small towel Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multivitamin tablets. The Following Items Are Optional: Gaiters Trekking poles Shorts

12 PAGE 12 Insect repellant - (DEET) Camera Spare laces Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag) Please note that on this trip, there are a number of occasions when you will need to carry your KE bag for short distances. Some clients have found that a piece of luggage with wheels makes sense for this holiday. Please note: This document was downloaded on 6 Feb 2018, and the trip is subject to change.