Walking Holidays in Italy - Late Availability

Page & Moy have availability for the following Italian Walking Holidays this September...

Walks of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
8 days from £780
Dates Available: 16th September 2009
The views you will experience as you explore Sorrento, Ravello and Crapolla are second to none. See mountains and quaint rural villages as you walk along the Pathway of the Gods, sample local delicacies and visit Pompeii and Vesuvius.

The Island of Sardinia
8 days from £770
Dates Available: 19th September 2009
This is an unforgettable holiday on Sardinia, one of the Mediterranean’s most stunning islands. Explore the stunning coastline, from the beautiful beaches of the Costa Smeralda to Alghero, visit charming towns and villages and take the opportunity to visit Corsica and the beautiful La Maddalena archipelago.

Telephone Page & Moy on 0845 358 2639 now to reserve your space

Walking Holiday in Sicily with Travelsphere. 8 days from £799.

Walking Holiday in Sicily with Travelsphere. 8 days from £799. Fly from Gatwick

This superb holiday takes you to northern Sicily and the beautiful Saracen Coast. It is an area of secluded bays and coves, fertile mountains and charming villages. You will walk in the lovely Nebrodi National Park, rich in flora and fauna and, of course, on the slopes of the famous volcano, Mount Etna.

Telephone Travelsphere on 0845 358 2368 to reserve your space

What's Included
* Return scheduled flights to Catania
* Transfers between airport and hotel
* Services of an air-conditioned executive coach
* Seven nights’ half board accommodation
* Welcome drink
* Services of a Get Up & Go Tour Manager
* Three walks with a local guide and excursions as detailed
* Sicilian evening
* Two picnic lunches and wine tasting
* All UK and overseas airport taxes and security charges
* Insurance and cancellation cover

Walking Information
Our walks require a reasonable level of fitness and ideally some previous walking experience. You will need comfortable walking boots, a small rucksack, waterproofs, a hat and sunglasses. A local guide will also accompany you on your walks.

Grade 1 Walks
These are for anyone of any age. Plenty of rest stops and time to enjoy the local scenery with up to 4 hours walking a day, mostly on good paths but occasionally rough underfoot. Ascent less than 300m per day.

Grade 2 Walks
These are moderate, for anyone who is comfortable walking hills. Still plenty of time to rest and enjoy the scenery, however up to 5 hours walking a day on slightly more rugged terrain. Ascent less than 500m per day.

Accommodation
You will stay in the comfortable family run Hotel il Mulino, centrally located in Capo d’Orlando. recently renovated, the hotel enjoys a seafront location and amenities include a bar, lift and restaurant which serves buffet breakfast. All bedrooms have private facilities, TV, minibar and telephone.

Itinerary

DAY 1 - UK/SICILY
Depart on your scheduled flight to Catania. On arrival transfer to your resort hotel for a seven night stay.

DAYS 2 TO 7 - CAPO D’ORLANDO
Free to relax and enjoy our great range of included walks:

Mangalaviti Woodland Walk - This marvellous three-quarter day excursion takes you to this lovely wood set in a picturesque ravine in the Nebrodi National Park. A picnic lunch is included (approx. 4 hours’ walk). Landscapes of the Nebrodi Mountains - A wonderful walk along the verdant Nebrodi hillsides, with magnificent views of the mountains. A picnic lunch is included (approx. 5 hours’ walk).

Mount Etna - We drive through beautiful forests to Piano Provenzana, from where you can join a walk around the lava flows from the 2003 eruption (approx. 2½ hours’ walk), or take a jeep ride to the highest accessible point on the mountain (extra cost). You will have time for lunch (not included) followed by a visit to a nearby cantina for a guided tour and a tasting of the local wine plus traditional specialities such as cheese and olives.

Tindari - This half day tour takes you to the Sanctuary of the black Madonna, an icon of Byzantine origin housed in a modern church. Enjoy a walk around the ancient town with its well preserved Greco-roman theatre and basilica. The following excursions are optional:

Lipari - A full day trip to the largest of the Aeolian Islands, just off the north coast of Sicily.

Taormina - A three-quarter day tour to this picturesque cliff-top resort, famed for its Greek amphitheatre and views over Mount Etna. Take a stroll through the historic centre and the beautiful public gardens. On one evening there will be an included Sicilian dinner at a local restaurant with traditional live music.

DAY 8 - SICILY/UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Dates, Prices & Departure
holiday ref: GEISI

Departure Dates & Price
08/05/2009 - £819
11/06/2009 - £889
08/09/2009 - £889
06/10/2009 - £799

Deposit £100 per person
All prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin or double-bedded room with private facilities

Surcharges
The Pound has recently fallen significantly in value against other European currencies and, in common with many other businesses, our prices now include an additional charge for all new bookings which has been introduced to cover these additional costs.

Supplements
* Single room supplement £90
* Insurance

Travel Information
Flights are by scheduled services of British Airways
Departing London Gatwick 1030 hrs, Return arr. 1740 hrs
All timings are approximate and may be subject to variation.

Regional Connecting Flights
If you can’t fly direct to your destination from your local airport we offer the choice to take a regional connecting flight to Heathrow or Gatwick from as little as £29 per person return.

Fly from Aberdeen, Belfast, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle or Newquay. (From £29 for Worldwide holidays and from £69 for European holidays.)

Transfers
Transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approx. 2 hours.

Telephone Travelsphere on 0845 358 2368 to reserve your space

Walks of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast - 8 days from £769

Walks of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast with Page & Moy - 8 days from £769

Telephone Page & Moy on 0845 358 2639 now to reserve your space

Indulge yourself with a holiday like no other on one of the most beautiful stretches of the Italian coastline. The views you will experience as you explore Sorrento, Ravello and Crapolla are second to none. See mountains and quaint rural villages as you walk along the Pathway of the Gods, sample local delicacies and then travel back to the days of the Roman Empire with a visit to Pompeii and Vesuvius.

Highlights
* Spectacular scenic walks
* Charming family-run hotel
* Off the beaten track
* Walk and explore or relax

Included excursions
* Sorrento walk
* Crapolla walk
* Bomberano & Positano walk including Mozzarella cheese tasting

Optional excursions
* The Amalfi Coast
* The Island of Ischia & La Mortella Gardens
* Pompeii & Vesuvius

Meal arrangements
* 7 nights half board including a farewell dinner in a local restaurant and lunch on 2 of the walks

Also included
* The services of an experienced Page & Moy Tour Manager and local walking guide

Your Accommodation Hotel Piccolo Paradiso (3-star), 7 nights half board.
Situated between lemon groves and the sea, the hotel is just a short walk from the delightful fishing village of Marina di Lobra. Hotel amenities include a bar, restaurant and swimming pool. All rooms have a TV, air-conditioning, hairdrier and en-suite facilities.

Your Itinerary

DAY 1 UK/Marina di Lobra
We fly to Naples and transfer to our hotel. There will be some free time this afternoon to explore the little port of Marina di Lobra, which is just a short walk away, before dinner at the hotel.

DAY 2 Sorrento
Sorrento has long been a favourite haunt of writers and artists from around the globe, with flower-filled piazzas, elegant shops and pretty pavement cafes. Our walk today begins from the village of Sant’Agata in the hills above Sorrento, passing the Deserto Convent from where, on a clear day, you can see both the Bay of Naples and the Bay of Salerno. We take the ‘Circumpiso’ trail, the old road used by the locals to walk from Sant’Agata to Sorrento. After some free time for a little shopping and lunch, we then enjoy a walking tour of this magnificent town visiting the 13th-century Cloister of St Francesco and exploring the little streets. We discover the seating of the old Dominova where decisions were once made about the community in the old days of the Bourbons. We then head to the magnificent cathedral with its inlaid woodwork, internal doors and altar made by the locals. Easy walking – 2 hours. Distance – 2½ miles.

DAY 3 Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world. Today on our optional excursion we follow the coastal road, overlooking intensely blue waters and tiny villages clinging precariously to the cliffs. En route we stop on the terrace above Positano, a town with pastel coloured houses which seem to be stacked on top of each other. We continue past beautiful villas, gardens and strange rock formations before reaching Amalfi, which is set in a chasm in the cliffs. From here we visit the magnificent cathedral with its mosaic facade before heading to Ravello. Set some 350 metres above the sea, it is from here that many of the well-known images of the Amalfi Coast are taken. We take a short walk, with views of lemon groves and the Ravello gorge along the way, to the Villa Cimbrone, known for its glorious gardens. Nearby are the lush gardens of the Villa Rufolo, which inspired Wagner to base part of his opera, Parsifal, on it. Both gardens offer an unparalleled vista along the coast.

DAY 4 Crapolla
Legend has it that Saint Peter, on his way to spread the Gospel, landed in Crapolla and climbed the cliff up to St Agata before continuing his walk through the Italian Peninsula. Today we are going to follow in his footsteps, albeit in reverse, going down to the small fjord of Crapolla. The steep, rugged walk down passes by olive and lemon groves and descends deep between two hills. Admire the three islands of I Galli, once the property of the world famous ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev; and also, if the weather is clear, the views of the Bay of Salerno up to Santa Maria di Castellabate. As we approach the fjord and small beach, we stop at the stunning San Peter’s Chapel. Down on the beach we may come across the fishermen who make their living in Crapolla, before enjoying the fruits of their labour when we take a short boat ride to Marina del Cantone for lunch in a fish restaurant. Moderate/difficult walking – 3 hours. Distance – 2 miles.

DAY 5 Ischia
The enchanting island of Ischia rises serenely from the sparkling waters of the Bay of Naples. After a jetfoil ride across to the island on our optional excursion, we enjoy a bus tour including a visit to the La Mortella gardens, created by the English composer Sir William Walton and his wife Susanna. They are widely regarded as amongst the most beautiful gardens in the world. Later on we pass by Forio and Barano, where we stop for a wine tasting before heading back to Ischia Porto for some free time.

DAY 6 Bomerano
Our final walk along the Pathway of the Gods is arguably the most fascinating. On arriving in Bomerano, we enjoy a tasting of some of the local Mozzarella cheese at a farm. Our walk then starts through the small streets of the village and reveals views down rocky cliffs to the villages of Praiano and Positano. Looking upwards, you can admire the beautiful Monte Faito and the Lattari mountain chain. All along this rugged path you are greeted with marvellous vistas, freshwater springs, and villages that are inaccessible by car. After lunch we return to Positano for time to explore the village further or take a walk on the beach. Moderate walking – 4½ hours. Distance – 4 miles.

DAY 7 Pompeii & Vesuvius
Take a glimpse into Roman life in 1st-century Italy on our optional excursion to Pompeii, the city so cruelly enveloped by ash when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Explore the chariot-worn streets, see the huge amphitheatre and admire the beautifully frescoed villas, well preserved for hundreds of years by the ash and pumice. Tonight we enjoy dinner in a typical local restaurant.

DAY 8 Marina di Lobra/UK
We transfer to the airport for our homeward flight

Telephone Page & Moy on 0845 358 2639 now to reserve your space

Dates, Prices & Departure
holiday ref:EEITWA
20/05/2009 £769
27/05/2009 £769
03/06/2009 £769
16/09/2009 £779

Deposit £100 per person Prices are based on the shared occupancy of twin or double rooms with private facilities.

Supplements
* Single room supplement £115
* Balcony/sea view room £70
* Holiday Insurance Please see general information for details of items not included in the holiday price and our price policy.

Travel Information
Scheduled flights by British Airways between London Gatwick and Naples; departing at 1055h and arriving back at 1710h. All timings are approximate and may be subject to variation.

Also Fly From...
You can also fly to your destination from the following airports at the supplement shown below (per person)
Stansted £NIL

Regional Connecting Flights
Connecting flights to London from only £69 If it’s not possible to fly direct to your destination, usually you will have the option of taking a connecting flight to Heathrow or Gatwick from as little as £69 per person return. Fly from Aberdeen, Belfast, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, or Newquay

Transfers
Transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 90 mins.

Make Your Own Way - Save up to £150 per person
You may want more flexibility to combine your trip with visits to friends and relatives or travel from an airport that we do not offer. If so, we offer a reduction of £150 on many of our holidays when you make your own way to your holiday hotel. Please remember that these arrangements do not include flights or transfers to and from your hotel and you will need to make your own travel arrangements.

Telephone Page & Moy on 0845 358 2639 now to reserve your space

The Amalfi Coast Walking Holiday

The Amalfi Coast - Unrivalled Italian Coastal Walking with Sherpa Expeditions

Visit the Sherpa Expeditions Website for more details

Hercules loved a nymph called Amalfi and sought the most beautiful place in the world to immortalize her. Seeking the same beauty, Sherpa moves further south in Italy to discover the dramatic Amalfi coast where the mountains quite literally tumble to the sea.

A land of ‘everlasting Spring’, golden light, charming villages and monasteries, watch towers, isolated farmsteads, with flower-strewn coastal paths threading them all together. There are also areas of near wilderness along the Monti Lattari just behind the coast, with impressive cliffs rising up to 1400m whilst omnipresent is the blue of the Mediterranean.

After arriving in Amalfi, and perhaps a swim to wash away the tiredness from your journey, our first walk takes us to the ‘Valle dei Mulini’, the valley of the watermills, and on up to the little village of Pontone and the medieval Torre dello Zirro. The return stretch back to Amalfi is very scenic with spectacular viewpoints. Including a visit to beautiful Ravello.

Next we walk into the Valle delle Ferriere, one of southern Italy’s most beautiful nature reserves, passing beneath the towering cliffs close to some little waterfalls. From Pogerola a beautiful medieval muletrack curves down to Amalfi, amidst lemon groves and maquis.

The tour continues along a paved muletrack dating back towards the 9th century, to the imposing monastery of Santa Rosa. The route descends to the coast and the spectacular inlet at Furore. From here we walk along to the church of Sant’Elia into the Valley of Praia and then to the coastal town of Praiano. Next we follow the famous ‘Sentiero degli Dei’ (Footpath of the Gods), with views of Capri before descending to precariously perched Positano, one of the most charming villages of the coast.

Finally we take a local bus back up to Montepertuso where we start a circular walk of the Positano valley following ancient footpaths through the forest with marvelous viewpoints. We climb towards Santa Maria al Castello, the old fortress defending the narrow valley between the Amalfi and the Sorrentine side of the peninsula and overlooking both the Gulf of Salerno and the Gulf of Naples. The walk then descends via a forest station to Positano.

On the 11 day tour we stay in Sorrento which has good access to some other walks, and is also a convenient place for an excursion to the beautiful Isle of Capri. This classy, beautiful walk follows steep-stepped routes on some days to get you quickly to the viewpoints.

Inn to Inn 8 or 11 days
Duration: 7 nights/8 days or 10 nights/11 days
Tour Code: JAM Grade: Easy to Moderate
Day Stages: Minimum 7.5km, max 30km.
Start any day January - December
Click here for latest SELF-GUIDED prices

ESCORTED Dates 2009 (8 day itinerary)
Group Size: Min 4, max 15, plus trek leader
EJAM31 Sun 31 May - Sun 7 June
EJAM27 Sun 27 Sep - Sun 4 Oct
Click here for latest ESCORTED prices

Accommodation
7 nights/8 days - The first 3 nights of our tour is spent in the ancient capital Amalfi. Our 3* hotel is centrally located so you are within walking distance of the main monuments. It is furnished with antiques and offers all modern facilities.

Nights 4 & 5 are spent in a beautiful small town called Praiano. The 3* hotel is situated steeply over the sea and has an excellent restaurant that offers panoramic views over a large stretch of the Amalfi Coast.

Nights 6 & 7 of the tour is spent in the lively village of Positano, with its characteristic houses clinging to the edge of the mountain. Here, our 4* Best Western hotel is always a popular choice with clients.

10 nights/11 days - As above with 3 nights in a 3* hotel in Sorrento.

Sherpa Notes

Arrival
From Naples central railway station you take the train through to Salerno (approx 30-60 mins) then the ferry up to the Amalfi Coast (approx 30mins). The hotel is located approx 5 minutes from the ferry point. Accommodation & Meals On bed and breakfast basis on both the 8 and 11 day tour.

We use 3* & 4* hotels in/near to village centres. All rooms have ensuite facilities. You will be free to organise your dinner from the wide choice of restaurants in town.

Way Marks
Only a very small part of the route is waymarked; elsewhere it is necessary to follow the route notes provided with the maps.

End of Tour
Tour ends on day 8 in Positano. The return to Naples is by bus to Sorrento (approx 50 mins) and then a 1hr train journey to Naples.

Why not treat yourself and upgrade to an executive room in Positano. It has a jacuzzi and wonderful sea views. The hotel only has 6 of these rooms available, between £40 and £80pp depending on time of year.

Consider extra nights in Sorrento/Naples and take the short train journey through to Pompei.

Visit the Sherpa Expeditions Website for more details