Overview
The Cammino di San Nilo is a fascinating trail through Byzantine heritage, following in the footsteps of 11th-century Greco-Italian monk and saint, San Nilo di Rossano, one of many monks from the Campania region who travelled on missions and pilgrimage in this area. Walk in these ancient footsteps through Campania’s hinterland, starting in Sapri in the east and finishing in Palinuro in the west, with the magnificent Cilento National Park in between. These landscapes of vegetation-rich grottoes, waterfalls and underground rivers feel almost sacrosanct, and a tranquil retreat from busier coastal spots nearby.
- Capelli di Venere waterfalls
- Oasi WWF Grotte del Bussento
- Capo Palinuro
- Cilento National Park
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Sapri
Your walking holiday stars in Sapri, coastal gateway town to Cilento National Park, on the Gulf of Policastro. Depending on arrival time, head down to the beach for a swim or take in the views of the surrounding mountains.
- Accommodation: Hotel Pisacane, B&B Borgo Marinella or similar in Sapri
Day 2: Capelli di Venere Waterfall to Morigerati | 11km
This morning begins with a transfer to Capelli di Venere Waterfall, before following a route through Casaletto Spartano, where you can sample local specialties, such as homemade bread, goat’s cheese and local ham. From here, the route leads to Oasi WWF Grotte del Bussento, a canyon covered in lush vegetation, where there is an optional hike.
Please note: The hike through Oasi WWF Grotte del Bussento is more strenuous than the rest of the holiday, and not recommended for anyone who has health issues.
- Walking for the day: 11km, ↑520m, ↓620m
- Accommodation: Palazzo Don Carlo or similar in Morigerati
Day 3: Morigerati to Caselle in Pittari | 10km
Today’s route heads towards Caselle in Pittari before ascending Monte Pittari. The route offers views across the valley, taking you past Eremo di San Michele Arcangelo, a sanctuary consisting of two caves set into the rock. The day comes to a close in Caselle in Pittari, where the Bussento River disappears underground, creating a system of caves.
- Walking for the day: 10km, ↑500m, ↓350m
- Accommodation: Agriturismo Pittari or similar in Caselle Pittari
Day 4: Caselle in Pittari to Rofrano | 17km
Today’s walk takes you to the top of Monte Gelbison, from which you can see as far as the island of Stromboli in the distance, before descending back down to Rofrano where you spend the night.
- Walking for the day: 17km, ↑540m, ↓532m
- Accommodation: Il Convivio or similar in Rofrano
Day 5: Rofrano to Montano Antilia | 12km
This stage follows a long section of camino, all the way to Montano Antilia in southern Cilento. The town is located on the slopes of Monte Antilia (1,316m), with great views all around.
- Walking for the day: 12km, ↑580m, ↓320m
- Accommodation: Agriturismo ai Monaci or similar in Montano Antilia
Day 6: Montano Antilia to San Nazario | 17km
Today’s route leads to the location of the former Monastery of San Nazario, where San Nilo da Rossano received the sacred rite of tonsure, where the head is shaved and he became a monk. The route also takes you past Santa Cecilia Monastery in Abatemarco, one of several Greco-Italian monasteries.
- Walking for the day: 17km, ↑400m, ↓730m
- Accommodation: Casa degli Angeli or similar in San Nazario, Zia Marì or similar in San Mauro la Bruca
Day 7: San Nazario to Palinuro | 15km
The final walk of the tour follows the Lambro River, offering panoramic views, as it heads towards Palinuro. It is believed that Palinuro was the name of the helmsman who led Aeneas and his father Anchises out of Troy, before settling in this area. Stop along the way to sample local cuisine including pizzicotti and fig jam, before reaching Palinuro, where the final evening can be spent relaxing on the beach.
- Walking for the day: 15km, ↑320m, ↓570m
- Accommodation: Hotel La Conchiglia or similar in Palinuro
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and agriturismos*. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
*Agriturismos are a combination of the Italian words for agriculture and tourism and are typically independently-owned farms that the owners have decided to use partially for accommodation purposes. An Italian agriturismo usually serves food prepared with home-grown or locally-sourced produce.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Pisacane, B&B Borgo Marinella (Sapri)
- Palazzo Don Carlo (Morigerati)
- Agriturismo Pittari (Caselle in Pittari)
- Il Convivio (Rofrano)
- Agriturismo ai Monaci (Montano Antilia)
- Casa degli Angeli (San Nazario) or Zia Marì (San Mauro la Bruca)
- Hotel La Conchiglia (Palinuro)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning. Please note that in some accommodations, breakfast is Italian style (croissant and cappuccino/coffee) and is served at nearby bars. When no restaurant is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is suitable for those who have excellent experience of walking and have a good level of fitness. Most of the walks follow dirt paths or country roads but also include some challenging uphill sections. You should be comfortable walking for 4-6h a day in hot conditions (read more about difficulty grades). We recommend bringing trekking poles.
The itinerary is signposted along the entire route but requires particular attention in some places so as not to risk losing the path. We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our local assistance phone number at any time. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of February until the end of November, although the second half of July and August are available upon request only. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date in the season.
Late spring and early autumn are the best times for walking in this area as July and August can be very hot and some areas can become overcrowded. The best time to see the area is from April-June when spring flowers are in bloom, the weather is warm and the Mediterranean temperature allows for the first ocean dips of the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this holiday is Naples.
By train or bus
If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Naples, Salerno and Sapri. For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia.
From Naples airport, there is a shuttle bus to Napoli Centrale railway station. Please visit Naples Airport website for further information and timetables. From Napoli Centrale, there is a direct train service to Sapri. Visit the Italia Rail or Trenitalia websites for for further information and timetables or use the Omio planner above. From the station, you can take a taxi to your hotel or book a private transfer.
From Palinuro, take a bus or a taxi to Pisciotta Palinuro railway station where there are regular services to either Naples or Salerno.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 overnights in en-suite rooms
- 7 breakfasts
- Pilgrim’s Passport
- Luggage transfer on all walking days (one piece up to 20kg per person)
- Private transfer on day two
- Travel app (including maps, tracks and route notes)
- Phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights
Testimonium/Pilgrim’s Passport
At your first hotel you receive a Pilgrim’s Passport, which you can get stamped each day at the locations along the route such as tourist offices, churches, town halls and hotels. If you wish to receive the Testimonium (certificate) in San Nazario, it is important to remember to stamp your Pilgrim’s Passport at least once a day.
Testimonium – this is a certificate attesting the completion of the Cammino di San Nilo. You can collect this at the penultimate stage, in San Nazario. If you wish to collect this you will need to contact our local representatives a few days in advance (contact information will be provided in your pre-departure information).
Gallery
