Overview
Spend nine days walking the Cilento Coast, exploring coastal pinewoods and olive groves, down to hidden bays and fishing villages such as San Marco di Castellabate and Marina di Camerota, as well as the great Greek temples of Paestum. This is the lesser-known part of Campania, with the rocky ridges and aromatic pinewoods of Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, traditional towns and villages, ancient chapels and a splendid coast. This tour also includes four dinners at our carefully chosen local hotels, and so you get to sample some of the finest seasonal fare.
- Greek Temples at Paestum
- Marina di Camerota
- Santa Maria di Castellabate
- Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Paestum
Arrive at Paestum by train and walk to the hotel, which is close to the Greek temples area, considered among the best-preserved in Europe. Leave your luggage in the hotel and take your time to visit the archaeological site with its amazing Greek temples and the museum.
- Accommodation: hotel in Paestum (Hotel Villa Rita or similar)
Day 2: Agropoli – Punta Tresino – Santa Maria di Castellabate | 15km
Take a short train ride to Agropoli, from where you start walking along the Punta Tresino headland, through pristine Mediterranean landscapes of forests and scrubland, to beaches and even an ancient Roman harbour. Walk to the abandoned village of San Giovanni, where some excellent white wine is still being produced (optional tasting possible). Descend to the sandy beach of Castellabate, which you traverse as far as Santa Maria fishing harbour. From here, you are met by our driver, who transfers you to your hotel in the fortified village of Rocca Cilento.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5h, ↑250m ↓250m
- Accommodation: country house in Rocca Cilento (Antico Convento or similar)
Day 3: Valle dei Mulini circular walk | 14km
Today’s walk is a circular one from Rocca Cilento through the Valle dei Mulini, or Valley of the Mills. Parts of the walk follow the old route that used to connect this valley to the Greek cities of Paestum and Velia. First, you walk down along the ridge, with wonderful views to both sides, to the tiny village of Lustra with its very well-preserved medieval village centre. Then, start descending to the Valley of the Mills on an ancient trail that is home to 17 ancient mills. Ascend to the hamlet of Valle Cilento, taking time to check out its beautiful bell towers. The path then descends into the valley again and goes past the intriguing, abandoned village of Massacanina. A short but steep climb leads you to the ridge again and, past Mercato Cilento Monastery and then back to Rocca Cilento for another fine dinner.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 4-5h, ↑600m ↓600m
- Accommodation: country house in Rocca Cilento (Antico Convento or similar)
Day 4: Perdifumo – Monte Stella – San Marco di Castellabate | 17km
A short transfer brings you to Perdifumo, where your walk starts in a chestnut forest, then heads up to a ridge with views all along the Amalfi Coast out to Capri. Walk past the ruined fortress of Castelluccio, dating back to the pre-Roman times. Continue on to Virgin of Mount Stella chapel, the area’s spiritual centre, and still worshipped, where you start your descent to the coast, through an array of traditional villages. Your descent comes to an end in the fishing village of Acciaroli, home to a sandy beach that was one of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite places. There should be time for a swim before you take the public bus to the small village of San Marco di Castellabate, where you spend the next two nights.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 5-6h, ↑500m ↓1,100m (shorter options are possible)
- Accommodation: hotel or B&B in San Marco di Castellabate (B&B La Magnolia or similar)
Day 5: Punta Licosa circular walk | 15km
Today’s trail is a circular walk passing through typical Mediterranean maquis into the area of Monte Licosa, heading through the pine forest until you come to the ridge, home to several ancient watch towers and, not surprisingly, superb views. Descend to the coast at Ogliastro Marina, and from here, follow a coastal trail to the tip of the headland. From Punta Licosa, continue along the coast to San Marco harbour.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5h, ↑400m ↓400m
- Accommodation: hotel or B&B in San Marco di Castellabate (B&B La Magnolia or similar)
Day 6: Palinuro circular walk | 8-15km
You are transferred to your hotel in Palinuro, where you start a walk to Cape Palinuro lighthouse, with great views towards Punta Licosa and Monte Stella. Descend to the beautiful sandy beach of Marinella, a local favourite, perfect for a swim then lunch. You can also extend this walk to include Molpa Hill, home to ruins of a medieval castle with more spectacular views. Other possible extensions are to Arco Naturale, or taking a boat trip to Grotta Azzurra.
- Walking for the day: 8 to 15km, 3 to 6h depending on the route chosen
- Accommodation: hotel in Palinuro (Albergo Santa Caterina or similar)
Day 7: Palinuro – Marina di Camerota | 11-18km
Walk through olive groves and along a river before heading up a hill to a coastal trail with several beaches en route.
- Walking for the day: 11 to 18km, 4 to 6h depending on the route chosen ↑400-600m ↓400-600m
- Accommodation: hotel or a guesthouse in Marina di Camerota (Casa di Paolo or similar)
Day 8: Costa degli Infreschi circular walk | 10km
Walk along the Costa degli Infreschi, named after the Roman harbour of Porto degli Infreschi, where there is a freshwater spring in a grotto, and fishermen who cook lunch on the beach. Return either on foot or by boat (optional) to Marina di Camerota.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 3-4h ↑250m ↓250m
- Accommodation: hotel or a guesthouse in Marina di Camerota (Casa di Paolo or similar)
Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Pisciotta train station.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. 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.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Villa Rita (Paestum)
- Antico Convento (Rocca Cilento)
- B&B La Magnolia (San Marco di Castellabate)
- Albergo Santa Caterina (Palinuro)
- Casa di Paolo (Marina di Camerota)
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
All breakfasts are included as well as three dinners on days one, two and three; on the other days, choose from the wide choice of restaurants in the area. Your accommodation operator can give you useful tips. No picnic lunches are included in the tour price, but these can be prepared for you by the accommodation holders, or products for picnics can be purchased in the villages where you’ll be staying.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is suitable for those who have some walking experience, not necessarily in the mountains, and also in good physical condition. Mostly easy walks, though some include walking uphill, sometimes on paths with rough surfaces. On some days, extensions or shortcuts are possible. Most of the trails are well-maintained. You should be able to walk for 4-6h a day – partly in the hot sun on dusty or stony tracks (read more about difficulty grades). Most of the walks are on good paths, some of them just recently restored by the local authorities. Parts of the trails are waymarked. Elsewhere you have to follow the route notes provided together with the maps. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from mid-March until the end of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date in the season; the period of 3 – 18 August 2024 is sold out. Late spring, the whole summer and early autumn are beautiful on the Cilento coast. It can be very hot in July and August, and some resort towns may become overcrowded in these months, although the trails along the mountain slopes above the coast take you away from tourist crowds. The best time to see the area is from April to June when the spring flowers are in bloom, the weather is just warm enough, and the Mediterranean temperature allows for the first dips of the season. September and October are also an excellent time to visit Cilento while the temperatures are still mild.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this holiday is Naples. Other Italian airports are also well-connected to the area.
By train or bus
If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations Pisciotta and Paestum. The train service can bring you to Salerno, Naples or Rome, and connect to the rest of Europe’s rail network. For more details, see Trenitalia.
Inclusions
Included
- Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps – one printed copy per room.
- 8 overnights in private ensuite rooms as listed in the itinerary
- 8 breakfasts
- 3 dinners on days one, two and three
- Luggage transfers on the walking days when changing hotels – one piece per person up to 20kg (65 x 50 x 40cm). The driver may refuse to take your luggage if heavier, larger and more than one piece
- Private transfers as per itinerary on days two, four, six and nine
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative in Salerno
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, five dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable on the spot)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
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
- Private airport transfers
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