An exclusive tailor-made 8 day holiday including a balanced itinerary of tours, activities and the opportunity to taste some of its most famous wines. The itinerary will take you through the many different landscapes along the Amalfi coast. Visit historical sites, dramatic and incredibly beautiful coastlines, villages surrounded by lemon and olive groves, vibrant towns and cities with traditional trattorias and Michelin restaurants, and of course meet the people and experience their lifestyle.

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What’s included

• Flights from UK airports to Naples
• ABTA and ATOL protection
• 4/5* Hotels
• Room upgrades and half board options
• Private transfers from Naples airport
• Private tour and tastings with 3 course lunch at vineyard on Amalfi coast
• Private tour of Naples
• Private tour of Pompeii with wine tasting
• Discover Capri by boat
• Optional tours and activities, see list below
• Friends of Sorrento support before and during visit

Availability
12 to 19 June and 11 to 18 Sept 2021
Price from £2295.00 pp based on two people sharing a double room
Group size: Minimum 4 adults.
Other dates available on request

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Day One

Welcomed at Naples airport where your driver will be waiting to take you to the hotel. Sit back and enjoy beautiful views across the Bay of Naples as you drive through Castellammare di Stabia, Vico Equense, Meta, Piano di Sorrento and Sant’Agnello.

Evening: Free time.

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Day Two

We start with a private guided tour of the remarkable archaeological site of Pompeii. It seems a contradiction that the destructive forces released by Vesuvius not only destroyed and preserved Pompeii but also created a very fertile soil which has helped produce beautiful fruit, vegetables and vines. After the walking tour, we will visit a vineyard for wine tasting and a three course lunch.

Evening: Free time.

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Day Three

Culture vultures may want an optional morning tour of Herculaneum or you could enjoy a relaxing day to explore the maze of narrow lanes in Sorrento with its myriad of shops and historic buildings. The fishing harbour in Marina Grande provides a perfect end to a pleasant stroll from the town centre and offers a wonderful choice of restaurants along the small beach and promenade. It’s a superb location for an alfresco lunch or dinner.

On the subject of food, why not book an optional Cooking Class in the morning or afternoon and learn some of the secrets for a perfect pasta dish. Play video.

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Day Four

After a relaxing full breakfast the day begins with a morning visit to ‘picture postcard’ Positano to explore its web of narrow streets with exclusive boutiques and galleries all leading down to the beach. From this level you will really appreciate the beauty of this unique location and enjoy a cappuccino before returning to the coach.

Sit back and enjoy the views as you wind your way up to Furore for a private tour of a unique winery with grapes taken from terraced vineyards along the Amalfi coast. The terraces are too steep to venture far but you will be intrigued by the story behind this winery with its romance, a constant struggle against the elements and the delicate balance between man and nature to produce wines so beautiful. Read our review of a recent visit.

After visiting the cellars you stroll across to the restaurant for a superb three course meal with wine pairings. The intricacies of each wine and how the surrounding landscape influences their taste will be explained in detail and questions willingly answered. All this taking place with the sky, sea and mountains of the Amalfi coast as a background.

Evening: Free time.

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Day Five

A guided tour of Naples and an introduction to the fabric and daily life of this exciting and vibrant city with a chance to see its incredible architecture and sculptures. After an authentic Neapolitan pizza you will visit the Piazza del Plebiscito and take coffee at the famous Gran Caffè Gambrinus.

The photographs show the Spaccanapoli (Literal meaning: Naples splitter) which is the straight and narrow main street that traverses the old, historic centre of the city.

Evening: Take a Passeggiata through Sorrento to absorb its vibrant and friendly atmosphere.

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Day Six

Another free day to explore beyond the centre of Sorrento and take a walk to Piano di Sorrento or a 10 minute bus ride to Vico Equense and Meta di Sorrento, each with their own attractions. Take a bus in the opposite direction to some of the villages on the Peninsular, including Sant’Agata and Masa Lubrense, and enjoy local cuisine in one of the many trattorias with views of the Neapolitan Riviera. Bus tickets and timetables? Not a problem, the Sorrento office will provide all the information needed and if required organise optional tours and activities, see below.

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Day Seven

Today we cross the Bay of Naples to view, up close, the natural beauty of the island of Capri including the Faraglioni rocks and grottos. There will be opportunities for swimming and snorkelling from the boat and time to go ashore to enjoy the island’s many attractions and breathtaking views. Take a stroll through the famous “Piazzetta” of Capri and be amazed by the exclusive boutiques or relax with a glass of wine.

Evening: Free time.

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Day Eight

In seven days you would have experienced Pompeii, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Capri and Naples and perhaps learned the secrets of perfect pasta making, tasted some of the best wines and cuisine in the region. It’s time to relax and just enjoy the moment before your private transfer to the airport.

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Hotels

Here is a small selection of hotels available including traditional, contemporary or smaller boutique style depending on your preference for character, views and location. Details and images of these and other hotels can be seen on our featured hotels page.
Subject to availability at time of booking.

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Optional tours and activities

Half day guided tour of Herculaneum
Paestum and the Greek temples
Guided tour of the island of Ischia and the magical Mortella Gardens
Sunset cruise with cocktails
Cooking class

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Friends of Sorrento in partnership with Sam Smith Travel

Wine Tasting Masterclass from the Amalfi Coast
Saturday 12 December

We asked a good Friend of Sorrento, Cristian Fusco, to provide wine tasting that would sample some of the finest boutique wines from the Campania region. Cristian is head sommelier at La Sponda, the Michelin-starred restaurant at 5* Le Sirenuse hotel in Positano. Previous experience includes the 5* San Pietro Positano in Positano, Zafferano restaurant in London and Theo Randall at the InterContinental hotel. To share his passion for wine with visitors from around the world Cristian, with his partner Jenny, founded Swirl the Glass to provide wine tours and tastings from Positano.

Qualifications include certifications from the Italian Association of Sommeliers (AIS) and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

The Wine Selection

The wines are chosen from Campania’s three major wine producing regions,
Avellino, Tuarasi and the area around Vesuvius.

Wine 1
Fiano di Avellino DOCG white

Wine 2
Vesuvius/Lacryma Christi DOC white

Wine 3
Taurasi DOCG red

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Treat yourselves this Christmas with our Wine Tasting Masterclass on Saturday 12 December at 7.00 pm. Each wine tasting box costs 175 euros and includes 3 bottles of boutique wine. The box is suitable for up to 4 persons per household, with a maximum of 6 households to allow for interaction.

To register your interest please complete the form below by 1 November and we will contact you to organise payment by the closing date of 8th November. Wine delivery is UPS tracked from Italy and includes wine notes and pairing suggestions.

Places are limited, so don’t miss out on this unique opportunity. Bring Italy into your home this Christmas with Friends of Sorrento’s specially commissioned Wine Tasting Masterclass.

If you have already used the ZOOM App for socialising online then it is as simple as booking a session online. For those who are not familiar with the Zoom App, here is the website. A good internet connection is essential.

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