Sorrento

From the Piazza Tasso, the vibrant main center of Sorrento, you will set off to discover the highlights of this resort town famous for narrow streets, artisan shops and dramatic history. You will visit the haunting, overgrown modern ruins of the nearby Valley of the Mills and explore the Basilica di Sant'Antonino, the final resting place for the patron saint of Sorrento. From the lovely courtyard of the San Francesco Cloister and the adjacent public gardens, admire picturesque views of Sorrento Bay.

Perched at the gateway to the renowned Amalfi Coast, Sorrento offers the perfect opportunity to explore scenic shorelines by kayak. Meet your guide at Marina Grande, a charming fishing village that sits at the base of the limestone cliffs on which the Old Town of Sorrento stands. From here, you will paddle your kayak along shores lined with ancient Greek walls, the remains of grand Roman villas, and historic nymphaea – grottoes where ornate shrines were dedicated to the nymphs. See the Roman villa of Agrippa Postumo and its 19-meter cave.

Sorrento is famous for its sweet, lemony limoncello liqueur. While a number of factories produce it, this excursion brings you to the leading facility that uses lemons exclusively from the heart of the Sorrentine peninsula. Only this variety of lemon earns the coveted IGP designation confirming origin and traditional production standards. Villa Massa has a history of limoncello production dating to 1890 and also makes orange, mandarin, citrus fruit, walnut and cream liqueurs.

After a scenic drive through the Sorrento hills, you will arrive at the quaint village of Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi and step into the Michelin-starred Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890 to begin a singular epicurean experience. You will enjoy an aperitif with canapés and a presentation of traditional Mediterranean recipes with a dash of Don Alfonso innovation. Then you will descend into the wine cellar housed in a pre-Roman tunnel. Over 25,000 superior bottles live here, and there is also an aging room for cheeses.

After an amazing drive along the scenic Amalfi Coast, you will reach Ravello, perched on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Naples. Its cathedral, founded in 1086, contains medieval pulpits, Roman sarcophagi and Renaissance paintings. You will also visit Villa Rufolo, which inspired Wagner to create the magical garden of Klingsor for his opera Parsifal. Admire more breathtaking views of the rocky cliffs as you travel the coastline to gorgeous Positano.

Large windows and the spacious terrace of the Relais Blu Boutique Hotel and Restaurant provide the perfect setting to watch the sun dip below the horizon, transforming the sky from cerulean to rose as the shimmering turquoise waters of the Mediterranean deepen to midnight blue. Perched on a cliff above the Gulf of Naples in the charming seaside village of Marciano, the charming hotel welcomes you to experience a sunset like no other with breathtaking views that extend out to the island of Capri.

A private motorboat will whisk you across the shimmering waters of the Gulf of Naples to explore the coastal beauty of the island of Capri. Enjoy gorgeous views of the island’s steep rock cliffs carpeted in forests of cypress and palm trees as you make your way to the renowned Blue Grotto. A rowboat will ferry you into the low entrance to this cave wherein you can marvel at the iridescent blue waters. You may also have time to visit Capri’s other beautiful sea caves, including the Green Grotto, Coral Grotto and White Grotto.

Embarking from Sorrento, you will enjoy stunning views of the Bay of Naples en route to Mount Vesuvius, the active volcano that buried the city of Pompeii in ash during its eruption in 79 AD. Beginning at an altitude of 3,000 feet, you will hike another 1,650 feet to the volcano’s crater, crossing hardened lava with crevices exuding fumes and heat. During free time to explore the crater, you will enjoy spectacular views of Naples. After lunch you will explore the ancient city of Pompeii, frozen in time following the Vesuvius eruption.