Tyrrhenian Sea

Italy Bike + Boat Tour

This is a journey on land and sea. A journey along the Amalfi Coast and Gulf of Naples, and inland to Pompeii, Sorrento, Ravello, and more. A journey that defies description, searching for treasures and mysteries in nature, culture, and history.

Reflect on the tragedy that was Pompeii and the human suffering that occurred there as Vesuvius erupted and buried thousands in poison and ash. You will experience on a human level those mundane moments of daily life, frozen in time for all eternity; a dog tied to a wall, a beggar at the city entrance, a woman cooking for her family...Pliny the Younger was a lawyer, author and magistrate of Ancient Rome. He was raised and educated by his uncle, a resident of Vesuvius. Both were eyewitnesses to the eruption and it is believed that the elder Pliny died that day. Pliny the Younger is known for his hundreds of surviving letters, which are an invaluable historical source for the period. Read in his own words his account of that horrific day: "You could hear women lamenting, children crying, men shouting. There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death. Many raised their hands to the gods, and even more believed that there were no gods any longer and that this was one unending night for the world." - circa A.D. 97 - 109.

Atop the majesty of Ravello whose dreamlike gardens inspired Wagner, you will gaze out upon the Amalfi coast. Explore the mystery of the impressive cathedral, the venerable Duomo, dedicated to San Pantaleone whose blood is a treasured relic and according to locals, liquefies every year. Stand atop the mountain peak at Cimbrone and feast your eyes on what has been described as the most beautiful sight in all the world. A sight that legend claims was used to tempt Jesus himself.

You will not have words. They simply will not be adequate to summarize your time spent here. Just come and experience!

Tour Dates

• Departures every Saturday from April 21 to June 23, 2012 and from September 1 to October 20, 2012.
• Departure on June 9, 2012 will be aboard the Caigue Mariagiovanna*
• Please note, the following dates are fully booked: May 26, June 2,16, 23, September 1, 8,15, 22, 29, and October 6, 13, 2012.
• *Now being offered at a discounted price. Please see pricing for details

Skill Level

Moderate guided barge/bike tour on open sea with daily biking distances ranging between approximately 19 to 25 miles (30 - 40 km). Terrain is hilly and each day there will be climbs to conquer on narrow roadways with traffic. Highest climb is 350 meters. Tour requires a good fitness level.

Where You’ll Stay

Aboard the Turkish gulet, the Derija Deniz. A gulet is the traditional design of a two-masted wooden sailing vessel from the south-west coast of Turkey. Though this is traditionally a sailing vessel, the sails will not be relied upon for wind power but the motor will always be utilized.

What’s Included

• Accommodation in double cabin with private bath
• All meals included (Picnic lunches)
• 21 speed bike rental
• Italian/English speaking guide

What’s Not Included

• Transportation to/from harbor
• Beverages, including water
• Entrance fees (museums, parks, monuments)
• Unexpected docking fees due to adverse weather (Approximately €150 to be split among tour participants)
• Tips

Tour Boats

• Deriya Deniz
• Caique Mariagiovanna

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Saturday: Arrival and embarkation, Marina di Castellammare.
2. Sunday: Pompeii, 9 mi. (14 km)
3. Monday: Sorrento - Positano - Amalfi, 21 mi. (34 km)
4. Tuesday: Amalfi - Cetara or Salerno, 15 mi. (24 km), alternate route: add Ravello, 23 mi. (35 km)
5. Wednesday: Capri
6. Thursday: Island Ischia, 23 mi. (37 km)
7. Friday: Procida and Naples
8. Saturday: Departure

*All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

DAY 1: Arrival and boarding at Marina di Castellammare
Embarkation at 6 PM at the Marina di Castellammare di Stabia. Welcome drinks, dinner and presentation of the program.

DAY 2: Pompeii, 9 mi. (14 km)
You will start your tour in a fascinating way by cycling to Pompeii, the forgotten city. In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted and Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum disappeared from the face of the earth. Gradually grass and vines covered the land where the towns once stood. The local people eventually forgot that these towns even existed. In 1748, Pompeii was rediscovered. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius actually captured a moment in time. Under the ash everything remained as it was at the time of the eruption and although this tragic event ended the lives of 20,000 Pompeian residents, this ash served as a sort of mummification for the entire city. 2000 inhabitants who did not escape were actually preserved in an interesting way as well as buildings and artwork. Hundreds of bodies have been discovered since excavations of the city began. They tell us a great deal about the city’s and its inhabitants' last moments. Although the flesh decayed, the skeletons of the victims remained trapped within the preserving layer of volcanic debris. This sarcophagus of ash also maintained an imprint of each body as it was at the time of death. After returning to the boat, you will set off for Sorrento and spend the night there.

DAY 3: Sorrento - Positano - Amalfi, 21 mi. (34 km)
In the morning, you will visit Sorrento. This small town overlooks steep, white cliffs and offers a fantastic view over the Bay of Naples. It lies on a Tufa terrace and is enclosed by the impressive rocks of the limestone mountains. For 2000 years, visitors from all over the world have been attracted to Sorrento by its breathtaking sunsets and fragrances of orange and lemon gardens. You will cycle along a wonderful road overlooking the sea up to Positano. Protected from the Northern winds by the Lattari Mountains, Positano has a mild and dry climate. Clinging to a ledge between the mountains and the Mediterranean, it climbs in tiers up the rock face. The small houses, so characteristic of Positano, appear from a distance to be piled haphazardly on top of each other. You will love the vibrant colors; the white of the buildings, the bright flowers which decorate the houses, and the small artisans' shops with their multihued cloths. After Positano, you will continue on to Amalfi. You will want to visit the cloister of Paradise and the church and to walk the narrow streets lined with the white houses of fishermen.

DAY 4: Amalfi - Cetara or Salerno, 14 mi.(22 km), alternate route: add Ravello, 20 mi. (33 km)
Leaving Amalfi, you will continue your tour, cycling along the coast on a road that overlooks the sea. You will encounter some ups and downs, passing through the villages of Minori, Maiori and Cetara. If you desire, you can take an alternate route at this point and cycle towards beautiful Ravello. There is an ancient legend, still recounted by tour guides in Salerno and Amalfi, that it was to Ravello, with its breathtaking view of the Mediterranean and the dramatic Amalfi coastline, that Satan transported Jesus during His second temptation to show the beauty of the world's kingdoms. (Luke 4: 5-8). From the village at about 300 m above sea level, you can enjoy a view of the gulf of Salerno and the Cilento mountains. Be sure to visit Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. Villa Cimbrone lies at the peak of Ravello's promontory overlooking the shoreline and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Built on the site of an ancient Roman farm dating from the 4th Century, the main villa was built in the 12th, and the extensive gardens were laid out by a British Lord Grimthorpe beginning around 1904. The gardens feature a small temple, a cave with statues, trellised roses and other flowering plants, and at the tip of the mountain, a terrace called "The Terrace to The Infinite". Aptly named, as you will see. Back on the road, you will continue along the coast through Vietri to Salerno where you will board once again to spend the night.

DAY 5: Capri
You will start your day boating to the island of Capri with swimming breaks along the way and the opportunity to admire the Amalfi coast from the sea. The boat will anchor at the Marina Grande, from there you can explore the island on foot. Be sure to visit the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto) which words cannot describe. It is known throughout the world for its size, the intense blue tones of its interior and the magical silvery light which emanates from the objects immersed in its waters. In order to enter the Grotta Azzurra visitors climb aboard small rowing boats, with a capacity for two, maximum three passengers and, lying on the bottom of the boat, enter the low and narrow mouth of the cave. The interior is effused with magnificent blue tones. This blue coloring is created by the daylight which enters via an underwater opening located immediately below the entrance to the cave. The light is filtered by the water which absorbs the red tones, leaving only the blue ones to pass into the cave. You will return to the ship and cruise around the island to reach the famous 'faraglioni'. Faraglioni are three large blocks of jutting rocks which have survived coastal landslides, erosion by the sea and all manner of atmospheric corrosion.

DAY 6: Procida and Ischia: 23 mi. (37 km)
This touring day will be a day of island hopping. First, the boat will take you to the island of Procida, bike, and then motor again, this time to the volcanic island of Ischia. From the small harbor of Ischia, you will explore the western part of the island, passing through little villages with the opportunity to visit some museums along the way. You will end your day in S. Angelo. Located on the southern coast of Ischia, it is a quaint jumble of hotels and houses piled on the slopes facing the sea. A small isthmus, alongside a beautiful beach, connects the mainland to a rocky outcrop, which was once topped by a tower destroyed by the English. The long bay extending eastwards from Sant'Angelo is one of the island's most popular beaches, and within a short distance is an area of hot springs, which can be reached on foot.

DAY 7: Naples
From Ischia, you travel on board up to Procida. You can enjoy a walking tour of the town and the San Michel Abbey. Continue on to  Naples where you will disembark and visit the city. Starting from Spacca Napoli, the old quarter and heart of Italy, dense, dark and intoxicating, its ancient Greek streets teem with tourists, scooters, shrines and secret hidden treasures. Walking the narrow streets, you will see baroque churches and palaces, the San Carlo theater, and the Plebiscito Square. In the afternoon, you will board the boat once again and return to Marina di Castellammare di Stabia for the evening.

DAY 8: Departure

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Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us