April 4 - 12, 2025
Nourish your body and soul in this ancient region of southern Italy, from the shining Bay of Naples watched over by iconic Mount Vesuvius to the spectacularly beautiful Amalfi Coast with its centuries-old villages and towns perched on steep, rocky hillsides that give way to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the land of lemon groves and limoncello, olives and olive oil, gnocchi and pizza and other regional specialties, colorful ceramics, dramatic cliffs, and gorgeous vistas over the sparkling sea. Over the centuries, the incredible scenery and climate have been a siren call for the rich and famous, luring Roman emperor Tiberius, Richard Wagner, Sophia Loren, Gore Vidal, and others to the Amalfi Coast's special brand of la dolce vita.
Our journey begins in Rome, from where we will travel south past Naples and Mount Vesuvius to the town of Sorrento, perched atop cliffs above the sea. We will take a day trip to the island of Capri with a local guide and spend three nights on the Amalfi Coast itself. Family-owned hotels, abundant fresh local food, and authentic experiences are woven into our journey, along with unstructured time for you to explore and discover treasures in the towns we are staying in, journal, or simply rest and soak in the energy of this magical region of Italy.
As anyone who has ever interacted with Italian culture knows, food is central to Italians' identity and way of life. The Slow Food movement started in 1986 in Rome, and there are numerous farms and establishments in the region we are visiting that are proud of their "zero kilometer" food practices. Every day we will have the opportunity to deeply take in the sights, smells, and tastes of the delicious fresh, local foods that will nourish our body and soul.
Jenny Wood WellnessTrips
Since my first curated small group women's trip to England in 2017, I have always sought the path less taken for my travelers. This translates to traveling outside of high tourist seasons; staying in smaller, family-owned lodging as much as possible; and booking authentic experiences where we meet local people and learn about their lives and their places directly from them.
In the past few years, my journeys have begun to center on travel as pilgrimage, which means traveling with more consciousness and mindfulness than we otherwise might. I weave in opportunities for travelers to reflect on the experiences you are having, which I have found greatly enriches the journey and creates deeper connections among group members.
If this sounds good to you - read on to find out more about the Sorrento, Capri and Amalfi Coast trip!
Rome
DAY 1: APRIL 4. Our viaggio (journey) will begin in the afternoon with an opening circle in our charming hotel in the center of Rome. You are welcome to come one or more days early to settle in and bask in the energy of the Eternal City. Rome has an uninterrupted history spanning two and a half thousand years, resulting in a multitude of spectacular historical, cultural, artistic, and sacred sites.
After our opening circle, we will eat our first delicious meal as a group at a local restaurant.
Where We'll Stay
Sorrento
DAY 2: APRIL 5. After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel south to Sorrento, stopping at the Bay of Naples to greet the sea. The Bay or Gulf of Naples is part of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is the part of the Mediterranean that touches the coast of western Italy.
For lunch, we will learn the art of Southern Italian cooking in a family's private garden outside their villa in Sorrento.
The family says, "Our garden and citrus groves are the true definition of farm-to-table, or what we call in Italy, kilometer zero. We use only the ingredients grown on-site to prepare the recipes from our family and the region of Campania. Our goal is to teach you these traditional dishes that you can easily prepare and share with your friends and family back home."
The cooking class is not only a memorable way to learn the art of handmade pasta, it is also an authentic local food journey. We will begin with a tour of the picturesque grounds, picking produce in the garden to use during the cooking class. While the local specialties change with the season, they can include Sorrento tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkins, green peppers, figs, cherries, apricots, and more.
After preparing the meal of handmade pasta and sauce from the garden produce, we will relax under the citrus tree to enjoy the fruits of our labor with local wine and our homemade limoncello. We will leave with a souvenir of recipes for the dishes prepared.
Sated and content, we will check in to our hotel on Sorrento's central square. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure.
DAY 3: APRIL 6. After breakfast, we will meet our local guide for a tour of Sorrento, learning about the myths and legends of the area and visiting select local artisans. The afternoon and evening are yours to spend as you like.
Where We'll Stay
Capri
DAY 4: APRIL 7. A day on the famous island of Capri! Our 8-hour tour will begin with a journey to the island by hydrofoil, where we will have a private boat and vehicle at our disposal. Our local guide will help us discover the island by sea and by land at a relaxed pace.
The isle of Capri is divided into four little villages, two by the sea (Big Marina and Small Marina) and two in the mountains (Capri and Anacapri).
We will experience a boat ride around the island, including time in the famous Blue Grotto, and then explore the island itself, including the Mount Solaro chairlift, which affords an incredible panoramic view of the entire area.
Where We'll Stay
Amalfi
DAY 5: APRIL 8. We will depart Sorrento after breakfast for the spectacular Amalfi Coast! Our first stop will be the illustrious village of Positano for three hours of exploration and lunch.
In the afternoon we will continue along the coast to our new hotel in Amalfi. The rest of the day is yours: explore, rest, take it all in.
DAY 6: APRIL 9. Today is a blank canvas for you to create. For those who would like to hike, there are several choices right from Amalfi. If you would like to visit another town or towns on the cost, the local bus is easy to take. You may just want to discover more of Amalfi, possibly making your way down to the beach and/or booking a boat ride to see the coast from the sea.
Where We'll Stay
Ravello
DAY 7: APRIL 10. Today we will journey "up the hill" to spend the day in the magnificent village of Ravello, often called one of the most beautiful places in the world. In Ravello are thousands of years of history, centuries-old villas and palaces still in use, ancient stone arches and pathways, and views that have captivated countless souls and inspired a multitude of artists, especially musicians.
You can choose to hike up to Ravello or take the bus. Once there, we will visit the 13th century Villa Rufolo, host to many notable figures throughout the years. After that, you may choose to visit the magical 12th century Villa Cimbrone, a 10-15 minute walk from the main square and Villa Rufolo, wander the medieval streets in search of hidden treasures, or simply sit in the square and people-watch.
Where We'll Stay
DAY 8: APRIL 11. Today we will head back northwest to Rome, but we have a special experience along the way, stopping for lunch at the charming agriturismo Barone Antonio Negri. Agriturismi are a uniquely Italian tourist experience that began in 1965 as a way for travelers to learn from farmers about rural life, as well as helping families stay on land farmed by their ancestors for generations.
DAY 9: APRIL 12. Arrivederci to Italia! Buon viaggio back home or to wherever your next destination lies!
Where We'll Stay
