Adventure 16: Outdoor and Travel Outfitters - Since 1963

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Touring Italy's Amalfi Coast by Sea Kayak

Kayaking in Italy with H2Outfitters

Highlights

  • Hidden grottos, caves, and fortresses all along our paddling route
  • Optional hike, “The Walk of the Gods” back across the mountain ridge
  • Cozy villas and quaint B&B stays
  • Fresh seafood, mozzarella, Limoncello and more
  • Great shopping in Positano renowned for its colorful and unique pottery and eclectic little shops
  • A side trip to the ruins of Pompei

Full Description

This voyage with the staff of H2Outfitters delivers the essence of “la dolce vita" through an exploratory paddle along the stunning Amalfi Coast.

Imagine paddling through volcanic archways, a glimpse of a precipitous coastline coming into view, and then the full drama of la Costeria Amalfiano before you; its landscape of color, texture, and relief are woven into a dramatic tapestry that permeates the soul. To its first explorers, the ancient Greeks, “psyche”, or soul was associated with breath, and there is no more breath-taking sight than the Amalfi Coast from the seat of a kayak.

Homer, Greece's epic poet of antiquity, described the wine-dark seas of the Mediterranean, its sounds and the adventure it provided many a Homeric hero. Being blind, his color perception may be a little off, but our adventure to the cool blue waters of the Mediterranean is a destination not to be missed.

Step back into the past as we visit ruins from Greece's Helenistic period or the incomparable remains of the cities of Pompei and Herculaneum. This is a land of stark volcanic relief whose rich soils provide for the surrounding framework of lush green foliage and vibrant color. 

After all, the Amalfi coast has been a destination for tourists since the ancient Romans first hit the road to see their empire. Sun, sand, and ocean breezes were the attraction then, and still offer a magnetic lure to today's vacationer. We will discover hidden grottos and sea-caves, wander solitary mountain trails used by shepherds and their flocks, and after an active day relax in one of the quaint village cafes. This is la dolce vita, the way life should be!

Includes:

  • 8 nights’ accommodations in Inns or hotels
  • Meals as noted on itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
  • All transportation once in Rome as outlined on the itinerary
  • All kayaking gear and safety equipment
  • Qualified and highly trained guides

Excludes:

  • International airfare between the US and the start/end cities
  • Passport and visa fees;
  • Medical and trip insurance
  • Evacuation costs
  • Excess baggage fees
  • Fuel surcharges
  • Items of a personal nature, including laundry, telephone/fax bills and bar bills; other items not specifically mentioned as included
  • Fees for optional activities
  • Meals not specified on itinerary
  • Airport departure taxes
  • Additional hotel nights that may be incurred due to airport schedule changes or other factors

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1, Friday

Depart US for Italy (overnight flight).

Day 2, Saturday

Setting down in Rome, we’ll have the day to acclimate to our new environment. The most important day of our trip, we’ll have to discipline ourselves to step into the Italian day and resist the temptation to nap upon arrival. Getting into the swing of things immediately will minimize the possibility of jet lag affecting us on the rest of the trip. Once checked in and refreshed at our hotel, we’ll set off to explore Rome. We’ll indulge in a leisurely meal, walk the streets of the city, and visit some of Rome’s most notable historical sites. A great way to immerse yourself on the first day into this country’s culture and history. After our first Italian dinner and a cup of Cappuccino we’ll turn in for an early evening. (L, D)

Day 3, Sunday

We’ll have the morning to see a few more sites in Rome and do a little shopping before we pack up and begin our drive down to Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch in one of the many countryside villages to stretch our legs and experience life outside the city. A few hours later we will be arriving at our evening accommodations in the quaint and very picturesque cliff side village of Positano. Once checked in, we’ll venture off to one of Positano’s best little restaurants for a hearty evening meal. (B,L,D)

Day 4, Monday

Time to paddle! After gearing up we’ll have a morning tour and a stroke refresher as we explore southwestern Italy’s jagged coastline. A lunch of fresh fruit and antipasti will be had on a beach looking out toward the islands of the Sirens, la Sireneuses. After lunch we’ll continue our exploration discovering our own secret hideaways along this magical coastline. Once back in Positano, we’ll get ready for dinner and see what discoveries the village’s shops can offer up to us. (B, L, D)

Day 5, Tuesday

We’ll test our skills and attempt the first H2Outfitters’ circumnavigation of the Sirens’ Islands. We’ll be sure to bring plenty of rope and wax for our ears so that none of our adventurous travelers succumb to the Siren’s song. These islands are a state preserve and sadly we will not be able to land there for lunch, all the more incentive to keep moving toward our lunch destination further up the coast. Here we’ll have the chance to practice some strokes and bracing and, for the more adventurous, the opportunity to learn how to do the Eskimo Roll before we paddle back to our beachside starting point. Dinner this evening will be at our favorite restaurant perched high on a rocky outcrop overlooking the magnificent coastline and glistening lights of the village. (B, L, D)

Day 6, Wednesday

We’ll take a break from paddling today and into the ruins of Pompeii. This full scale Roman city was destroyed, and simultaneously preserved, by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city is huge, and its state of preservation is incredible. Ancient doors and doorways, colorful frescoes, and remarkably modern hot water systems can be admired intact, as they were back in the time of Nero. We’ll walk on, and along, the Roman roads through the city and marvel at the feats of engineering the Romans were capable of creating. If the Greeks were “innovators”, the Romans were “imitators” on the highest level. They were able to take what came before them, improve upon it, implement it, and develop it to a degree unequaled in the ancient world. Pompeii is a “living” example of this world from the past offering a perspective on a civilization not unlike our own. Late in the afternoon, we’ll bid farewell to this city of the ancients and head back to Positano for another culinary feast and lively repartee. (B, L, D)

Day 7, Thursday

Departing Positano, our group of paddlers will head up the coast to a secluded pirate’s lair set back from the shoreline on a hidden pocket beach. This cozy little cove will shelter us for the evening. Our hotel is nestled in the cliffs, just feet above the pulsing sea. From our rocky perch we can sip espresso and enjoy the sounds of the sea upon the cobbled beach. Take a walk along this beach and find hundreds of glazed pottery shards, which are scattered amongst the rocks like sea glass. Follow the rocky path along the cliffs to the village proper, who knows what adventure awaits around the bend. (B, L, D)

Day 8, Friday

After a morning cappuccino and pastry we’ll hop into our boats as our group of adventurers paddles to the town of Amalfi. On the way we’ll pass castles hewn from the steep rock faces, wonder at the relief of these vertical cliffs and savor the salt and sea air of the Mediterranean. We may even see a few celebrities sun bathing on their private beaches. Don’t be distracted, there are plenty of natural wonders to investigate too! Paddle into sea caves, through stone archways leading to hidden grottoes, and enjoy the essence of the experience. As we paddle toward Amalfi each of us will gain a sense of the vastness of this panorama of which we are a part. (B, L, D)

Day 9, Saturday

This morning we’ll enjoy our final paddle from Amalfi to Minori, a small coastal town only a few miles further along the coast and then catch a ride back in the van to Amalfi for a hot shower and a tasty lunch. After lunch you’ll have a chance to be on your own to visit the town square, sit outside in one of the cafes, or investigate the unique shops, vendors and Amalfi’s la Cattedrale di San Andrea Apostolo, with its Moorish inspired architectural style. Before we head back to Rome for our last evening together, we’ll stop to see some exquisitely authentic ruins of a Roman villa dating from the time of Caesar Augustus. At the end of the day we’ll settle into the van and perhaps snooze on the drive back to Rome for our final night in the big city. (B, D)

Day 10, Sunday

Depart for US. NOTE: We try to be as accurate as we can with our itineraries but certain factors out of our control can cause the itinerary to change. We appreciate your flexibility and trust in us to provide you with a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience.

About The Operator:

H2Outfitters

Headquarters:

Orr's Island, Maine

Established:

January 1982

H2Outfitters is recognized as the East Coast’s original sea kayak outfitter and as “One of the World’s Best Adventure Travel Companies” by National Geographic Adventure magazine.Established in 1982 the company has had many “firsts” in the areas of kayak instruction, safety, leadership as well as trips and outfitting.The company’s principals, Cathy Piffath and Jeff Cooper, are recognized as leaders in their field.Of particular note, Cathy has been recognized as one of the “finest technical paddlers in the country” and has been featured in such magazines as Shape, Paddler, Self, Downeast, and Yankee among others.Her partner, and H2Outfitters’ Director of Fun, Jeff Cooper was described by Men’s Journal as “arguably the finest kayak instructor on the East Coast…” and has himself been a topic of discussion in publications ranging from the Financial Times to National Geographic Adventure magazine.

Cathy & Jeff have been prominent figures nationally in the kayak instructional arena with the American Canoe Association and the British Canoe Union.They served as the first ACA instructor trainer educators on the East Coast and wrote the first national curriculum for sea kayaking in the early 90s. H2Outfitters has been an innovator in outdoor education as well as its marketing within the industry here and abroad. Consequently, H2O’s reputation for excellence is recognized around the globe.

The company’s International Adventures for a Lifetime trip program has been recognized nationally as offering some of the most unique and exciting excursions in adventure travel.Combining cultural and historic perspectives with the hands-on aspect of sea kayaking, H2Outfitters has taken the Seven Seas and made them accessible in a fun and educational manner to people of all ages.Japan’s Inland Sea, the Amalfi Coast of Italy, Iceland’s West Fjords, and Italy’s Tuscan Island Archipelago are but a few of the trip’s they offer to adventurous travelers.The company has worked closely with travel writers and authors worldwide in the development of their trips; Tony Perrottet, Dario Castagno, Steve Jermanok, and Isamu Tatsuno to name a few.

Some H2Outfitters’ Highlights

  • -Pioneers of sea kayak instruction in the US
  • -Principals recognized as the best and finest in their field
  • -Cutting edge programming, distinctive adventures
  • -Company takes the interactive “getting off the bus” approach to international travel

 

H2Outfitters’ Mission Statement:

At H2Outfitters, we firmly believe that skills development is the best insurance for all kayaking activities. It provides a foundation on which to build a secure paddling future for a relatively small investments. Your ability to paddle, and paddle well, allows you to make intelligent decisions that range from buying a boat and judging its characteristics, to selecting the river or ocean trip that suits your needs. Instruction is not hype, doesn’t need a sales pitch, and is, in fact, and investment in your futures. Take it seriously because it ensures Serious Fun!

This mission statement still holds as true today as it did when we established it in 1982.

H2Outfitters is committed to high-quality kayaking instruction. Our instructors are selected not only for their kayaking skills, but also for  their  teaching skills and group management ability. Our staff is dedicated to making sure you have Serious Fun!