Travel Walking Italy
There’s no better way to explore a country than on foot, discovers RACHEL BONE
Planeslanes, trains and cars might move you quickly, but finding a country’s hidden treasures is never easier than touring it at an easy pace. Just add a passionate local guide, keen to ensure you experience all it has to offer, and you’ve got yourself the best recipe for a gorgeous holiday.
As excited as I was to see Naples in all its glory, I must admit I was nervous to meet the group I’d spend the next eight days with, not to mention the fact this was my first time to Europe.
However, it soon proved I had nothing to feel nervous about at all. The small group of 10 ranged from 30 to 70-year-old singles, couples, professionals and retirees, all there for the same reason – to have a bloody good holiday! And with the majority of the group having travelled on at least four or more Exodus tours in the past, it was clear this was to be a trip of a lifetime.
Over the next few days, we would island hop the charming, lively town of Sorrento – which is also the home of Limoncello, the delicious Italian lemon liquor – over to the summer playground of the rich and famous, Capri.
Then it was over to idyllic Ischia before moving on to a day of exploring the sorbetcoloured village of Procida, and returning to the hustle and bustle of Naples. I soon saw why the likes of Kourtney Kardashian, Leonardo Dicaprio and Beyonce chose the Italian south to holiday.
Each island had its own unique charm. I found myself saying, “I don’t want to leave,” before discovering the next island was equally, if not more, breathtaking.
Travelling with a tour allowed me to see so much more than I would have going solo. I was in awe of how our guide knew which places to spend the most time in, when we’d walked enough for the day, and, most importantly, when we needed to find a bar!
I always thought tours were restrictive given their set schedules, however found it the complete opposite. Yes, we were taken on guided walks along rugged coastlines and through quaint villages, but if I were alone I wouldn’t have found them, even with a map. Plus, everything was optional, so if you preferred to have a spa day, lay on the beach or simply take time out for shopping, the guide was there to tell you where the best spots were. Or if you chose to do any of the added extras, like sailing through the Blue Grotto, the guide made sure you were in line first.
Seeing Italy on foot meant I experienced so much more than postcard vistas, made friends I hope are for life and ate all the pizza and pasta I liked because you walked it off the next day!