THE PILGRIMS’ TRAIL ON THE HOLY MOUNT
With its 1707 meters, Monte Sacro (Holy Mount) or Gelbison mount is the highest peak of the Cilento National Park, as well as the most spectacular observation point throughout the Park. From its summit, in fact, you can admire an extraordinary panorama that goes from Sicily to the Amalfi Coast!
The pilgrims’ path, named in honour of the many pilgrims who walk along it in devotion to Our Lady, leads to the top of the Mount; it is almost completely made of stone and steps, except for a short stretch of asphalt. Along the climb, there are many panoramic terraces overlooking the Cilento coastal area, from Palinuro to Acciaroli.
On the Mount summit, we find the Marian Sanctuary, a place of worship and destination for frequent pilgrimages from Cilento and neighboring regions.
Departure and arrival point: Loc. Fiume freddo – Mount Gelbison – Novi Velia
Lenght: about 10 km
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: about 550 mt
HIKING & TRIP BOAT AT INFRESCHI BAY
The trail develops on one of the most famous coastal stretches of the Cilento National Park, starting from the port of Camerota and arriving at Infreschi Bay, passing through the coves of Pozzallo and Cala Bianca (declared in 2013 one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy). The return to the starting point of the excursion will be by boat, so you’ll be able to visit by sea the many caves along the coast. Along the trail, we’ll make 2 stops (Cala Pozzallo and Infreschi Bay) of 30 minutes for a bath, instead in Cala Bianca we will stop 1 hour to have a packed lunch and bath break.
Departure point: Camerota harbor
Arrival point: Infreschi Bay
Lenght: about 7 km
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: about 460 mt
HIKING AND CANOEING ALONG THE TREZENI COAST
Departure from the Agropoli harbor by canoe and arrival in the Pastena area after going through Fortino Peak, the rock of San Francesco, the rock of Trentova and the rock of salt. Arrived at the Pastena, bath break or, for those who wish, a short hike along the paths of Mount Tresino, passing by some of the most scenic points from which you can see the entire Amalfi Coast in the distance, as well as the whole bay of Trentova and Pastena from above. Return to the canoes, fruit aperitif and return by canoe.
Departure and arrival point: Agropoli harbor
Intermediate arrival: loc. pastena
Duration: 5 hours including stops, bath breaks and fruit aperitif
Lenght: about 8 km canoeing (round trip), about 2,5 km hiking
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: about 100 mt
BLACK GRAPE WELL (PIOPPI)
Starting from the seaside village of Pioppi, going along the seafront and arriving at the so-called “Porto del Fico”, one of the Velini ports belonging to the Kora of Velia, located at the mounth of river Mortelle.
Here the green path that follows the bed of the river begins, rich in vegetation, through a zig-zag on the rocks emerging from the water, protected by imposing walls of stratified rocks in some points, typical of the geological Flysh of Cilento. The end of the path is reached in a short time, looking at a small waterfall that feeds a karst basin knows as Pozzo dell’Uva Nera (Black Grape Well) probably due to the thick presence of the “Capelvenere”, a fern typical of humid and shady environments which, when it withers, looks like clusters of black grapes.
Departure point: Porto del Fico – Pioppi (round trip)
Lenght: about 8 km
Duration: about 4 h
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: +115m
MOUNT STELLA
Starting from the square of San Mauro Cilento we walk towards the path that leads to the top of 1130m above sea level passing between Longobard ruins and sacred areas. Arriving at the top between the sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella and the modern radar castle we’ll make a short stop to observe the skyline over the central territory of the Cilento and beyond
Departure point: San Mauro Cilento (ring route)
Lenght: about 11,6 km
Duration: about 6 h
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: +798m
POLLICA AND ITS HAMLETS
Cannicchio, Galdo, Celso and Pollica in a single excursion to relive the atmosphere of the past and the typical day of a Cilento inhabitant from another time. Among olive groves and Mediterranean scrub, along ancient mule tracks and connecting roads, we’ll linger in the visit of these charming villages where time seems to have stopped.
Departure point: Cannicchio (ring route)
Lenght: about 10 km
Duration: about 5/6 h
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: +465m
“LA CUNTARIA” – STELLA CILENTO AND ITS HAMLETS
Excursion to discover Stella Cilento, a typical Cilento town, friendly and welcoming, and its small hamlets accompanied by the “CUNTI” (tales) that characterize these places of the Ancient Cilento. Through a path that will take us from San Giovanni to Amalafede, from Amalafede to Guarrazzano, and then from Guarrazzano to Stella Cilento, between naturalistic passages and stone villages still in time, we’ll meet faces and voices that will tell us about this enchanted land. We will visit the two potters emblem of a distant local tradition
Departure point: Stella Cilento (ring route)
Lenght: about 9 km
Duration: about 4/5 ore
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: +543m
FAIRY PLAIN – CELSO (POLLICA)
Celso is a hamlet of Pollica whose charm is characterized by an aura of history and mystery; to witness it are the numerous folk tales handed down orally that even today, with a little luck, you can listen to one of the few remaining inhabitants in the village.
We will walk along Via Velino, an ancient road that connected the village to Velia, where fairies and milklings lived, and even witches from the north who apparently stopped at the “Fontana di Valle” for their sabbaths.
We will make a real temporal passage between pagan and sacred beliefs immersing ourselves in mule tracks, ancient paths surrounded by brambles of roses and wild blackberries, along an old bridge of the early twenties and a terraced undergrowth that gradually branches off between olive groves and silent ruins.
Departure point: Celso (ring route)
Lenght: about 9 km
Duration: about 7 h
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: +196m
HIKING AND CANOEING ALONG THE CALORE RIVER
A fascinating trail with attached final canoe ride immersed in one of the most fascinating places of the entire Cilento, ie the Calore Gorges where, following the course of the river Calore you enter an environment halfway between reality and legend, made of huge canals shaped over the years by the flow of water. At the end of the hike, you “climb” the navigable part of the river thanks to the help of canoes or pedal, to admire from below what we saw from above.
Departure point: Remolino Oasis (Felitto)
Lenght: about 6 km only for the hike
Duration: hike about 3h (including stops), while the canoe ride lasts about 30 min (round trip)
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Altitude Difference: +240
SAMMARO GORGES AND E ROSCIGNO VECCHIO
Short but spectacular excursion, as during the exit we will first visit the Sammaro Gorges, tributary of the Calore River, and then Roscigno Vecchio, abandoned village in the early ‘900 but remained almost intact. Destination every year of many visitors, as well as filmmakers who set their film sets on these places.
Departure and arrival point: Sacco (Sammaro Gorges)
Lunght: about 3 km only the hike
Duration: the excursion at the Gorges, round trip, lasts about 1h; in total 5h including stops at the Gorges, at the Sacco bridge and at Roscigno Vecchio
Altitude Difference: E (hikers)
Partecipants & Rates:
From 7 to 15 people: € 180
From 3 to 6 people: € 150
From 1 to 2 people: € 70
Details:
- Max 15 participants per guide
- Booking requested – activities available from April to October
- Path difficulty between easy and medium difficult, suitable for everyone
- Participants must reach the starting points of the various treks by their own cars. In case of request, an external transfer service can be requested for a fee
- The rate for the boat from port infreschi to the port of Camerota is € 10 per person with a minimum number of 12 people (under this number we have to ask from time to time)
- The excursions can take place both in the morning and in the afternoon, depending on the request; only in July and August, given the high temperatures, on certain treks, it’s preferable the afternoon
- The excursion trekking and canoe has the duration of ½ day and the customer can safely choose whether to face it in the morning or in the afternoon with return at sunset. The rent of the canoe has a cost of € 2 per hour and you can choose between single, double or kayak canoe (always depending on the availability)
- The confirmation of the excursion must be at least 3 days before the chosen date
FAQ.
What to bring?
Equipment:
- technical trekking shoes or similar (the use of other types of shoes will preclude participation for safety reasons)
- trekking or similar pants (no jeans, in summer always recommended long trousers)
- walking sticks (recommended)
- comfy layered clothing
- jacket, waterproof or windproof vest
- hat/sunglasses
- camera
- at least 1 and a half litres of water per person
- spare clothing to take with you or to keep in the car (recommended)
- swimsuit and beach towel in the paths where there is a stop with bath
- snorkeling equipment for canoeing
- snack or packed lunch
What does the participation fee include?
The fee includes:
- Environmental Hiking Guide associated with AIGAE of Campania with insurance coverage
- IGM maps with the path for every single path to give to every hiker
- Activities along the paths of sensory experiences
Service provided in collaboration with:
Environmental Hiking Guide associated with AIGAE of Campania
For more info and bookings:
0974902086
3773638665 (anche WhatsApp)
imoresani@hotmail.com
