Walking the Camino di San Nilo is a captivating spiritual and scenic journey that traces the footsteps of early Christian pilgrims. This historic route, steeped in religious significance, offers a unique blend of serene landscapes, ancient monasteries, and cultural heritage. As travelers traverse this path, they immerse themselves in a sense of reflection, tradition, and connection to the divine, making it a profound experience for both the soul and the senses. Whether seeking spiritual growth or simply exploring Italy’s historical heart, walking the Camino di San Nilo promises an enriching adventure.
Prices / Dates
Price:
Low Season: 15 Feb – 31 March & 7 Nov – 30 Nov
€680 per person sharing
Mid Season: 1 April – 30 April & 1 Oct – 30 Oct
€750 per person sharing
High Season: 1 May – 10 July & 30 Aug – 30 Sept
€800 per person sharing
Peak Season: 11 July – 29 Aug
On request
Single Supplement: From +€190 to €240
Solo Traveller: +€190
Tour Dates: 15 February to 30 November
Tour Grade: Strenuous
Accommodation: Guesthouse & 3* Hotels
Included / Excluded
- 7 nights bed & breakfast
- All accommodation is pre-booked in approved guesthouses and hotels with all rooms en-suite.
- 2 home dinners (drinks not included)
- Pilgrim's Credential
- Travel App (maps, tracks, route notes)
- Detailed route description
- Private transfer day 2
- Luggage transportation hotel to hotel (1 bag per person)
- Phone assistance 08:00-20:00
- Packed Lunches
- Evening Meals (except 2 home dinners)
- Local Public transport
- Entrance fees and tips
- Hotel tourist taxes
Welcome to Sapri: a vibrant crossroads where diverse peoples, rich cultures, and timeless traditions intersect. This charming town offers a unique blend of history, nature, and warm hospitality, inviting visitors to explore its scenic landscapes, savor authentic local cuisine, and immerse themselves in the vibrant community spirit that makes Sapri truly special.
A private transfer takes you to the enchanting Capelli di Venere (Venus’s Hair) waterfalls, named after a particular type of fern that grows flourishing
here: a treasure chest of peace and nature in which the waters of the Rio Bussentino flow.
The first stage is one of the most spectacular on the route.
You are finally in the heart of the Cilento Park: here you can breathe the history of this land of which the local artisans and farmers are the guardians.
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles, Ascent: 520 m / 1664 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 / 5 hours
The second stage takes you deeper into the millennial history of these places of unspoilt nature.
A gentle descent takes you away from the Grotte del Bussento oasis before going up the evocative and spectacular Monte Pittari: from here you can
enjoy a privileged view of the entire valley, with the evocative Hermitage of San Michele as a backdrop to your walk. The arrival in Caselle in Pittari
offers a village with ancient artisan traditions as demonstrated by the affection of the Casellesi for the Palio del Grano, a long-awaited event in which
traditional knowledge is proudly reaffirmed within the community.
A special feature of Caselle is the presence of Italy’s second largest underground river, which pours together with the river of the same name into
the Bussento swallowhole, creating a system of caves and karstic cavities that attracts hundreds of enthusiasts from all over the world every year.
Distance: 10 km / 6 miles, Ascent: 500 m / 1600 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 / 5 hrs
Today you will almost entirely retrace the route that the ancient pilgrims followed to reach the sacred Marian mountain of Cilento: the Mount Gelbison.
This stage is among the longest but at the same time fascinating and suggestive of the entire route.
From the top of the Sacred Mountain, looking across the dense and enchanting vegetation, it is possible to catch a glimpse of the imposing profile of
the Stromboli volcano which rises from the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands, to then accompany the observer to a 360° panorama from north to
south.
Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles, Ascent 540 m / 1728 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 / 5 hrs
Arriving in Montano Antilia, you cannot help but notice the queen’s white beans drying in the sun. This particular legume, grown according to a strict
disciplinary, is characterized by its particular round shape, the white colour and the very thin skin, which makes it very digestible. The origin of the
name seems to derive from the fact that this bean once reigned on peasant tables on important occasions, so much so that it was defined as the
“meat of the poor”, and hence the nickname queen. Overnight in the suggestive Montano Antilia.
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles, Ascent 580 m / 1856 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 / 5 hrs
Today’s itinerary ends on the slopes of the ancient place where the Monastery of San Nazario was built, where San Nilo da Rossano was welcomed to
receive the sacred rite of tonsure which marks entry into the clerical state.
As well as marking the final part of the fifth stage, this passage represents the most spiritual moment of the journey.
Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles, Ascent: 400 m / 1280 ft, Approximate walking time: 5 / 6 hours
The final stage of the Cammino di San Nilo offers you a panoramic route with the arrival on Capo Palinuro from which it is possible to admire the
whole coast and, ideally, the entire journey that from Sapri has brought you up to here. Today’s destination is the village of San Mauro la Bruca, but the
entire route ends in Palinuro, following the course of the Lambro river.
Take a swim in the same waters that welcomed the legendary Aeneas and dive into the varied cuisine typical of the area. An advice?
The pizzicotti (pinches) of fig jam will not disappoint you.
Distance: 15 km / 9.2 miles, Ascent: 320 m / 1024 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 / 5 hours
After breakfast, end of services.
Legend has it that Palinuro was the name of the helmsman who led Aeneas and his father Anchises out of the city of Troy in the grip of flames, and this
episode recounted by Virgil is recalled by the inhabitants of Palinuro every year in August.
