caspin journeys tours

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$2,360 — 3,399

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• Private Guided Trips

How well do you know the world?

Caspin reviews & ratings, a dream holiday in sicily.

A glorious trip in a beautiful place led by warm, friendly, knowledgeable and flexible people with a love of life, a sense of humour and a desire to please. I've bee...

Beyond the tourist experience in Tuscany, Italy!

My mother and I travelled to beautiful Tuscany, Italy in Nov. 2016 to celebrate my 40th birthday. I was looking for an opportunity to learn what it FEELS like to l...

Wonderful tour guides who are fun and can be trusted!

I thought they did a terrific job in accommodating us and ensuring we had a good time! I would like to take another trip with them. I even feel confident that if I a...

Wonderful, beautiful tour!

This was one of the best tours we ever took! It was informative with beautiful sites as well as personally attentive to everyone's needs. The tour guides, Pino and...

Excellent trip with knowledgeable and very experienced guides.

This was a wonderful trip with very attentive and experienced host/guides. We felt very well taken care of on the trail, in transit, and at all other times on the tr...

See all Caspin reviews

Editoral Review of Caspin

Founded in 1992, Caspin Journeys has a unique spin on travel, offering immersive and comfortable walking tours in England, Spain, and Italy.

What Makes Them Stand Out?

They design their tours to be relaxing yet energizing as you walk among historic lands, learning about the culture and background of classic regions of Europe. Tours are scheduled during the peak weather months for walking and all logistics are taken care of, leaving travelers free to just enjoy. They often focus on culture, history, culinary and wine experiences during their walks.

Who Travels With Them?

Their trips are best suited to active travelers who don’t mind walking long distances. Tours are divided into 5 broad Activity Level ratings, beginning with Easiest, Easy-Moderate, Moderate, Moderate-Strenuous, and Strenuous. For every tour they suggest doing at least a little bit of training to prepare and get the most out of your travel experience with them.

Where Do They Operate?

Their tours are specifically focused in England, Spain, and Italy. In each country they have multiple options - for example in England they have a Cotswolds walking tour, and a Lake District walking tour. In Italy they visit several specific areas, from the Amalfi Coast to Tuscany and Umbria. And in Spain they offer a walking tour in Picos de Europa and along the legendary Camino de Santiago.

Why Travel With Them?

For a unique view from traveling on foot through gorgeous landscapes, and the ease and peace of mind from known all logistics are taken care of. No need to book accommodation or worry about meals. Tours are offered in multiple activity levels, so if you are unsure that a walking tour is right for you - this would be a great place to start off on an easy level - flat surfaces and trails. Their moderate and strenuous tours will be appealing to travelers more experienced on walking tours - between 6 to 8 hours of walking and more challenging and rugged terrain.

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More Details

Solo friendly.

• No single supplement

Travelstride featured in

About the company.

Caspin Journeys offers small group tours in Italy, England and Spain. For many years they have been escorting travelers who seek that unique experience that blends a hassle-free holiday with the flexibility and independence that reflects traveler's  personal wishes.

Their insider knowledge of these regions guarantees that guests on any group tours of Italy, England or Spain will enjoy all the major highlights along with a selection of off-the-beaten-path and behind-the-scenes experiences that reveal the authentic flavours.

Caspin Trips & Specials

Tuscany Gourmet Cooking Holiday

Aeolian Island Adventure

Want a tailor-made trip instead, your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

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Caspin company ranking by category, about travelstride, find your perfect trip, travel confidently.

CASPIN JOURNEYS

          A Unique Walking Experience

Travel Tips

If you carry on a pair of slippers to put on in the plane you can travel in your boots giving you more room in your case. Some people find earplugs useful, especially if using city hotels where church bells or traffic may be a nuisance.

A small umbrella can be useful for rain and shine protection. Medicines you know are always more comforting, so it is worth bringing a small supply of your favourite cures!

Walking General Advice

The most valuable tool for a walking tour is a good pair of boots. When you are on your feet all day, hiking, site-seeing or visiting monuments, if your feet are sore then so will be your humour! Please do take note of this and choose your footwear carefully. DO NOT bring a brand-new pair of boots that have never been worn. DO NOT assume that tennis shoes will see you through the day on stony and slippery paths, through puddles and mud.

Buy shoes in which YOU feel comfortable. Try on several types before purchasing. Do not let aesthetics rule sense.

Luggage Advice

For the safety of your and our backs travel lightly. Many European hotels do not have elevators. Stations do not have escalators. Be prepared to carry cases up and down stairs. We reserve the right to refuse to carry heavy cases up to the bedrooms.

Luggage Allowance

1 MEDIUM CASE (max. 60cm x 40cm x 25cm incl. wheels)

1 DAY PACK (max. 40cm x 30cm x 15cm, for the hikes).

We have limited space in the minibus, and we will ask you to pay transfer fees if you exceed these limits. Do pack carefully, it is amazing what you can do without!

• Health/emergency insurance policy
• Credit cards
• Photocopies of the above
• Some loose currency
• First aid (blister kit, sunscreen, insect repellent, analgesic/pain-killers)

Recommended Clothing

• 1 pair; Hiking boots/thick soled or ankle supporting shoes
• 4 pairs; Hiking Socks
• 1 Thermal/silk undershirts (useful in Spring if you feel the cold)
• 2 pairs; Hiking Shorts or trousers
• 4 washable Shirts / T-shirts
• 1 Sweater / Fleece
• 1 Sun hat / cap
• 1 Waterproof anorak (leggings optional; recommended in the U.K.)
• Toiletries, razor etc.
• 2 Casual changes of clothes
• 1 pair; Sandals
• 1 pair; Shoes for the evening
• Men - jacket is NOT REQUIRED
• Swimwear (you never know when you might want it)

Miscellaneous Optional Items

• Water bottle (we provide a 500ml bottle for refill)
• Phone / camera
• Reading/writing material
• Travel/plug/adaptors
• Tube of washing detergent (laundry services are expensive and not always available)
• Hiking Poles ( only if you want as we supply 1 pole each for use during the tour)

REMEMBER: WHAT YOU PACK FOR 1 WEEK, WILL WORK FOR 2-3 WEEKS.

FEEL FREE TO ASK US ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP!

• Amalfi Coast
• Walking Hiking and Trekking

Amalfi Coast Walking & Hiking Tour

Amalfi coast walking & hiking tour.

8 Days Starting in Pompeii and ending in Positano

Visiting: Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Paestum, Archaeological Park of Paestum, Vannulo mozzarelle, Ravello, La Valle Delle Ferriere, Amalfi Coast, Atrani, Path of the Gods, Positano, Capri, Marine Reserve Punta Campanella, Punta Campanella

Tour operator:

Caspin Journeys

Recommended For:

50 plus , Couples , Singles

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

Physical rating:.

Medium, Moderate

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Meat, Pescatarian

Tour operated in:

Trip styles:.

Active , Luxury , Small Group , Walking Hiking and Trekking

Cultural , Foodie and Wine Tours , History , Ruins-Archaeology

Activities:

Art Galleries & Museums , Sightseeing , Trekking , Walking

This tour is no longer available

Tour overview.

On our exciting walking tour of the Amalfi Coast you will explore an area of sensational coastal scenery: limestone cliffs, serpentine roads, terraced lemon groves and famous towns like Amalfi, Positano and Ravello. Villages and remote monasteries here have long been connected by a series of ancient footpaths, which provide a perfect opportunity for walking and hiking. As you go take a trip back in time on visits to Greek Paestum, Roman Pompeii and Capri where Emperors held court during the Roman Imperial era more than two thousand years ago! Join us on the Amalfi Coast and you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and Coastline where rocky mountains rise nearly 5000 feet (1500m) steeply from the deep blue sea. Wildflowers such as broom and cistus rose decorate the hillsides in Spring and cyclamen carpet the woods in Autumn. The Amalfi coast has long been a favourite destination for the flamboyant lifestyles of the stylish Jet Set so it is hardly surprising to find out that Roman Emperor Tiberius moved his court to Capri, that the Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev owned an island near Positano and American writer Gore Vidal chose Ravello for his home.

Discover Greek Paestum stunning 5th century BC Doric Temples

Explore the ruins of Roman Pompeii, learning about daily life before Mount Vesuvius buried it under a blanket of volcanic ash.

Experience Amalfi's famous cathedral and get to know the Arabic Quarter's history and architecture

Walk the “Path of the Gods” and feast your eyes on the panoramic coastal views worthy of its namesake.

Stay in Elegant Ravello and picture perfect Positano visit Amalfi and take a day trip to the island of Capri

Places You'll See

Amalfi view, punta campanella, amalfi cathedral, island of capri, villa rufolo in ravello, boat ride to capri, delicious food, vietri ceramics, colourful ceramics, ravello accommodation, view of the amalfi coastline, sentiero dei dei, local guide, villa cimbrone, great hiking, birthday celebrations, light lunch, time to enjoy the views.

Not what you're looking for?

People that have booked this tour have also searched for the following:

Day 1 : Meet At Naples Airport And Travel To Pompeii & Paestum

Location: naples international airport, archaeological park of pompeii, paestum, accommodation: hotel, accommodation name: paestum, meals included: dinner.

Pick up at 14.00 at the Naples airport and travel to the excavated Roman town of Pompeii to explore this fascinating and unique archaeological site. Life came to an abrupt halt with the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and the entire roman city was completely buried for 1700 years. A scenic drive south follows along the bay of Salerno.

Day 2 : Paestum- Buffalo Mozzarella- Ravello 5Km

Location: archaeological park of paestum, vannulo mozzarelle, ravello, accommodation name: ravello, meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Paestum is an ancient Greco-Roman city, a little off the beaten path, 40 km south of Salerno and an excellent complement to Pompeii. Settled by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC, Paestum was by Greek-Lucanians, Romans and Christians. Malarial swamps led to the abandonment of the city in the 9th century AD, but also helped preserve its finest artefacts. Today, Paestum boasts three well-preserved Doric Greek temples, ruins of an ancient city and an excellent museum. The site is a little off the beaten path makes an excellent complement to the Pompeii. Lunch is at a Buffalo Mozzarella farm. In the afternoon we take the famous Amalfi Drive to Ravello. Walk: 3 hrs/5 km; 2hrs in the archaeological park + 1hr uphill optional walk from Minori to Ravello — 1500 steps/stairs!!

Day 3 : Ravello- Valle Delle Ferriere- Amalfi 14.5Km

Location: ravello, la valle delle ferriere, amalfi coast, meals included: breakfast, lunch.

From the hamlet of Scala above Ravello we walk into the ‘Valle delle Ferriere’ Natural Park through cleverly cultivated vineyards and lemon groves. After lunch, we enter the gorge and make our way past waterfalls, abandoned iron-works and paper mills as we descend into the bustling town of Amalfi for a well-earned and thirst-quenching ‘sorbetto al limone’ in the heart of Amalfi. Enjoy a free evening to go out for dinner in the heart of Ravello.

Day 4 : Amalfi-Atrani- Ravello 8Km

Location: ravello, atrani, amalfi coast.

Walk through lemon groves down to the tiny village of Atrani. Tour of Amalfi and the cathedral. Free time to explore and have lunch. Ride or walk back up to Ravello for free afternoon to visit the Duomo and gardens of Villa Rufolo and Cimbrone whose magnificent location offers the best views of this beautiful coastline. Walk: + 350 mt / 3 hrs / 8 km

Day 5 : Ravello- Sentiero Dei Dei- Positano 12Km

Location: ravello, path of the gods, positano, accommodation name: positano.

Departure mid-morning from Ravello to Agerola for the start of the Sentiero degli Dei or ‘Path of the Gods’, a majestic trail overlooking spectacular coastal scenery which leads to the elegant resort of Positano. Walk: elevation. + 150 mt / 4 hrs/ 12 km

Day 6 : Visit The Island Of Capri

Location: capri.

We take a boat or hydrofoil to The Island of Capri, favoured in ancient times by Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius. Today the island is very popular with a labyrinth of charming alleys and gardens of aromatic flowers and shrubs if you take the time to go off the main drag! Enjoy lunch in the Piccola Marina and then walk up to Capri. Weather permitting sail around the island in the emerald blue waters and through the faraglioni rocks. The best way to enjoy Capri is from the sea, but it is still fun to take in the atmosphere of the elegant boutiques and outdoor café in Capri’s main square even though we will not be the only tourists doing this! We return by boat or hydrofoil to Positano where you can relax and dine at your leisure near the beach.

Day 7 : Punta Campanella 12Km

Location: positano, marine reserve punta campanella, punta campanella.

A delightful vigorous walk on Punta Campanella where the Sorrento Peninsula opens onto the Bay of Naples. Enjoy magnificent views of Mt Vesuvius, of our previous accomplishments and of the island of Capri. Free afternoon in Positano for last minute souvenirs. Walk: 4 hrs / 12 km

Day 8 : Departure Naples Airport

Location: positano, naples international airport, meals included: breakfast.

Scheduled drop off at Naples airport at 10.00am (or earlier as long as this accommodates everyone in the group). If you wish, we can help you to extend your stay or make other independent departure

What's Included

Free Wi-Fi at Accommodation

Accommodation

Paestum: 1 night Ravello: 3 nights Positano: 3 nights A nice hotel and a good night's sleep are an important part of your overall travel experience! When considering a hotel, we look at more than just the rooms. We look for hotels or bed and breakfasts which are committed to ensuring their guests are well looked after and pay attention to detail, for example offering locally sourced breakfast produce, or a special selection of toiletries, or tea and coffee making facilities in the room. Wherever possible your hotel will be perfectly positioned for exploring and will have a historical charm or maybe a new and innovative design. We choose the best possible places to stay ensuring that each night you are comfortably settled in a place that is welcoming and full of authentic local charm. We are on a mission to find the ingredients you need to wake feeling rested and looking forward to each day of your Caspin Journeys tour! Take a closer look at some properties we have chosen for you... Owner Guided.

Drinks with Meals

Wine, water & coffee. No spirits

1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day

Water is carried in support vehicle for daily refills

Tipping and Gratuities

All gratuities for Hotel porters and Waiters service

Entrance Fees

Entrance fees to museums, events and parks as listed in the itinerary

Airport Transfers at Destination

Minibus transport from start to finish as listed in the itinerary

Local specialist guiding fees

For local specialist sites

Owner Guided. Fully Guided: 2 experienced Caspin Journeys Tour Leaders/guides 24/7 Service of expert multilingual Caspin Journeys Leaders/ guides with extraordinary local knowledge, available for the duration of your trip.

What's Not Included

Country Entry Visas

International travel always requires a valid passport(minimum six months). Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your Holiday- vacation.

Mini Bar & Bar Drinks

Please do not forget to settle your bill before leaving each Hotel

Train Tickets

International Travel

Not Included

Tipping and Gratuities for your Trip Leaders is at your discretion

Travel Insurance

N. B. It is a requirement of booking with Caspin Journeys Ltd that you have adequate personal travel insurance to cover the eventualities of your trip.

All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)

Not all tours include airport transfers (see Itinerary)

Check out our Q&As

What is the maximum group size, what is the fitness level required to do this tour.

In the FAQ we have included Activity Levels Explained. (please check them out)

Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

No. International travel always requires a valid passport. Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your vacation.

Activity Levels Explained. (Part 1 of 3

Leisurely: Walking and hiking trails and paths through rolling countryside with occasional steep trails with up to 350m elevation gain/loss. Fairly easy: Walks and hikes through gentle terrain, across fields, along coastal trails with little elevation gain/loss; altitude is not a factor. Occasionally slightly uneven paths and trails.

What if I dont want to participate in a scheduled walk or visit?

Our guides will make suggestions and you can choose what appeals to you. You may want to linger longer in a museum, sketch, watch the world go by in a café or shop while others are out walking. Many of our walks can be abbreviated with the option to jump in the minivan and catch a lift. This is your vacation not a marathon and it is important to us that you go home relaxed and invigorated.

I am a vegetarian or have Dietary restrictions. Can yo accommodate this?

Yes! On the booking form or on a separate email you can provide us information on any special requests or requirements you may have. If you are vegetarian, let us know if that means you do/ do not eat poultry and/or fish. We pass the information along so that you do not have to worry about it during the trip. We can accommodate most dietary requests, so please do not hesitate to let us know.

What happens if a group doesn’t make its minimum required number of passengers?

If you are the first to Book, You tour booking will be taken on a provisional basis, we will keep you updated and confirm the tour as soon as we reach six. We aim to confirm a tour at least 75 days before departure.

Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

Yes. As listed in the itinerary

Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

Yes. We transport your luggage between hotels and bring it to your room. You may bring only 1 case and 1 daypack . 1 MEDIUM CASE (60 cm/24″ x 40 cm/16″ x 25 cm/10″) + 1 DAY PACK (43 cm/17″ x 33 cm/13″ x 15 cm/6″). We have limited space in the minibus and will ask you to pay transfer costs. During the day you only carry snacks, water, rainproof and personal items in your daypack

Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

NO. (Unless on a private bespoke tour or by special arrangement)

Can I speak to someone who has done this trip?

Of course! We can put you in touch with a reference who has done that trip. Just contact us!

Can I change my mind and transfer to another trip even after I've already made a reservation?

Transfers to another trip are allowed subject to availability. After your final payment due date we are unable to allow transfers. Any cancellation will follow the Cancellation Policy in our terms and conditions. When transferring to a different date or trip, if the trip costs more than your original trip, you must pay the difference. Exceptions to the Transfer Policy include our Private Trips.

Are airport transfers included in this tour?

As listed in the itinerary. (Not all tours include airport transfers)

Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

Yes. We can assist with advice with pre or post tour accommodation but require you to book direct.

Activity Levels Explained. (Part 2 of 3

Moderate:Activity that involves walks and hikes mostly on unpaved trails and paths through hilly terrain with typical elevation gains and losses of 350-600m. Occasional steep and uneven sections of trails and steps. Challenging:Full day hikes, approximately 4-6 hours through mountainous terrain with significant elevation gains and losses (600-900m). Terrain may be rugged with uneven footpaths.

Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

Yes. Prior to departure Caspin Journeys will provide you with useful information which will include: Names of the Participant. Details of Accommodation. Background reading. Packing list. Travel support.

Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

Yes. 2 experienced guides 24/7, Local specialist guiding, All English speaking

Do you require a visa for this holiday?

International travel always requires a valid passport. Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your vacation.

Is the tour coach air conditioned?

Yes. You will mostly travel in our own air-conditioned Minibus from start to finish

Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

Yes. 2 experienced Caspin Journeys guides 24/7

I'm a single Traveller. Will I be comfortable?

Yes, we do have guests who travel on their own and you’ll feel welcomed as we travel in small groups — max 10 — made up of couples, friends, solo travellers or family members travelling together.

Will I need a Passport or Visa if I'm travelling internationally

International travel always requires a valid passport. Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your holiday/vacation.

Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?

How fit do i need to be to do a caspin journeys trip.

You need to be healthy and have good general fitness. Our trips are not marathons. If you walk, swim, play golf or do another aerobic activity to stay fit, you shouldn’t have any trouble on our trips. Our trips have different levels of activity and you can choose the level that fits you best. And even then, you will have options. The Caspin support vehicle. Read about our Activity Levels

What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour, what is the tipping policy.

In the Service industry in Europe, tipping is customary but not obligatory and at one’s discretion. We at Caspin Journeys have a policy of tipping 10% for the great service we get from our hotels, restaurants and specialist guides. These gratuities are included in the price of your trip (Except for your Trip Leaders).

What currencies are required for this tour?

Activity levels explained. (part 3 of 3.

Strenuous: Full day hikes, 5-8 hours, requiring good stamina and some trekking through rugged mountainous terrain with steep climbs and descents of as much as 1500m, altitudes that can exceed 2000m and some rugged uneven footpaths. For full enjoyment of these tours good fitness is required.

How can I purchase insurance for my Trip?

Travel insurance helps you relax about the holiday/vacation you are planning ahead. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your travel investment. Some insurance companies offer protection called “cancel for any work-related reason”. Make sure you take out insurance within the stipulated no. of days of making your reservation with us. We do not sell insurance.

Company Instant Book

Yes We do. However, we strongly advice you to contact us to verify availability and check whether tour departure is guaranteed before you make any payments

Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

Because our hotel prices are based on double/twin bedrooms, we must charge a single supplement to an individual traveller using a private room on a trip. The single supplement reflects those costs — we don’t make money on it. To keep down these costs we book economical double rooms and they are sometimes smaller, even though they cost more per person.

Are flights included in this tour?

Are all entrance fees included in the price.

Yes. Entrance fees to museums, events and parks as listed in the itinerary

Are vaccinations required for this tour?

Covid-19 Important: Please check for any vaccine requirements with the health authority of your country of origin

Which Airport to Fly to?

Pick-up and drop off at Naples International Airport. If you plan on staying in Naples for a few days early just make your way there and back on the airport shuttle bus which goes directly into town every 20 minutes.

Can I join the tour once it has departed?

What documents will i receive before i travel.

Joining instruction icluding backgroud reading

What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

Travelling opens our minds and broadens our horizons and it is better still if we do it responsibly and sustainably, and continuously improve our understanding and appreciation for the world around us.

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

Transfers to another trip are allowed subject to availability. After your final payment due date we are unable to allow transfers. Any cancellation will follow the Cancellation Policy in our terms and conditions. When transferring to a different date or trip, if the trip costs more than your original trip, you must pay the difference. Exceptions to the Transfer Policy include our Private and Custo

How long has the tour company been trading?

What policies are in place for covid-19.

Face masks will be required on all transportation. We will have a supply as a backup. The spacious minibus will be sanitized and aired throughout the day. Dining at larger or separate tables and al fresco if possible! Sanitation measures –We are constantly reviewing the cleaning protocols with accommodation providers to ensure they comply with the most current safety guidelines.

Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

We tailored the best journeys for who wants to enjoy Italy, England, Spain or Corsica in small groups with like-minded

Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

Am i contributing to any charity by booking the tour, do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work, reviews from travellers on this tour, amalfi coast walking & hiking.

“I just finished my 2nd trip with Caroline & Pino and in the planning stages of a 3rd trip ....need I say more? They are delightful, knowledgable, interesting, helpful, and fun hosts. Hotels are superb as are the meals & drink. The hikes are varied and beautiful, off the beaten path mostly so you can enjoy all the nature and quiet. The guides are full of interesting & educational information. Well worth booking a trip with Caspin Journeys!” The Amalfi Coast is stunning! The men are stunning! The food is scrumptious! Lemon blossoms plentiful! Some “kick my bootie” hikes! Highly recommend this trip!

Pino and Caroline were great. The level of hiking was challenging which made all the eating and drinking justified. They are extremely well organized from start to finish. I would recommend them to anyone.

Excellent on every level, great attention to details, small and large. Loved the relationships they have developed with the hotels, restaurants, gelateria, parking lots attendants, tour guides and every one else they have contact with. Great value, would highly recommend Caroline and Pino to any of my friends!

The tour was magnificent, well organised and run. The tour guides were very knowledgeable. The accommodations were very nice. We would certainly travel again with Caspin Journeys! Beautiful area, the walk were marvellously guided.

Travelling with Caspin Journeys is our favourite way to travel. This family owned business tends to every detail and leaves nothing to chance. During your first tour with Caroline, Pino, Antonio and/or Simona you will find yourself wondering which of their intriguing destinations will you be joining them next. My first tour with them was over 20 years ago. It was a tour of the Costwolds and I went with my mom. 15 years later, my husband and I started travelling, and we have joined them on tours every year since. We have joined then for the Tuscany and the Cinque Terra, the Camino de Santiago, Sicily, the Tuscan Cooking tour at their villa and the Amalfi Coast tour, so far... and we have already signed up for Scotland and Puglia with them in 2020! I always say that Caspin Journeys takes us to places we didn't even know we wanted to see. Our first choice for travel will always be Caspin Journeys. We just can't imagine any other tour company doing thing as perfectly as they do. We Highly recommend them to everyone! We loved the Amalfi Coast tour! The terrain was a bit challenging at times, but we can't imagine how you would see the spectacular sites we saw without hiking between the towns. Every hotel we stayed in was perfect and every meal was delicious. We had visited the Amalfi on our own previously and now realise how much we actually missed! We are so glad we got to see the Amalfi Coast through the eyes of Caspin Journeys. We now find the area even more charming and beautiful than before. Thank you, Caroline, Pino and Antonio for another perfect tour!

Amalfi Coast walking & Hiking

The food, lodgings and experience was first class. Pino, Caroline, and their son, Antonio, make you feel like part of their family. Our tour group was large enough to feel varied, but small enough to feel personal. We met some really nice people that we would love to travel with again. Several had been on other Caspin tours, and we left with some great suggestions! Our favourite destination was Positano where I bought a painting to remember our trip. We can't name a favourite experience, because every day of the tour brought with it a special memory. We highly recommend Caspin Journeys. Worth every penny! A great experience! Bring your walking shoes because this tour does a lot of walking. However, the scenery and countryside is so beautiful, it is worth it! Besides, you can then eat all the fabulous food with no guilt!

I gave Caspin Journeys a 5-star rating because they offer an incredible vacation experience! The itinerary, lodging, restaurants and meals were all top-notch. Their small group tour was intimate and gave you that temporary local flavour. The hikes were spectacular and the outside tour guides were extremely knowledgeable. Also, their single supplement for the lodging was very affordable. They have a great formula for creating a fantastic holiday experience! Affordable once in a lifetime trip! First class trip all the way! Wouldn't?t change a thing! Affordable once in a lifetime trip! First class trip all the way!

Amalfi Coast Walking 6 Hiking

This was our 7th Caspin Journeys tour since 2001 and there’s a reason for that! Each tour is uniquely spectacular. Every detail is managed beautifully. The daily walking tours as well as specially arranged guided tours of historical sites are all outstanding. The accommodations are superb and food is excellent. As hosts, Pino and Caroline make sure everyone’s needs are met and everyone has a great time. They are consummate professionals in every way. Our friends and family all highly recommend them!

Everything was done beautifully - the hotels, restaurants, tours, guides. Really enjoyed Caroline and Pino, wonderful hosts. Top-notch accommodations and schedule. Enjoyed staying in only 3 places, instead of hopping around.

I am hopeful that my husband and I can do other tours with Caspin Tours. We had a marvellous time on the Amalfi Coast

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Caspin Journeys requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

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Amalfi Coast Walking & Hiking Tour

• Hiking & Trekking
• Coastal Walks
• Fully Guided
• Personalized

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Meet at Naples Airport and travel to Pompeii & Paestum
• Day 2 Paestum- Buffalo Mozzarella- Ravello 5km
• Day 3 Amalfi - Atrani - Ravello 14.5km
• Day 4 Amalfi Coast boat trip to Positano
• Day 5 Ravello- Sentiero dei Dei- Positano 12km
• Day 6 The Island of Capri
• Day 7 Punta Campanella 12km
• Day 8 Departure Naples Airport

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• Accommodation
• Additional Services

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• Group of 10 travelers max.
• Fast booking confirmation
• Carefully planned itineraries
• Travel with like-minded people
• Travel with your own group of min. 6 travelers
• Choose your preferred dates and duration
• Upgrade your accommodation
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Operated by Caspin Journeys

Our journeys are for people who have a passion for the Outdoors, History and Culture, Gourmet Food & Wine. We like to think of our guest as travellers, not tourist. Our groups are small and the people are like-minded. We personally research each exciting itinerary and take care of all the arrangements so you maximise your time & enjoyment. Tours last a week to 12 days. We explore on foot and off the beaten track. We immerse you in the local history and culture in a unique way.

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A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Excellent 5.0
• Guide Excellent 5.0
• Transport Excellent 5.0
• Accommodation Excellent 5.0
• Food Excellent 5.0
• Tour Operator Caspin Journeys 5.0
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• A Michelle Pierre · 16th November 2022 Caroline and Pino were excellent hosts on our tour. All the walks, hikes and excursions were very good. Plus we enjoyed all the local hosts along the way. Accommodations were lovely and the restaurant choices gave us a taste of Italy! Trip date: June 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Scott Bocci · 16th November 2022 Pino and Caroline are exceptional hosts. Everything was well thought out, planned and executed. Plus, they are delightful people to travel with. Trip date: October 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Jaclyn Kuenzi · 16th November 2022 An amazing trip- Pino and Caroline are so friendly and accommodating. The hotels they chose were great and comfortable, the food incredible, and the tours were fascinating. Trip date: October 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Marisa Deluca · 16th November 2022 Pino and Caroline, amazing trip! Saw most things you wouldn't normally see if you were a regular tourist visiting Italy. Loved all the experiences, history, beautiful hotels, food, and spending time with you both. You are so well organized,... Show more Trip date: October 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Mark Musgrove · 16th November 2022 Pinot and Caroline were delightful! They became part of our travel group. We balanced walking with wonderful food and wine. Had a great trip! Trip date: October 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Peter Deluca · 16th November 2022 The entire trip was wonderful. Pino & Caroline are first class with itinerary, hotels,restaurants and knowledge. We also had special guides on several days. The walking and hiking was amazing! Trip date: October 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Monica Deluca · 16th November 2022 Pino and Caroline go above and beyond to create and provide the best experience that one could have. They are truly wonderful people who are passionate about what they do. Trip date: October 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Rheena Krause · 16th November 2022 5 Stars is not enough to give! The most incredible vacation I have been on! Pino and Caroline are AMAZING. No better way the experience the Almalfi Coast. Accommodations, food, tours, and tour guides were incredible. Pino and Caroline took into account... Show more Trip date: October 2016 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Sandra Cobb · 16th November 2022 Caroline and Pino are wonderful tour guides and hosts. We felt like we were visiting good friends who wanted to show us all their favorite places. We were extremely well rewarded after our daily hikes with Caroline and Pino's perfect selection of... Show more Trip date: May 2017 Review collected by Caspin Journeys
• A Jeanne Schreiber · 16th November 2022 What a dream it was to be able to let go of all responsibilities and let Caroline and Pino take care of everything. The tour was a perfect combination of eating delicious food, challenging hikes that burned off the calories and offered amazing views,... Show more Trip date: June 2017 Review collected by Caspin Journeys

Dates & Availability

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• Upcoming departures
• October 2024
• Thursday 10 Oct, 2024 Thursday 17 Oct, 2024 English, Italian Sold Out €4,450 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Wednesday 2 Apr, 2025 Wednesday 9 Apr, 2025 English, Italian Multiple Room Types €4,450 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Wednesday 9 Apr, 2025 Wednesday 16 Apr, 2025 English, Italian Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types €4,995 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Currency € Euro Italy

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, L.

• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 19th July 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 19th July 2024, a minimum payment of 25% is required to confirm your booking with Caspin Journeys. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 80 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Caspin Journeys will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
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• Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of Caspin Journeys. Please familiarise yourself with the Caspin Journeys payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Caspin Journeys

Location & Hours

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Four Winds Dalehouse Lane

Kenilworth CV8 2JZ

United Kingdom

About the Business

Business owner information

Caroline N.

Caspin Journeys specialises in exclusive hiking tours, themed tours and cultural tours in Italy and England. …

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Caspin Journeys is comprised of Pino and Caroline Nobile, a husband and wife team that take people all over the United Kingdom and Italy on "unique active travel experiences". What does that mean? When signing up for one of Caspin Jourenys' tours, prepare to see parts of the UK or Italy that you never thought you'd see before. Caspin gives you a much more down to earth, local, countryside view of the cities and towns on their tours. Many days consist of 3-6 mile hikes between towns, stopping at many of the best local restaurants and visiting unique sights, all with the knowledge of Pino and Caroline. You'll stay at the finest hotels, drink great local wine, and not have to worry about your luggage! Pino and Caroline have meticulously researched all their tours. They know the right room for you to stay in at the hotel. They know the restaurants with the best food and service. They know the best activities to do in the towns. They know the best shops to go to. All so you can have the trip of a lifetime. My family and I went and did their Tuscany and Cinque Terre tour this September. The Cinque Terre is known for being able to hike between all the beautiful Mediterranean towns. However at this moment, the first two hikes are closed due to mud slides and safety. "Fear not!" Caroline shouts in her English accent. "We are still going to be able to hike most of it by taking some lesser known routes." Not only did we hike 11 miles that day and accomplished something most people only dream of (if they even know this place exists!), we saw some of the most amazing views God has put on this earth. If you are the type of person that doesn't want the cookie-cutter tour of Europe, then go to Caspin Journeys. My family has done 4 tours with them now, each one just as unique and fulfilling. I'm more than happy to share other stories...feel free to message me. Thank you Pino and Caroline!

Pino and Caroline Nobile

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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‘A sense of wonder enveloped my mother and me’: Mishal Husain on her eye-opening journey through Uzbekistan in search of an ancestor

The broadcaster knew she had a link to the central Asian country she first visited on her gap year 30 years ago. But retracing her steps, this time with her mother in tow, she made a big discovery about their family

‘C an you read what it says?” It was 1992 and I was standing in Samarkand’s impressive Registan Square, looking up at Arabic inscriptions on 15th- and 17th-century buildings, when an Uzbek man approached me, speaking in Russian. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, but he had lived his life in a period when Cyrillic script had been dominant and Islamic learning discouraged. Now, seeing a stranger trying to decipher the words on the buildings of his city, he wanted to know if I could explain them to him.

Back then, I was on my gap year and living in Moscow teaching English at a specialist language school, where many of my pupils were the children of officials, diplomats and – almost certainly – KGB agents. It was a time of political transition and widespread hardship, including rising prices and struggles to access food, even through the black market. The six of us who had come from the UK were largely protected from that, as whatever we had from home was in sterling, precious hard currency, rather than roubles. When the school had a spring holiday that March, we decided to fly nearly 2,000 miles south-east and see something of Uzbekistan, then emerging from decades as one of the Soviet socialist republics.

For me, the journey came with a sense of personal connection to central Asia, as I was aware that the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara had been important in Islamic history and culture, and, more vaguely, that my mother’s family had links to the region, somewhere back in time. This was through her father, who knew he had a 14th-century ancestor who had lived in what is now Uzbekistan. As I was setting off from Moscow, he was in Pakistan, hoping that the post-Soviet opening up of the country would allow him to travel there himself for the first time.

It was not to be. He and my grandmother made plans to go from Islamabad to Tashkent in 1992, shortly after direct flights began, but as they waited on the runway for their plane to take off, the trip was abandoned. A sudden surge in fighting in Afghanistan made it too dangerous to fly through its airspace, and the plane turned back towards the terminal. He never made it; he died the following year.

As I researched the 20th-century history of my family for a book, I found myself thinking afresh about my grandfather’s frustrated voyage. It occurred to me that my mother and I could complete his quest, and perhaps even track down the tomb of the forefather. Today, we would have many more tools to access local and ancient history than he had, or indeed than I had on my previous trip, three decades ago.

M y mother, Shama, and I don’t live far from each other in London, but I knew from previous weekend trips together that there is something completely different in the quality of the time we share when we are both away from the demands of our own environments. The phone is not ringing, there are no errands to run, emails are less pressing and – much as she loves my three teenage boys – it is time for the two of us, and she gets a more relaxed version of me. We have much in common, but she is sunnier and more sociable than I am, and the only aspect of previous trips that has made me eye-roll on occasion is her tendency to strike up conversation with strangers, whether on trains, planes, or in queues. But this is part of who she is, ever interested in other human beings, and absorbing some of it is probably what led me to journalism and interviewing. I think she will forgive me for including here that she is almost 80, and I did wonder about how demanding the trip would be, with lots of walking in and around monuments coming after a long journey to reach Uzbekistan, and train journeys within. But Ama, as I call her, was game, and so we made plans.

In preparation, I looked up my photographs of the 1992 trip, as well as the Uzbekistan part of the diary I kept that year. “The plane was absolutely packed,” I had written of the flight from Moscow to Tashkent. “Most people brought all their luggage on board, as Aeroflot has a bad reputation for pilfering from checked baggage.” We had been required to check in via Intourist, I recorded – the Soviet-era agency that dealt with foreigners’ travel – and that meant access to “a separate, much more comfortable waiting room, equipped with a hard-currency bar”. Memories of that year flooded back: how privileged we were, as our money from home went a long way in those inflationary times.

The 2024 trip, from London, had none of these issues but still involved some complexity. There are a few direct flights a week between the UK and Uzbekistan, but we wanted to fly into Urgench, in the west, and then travel between the key cities of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent by train. That meant changing planes in Istanbul on our way in and out of the country, and friends recommended a Tashkent-based travel company, Advantour, to make the train and hotel bookings and help us with a detailed itinerary. They included a guide in each of our four destinations,

and initially I was dubious: this was a mother-and-daughter trip, and I was reasonably confident that with modern travel infrastructure, guidebooks, maps and apps, plus bits of my school Russian coming back to me, we would get by on our own. But meeting the four women who introduced us to their cities turned out to be a memorable aspect of the trip, each one sharing not only their knowledge, but parts of their family stories, often revealing difficult aspects of how the Soviet Union and its disintegration affected lives in the 20th century.

I also wanted to make sure we were heading to the right place for my mother’s ancestor. All we had to go on was a name – Amir Kulal – who appears about halfway through a family tree which begins with the prophet Muhammad in the sixth century in Arabia, and continues through generations who moved to central Asia and then Afghanistan and India. “Amir” means prince, or leader, but Amir Kulal had not ruled: instead, as far as I could work out from research online, he had been called that as a mark of respect, on the basis of his knowledge of Islam and his standing in the community.

He lived in the time of Timur, the empire-builder known in the west as Tamerlane, who dominated the 14th century as he conquered lands far from his native region. My mother and I had initially thought that Amir Kulal’s tomb was located in Timur’s birthplace near Samarkand, but when we tried to confirm this before the trip, all the online references pointed instead to Bukhara. To travel all that way and end up in the wrong place was not a happy thought – we could not risk a wild goose chase. The family tree had no locations, nor even dates, but I went back to the travel company with more names from it, adding in “our” Amir Kulal’s father and his son. An answer came back promptly: the Bukhara guide could confirm that he was buried just outside her city and we would be able to reach the tomb easily by car.

We began though in Khiva, which had not been part of my 1992 trip, and where the atmospheric Itchan Kala – the inner city – provided the perfect start. We had opted to stay in a historic 19th-century madrasa within its walls, and, even though we arrived at night, the tiled, half-built minaret next to it was lit up and the blue-green colours shone out against the dark sky. I am sure there are more comfortable places to stay in Khiva, for these hotel rooms are the old students’ quarters set around a courtyard: narrow rooms, the only natural light coming from small windows above the doors. They set a tone, though, for the week ahead, where much of what we would see would underline the importance of education in Uzbekistan’s history.

Once we reached Samarkand, I could compare what I saw with my photographs from 1992. Back then, my diary entry recorded that we had arrived in the city late in the day, and reached Registan Square after the monuments had closed. A “friendly old caretaker allowed us in anyway, because we had come from so far away”, I had written – and I wondered if I might now be of the very age I had then classed as “old”. Here, the madrasas on three sides of the square were as I remembered, and I learned from our guide Valentina that we were fortunate in 1992: significant restoration work had already taken place through a major project that began in the early 1970s. She took us also to the extraordinary Shah-i-Zinda, a line of small and beautifully decorated tombs of figures connected to successive rulers, including sisters, a wet nurse and, legend has it, a cousin of the prophet Muhammad. Timur himself is buried in a stand-alone complex, the Gur-e-Amir, while another landmark of Samarkand, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, built by his wife, revealed to me how much reconstruction as well as restoration has taken place in Uzbekistan since I was last there. In 1992, Bibi-Khanym was largely a ruin, and I was not impressed. “The woman at the gate still charged us the entrance fee, to look around something that was little more than glorified rubble,” I had written petulantly in my diary. Today, that has changed, and the work shows the scale and ambition of what was first erected at the end of the 14th century.

W e were on the move a lot over the week, but a sense of wonder enveloped my mother and me as we absorbed the beauty of the sights. She has so much more knowledge relating to our heritage and faith than I do, and often I was tapping into that and asking her questions: could she decipher a particular bit of calligraphy, or put what we were seeing into the context of Timur’s descendants, the Mughal emperors in south Asia? Or even – which came first, the central Asian samsa or our own samosa? (Answer: the samsa, an easily transportable snack for travellers, which thus arrived in India.)

We were conscious everywhere we went not only of the layers of history but also of the different communities who have been part of it.

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In Samarkand, we went to see one of the two remaining synagogues, after Valentina arranged it with the rabbi: he came along on his bicycle and unlocked the wooden door in a sidestreet, showing us a domed building built in the local style at the end of the 19th century. It was bittersweet: the congregation is now very small because younger people started to move away when travel restrictions were lifted with the end of the Soviet Union. Rabbi Josef looked to be in his 70s, and said he was the youngest of the community; there are no more weddings or barmitzvahs to look after. And yet, from pictures of gatherings in New York I could see that traditions of central Asian dress continue on special occasions for those who can trace their roots here.

Uzbekistan is as yet unspoiled by mass tourism and much less discovered by visitors from the UK than by those from other European countries: we saw French and Italian groups, but no British ones. The food can feel somewhat monotonous, and the Uzbek rice dish plov is, to my mind, not as good as pullao , its south Asian equivalent. But the minced kebabs are tasty, especially in Tashkent’s Chorsu bazaar, where our guide Dilya took us to the area where women cook, serve and run the show, and there are some very good Uzbek red wines. A delicious tomato and herb salad – achichuk – is served everywhere, and I had forgotten how moreish chai slimonon is – Russian-style black tea flavoured with slices of lemon and copious amounts of sugar.

When I travelled between Samarkand and Bukhara in 1992, it had involved a long and dusty bus journey, through towns then called Lenin and Communism, but this time we were on a high-speed train, covering the distance in two hours and in comfort. At Bukhara station I was amazed to spot Amir Kulal’s name on a billboard, advertising a pilgrimage-style route around the tombs of the “Seven Saints of Bukhara”: the first suggestion that this ancestor had a modern-day influence and presence that we had not expected. The city itself retains an old-world charm I had found captivating on my first visit, and we stayed in a small hotel just off a square I realised I had photographed back then, capturing men in fur hats sitting around tables at an outdoor chai khana or tea house. This time, while the wooden tables and benches, teapots and bowl-shaped cups were as I remembered, the scene was more mixed – including women, children and family groups – and much less sleepy, with a number of nearby shops and souvenir stalls.

From here we walked past bazaars and more madrasas – including one built by a grandson of Timur, who also endowed an extraordinary observatory and mapped the stars from Samarkand – towards Bukhara’s central square. Here the Po-i-Kalyan minaret is all that was spared by Genghis Khan when he took Bukhara in 1220. “In between the clusters of old buildings there is only waste ground,” I had written in my diary, but now there was more activity and more commercial life. Bukhara also has a great diversity of architectural styles within a relatively small geographical area, from the fine brickwork of the 10th-century mausoleum of the Samanid dynasty to a modern memorial to Imam Bukhari, the scholar who sifted through the reported sayings of the prophet and preserved only those he considered to be from trustworthy sources – a factchecking approach of which I could approve.

And so to Amir Kulal, my forefather, who would have known the streets of Bukhara as they were more than 600 years ago – and could not have imagined that later generations of his family would live far to the south, thanks to Timur’s descendant Babur venturing into India. It was on our last morning in Bukhara that our guide Makhsuma took us to the tomb, on a site which has been developed as part of a 25-year effort to rediscover and honour seven Sufi Muslim saints who lived in this area. These were Bukhara’s Masters of Wisdom, men who lived between the 10th and 16th centuries, each one passing devotional knowledge and learning on to their pupils. Amir Kulal himself came from a clan known for their work as potters, who had come from Arabia and settled to the north of Bukhara in the 12th century, where it seems their lineage back to early Islam meant they were held in high esteem. He himself rose to be head of the clan, but continued to be embedded in the family craft and worked with his hands.

This made me feel connected in a new way to the beauty of the tilework we had seen throughout our days in Uzbekistan, but Amir Kulal himself did not have a notable mausoleum after his death. Makhsuma explained that what is now a walled compound to the east of Bukhara, with a mosque and carefully laid-out garden alongside a blue-domed tomb, used to be a simple graveyard. Local people knew that Amir Kulal was buried there, and, as Uzbekistan began looking afresh at its heritage, the area around the grave became established as part of a network of seven shrines.

We arrived on a bright spring morning, walking along a path lined with small trees and stone plaques inscribed with Amir Kulal’s sayings. “Allah will not open the secrets of tariqah [a spiritual path] to the one who does not put attaining perfection as his main aim,” read one, and I felt rather unworthy when Makhsuma generously said it was her privilege to bring “the family of Amir Kulal” to his shrine. Either side of the tomb were open verandas, with benches for seating and wooden pillars carved in the traditional style we had seen many times by then. As we approached, a few families were listening to an imam reciting prayers, and we sat with them before entering the tomb itself and paying our respects in the traditional Muslim way at a grave, with the opening lines of the Qur’an.

T he quest over, I was certain of two things: that my grandfather would have been very happy to think of us reaching Amir Kulal, and that it would have been impossible for him to do so, even if his plane had made it to Uzbekistan in 1992. In that turbulent period, he would have been lucky to find people with enough knowledge of the Sufi masters’ history in the region to guide him, and to pinpoint the grave in the old cemetery then on the site. Uzbekistan was still emerging from a time of uneasy coexistence between communism and Islam, which is why I had been so struck by the sight of a madrasa in operation in Bukhara that year. “It really does seem that time has stood still in this place,” I wrote in my diary after peering into the courtyard and spotting small boys sitting cross-legged, reading. On this trip, too, there were moments when the same sentiment washed over me, even in the most-visited sites.

While Uzbekistan’s monuments first hit the visitor with grandeur and colour, they also reward those prepared to linger and to look for subtler messages in the decoration and carving. These are places where walls and doors are almost talking to you, if you are able to stop and decipher the messages and inscriptions, as the man in Samarkand wanted me to do for him all those years ago. As I passed through the door of one Bukhara madrasa, carved with the prophet’s words on how the pursuit of knowledge is a duty on every Muslim male and female, I wished Afghanistan’s Taliban could see it, or at least think about it.

Throughout, I was grateful for the guides who brought the richness of these cities to life for us. My mother and I were on a journey back into our family history, but we became conscious of what the families of those we met had lived through, from forced relocation and purges under Stalin, to acute hardship and going without food in the post-Soviet economic transition. In this centuries-old setting, the disruption and pain of the last one is yet another layer of history. A journey in search of a forefather turned into a week-long experience of female companionship and it rewarded us in more ways than we expected. At the very least, my mother can use a new line of authority on her grandchildren, with a decent claim to have some saintly blood.

• Uzbekistan holidays
• Autobiography and memoir
• Mishal Husain
• Biography books

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Yun Chuan, a mild-mannered male who’s nearly 5 years old, has “deep connections” to California, the wildlife alliance said. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao.

Xin Bao is a nearly 4-year-old female described as “a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears.”

“Our conservation partners in China shared photographs and personality traits of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, but meeting them in person was so special,” said Dr. Megan Owen, the alliance’s vice president of conservation science. “It’s inspiring as people from around the world come together to conserve, protect, and care for these special bears, and we can’t wait to welcome them to San Diego.”

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has a nearly 30-year partnership with leading conservation institutions in China focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas and the bamboo forests they depend on.

The Associated Press

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Rory mcilroy sings boozy karaoke with shane lowry after dramatic pga tour win.

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Rory McIlroy knows how to party. 

The Northern Irish golf star celebrated a victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event on Sunday by chugging a Michelob ULTRA and belting out the lyrics to “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey with a live band in front of a rocking audience of golf fans. 

The PGA Tour posted the video to its social media channels following the tournament win for McIlroy and his teammate Shane Lowry at TPC Louisiana. 

JUST A SMALL TOWN GIRL pic.twitter.com/NefSbCQjAk — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 29, 2024

The duo defeated ​​Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a playoff to capture the Zurich Classic and McIlroy won his 25th PGA Tour title and first of the season. 

McIlroy hit a brilliant pitch on the 72nd hole to set up a short Lowry birdie putt to force a playoff in what is the PGA Tour’s lone team event of the season.

Trainer missed a six-foot par putt that allowed McIlroy and Lowry the win and set off a boozy celebration on Sunday. 

“To win any PGA Tour event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends — we’ve known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years,” McIlroy said, per the Associated Press. “To think about where we met and where we’ve come from, to be on this stage and do this together — really, really cool journey that we’ve been a part of.”

In another video posted by the PGA Tour, the two are seen walking through a parking lot after the victory led by a New Orleans-style brass band after the win. 

A separate video shows McIlroy on a stage chugging a beer in front of a large gathering of golf fans. 

“People have come out in the thousands to support us. It’s not lost on me how cool that is,” McIlroy said about the crowds that followed during the tournament. “Every time I get to play in front of thousands of people, the little boy in me just thinks it’s so cool and so exciting.”

Cheers @McIlroyRory 🍻 pic.twitter.com/MH4mPxHvnU — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 29, 2024

It was a fitting celebration given McIlroy previously told Claire Rogers of Golf.com that he asked Lowry to partner together at a “really drunken lunch” after the Ryder Cup.

Lowry had previously teamed with Padraig Harrington, who now plays on the Champions Tour.

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