Pompeii, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast

Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France on a bed and breakfast basis.

We continue our scenic journey through France, stopping along the way in Beaune, a charming town located in the heart of the Burgundy region. Explore its cobblestone streets and vibrant markets, indulge in the region's world-class cuisine and exceptional wines or see the famous Hôtel-Dieu, a medieval hospital with striking colourful tiled roofs, which now houses a museum. 

Cross the border into Italy and enjoy free time in the elegant town of Asti, famous for its its historic streets, bustling squares and sparkling wine, before we continue onwards to Hotel President in Reggio Emilia, with dinner included.

We continue on to our hotel in the Sorrento area, where we stay for the next seven nights, with dinner included.

We include return transfers to the centre of Sorrento, where we enjoy some time at leisure. Overlooking the Bay of Naples, there are some lovely views on offer from the waterside restaurants, or head to the bustling Old Town for a gelato or liminoro before exploring the sun-trapped squares, cobbled streets, unique shops and historic sites such as the 14th-century Sedile Dominova and the beautiful Cathedral of Sorrento.

Choose to relax at the hotel today or head back into Sorrento to discover more of this stunning city.

A fascinating day awaits amidst the UNESCO-listed ruins of ancient Pompeii, one of Europe’s most compelling archaeological sites. The town was buried under a layer of lava and ash by Mount Vesuvius in AD79; the result is a well-preserved slice of Roman life in the 1st century with shops, schools, houses, theatres, baths and more. There are many fascinating artefacts to discover, along with wall paintings, mosaics and street graffiti, which all survive in remarkably good state. Walking these ancient streets in the footsteps of gladiators, slaves, senators and citizens is a truly memorable experience, brought vividly to life on our locally-guided walking tour.

Choose to spend the day as you please or join our optional excursion, where our destination is the largest city of southern Italy, Naples, often referred to as an open-air museum due to its abundance of historic statues and monuments. It's the perfect chance to stroll through the ancient piazzas, head to the seafront to explore the harbour and the Castel dell'Ovo or visit the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The range of mosaics, sculptures and silver, uncovered during excavations at Pompeii and other archaeological sites, make up one of the world's best collections of Greek and Roman antiques here. Or simply enjoy the authentic Italian cuisine; as the home of pizza, the food in Naples won’t disappoint!

We take a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast, a beautiful and renowned stretch of mountainous coastline dotted with picturesque towns and villages perched on the rugged cliffs. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the area is also famous for the cultivation of lemons, grown in terraced gardens along the coast, and the production of limoncello liqueur. We have some time in the picture-perfect town of Amalfi before catching the ferry to Maiori, popular for its stunning beach.

Our last day in Sorrento is spent at leisure – the perfect chance to soak up la dolce vita amidst beautiful surroundings.

We head to Rome, where we have the afternoon to explore at leisure and soak up the golden light of the Eternal City. Highlights include the iconic Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire, the Spanish Steps, the Roman Forum and the Trevi Fountain. Our overnight stay is in the Rome area, with dinner included.

We continue our journey home, stopping in the beautiful medieval hilltop town of Montepulciano. This rare gem in southern Tuscany is full of elegant Renaissance buildings and a lovely main square. Be sure to have a look at look up at the clock tower and explore the charming streets of the Old Town, while taking in the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Later, we check back into the Hotel President in Reggio Emilia, where we stay overnight with dinner included.

We travel onwards through the lovely scenery of Switzerland to our overnight hotel in France, with a light evening meal included.

Continue to Calais for our return ferry home.