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No place in Italy provides a deeper insight into the ancient world than Campania. This brand new tour for 2027 combines the extraordinary archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum with the lavish Roman villas of Oplontis and Stabiae. Explore this remarkable region in detail to gain a vivid picture of life in Roman times, while the dramatic presence of Mount Vesuvius continues to shape the landscape today. Who better to provide insights, than archaeologist Dr Sophie Hay, who has spent the best part of 20 years working in and around Pompeii and is currently working at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. She will join you as you tour Pompeii and will give a talk at your hotel one evening. You'll explore the UNESCO World Heritage site Herculaneum, where remarkably preserved homes, frescoes, mosaics and everyday objects offer an intimate glimpse into Roman life before the eruption of AD 79. Discover Oplontis and the villas of Stabiae, where magnificent frescoes, elegant architecture and panoramic settings reveal the extraordinary world of Rome's elite. Beyond the Vesuvian towns, uncover the magnificent Greek temples of Paestum, explore the ancient seaside retreat of Baia and visit Naples' National Archaeological Museum. Along the way, experience the living traditions of Campania, from its celebrated buffalo mozzarella to the wines produced from its fertile volcanic soils. Enjoy wine tasting and lunch at the base of Mount Vesuvius. This exclusive tour brings together the archaeology, landscapes and traditions that make Campania truly unique. |
Dr Sophie Hay is a leading archaeologist and an expert on Pompeii. She is currently working at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and is also writing a book about the women who excavated Pompeii. Her PhD was based on the fieldwork she completed for the British School at Rome's Pompeii Project.
Essential Information
FLIGHT TIMES -
Airline British Airways
07th March BA0534 07.55 - 11.45
14th March BA0535 12.40 - 14.40
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT -
From £535
Please note this information is indicative and subject to change
* Flight exclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £535. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
* Flight inclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room and on flights from London Heathrow, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £535. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
* Flight exclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £599. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
* Flight inclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room and on flights from London Heathrow, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £599. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
Upon arrival at Naples NAP airport, board your private coach transfer to the Hotel Forum Pompeii. Meet your local Tour Manager for a brief overview of the trip. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel's restaurant.
After breakfast this morning, you will begin your journey where Campania's story starts: on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. While its eruption forever changed history, its volcanic soils also created one of Italy's most fertile landscapes. In the company of an expert mountain guide, set out on a hiking along the trails (dependent on weather conditions). Get to the crater and enjoy the majesty of the volcano as well as the amazing views over the whole Gulf of Naples. (This is a 2 hour long, 3km/1.8 mile roundtrip hike with an elevation gain of 175m. For guests with mobility restrictions or for those who use a wheelchair, an alternative will be provided).
Alternatively, embark on a guided walking tour, which unveils Naples' glorious past, leading you through majestic medieval castles and monumental squares that resonate with centuries of history. In the very heart of Naples, the Sansevero Chapel awaits: an extraordinary jewel of the world's artistic heritage. Here, Baroque imagination intertwines with dynastic pride, beauty, and mystery. At the centre of this treasure lies its masterpiece: the renowned Veiled Christ, celebrated for the astonishingly delicate, fabric-like transparency of its marble shroud.
Afterwards, regroup at the base of Mount Vesuvius for wine tasting and lunch, where you'll discover how volcanic soils give birth to amazing wines.Continue then to Boscoreale and discover how generations learned to transform nature's greatest force into opportunity and abundance. If Pompeii tells the story of a city, Boscoreale tells the story of the land that sustained it. Villa Regina and the Antiquarium offer a fascinating insight into Roman agricultural life, where fertile volcanic soils provided the foundation for prosperity. Through ancient wine presses, storage rooms and everyday artefacts, discover how the same volcano that buried entire communities also gave them the means to flourish.
Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner and the rest of the evening at your leisure.
After breakfast this morning, you'll visit Paestum to explore one of the most remarkable archaeological sites of Magna Graecia, where magnificent Doric temples stand as a lasting testament to a civilisation shaped by agriculture, trade, and its connection with the Mediterranean.
The story of this fertile land continues through the generations. At a local buffalo mozzarella farm, discover how Campania's unique landscape still sustains traditional craftsmanship today, meeting the producers who transform the region's natural resources into one of Italy's most iconic culinary treasures.
The journey continues in Salerno, a vibrant coastal city where centuries of history, nature and innovation coexist. A walking tour through its historic streets leads to the Giardini della Minerva, a medieval botanical garden once used by the ancient medical school of Salerno, where plants and herbs became the foundation of one of Europe's earliest centres of medical knowledge. While the archaeological sites reveal the civilisations that once flourished here, Salerno shows how that story continues in a living Mediterranean city today - where traditions, landscapes and human ingenuity remain deeply intertwined.
Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner and the rest of the evening at your leisure.
After breakfast this morning, your day begins at the Archaeological Park of the Baths of Baia, once the luxurious seaside retreat of Roman emperors and aristocrats. Overlooking the Gulf of Naples, this vast complex reveals a world of thermal baths, elegant villas, and sophisticated architecture, where the beauty of the landscape became a symbol of power and leisure.
Weather and sea conditions permitting, continue with a visit to the Underwater Archaeological Park of Baia, where the ancient coastline has been preserved beneath the waters of the Mediterranean. Submerged mosaics, statues, and remains of luxurious residences offer a fascinating glimpse into a city where nature has become the guardian of history. (In case of unfavourable weather or sea conditions, the visit will be replaced with the Archaeological Park of the Phlegraean Fields).
Lunch is at leisure, before you continue to Naples and the National Archaeological Museum, home to some of the most extraordinary treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Through frescoes, mosaics and everyday objects, the museum brings to life the people behind the ruins, revealing the ambitions, habits, and stories of those who once inhabited this remarkable region.The day concludes with free time to experience Naples at your own pace, whether exploring its vibrant streets or browsing local shops.
Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner and the rest of the evening at your leisure.
After breakfast this morning, visit the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological area of Herculaneum, a city preserved in extraordinary detail after being buried beneath layers of ash and volcanic mud during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Unlike many other ancient sites, the exceptional conditions of preservation allow visitors to step beyond monuments and discover the intimate world of Roman daily life: two-storey homes with original architectural features, wooden and marble elements, vibrant decorations, jewellery, food remains and personal objects that reveal the habits, aspirations and stories of the people who lived here.
Lunch is at leisure, before you continue to Oplontis, where the magnificent Villa of Poppaea offers a glimpse into the refined lifestyle of Rome's elite. Traditionally associated with Poppaea Sabina, wife of Emperor Nero, this lavish seaside residence reveals a world of elegance, with beautifully preserved frescoes - some still undergoing restoration at the time of the eruption - as well as remarkably intact service areas and slave quarters that provide a rare insight into the complex social structure of a Roman household.
Together, Herculaneum and Oplontis reveal two sides of ancient Campania: the everyday lives of its inhabitants and the extraordinary world of its elite, both forever transformed by the same powerful force of nature.
Return to the hotel for a lecture with Sophie Hay followed by dinner.
After breakfast this morning, your journey reaches its emotional and historical climax with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological area of Pompeii, one of the world's most extraordinary windows into the ancient world. Rather than a city lost to history, Pompeii emerges as a place where the voices of the past continue to be heard. Preserved beneath layers of volcanic material after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, its streets, homes, workshops, and public spaces offer an unparalleled insight into the rhythms of Roman life.
Walking through the ancient city, discover the stories of the people who lived here - their homes, businesses, traditions, and ambitions - and see how this once-thriving community reflected the prosperity of a land shaped by fertile volcanic soils, Mediterranean connections and human ingenuity.
After a packed lunch, there will be the opportunity to continue exploring Pompeii at a deeper pace or enjoy some time at leisure.
Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner and the rest of the evening at your leisure.
After breakfast this morning, your journey concludes with the breathtaking villas of Stabiae, where the extraordinary beauty of the Bay of Naples attracted Rome's most powerful and influential families. Perched above the coastline, these elegant seaside residences reveal how Campania became the ultimate retreat for the Roman elite - a place where natural beauty, fertile landscapes and the healing waters of the region inspired a lifestyle of leisure, refinement, and sophistication.
Explore Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna, two remarkable examples of Roman seaside luxury. With their panoramic terraces, elegant architectural features and beautifully preserved frescoes, these residences offer a glimpse into a world where architecture was designed to harmoniously blend with the surrounding landscape. From the refined spaces of Villa San Marco to the exceptional frescoes of Villa Arianna, discover how the Roman elite transformed the Bay of Naples into a symbol of status, beauty and privilege.
After lunch (not included), the Archaeological Museum of Castellammare di Stabia provides the final chapter of the journey, bringing together the many threads explored throughout the week: the volcanic landscape that created abundance, the sea that connected civilisations, and the human creativity that shaped one of the ancient Mediterranean's most remarkable regions.
In the evening, celebrate the end of this unforgettable journey with a farewell dinnerat the hotel's restaurant, sharing the memories and discoveries of a week spent exploring the landscapes, stories and traditions that make Campania truly unique.
After breakfast this morning, check-out and board your private transfer to Naples airport for the flight back to London Heathrow.
* Flight exclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £535. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
* Flight inclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room and on flights from London Heathrow, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £535. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
* Flight exclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £599. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
* Flight inclusive price: From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room and on flights from London Heathrow, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £599. Deposit: 30%. All mandatory additional charges are included in the price, please enquire for details. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Tripsmiths Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).