Absolute Italy Escorted Tour, October 25th - November 5, 2025

Arriving in the southern Italian warmth of Naples, you will find your driver waiting for you as you exit the arrivals gate, waiting to whisk you around the Bay of Naples to your Sorrento hotel.

 

You will be staying in one of the town’s luxury 4* hotels, situated on the cliffs above the Bay of Naples.  Sorrento is loved by visitors for its mild climate, lemon-lined streets and beautiful sea-views, looking out onto Capri.  It’s the perfect location to discover the Amalfi Coast and the ancient sites that surround Mount Vesuvius in the distance.

 

At the hotel, you will meet up with your escort and the rest of your traveling companions and have the chance to get to know each other over a cocktail on the terrace, followed by dinner together.

Overnight in Sorrento. 

After breakfast at the hotel, you will set off on today's tour of the Amalfi Coast.

Driving the narrow coastal road can be harrowing for experienced drivers if they are unprepared for the twisting roads, sharp drops and oncoming traffic.  In the comfort of a luxury vehicle and in the safe hands of a local, professional driver, you can relax and concentrate on the stunning views on one of Italy’s most beautiful natural landscapes.

Your driver will take you to the most famous of the towns scattered along the jagged cliffs, sharing local knowledge as you go.  First stop of the day will be Positano, once a popular retreat for artists who were responsible for the painted houses.  You will have time to wander the narrow streets that lead down to the beach, discovering great shops and wonderful views as you go.

After a stop in Amalfi itself, you will break for lunch in the top of a historic tower, close to the town of Maiori.  Then in the afternoon, head up the winding road that leads to the beautiful town of Ravello, famous for the spectacular views from the gardens of Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo.

Return in the evening to Sorrento where you will have free time to enjoy the town and dinner at your leisure. 

Overnight in Sorrento. 

The island of Capri conjures images of wealth and glamour, and there’s no more glamorous way to arrive there than by private boat. 

 

Following breakfast, a driver will accompany you down to the marina, where your English-speaking skipper will be waiting to welcome you on board.  Together you will visit some of the caves that surround Capri, including the Grotto Azzurro (Blue Grotto), if the weather conditions are suitable.  You will have time to go swimming in the island’s clear, blue waters, before docking in time to enjoy lunch on the island.

 

You will have some time to explore on your own, taking the cabal car up to the top of Mount Solaro, or relaxing in Piazza Umberto, sipping a glass of prosecco while you watch the fashion-conscious locals.

 

When you return to Sorrento, you will have the evening to yourselves.

 

Overnight in Sorrento. 

Following your final breakfast in Sorrento, you will check out of the hotel and start the journey to Rome.

 

On the way, you’ll be stopping in the legendary city of Pompeii, for a privately guided tour of the ruins with a licensed, local guide.  For 2hrs you will walk the ancient streets of this incredible city, frozen in time on an August day in AD79 for you to discover as you make your way to the Forum, bath house, theaters, houses and brothel, in the shadow of Europe’s most dangerous volcano.

 

Following Pompeii, relax and enjoy some of the local wine,with a lunch break at a local winery, where you’ll enjoy fresh, local produce and some of the wines produced in the rich, volcanic soils that surround Vesuvius. 

 

Continuing north, you'll arrive in Rome in the late afternoon and will have some time to settle in before meeting the group for dinner this evening at a local trattoria.  

 

Overnight in Rome

 

Following breakfast at the hotel, a bus will take you to Vatican City to begin your private tour of the museums and basilica.

Your local expert guide will show you the highlights of this amazing collection, started by Pope Julius II in the 16th century and added to by successive popes ever since. The path through the galleries, leads to the Sistine Chapel, where you will need a little time to absorb the wealth of detail and color surrounding you from the Creation on the ceiling, to the Last Judgment adorning the altar wall.

Exiting straight into the Basilica of St. Peter's, the most imposing of Rome's Papal Basilicas.  Julius II declared that this was to be the greatest church in all of Christendom and with Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Bernini all playing a role in its design and construction, it was destined to be.  Prepared to be awed by the space, the light, the lavish decoration and the wonderful works of art that have been commissioned by popes keen to leave their mark here.

After the tour, the group will have lunch together close to the Vatican, then your escort will accompany you into the heart of the city where you will have time to yourselves to go shopping or visit more of Rome's museums and monuments, before returning to the hotel at your leisure.

Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Rome

This morning’s tour will take you through some of the fascinating ruins of ancient Rome.  From her mythical foundations, to the expansion of the empire throughout Italy and the Mediterranean, Rome continued to be ruled from the narrow stretch of land in the center of the city: The Roman Forum. Today a mix of temples, churches and monuments spanning more than 12 centuries of history, our guide will help you unravel this mix of beautiful structures and explain the story of their survival.

Standing above the Forum is the Palatine Hill, where Romulus and Remus are said to have been raised by the She-Wolf and where Augustus and the emperors who followed, chose to build their palaces. Here we will see the remains of some of these palaces and the wonderful view the emperors would have had of the races in the Circus Maximus, without having to mix with the people!

The final monument in the archeological complex, is perhaps the pinnacle of Roman engineering and lasting symbol of power: the Colosseum. Here we will skip-the-line and head inside to learn about the violent world of public entertainment in the Roman Empire, discover how and why the Colosseum was built and why this spot was chosen and to dispel a few myths!

Free time for lunch and rest of the afternoon at leisure in Rome.  

Overnight in Rome

It’s time to bid farewell to Rome and prepare for a day in one of the most beautiful parts of Tuscany.

Following breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and meet your driver at the reception. Relax and enjoy watching the hilltop towns of the Lazio region as you drive north into Tuscany and the Orcia Valley.  This valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized as a cultural treasure for its outstanding natural beauty. 

It is also home to numerous winemakers, producing reds such as Brunello di Montalcino.  Close to Montalcino, you will stop for lunch at a winery to discover some of these wines and enjoy some typical local products. 

In the afternoon, you will have some time to visit Pienza on your own, considered to be the ideal Renaissance town and Montepulciano, where visitors who climb all the way to the square at the top, are rewarded with wonderful views out across the valley.  It’s also a great place to shop for souvenirs, or stock up on wine!

In the evening, the group will arrive in Florence, check into the hotel and enjoy a typical Tuscan dinner together in a nearby restaurant.

Overnight in Florence.

 

After breakfast at the hotel, an expert local guide will show you the highlights of Florence and explain the history of the powerful Medici family who ruled much of Tuscany during the Renaissance. Your tour will include the Accademia Gallery which is home to the statue of David. After the tour, you will have time on your own to explore the city of Florence. 

Overnight in Florence.

After an early breakfast, we head out for a memorable day exploring one of the world's most spectacular coastal areas, the famed Cinque Terre.
We shall learn all about Cinque Terre's history and unique features like the steeply terraced cliffs bisected by a complicated system of fields and gardens hacked, chiseled, shaped and layered over the course of nearly two millennia. So marked are these artificial contours that some scholars have compared the extensive “muretti” (low stone walls) to the Great Wall of China! And all enhanced by the charming villages - Riomaggiore, founded in the 8th century by Greek settlers fleeing persecution in Byzantium, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Monterosso - which look onto the gleaming pristine waters of the sea. We shall lose ourselves in gorgeous scenery, hike/walk along the famous trails (including the Via dell'Amore - please see *) and explore a few of the fascinating villages traveling by boat, train and on foot.
One of the highlights of this day will be a Ligurian seafood feast, with exquisite regional white wines, in a lovely seafront restaurant. And we shall learn about the area's one-of-a-kind grape harvesting techniques enjoying an exclusive leisurely hike through luxuriant seafront vineyards: nobody in sight apart from the deep blue sea, verdant vines, your group and guide. Weather and sea conditions permitting you will also admire the scenario from the water during a fabulous cruise.
*The villages of Cinque Terre are not accessible by coach and a moderate amount of walking will be required today, transportation dependent on weather.

Overnight in Florence.

After breakfast you will depart from Florence and drive north to Venice.  Once you reach the city, you will transfer from the bus to a private boat that will take you to the dock of your hotel.  

Your escort will take you on a short introductory walk, to help you find your bearings in this often confusing city, ending with lunch together.

In the afternoon, there will be a tour of the Venice lagoon, a delicate ecosystem which  is home to 118 small islands, and countless species of animals and birds. Your tour will take you to 3 of the larger islands, Murano, Burano and Torcello. Murano has been home to the city’s famed glass-makers for generations, and during your visit you will see a demonstration of glass-blowing. Burano is known for lace-making and its brightly-colored houses, while Torcello is home to Venice’s first cathedral, the Medieval Santa Maria Assunta, decorated with wonderful examples of 11^th century mosaics.

Returning to Venice, you will be free to enjoy dinner, a typical Venetian aperitivo and to visit the streets in the quiet of the evening.

Overnight in Venice.

Your final day will start with a private tour of Venice with a local guide.  Heading away from the tourist center, you will discover the real Venice as you walk through Rialto Market, over the Rialto Bridge to Europe’s first Ghetto, where the city’s Jewish population lived for 270 years.  Along the way, discover the houses of Mozart and Marco Polo, the La Fenice opera house, the intriguing Bovolo staircase and a bookshop that is well-prepared for aqua alta!

The tour will conclude with the ultimate Venetian experience: a gondola ride.  Afterwards, your tour leader will accompany you back to the hotel and help you with any questions you may have about what to do with your free afternoon in Venice.

Overnight in Venice.

The tour will conclude this morning with a transfer to the airport if you are flying home, or to the train station if you are continuing your Italian vacation.