This is the ultimate Italian adventure! Explore Northern & Southern Italian gems like Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Pompeii, Sorrento and Sicily.
Experience La Bella Vita with this 16-day tour through Italy! Tick off Italy’s art cities - Rome, Venice and Florence! Spot Pisa’s Leaning Tower, visit Pompeii, enjoy the Amalfi Coast, and discover Matera and Alberobello. Tour Sicily's highlights including Taormina, Agrigento, Cefalù, Syracuse, and Palermo. This is the ultimate Italy tour!
Hotel in Rome
Hotel in Rome
15 Nights, (3 & 4 star hotels & ferry)
15 Nights
(3 & 4 star hotels & ferry)
15 Breakfasts | 1 Lunch | 6 Dinners
15 Breakfasts
1 Lunch
6 Dinners
Air-conditioned coach & ferry
Air-conditioned coach & ferry
Fully-guided tour
Fully-guided tour
Hotel in Rome | 10:00 AM
Hotel in Rome | 11:00 AM (traffic dependant)
Benvenuto in Italia! This morning, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers at the Rome hotel. Afterwards, look forward to a guided city tour. See highlights including the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. Enjoy free time after or join the optional Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tour. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local Roman restaurant.
See some of this ancient city’s highlights like the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Spanish Steps before your free day tomorrow.
See some of this ancient city’s highlights like the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Spanish Steps before your free day tomorrow.
Join your tour leader and fellow travellers in celebrating the first night on tour with a welcome dinner at a local Italian restaurant.
Join your tour leader and fellow travellers in celebrating the first night on tour with a welcome dinner at a local Italian restaurant.
Delve into ancient Rome. Take a locally guided walking tour of the awe-inspiring Colosseum and visit the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum.
Delve into ancient Rome. Take a locally guided walking tour of the awe-inspiring Colosseum and visit the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum.
Bid Rome farewell and drive through the beautiful Umbria region. Stop in Orvieto, a stunning city sitting on a sheer vertical volcanic rock. Take a funicular to explore its center, cathedral, fortress, and Papal Residence. Continue to Venice for a free evening or join the optional Venice by Night excursion for a dreamy, twilight water taxi cruise!
Take a funicular up to the historic centre. Enjoy free time to see the sights, including the exquisite facade of the Cathedral of Orvieto.
Take a funicular up to the historic centre. Enjoy free time to see the sights, including the exquisite facade of the Cathedral of Orvieto.
Take a water taxi night cruise of Venice’s iconic waterways. Soak up the sights and sounds from the palazzos and tavernas.
Take a water taxi night cruise of Venice’s iconic waterways. Soak up the sights and sounds from the palazzos and tavernas.
Explore Venice to the fullest today! Don’t miss the opportunity to tick a “Venice Gondola Ride” off your bucket list! Another exciting excursion is the lagoon tour through the colourful islands of Murano and Burano. Or, spend the day wandering Venice at your own pace. Tick off top sights such as St Mark’s Square, Rialto Market and Doge’s Palace!
Explore Venice, Italy’s floating city. Visit must-see sights like St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market, and more for an unforgettable experience.
Explore Venice, Italy’s floating city. Visit must-see sights like St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market, and more for an unforgettable experience.
No visit to Venice is complete without a traditional gondola ride! Experience an ancient Venice tradition as you cruise the city’s famous canals.
No visit to Venice is complete without a traditional gondola ride! Experience an ancient Venice tradition as you cruise the city’s famous canals.
Take a private boat across the lagoon to Venice’s colourful islands. Enjoy a glass-making demonstration in Murano and learn about lace-making in Burano.
Take a private boat across the lagoon to Venice’s colourful islands. Enjoy a glass-making demonstration in Murano and learn about lace-making in Burano.
Travelling through the gorgeous Tuscany region, stop at Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake which has inspired artists for generations! Later, arrive in Florence, the “Jewel of the Renaissance” and set off on a locally-guided tour. Visit a local leather shop before enjoying free time. Look forward to an included dinner in Florence before travelling to tonight’s accommodation in Montecatini.
Stop in the gorgeous town of Sirmione on the shores of Lake Garda, the biggest lake in Italy, to take some keepsake photos.
Stop in the gorgeous town of Sirmione on the shores of Lake Garda, the biggest lake in Italy, to take some keepsake photos.
Explore this historic, Renaissance city. See highlights like Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo, and the replica of Michelangelo’s David.
Explore this historic, Renaissance city. See highlights like Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo, and the replica of Michelangelo’s David.
Learn about the centuries-old traditional art of leather-making at a local merchant; Leonardo Leather & Gold.
Learn about the centuries-old traditional art of leather-making at a local merchant; Leonardo Leather & Gold.
Indulge in a delicious Italian meal at a local restaurant in Florence.
Indulge in a delicious Italian meal at a local restaurant in Florence.
This morning, head to the idyllic Cinque Terre! This collection of fishing villages is famous for its bright, colourful houses and dramatic coastal scenery. After, experience another picture-perfect moment at the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa! Tonight, why not join the Evening in Montecatini excursion for an orientation tour of this spa town and a three-course dinner?
Wander cobbled paths connecting five scenic villages in this UNESCO-listed region, famous for stunning views and some of Italy’s best seafood.
Wander cobbled paths connecting five scenic villages in this UNESCO-listed region, famous for stunning views and some of Italy’s best seafood.
Tick the Leaning Tower of Pisa off your bucket list and snap iconic photos of yourself ‘holding up’ this world-famous landmark!
Tick the Leaning Tower of Pisa off your bucket list and snap iconic photos of yourself ‘holding up’ this world-famous landmark!
Ride the Montecatini Funicular and admire the views of Montecatini Terme before enjoying a delicious, three-course Tuscan dinner.
Ride the Montecatini Funicular and admire the views of Montecatini Terme before enjoying a delicious, three-course Tuscan dinner.
More Tuscan scenery awaits today as the tour travels through picturesque countryside. Today’s first stop is the hilltop town of San Gimignano for an orientation tour and Tuscan wine tasting! Then, it’s on to Siena. Visit the Piazza del Campo, the city’s main square. Later this afternoon, travel back to Rome and enjoy an included dinner at the hotel.
Soak up San Gimignano’s peaceful charm, admire its iconic medieval towers, and enjoy a wine tasting in this UNESCO-listed hilltop town.
Soak up San Gimignano’s peaceful charm, admire its iconic medieval towers, and enjoy a wine tasting in this UNESCO-listed hilltop town.
This Tuscan town is famous for hosting the Palio horse race and its incredible cuisine and culture!
This Tuscan town is famous for hosting the Palio horse race and its incredible cuisine and culture!
Welcome back to Rome! The “Eternal City” is yours to explore as you wish. Join today’s optional excursion for a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and its most enchanting artistic highlights. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner with some new travellers who will be joining the second half of the tour.
Visit the smallest country in the world, skip the lines and be mesmerised by the artistic masterpieces in the Vatican Museums and on a guided tour!
Visit the smallest country in the world, skip the lines and be mesmerised by the artistic masterpieces in the Vatican Museums and on a guided tour!
Depart Rome for Pompeii this morning. Look forward to a guided tour of the ruins of Pompeii and admire the towering Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Enjoy an included lunch before travelling to Salerno along the awe-inspiring Amalfi Coast! Join this evening’s optional excursion to experience Salerno. Explore the majestic Salerno Cathedral and enjoy an authentic Italian dinner.
Explore the UNESCO-listed ancient ruins of Pompeii, famously destroyed in 79 AD, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius with a local guide.
Explore the UNESCO-listed ancient ruins of Pompeii, famously destroyed in 79 AD, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius with a local guide.
Explore Salerno’s stunning cathedral, stroll its historic center, and enjoy a dreamy seaside dinner with sunset views of the Amalfi Coast!
Explore Salerno’s stunning cathedral, stroll its historic center, and enjoy a dreamy seaside dinner with sunset views of the Amalfi Coast!
Immerse yourself in the charm of the Amalfi Coast on this free day. Today’s optional Highlights of Amalfi boat tour is highly recommended. Discover the magic of Positano and Amalfi’s enchanting alleys and sun-soaked piazzas. Then, indulge in a delicious lunch before enjoying a limoncello tasting and a visit to a paper museum. This day trip is one to remember!
Sail to Positano and Amalfi, explore charming streets, savour a delicious lunch & taste authentic limoncello on an unforgettable coastal adventure!
Sail to Positano and Amalfi, explore charming streets, savour a delicious lunch & taste authentic limoncello on an unforgettable coastal adventure!
Travel southeast to Apulia - the heel of Italy’s boot! Visit the mesmerising city of Matera, home to the UNESCO-listed “Sassi” cave-dwelling districts. Next, head to Alberobello and embark on a walking tour with a passionate local guide. Admire the whitewashed “Trulli” houses that the region is famous for. Enjoy free time in Alberobello before travelling to tonight’s accommodation.
Known as "la Città Sotterranea" (the Subterranean City), Matera is famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts; the ‘Sassi’.
Known as "la Città Sotterranea" (the Subterranean City), Matera is famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts; the ‘Sassi’.
Discover the area’s beautiful 14th-century whitewashed stone huts that have iconic conical roofs, and are specific to the Itria Valley, with a local guide.
Discover the area’s beautiful 14th-century whitewashed stone huts that have iconic conical roofs, and are specific to the Itria Valley, with a local guide.
Today, Sicily awaits! Hop on a ferry and wave arrivederci to the Italian mainland. Arrive, get back on the coach and travel to Taormina, a spectacular hilltop town famously seen in the second season of The White Lotus! Join your tour leader on an orientation walk. Tonight’s hotel is located right on the beach! Enjoy a delicious dinner here.
Take a scenic ferry ride from the mainland to Sicily; the home of Mount Etna. Admire the views as the ferry travels to Taormina.
Take a scenic ferry ride from the mainland to Sicily; the home of Mount Etna. Admire the views as the ferry travels to Taormina.
Embark an orientation tour of this charming hilltop town famously seen in The White Lotus. Admire the historic Porta Catania and the Villa Comunale.
Embark an orientation tour of this charming hilltop town famously seen in The White Lotus. Admire the historic Porta Catania and the Villa Comunale.
Taste authentic Sicilian cuisine and join the group for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the ocean.
Taste authentic Sicilian cuisine and join the group for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the ocean.
Enjoy a free day in Taormina or join the Mount Etna Day Trip! Travel to the base of this active volcano on a funicular, walk in the volcanic ash with a local guide and be amazed by the unearthly scenery. Then, indulge in a delectable lunch full of produce and wine grown in volcanic soil at a local Enoteca!
Explore Mount Etna, an active volcano and UNESCO World Heritage Site! Learn about the area from a local guide. A Sicilian feast is included for lunch.
Explore Mount Etna, an active volcano and UNESCO World Heritage Site! Learn about the area from a local guide. A Sicilian feast is included for lunch.
Visit Syracuse this morning. Founded as a Greek colony in 734 BC, this historic city is home to a UNESCO-listed centre, impressive Baroque buildings and an excellent food market. Later, travel to Agrigento where another highlight of Sicily awaits - the Valley of the Temples! Discover this archaeological site, home to beautifully-preserved Magna Grecia architecture, with a local guide at sunset.
Discover Greek remains dating back to the 5th century BC, wander cobbled lanes, explore the vibrant food market and admire baroque architecture.
Discover Greek remains dating back to the 5th century BC, wander cobbled lanes, explore the vibrant food market and admire baroque architecture.
The ‘Valle dei Templi’ includes the remains of seven temples built in the Doric style. Admire exquisite examples of Magna Grecia art and architecture.
The ‘Valle dei Templi’ includes the remains of seven temples built in the Doric style. Admire exquisite examples of Magna Grecia art and architecture.
Leaving Agrigento, travel to Cefalù. This quaint city is home to some of Italy’s dreamiest beaches! Opt to join an optional walking tour followed by lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, arrive in Palermo, Sicily’s capital! Embark on a locally-guided tour to see highlights including the Palermo Cathedral and the Piazza Pretoria. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Enjoy free time in this coastal city which is famous for its beaches and Norman cathedral complete with soaring towers and Byzantine mosaics.
Enjoy free time in this coastal city which is famous for its beaches and Norman cathedral complete with soaring towers and Byzantine mosaics.
Explore popular attractions in Sicily’s buzzing capital. Marvel at the Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Nuova (The New Gate) and the Cathedral of Palermo.
Explore popular attractions in Sicily’s buzzing capital. Marvel at the Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Nuova (The New Gate) and the Cathedral of Palermo.
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the scenic city of Cefalù along with a three-course Sicilian lunch at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the scenic city of Cefalù along with a three-course Sicilian lunch at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a full free day in Palermo. Today’s optional excursion deep dives into the city’s intriguing hidden gems. Uncover historically significant landmarks, artistic masterpieces and traditional Sicilian sweets. Palermo is also home to bustling local markets which are well worth a visit. In the evening, the tour makes its way to the port to catch an overnight ferry to Naples.
Explore the hidden gems of Palermo. Uncover fascinating history, admire stunning architecture and artworks and taste traditional Sicilian sweets!
Explore the hidden gems of Palermo. Uncover fascinating history, admire stunning architecture and artworks and taste traditional Sicilian sweets!
The ferry will arrive in Naples this morning. Continue on the coach with the tour leader and travel back to Rome, where the coach will drop off the group and the tour will conclude after 16 days of unforgettable Italian adventures. Please note that the ferry times may differ throughout the year and take this into account when booking your outbound flight. Alternatively, stay an extra night in Rome and book accommodation with our partner Booking.com. Arrivederci!
Sail to Positano and Amalfi, explore charming streets, savour a delicious lunch & taste authentic limoncello on an unforgettable coastal adventure!
Take a private boat across the lagoon to Venice’s colourful islands. Enjoy a glass-making demonstration in Murano and learn about lace-making in Burano.
Tick the Leaning Tower of Pisa off your bucket list and snap iconic photos of yourself ‘holding up’ this world-famous landmark!
Discover the area’s beautiful 14th-century whitewashed stone huts that have iconic conical roofs, and are specific to the Itria Valley, with a local guide.
Embark an orientation tour of this charming hilltop town famously seen in The White Lotus. Admire the historic Porta Catania and the Villa Comunale.
This tour is available in multiple options – choose your preferred option using the buttons below:
Combine both single legs into the full-length, 16-day combo tour to see the best of Italy
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Enhance your tour with these carefully selected optional experiences. Each one is designed to add depth and excitement to your journey, allowing you to customize your adventure according to your interests.
Delve into ancient Rome. Take a locally guided walking tour of the awe-inspiring Colosseum and visit the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum.
Take a water taxi night cruise of Venice’s iconic waterways. Soak up the sights and sounds from the palazzos and tavernas.
No visit to Venice is complete without a traditional gondola ride! Experience an ancient Venice tradition as you cruise the city’s famous canals.
Take a private boat across the lagoon to Venice’s colourful islands. Enjoy a glass-making demonstration in Murano and learn about lace-making in Burano.
Ride the Montecatini Funicular and admire the views of Montecatini Terme before enjoying a delicious, three-course Tuscan dinner.
Visit the smallest country in the world, skip the lines and be mesmerised by the artistic masterpieces in the Vatican Museums and on a guided tour!
Explore Salerno’s stunning cathedral, stroll its historic center, and enjoy a dreamy seaside dinner with sunset views of the Amalfi Coast!
Sail to Positano and Amalfi, explore charming streets, savour a delicious lunch & taste authentic limoncello on an unforgettable coastal adventure!
Explore Mount Etna, an active volcano and UNESCO World Heritage Site! Learn about the area from a local guide. A Sicilian feast is included for lunch.
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the scenic city of Cefalù along with a three-course Sicilian lunch at a local restaurant.
Explore the hidden gems of Palermo. Uncover fascinating history, admire stunning architecture and artworks and taste traditional Sicilian sweets!
If you are planning to travel a different year, please select here to view the relevant itinerary:
Price is based on a sharing twin room. Single room (optional).
We partner with a range of hand-picked hotels in each destination. The hotels listed below are those we stay at most frequently. However, you may stay at different hotels of a similar standard.
A confirmed list of hotels is emailed to all travellers prior to their tour departure. To extend your stay in Rome, click here to book pre and post-tour accommodation through our partner Booking.com.
A well organized and busy adventure tour showing the rich history, culture, and beauty of Italy. Our Tour Director was great with her knowledge, passion, and attention to detail ma...
Crossed off some places from my bucket list. Loved the sunset taxi ride in Venice and gondola ride the next morning. Would have liked to have had another day there. Overall, I l...
Exciting experience to see so many places, even if just a glimpse, that you dream about and maybe decide to explore again at a future date.
Explore more with our diverse selection of tours, featuring similar adventures with unique destinations and unforgettable experiences.
For pre-departure and visa information, as well as frequently asked questions regarding preparing for and travelling on this tour, please visit our Help Centre.
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights. Please click here to visit Skyscanner - a useful tool for comparing prices from the vast majority of airlines.
When you book for more than one person, we will by default group you together in the same room(s), unless you request single supplements or specifically request us not to.
If there are unequal numbers (3, 5, 7 etc.) then the remaining traveller will be roomed with another passenger of the same gender. Please note that minors under the age of 18 cannot share with another traveller outside of your group's booking.
If you are making separate bookings and would like to share the same room(s), please send us an email with the booking references for each of the travellers and the details of your preferred rooming allocation.
Yes, and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Passengers and their personal property travel with Expat Explore solely at their own risk. A suitable insurance policy should provide adequate cover for medical expenses arising through illness or accident prior to or during the holiday, and loss of holiday monies through cancellation or curtailment of the holiday or other insurable reasons. Clients should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities in their tour.
For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries. To receive a quote from our preferred travel insurance partner please visit World Nomads*.
For more information on what to look for in a travel insurance policy, click here.
While Expat Explore cannot assist with booking pre or post-tour accommodation, we have partnered with Booking.com for affordable accommodation options prior to and after the tour.
If you would like to receive the hotel list in advance so that you can book accommodation at or nearby the start hotel, please request this by sending an email to info@expatexplore.com with your booking reference.
Expat Explore can provide travellers requiring visas with visa support documents on a request basis. Please note that you are required to pay for your tour in full in order to receive the documents. This is an embassy/consulate requirement by law. Once you have received confirmation that your booking has been paid in full, you can request your visa support documents by emailing info@expatexplore.com - please allow up to 10 working days to receive these documents.
All travellers are required to carry their own bags. Our walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down stairs. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email for consideration. Expat Explore reserves the absolute right to accept or decline a booking at our discretion.
Your deposit secures your spot on tour and locks in the price you pay. Although the deposit you pay at the time of booking is non-refundable, you're protected by our 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee – a full refund if you cancel within 10 days of making your booking.
For more information, please refer to the 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee in our Terms & Conditions.
Before the tour starts, you will receive an email from us requesting your dietary requirements. There is always a vegetarian option available. We try as much as we can to offer you the traditional local cuisine.
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. We have partnered with Welcome Pickups to secure a hassle-free service. You will be met at the arrivals gate by your driver. Your driver will track your flight, so they'll wait for you even if it's delayed. Please click here to book an airport transfer.
This is up to you and will vary depending on how much you wish to spend on snacks, drinks, souvenirs etc. We do not include entrance fees to attractions and museums. We do, however, provide you with free time to see everything you want, and our tour leaders will have all the information on pricing and locations so you can manage your own budget. Please refer to your tours specific pre-departure information and optional excursions guide for further details.