This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.
This is considered a fast-paced tour. In order to explore as much as possible, this tour may require early starts and long travel days. One to two nights at one destination is standard. While some free time may be scheduled, most sightseeing is included throughout this tour. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage. To ensure this trip is right for you, any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aid, then this tour is not suitable.
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Benvenuti a Roma! After your arrival at the airport, make your own way to your hotel and enjoy your first day at your own leisure.
This evening meet your local expert guide for a walk to discover the wonders of the Eternal City. You will visit the Jewish Ghetto, one of Rome’s most beautiful neighborhoods, full of history and with a real Roman atmosphere. We then walk to the Pantheon, the former temple of Marcus Agrippa later converted into a church, then have an opportunity to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain.
Continue to visit the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), one of the city’s most popular squares where you can walk up these famous steps to enjoy a lovely view from the top. To finish, relax as you enjoy a creamy and tasty gelato, it’s on us! The tour ends in the Spanish Steps area. Enjoy the rest of the night to explore at your leisure.
The evening meeting and walking tour departs at 7.45pm from the hotel lobby, late arrivals may miss this activity and meet the group the next morning.
Departing Rome early this morning, travel approximately two hours through the picturesque roads of Tuscany to Assisi. Here, you will have ample time to explore this ancient walled city built in the Middle Ages at your own leisure. Be sure to take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included).
Board the coach and continue 1.5 hours to Siena, one of the region's most famous cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy time on your own exploring the winding streets and the renowned Piazza del Campo. Continue your journey with a 1.5 hour drive to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying an included dinner at one of the local restaurants.
After breakfast, meet your local expert guide for a guided tour around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance", where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Enjoy an included lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce, then free time to spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take an optional trip to Pisa, one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s iconic “Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery (please note, this tour is not included and is bookable locally). Dinner is at your leisure.
After breakfast in Florence, we continue 1.5 hours to Bologna, the lively, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy. There, you will discover the elegant city centre with its porticos, shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune Square and Major Square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna is a real gourmand’s heaven...don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure!
In the afternoon, we drive two hours toward Padua, with Sant’Antonio Basilica, one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the Catholic world. Later in the afternoon, we drive 40 mins to arrive in Venice (Mestre).
Check in at your hotel then enjoy the evening at leisure.
After breakfast, enjoy your transfer to Piazza San Marco and enjoy a guided walking tour of the most iconic places of the “Floating City” with an expert local guide as they share the historical sites as well as stories of local customs and traditions.
Highlights include Palazzo dei Dogi, a symbol of Venice’s glorious past, and the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Following your walking tour, enjoy a traditional spritz or a prosecco to crown your visit to Venice. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure.
After breakfast, we take a four-hour drive through picturesque Tuscany, known for its landscapes, churches, castles and its delicious wines.
Proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual Jazz and Wine Festival every July.
Enjoy lunch in a typical restaurant feasting on local produce before we continue our two-hour journey to Rome where the rest of the evening is at your leisure.
This morning, enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Square with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! Upon arrival, your guide will lead you past all the queues and into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel.
After this incredible masterpiece, your guide will continue your tour of St. Peter’s Square where you can admire the incredible masterpiece St. Peter’s Basilica: the biggest church in the world! The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square where the rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own leisure.
Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel before boarding your coach and heading three hours south, crossing the regions of Lazio and Campania. On arrival in Naples, enjoy a short panoramic tour climbing up to Vomero Hill to enjoy beautiful views over the Gulf of Naples with the Vesuvius, Capri, Ischia and Procida and the city below. Time to take some nice pictures!
Descending towards the port of Mergellina, you will leave the city and drive a quick 20 minutes south toward Mount Vesuvius to Pompeii, where you will have lunch and enjoy real Neapolitan pizza.
After lunch, meet your archaeologist guide for a walking tour through one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Again, enjoy priority access to the ruins with Skip the Line entrance included. Visit the haunting ruins of Pompeii, traveling back in time to the tragic days in 79 AD when the silent Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, covering the prosperous Roman city in deadly volcanic ashes and poisonous gases, leaving this prosperous city crystallised.
You'll learn how people lived at that time, visiting houses and “bars” of the time, admiring frescoes and mosaics to imagine how rich and prosperous the city was before After the visit, a 40-minute drive along the Sorrentine Coast sees you arriving in Sorrento for a formal dinner (dress code: jacket for men) and an overnight in your new hotel.
After breakfast, get ready for an exciting excursion to the Isle of Capri, one of the most exclusive summer destinations of the Mediterranean! Admire the dreamy Blue Grotto on a small rowboat (weather dependent) and afterward enjoy lunch at your own pace (not included).
You will have plenty of time to roam the island at your own pace before heading back to the mainland where we join our coach for the 3.5-hour return transfer to Rome. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.
Your Italian adventure ends after breakfast at the hotel.
We hope you’ve been inspired.
Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognized and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and well-being of our guests are our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.
We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.
Australian owned and operated
We are proudly 100% Australian-owned and now operating across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. Our head office is located in Melbourne, Victoria, with offices around the globe to provide you with 24/7 support while you travel. When you book with Inspiring Vacations, you'll receive the support of travel professionals who are committed to the mission of inspiring people everywhere to experience the world.
Cooling off period
If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment as part of our cooling-off period. Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7-day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply.
Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to support@inspiringvacations.com, including the reason for cancellation.
We offer two payment options – the choice is yours. Our advertised price is based on our 'Pay in Full' option, which includes a discount by making full payment at the time of booking. Alternatively, choose our 'Installment Payment Plan' option for the flexibility of incremental payments, beginning with a low deposit.
Please click 'Book Now' and proceed to the payment page to select your preferred option under the heading ‘Choose how to pay’. The total due will be reflected accordingly.
Pay In Full Option:
Installment Payment Plan Option:
Booking Process
Please refer to conditions below, which are agreed to at time of purchase.
Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?
This depends on the package you are booking.
Where available, extensions must be added at time of purchase and cannot be added post-purchase unless inside the 7-day cooling off period.
We can assist in arranging your airfares to accommodate an extension; however, you must also book the additional nights’ accommodation through us at time of booking (where available as an add-on):
When adding additional nights to your booking, the cost of the extra nights’ accommodation will be reflected on your invoice and payable with the final balance.
Airfare surcharges may apply if extending due to airfare seasonal changes and possible fare differences. These are payable at the time of selecting your desired airfare.
The second installment of your booking must be made before airfares can be booked.
Outside of extending your stay you must select Land Only if:
If you are interested in one of the above options, please select LAND ONLY at time of check-out and you will need to arrange your own airfares. Inspiring Vacations will not be accountable for flight delays or missed tour components due to late arrival or airline changes.
Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:
Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points
Inspiring Vacations do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirement
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”4”
Active Tour: A very good level of fitness and mobility is required for you to enjoy all aspects of the itinerary, as this is considered a fast-paced tour. While there is some free time scheduled either in the morning or afternoon, there are many full days of sightseeing with minimal rest and some early starts. You will be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $796.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
2-45 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Your transfer may be shared with other Inspiring Vacations customers.
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post-tour accommodation
Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.