9 Day Rome and Amalfi Coast Group Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: USA - Rome: Overnight flight to Rome. Airfare not included. 

Day 2: ROME: Welcome to Rome Tour with Dinner in Trastevere: Arrival at Rome airport. Private transfer to the city center. Accommodation in boutique hotel 4* or private villa. Free time to settle down and relax. Later meet our local buddy guide and get on board your private bus for a welcome panoramic tour of Rome. You will end the guided tour in the charming Trastevere, one of the Rome’ s most authentic and vibrant areas and enjoy a true Roman dinner in a unique atmosphere. Return to hotel and overnight. (D)

Day 3: ROME: Borghese Gallery with Picnic at the park & Colosseum: Breakfast. Transfer by bus to one of Rome’s richest and most interesting villas- the Borghese Gallery. It houses a vast and diverse collection of sculptures and paintings produced by masters such as Bernini, Canova, Caravaggio, Raphael and Tiziano. In this magical setting the beauty of the artwork, fountains and monuments combine with the rich and diverse flora of the vast surrounding park. Your guide will lead you on a walking tour through the breathtaking rooms of the Borghese Gallery and reveal the secrets, stories and techniques behind the masterpieces. Then, you will go for an enchanting walk through the gardens and enjoy the surprises and silence of this Eden in the heart of busy Rome. The tour ends with a breathtaking view from atop the Pincio Terrace. After this interesting tour enjoy a lovely picnic at Villa Borghese Park right in front of the stunning 17th century mansion home of Cardinal Borghese. After lunch take back your bus and meet your guide to discover the greatness of the ancient Rome thanks to our Imperial Rome tour visiting the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine hill with views over the Forum and Circus Maximum. Return to your hotel late afternoon. Free time for dinner and overnight. (B) 

Day 4: ROME: Vatican Museums, Pasta & Ice-Cream Cooking Class with dinner: This morning bus transfer to visit the Vatican Museums, including Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Skip the Line access to admire all the treasures here jealously kept and listen to the enlightening commentary from our expert guide.  In the late afternoon enjoy a pasta & ice-cream private cooking class! A hands-on cooking class in a 17th-century palace. A chance for clients to learn how to cook just like ‘Nona’ (Roman for Grandma) using recipes passed down from generation to generation. You will be welcomed with drinks and antipasti at our cooking school behind the charming Piazza Navona. The chef will teach you how to make three types of fresh pasta in a state-of-the-art kitchen. But what will you use to stuff or garnish your pastas with? You will have an array of seasonal ingredients to use, and you will be able to specify if there is a specific pasta dish you would like to learn. The choice is endless! What better way to end a lovely evening than to learn how to make a mouth-watering gelato? Treat yourself to a memorable experience in Rome! (B, D)

Day 5: SORRENTO: Pompei & Vesuvius with typical lunch at Volcano’s winery:  After breakfast, check out and transfer to world famous site of Pompei for a 2-hrs guided visit of the Archaeological Park. After Pompeii, head up the lush slopes of Mt. Vesuvius itself to meet its most famous wine producer for a tasting of fantastic native varieties produced from the volcanic soil right under your feet. Enjoy a 3-course lunch based on some of the region’s most delectable culinary delights. Admire sweeping views from the terrace over the surrounding countryside and visit the vineyards and cellar with a careful explanation of the grape varietals and each step in the winemaking process from the family that owns them. From here we’ll finish our ascent to the edge of Mt. Vesuvius’s crater. Take the chance to look an active volcano in the face on the 20-minute hike where you’ll get to look inside the caldera and take in the most breathtaking panoramas of the day. You’ll see Naples, the bay and the island of Capri from a height of over 4,200 feet, as well as bask in the pristine nature that surrounds you. Proceed towards Sorrento and accommodation in hotel. Free time for dinner and overnight. (B, L)

Day 6:  SORRENTO: Capri Boat Tour: Breakfast at the Hotel. This morning you will be private transferred to Sorrento Marina Piccola to meet your guide and to board on a boat excursion to Capri. First visit Marina Grande with his classy restaurants and sidewalk cafés. Then to AnaCapri, 1,800 feet above sea level, where you will visit Villa San Michele and its majestic gardens. Continue to the main town of Capri, where you can visit La Piazzetta, the Gardens of Augustus, Faraglioni, and the distinctive rocks. Free time for lunch and in the afternoon, you will visit the incredible Blue Grotto. Return to the hotel. Dinner at leisure and overnight. (B)

Day 7:  SORRENTO: Walking on the Path of Gods: After breakfast, transfer to the Amalfi Coast up to Nacelle. Together with your Hiking Guide climb up the ancient path that used to connect Nacelle (Positano) to Bomerano (Agerola) also known as “Path of the Gods”. Named after the beauties that characterize its views, this trail is considered today one of the most beautiful hiking trails of the world, and it stretches along several villages of the famous Amalfi Drive with its 10 KM. Along the path, it’s still possible to admire remains of ancient farmhouses and meet local shepherds carrying with their mule wood or milk to the underlying towns. Return to the hotel. (B) 

Day 8: SORRENTO: Positano, Ravello & Cooking class with Mozzarella making: Breakfast. Meet your driver at the Hotel lobby. This morning you will take a panoramic drive to the top of the mountains to Ravello. The small Village, situated at 1100 feet above the sea level, offers views of the coast below, for sure the most breath-taking scenery. Here you will attend Private Cooking Class. You will enter an intimate and off the beaten track property in the beautiful area of Ravello. First you will learn the culinary history of dishes and ingredients, then you will be accompanied in the organic garden where you will gather products that will be used and enjoyed during the meal preparation. The Class starts with a demonstration of the preparation of fior di latte, fresh Mozzarella. An expert cheesemaker will transform the curd into mozzarella with the help of the participants, who will taste the product they have made. At the end of the class, you will enjoy the meal you have prepared, with local wines – a culinary experience you will never forget! In the afternoon spend some time at leisure in Ravello and Positano. Return to your Hotel. Overnight. (B, L)

Day 9:  SORRENTO - USA: Departure: Breakfast, check out and coach transfer to Naples (or Rome) airport for departure. (B)

The tour includes:

• Accommodation in hotel 4* or private villa in Rome (3 nights) and Sorrento (4 nights)
• Private bus transfers as per itinerary, including bus city permits 
• Private guided tours as per itinerary 
• Welcome dinner in Trastevere 
• Picnic in Villa Borghese Park
• Private Pasta & Ice-Cream cooking class in Rome
• Wine tasting & Typical Lunch in Vesuvius winery
• Private Mozzarella & Family lunch making on Amalfi Coast 
• Private cruise to Capri 
• Entrance tickets to Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Pompei
• Porterage one 25-inch medium size suitcase
• Hotel taxes and service charges except local hotel tax.

Please note: Rates do not include city taxes. City tax will be paid directly at the reception hotel desk at the arrival or at the checkout according to the local city board procedure. City tax will change according to hotel category (3 - 6 euros/ per day)

Hotels are subject to availability at time of booking. In the rare event that the mentioned hotel is unavailable, you will be accommodated in another centrally located hotel of the same star rating.

Extend your stay with a Pre or Post accommodations. Please call us directly at 1.800.385.3650.

TRANSFERS: Airport transfers are included per itinerary only when airfare is purchased from Classic Holidays. Taxi service or private ground transfers are available for those purchasing their airfare elsewhere at additional cost.

Price Excludes: Airfare & airport taxes (except those which are specified), passports & visas, laundry, telephone calls, drinks, food not indicated in the itinerary, expenses of a personal nature, excess luggage and transfer of the same, optional excursions & excursions during the cruise, gratuities of any kind, Personal expenses, Customary tips to your drivers, guides and escorts