Vesuvius & Pompeii – Full-Day Excursion

 Extended Description

Few places send shivers up your spine like Pompeii. The thriving Roman city met its fate in 79 A.D., when the looming mountain in the distance (surprise… a volcano!) erupted. The ash from Mt. Vesuvius buried the sophisticated town… along with many of its inhabitants. For hundreds of years, the city would remain hidden beneath the earth, not rediscovered until the 18th century.

That disaster created a miracle for modern-day visitors: The volcanic ash preserved intact Pompeii’s buildings, streets, mosaics, and frescoes. That means that Pompeii today is a site unlike any other in Italy. When someone refers to Pompeii as “ruins,” don’t believe them. Pompeii is, instead, a complete ancient city that you can explore… just as if you were walking through it 2,000 years ago.

But to get the full experience, you can’t visit Pompeii without also exploring… Vesuvius itself! The most famous volcano in the world, Mt. Vesuvius also is one of the most powerful. Its eruption in 79 A.D. didn’t just bury Pompeii—it also changed the course of the Sarno River and altered the coastline. Today, with its history of explosive eruptions and its location near a population of 3 million, Mt. Vesuvius is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes. And there’s no better (or safer!) way to explore it than with a Vesuvius Volcano expert.

Both sites are incredible. But they’re also both huge. First, clients tell us all the time that they didn’t expect Pompeii to be so big. There’s also little help for visitors, with illegible signs and constant closures that mean you might trek for 20 minutes to a favorite villa, only to find it inaccessible. Vesuvius National Park, meanwhile, is enormous. And only with a Vesuvius Volcano expert can you access the highest point of the crater and even descend into it! —not to mention feel safe knowing that, if it erupts while you’re there, he’ll tell you which way to run! Your expert guide will help you navigate these large sites, ensuring that you see the highlights and make the most out of your time.

The visit begins where it all started, atop the famed Mt. Vesuvius. You'll enjoy VIP access up to the highest point… and down into the actual crater (you cannot access these areas on your own). An enormous hole caused by past eruptions, the crater’s more than 2,000 feet across. You’ll also be able to trace the lava flows from 79 A.D. and smell the fumes that let us know that, uh-oh… she’s still active!

To cap off all that drama, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the Bay of Naples from a vantage point almost nobody else gets to access. Take good pictures. After the next eruption, it’ll all look a bit different!

From there, it's time to discover the devastating effects of Mt. Vesuvius’ most famous eruption. In the Archaeological Site of Pompeii, you’ll see all of the ancient city’s most popular sites, including the House of the Tragic Poet, with its famous “Cave Canum” (“Beware of the Dog”) mosaic, and the Roman Forum, with its beautiful basilica and Temple of Apollo. And that’s not to forget the plaster casts of those killed in the eruption, the eerie and moving glimpses of what it must have been like to experience Armageddon.

But, uniquely, we’ll take go off the beaten path, too, away from the crowds and towards some of the most exciting sites that Pompeii has to offer. You’ll visit the cemetery, a tranquil space with the proud monuments and memorials to some of Pompeii’s most illustrious citizens. At the suburban baths, see where Pompeiians washed, relaxed and gossip—and, next door at the brothel, relieved needs of a different kind. We reserve special access to this bath and brothel complex, usually closed to the general public, in order to ensure a much more...intimate visit, as the Pompeiians would have experienced it!

The real treat of the tour, though, is the House of Mysteries. It’s Pompeii’s most lavish and beautiful villa—but hardly anyone goes! Don’t miss out on this fascinating house from the 2nd century B.C., which still boasts incredibly well-preserved, colorful frescoes, including the highly controversial painting of what’s thought to be a girl’s initiation into marital life. We then leave you inside of Pompeii at the end of the tour, allowing you to continue exploring this magnificent site on your own.