• Enjoy guided tours of the ruins of Pompeii, and the island of Ischia’s Aragonese Castle with Local Experts
• See the brilliant paintings of Michelangelo inside the Sistine Chapel
• Spend two nights in a converted monastery overlooking the Tyrrhennian Sea
• Visit ancient cave dwellings in the UNESCO Heritage Site of Matera, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world
• Take in-depth walking tours of the historical centers of Alberobello and Lecce
• Take an optional tour of the Amalfi Coast
• Test your taste buds at an olive oil tasting

• Private air-conditioned transportation from the Rome Fiumicino Airport to your centrally located Rome hotel
• 11 nights of accommodation at highly rated, centrally located hotels
• A special timed entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• Guided tours of the Aragonese Castle at Ischia and the ruins at Pompeii
• A special tasting of a variety of products at an authentic olive grove
• All transportation between destinations on our itinerary
• Walking tours amidst the the cone-shaped trulli at Alberobello, and the historical center of Lecce
• Several optional excursions for a minimal extra fee
• 16 meals – 11 breakfasts, 3 dinners, 1 lunch, 1 olive oil tasting with snacks
• All hotel taxes, tips, and porterage fees
• A morning flight from Brindisi back to Rome
• A professional Tour Leader to handle all logistical aspects of the tour and guide your group from start to finish

DAY 1:  ARRIVE IN ROME
Arrive at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome where a Blue Onyx Travel representative will meet you and direct you to your private transportation en route to your Rome hotel.  At 7 p.m., the whole group will meet in the lobby for a brief orientation and then proceed to a welcome dinner.

MEAL:  Dinner         

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel Windrose (2 nights)

DAY 2:  OPTIONAL WALKING TOUR OF ROME, FAST-TRACK ENTRY TO VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL
For more enterprising guests, the Tour Leader will be conducting an optional early morning walking tour of Rome (free of charge) which meets at 5:30 a.m. in the hotel lobby and which includes visits to The Spanish Steps, The Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain.  It’s fun to visit these magnificent attractions when they’re not overrun with crowds. The rest of the day will consist of free time, until 1:30 p.m., when you will head over to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel for your fast-track entry. 

MEAL:  Breakfast

DAY 3:  OPTIONAL GUIDED TOUR OF COLOSSEUM AND ROMAN FORUM; FREE TIME IN SORRENTO
In the morning, you’ll have the option of walking in the footsteps of famous historical figures on a comprehensive tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum.  Following hotel checkout, you’ll have some free time.  In the afternoon, you’ll journey to the wonderful cliffside city of Sorrento to check into your hotel and have some leisure time following a brief orientation with your Tour Leader. 

MEAL:  Breakfast       

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel Nice (3 nights)

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Morning tour of Colosseum and Roman Forum ($45)

DAY 4:  GUIDED TOUR OF POMPEII; FREE TIME 
In the morning, you’ll board The Campania Express train to Pompeii to have your guided tour of the Roman town that was famously buried by a volcanic eruption in 79 AD.  The rest of the day is yours to continue to explore beautiful Sorrento or voyage to nearby Capri, Procida, or other places.  

MEALS:  Breakfast, Light Lunch (pizza or sandwich with beverage)

DAY 5:  FREE TIME OR AMALFI COAST EXCURSION
If you should opt for free time, perhaps a visit to one of Sorrento’s excellent art galleries is in order.  Maybe peruse the shops that line the narrow cobblestone streets. Or people-watch at a local beach. If you should choose the optional excursion, the day trip to the Amalfi Coast includes visits to the vibrant hillside communities of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, culminating in a multi course lunch in lovely Scala, the oldest town in the region.

MEALS:  Breakfast (plus lunch, if one opts to take the Amalfi Coast excursion)

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Amalfi Coast day trip, with multi-course lunch ($95)

DAY 6:  FERRY TO ISCHIA, FREE TIME, ELEGANT DINNER
After breakfast and hotel checkout, you’ll make your way to the ferry port of Sorrento where you’ll enjoy a concise but lovely sea adventure en route to the jewel of the Gulf of Naples:  The isle of Ischia. The day is yours to become enveloped by Ischia’s laid back vibe and pastel colors. At 7 p.m. you’ll savor an elegant dinner at a celebrated local restaurant at a stunning Mystery Destination.

MEALS:  Breakfast, Dinner       

ACCOMMODATION:   Hotel da Raffaele (2 nights)

DAY 7:  TOUR OF ARAGONESE CASTLE, OPTIONAL WINE TASTING LUNCH AT LOCAL VINEYARD
A local expert will guide you on a walking tour of one of Italy’s most enchanting sights:  the medieval Aragonese Castle, which dates all the way back to 5th century BC.  Later, you’ll have the option of enjoying a wine tasting lunch at a secluded local vineyard.

MEAL:  Breakfast, Lunch (if one opts for the wine tasting lunch)

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Wine tasting lunch at a local vineyard ($39)

DAY 8:  FERRY TO NAPLES, VOYAGE TO MATERA
After taking a morning ferry ride to Naples, you’ll travel to the Southern Italian region of Basilicata, via private coach, arriving at the Unesco World Heritage Site of Matera, which many historians tout as the third oldest continually inhabited city in the world.  Home to the famous Sassi (cave dwellings), Matera is an extraordinary place to get lost in.  

MEALS:  Breakfast       

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel Nazionale (1 night)

DAY 9: FREE TIME IN MATERA, WALKING TOUR OF ALBEROBELLO
After free time and hotel checkout, you’ll voyage to rustic Puglia to enjoy a tour of the captivating cone-shaped trulli of Alberobello where a Local Expert will explain their fascinating history.  At the end of your tour, you’ll be privy to a special tasting of locally produced olive oils and other treats.  

MEAL:  Breakfast   

ACCOMMODATION:  Trulli Home (1 night)      

DAY 10:  SIGHTSEEING IN POLIGNANO A MARE, WALKING TOUR OF LECCE
Following hotel checkout, you’ll journey to the idyllic Adriatic village of Polignano a Mare, where rugged cliffs, turquoise waters, and sugar cube houses abound.   After some semi-guided sightseeing, you’ll board the train to beautiful Lecce, the so-called “Florence of the South.”

After hotel check-in, a Local Expert will lead your group on a private walking tour of Lecce’s marvelous baroque-era historical center.  

MEALS:  Breakfast     

ACCOMMODATION:  Grand Hotel di Lecce (2 nights)

DAY 11:  FREE DAY IN LECCE
The day is yours to saunter around the limestone buildings and historic sights of this amazing city.  In the evening you’ll meet up with your group for a robust farewell dinner.

MEALS:   Breakfast, Dinner      

DAY 12:   FLIGHT FROM BRINDISI TO ROME
You’ll be checking out fairly early to catch your flight from Brindisi to Rome.  We sincerely hope you enjoyed your adventures in Southern Italy!

MEAL:  Breakfast

Oct. 3-14, 2021  (Sun-Thurs)         $1,995      $1,575!              Book Now

★★★★★
“The southern Italy tour was fantastic.  Engaging, educational, and enriching.  Thanks for the sights, the places, the history, and the accommodations.  I will remember this always!”

-Tom, Maple Grove, MN

★★★★★
“Thinking about all the fabulous places we saw and went to, the incredible food and restaurants – it was mind-blowing.  It required a fairly large amount of walking for my 75-year old frame, but well worth it.  I think that was the best tour I’ve ever been on.”

-Lucy, Omaha, NE

THE WEATHER
Generally speaking, weather in southern Italy during the month of October is fairly mild.  Highs tend to reach the high 60’s and lower 70’s and there is an average of 6 hours of sunlight each day, with occasional rain showers.

BUGS AND PESTS
Mosquitoes and other bugs usually aren’t a problem in the month of October.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF TOUR
On a scale of 1 to 10, the level of physical activity of this tour is 8, which is high. Although some days will incur minimal walking, during most days our group may walk at least 2 or 3 miles, often up and down stairs and over uneven ground.

IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS
We urge our guests to use common sense on our tours.  Be wary of strangers offering you something or trying to sell you something.  Keep guard of your important belongings, such as purse, wallet, keys, and cell phone.  Pickpocketing is a problem in Europe and Rome and Naples are no exception to this situation.  A common scam that occurs is where one person will walk up to you, pretending to ask directions, while his or her partner in crime will slip past you from another direction entirely, casually taking your wallet or cell phone.  Be aware of your belongings at all times.

We also urge our guests to use extra caution while crossing the street.  Walk defensively and look in every direction before crossing. Don’t walk distracted.  

WHAT TO BRING
We urge our guests to pack light.  As previously stated under our Terms and Conditions, all of our guests are allowed one carry-on measuring 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9) and a personal item, such as a laptop bag or purse.  We strongly recommend bringing travel size toiletries.

OUR BUS JOURNEYS
The bus journeys on this particular tour tend not to be very long.  About 3 hours is the most we will drive on any given day on the way to the next stop.  We offer our guests one complimentary refrigerated beverage per day while traveling on the bus.  Occasionally, we offer complimentary snacks.

OUR HOTELS
We always book hotels that are centrally located, highly rated, and close to major attractions.  Having said that, there are a couple of things that one should understand about hotels in Europe, especially if one is from the United States.  More often than not, hotel rooms in Europe are smaller than hotel rooms in the United States. Additionally, hotel rooms in Europe may not have the exact same amenities that our American guests may be used to seeing.  For instance, many European hotels do not have elevators.

On the other hand, for our American guests who are traveling to Europe for the first time, the breakfasts that are offered at European hotels are a huge breath of fresh air.  There is usually an abundance of protein sources in the form of cold cuts, cheeses, eggs, milk, and yogurt, along with an assortment of fresh fruit, pastries, cereal, fruit juice, tea, and coffee.  Occasionally, some European hotels will serve a hot breakfast as well and this often consists of scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, and pancakes or waffles.

OUR RESTAURANTS
We strive to treat our guests to lunches and dinners at restaurants with interesting settings and this tour is no exception to that concept.  

CURRENCY EXCHANGE AND CREDIT CARD USAGE
The Tour Leader will be able to tell you where to exchange currency and there will usually be a place to do so within walking distance of your hotel.  Most major banks will be able to exchange any currency that you have brought with you, for a small fee.

In most European countries (Italy included), the best exchange rate can be obtained by simply withdrawing money from a standard bank ATM using your debit card (not to be confused with your credit card).  For instance, let’s say it’s your second day in Athens and you need withdraw some euros. Just go to a local bank which has an ATM machine (often in a small, enclosed lobby-style room) and withdraw the amount of money you want.  Nearly all standard ATM machines worldwide have the capacity to issue instructions in English, so English speakers should have no problem at all understanding how to use them.

When we tell you to seek out standard bank ATM machines, we mean it.  Avoid the omnipresent stand-alone ATMs which are not part of a bank. Euronet, Moneybox, Travelex, and Cashzone are examples of independent ATM machines which have very unfavorable exchange rates.  If you have any questions at all while on tour, just ask your Tour Leader to point you the direction of a standard bank ATM. Now it’s true that your home-based bank, such as Wells Fargo, will charge a small fee ($5) for this transaction, but the European bank will not. 

But wait, why don’t I just use my VISA credit card for all my shopping and for the fancy dinner, you may ask?  That’s fine, but there’s usually a 3% foreign transaction fee (or higher) for these types of transactions. And there might even be an additional transaction fee from the store or restaurant in which you’re using your VISA card.  Dollar for dollar, withdrawing cash from a standard bank ATM in the country you’re visiting is the most cost-effective way to exchange currency.

THE TOUR LEADER
All of our Tour Leaders must undergo a rigorous training course designed to help them handle not only the ups and downs of a tour group situation, but also the disparate personalities that they might encounter.  All of our Tour Leaders are thoroughly background checked and must adhere to a strict code of conduct at all times. You can rest assured that we are placing you with a Tour Leader who has your best interests at heart.