What‘s Included

What To Expect

Reviews

• Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius

  Greer M,

  Jun 5, 2025

  - Viator

  3.00

  Pompeii – Memorable, But Could Be More Thoughtfully Curated: One thing I knew I had to do while in Italy was visit Pompeii and hike Mt. Vesuvius, and I’m so glad I made it happen. The day overall was memorable, and there were definitely highlights, but I also think the experience could be improved with a bit more thoughtful planning. The Pompeii tour itself was solid—the guide was sweet, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the history. Once the group portion ended, we had about an hour before we needed to regroup and take the bus to Mt. Vesuvius. We were advised not to try reaching the colosseum, as it was “too far” and we probably wouldn’t make it back in time. But based on my own quick check of Google Maps, I figured I could swing it—and I did! And honestly, it was so worth it. On my solo walk back, I stumbled across other beautiful homes, lesser-visited areas, and even a small museum with incredible artifacts and personal stories—things that weren’t part of the guided tour. It was eye-opening to see how many amazing parts of Pompeii are being bypassed simply because everyone follows the same basic loop. Most tour companies (including this one) seem to focus on the same 5–6 high-traffic spots. While those are definitely impressive, they’re also extremely crowded, and that can take away from the experience. Meanwhile, other areas of the city—just as rich in history and sometimes even more beautifully preserved—were practically empty. It would really benefit the tour company to branch out, research other homes and routes, and consider offering a more curated, less conventional experience. Not only would this ease the overcrowding, but it would give visitors a deeper, more personal connection to the city. Mt. Vesuvius Hike – Great Scenery, Poorly Matched Group: The hike up Mt. Vesuvius was… interesting, to say the least. I had a great time overall, but it was despite the tour, not because of it. According to the tour description, our group was supposed to be led by a professional hiking guide, and the hike was expected to take about an hour. But within minutes of starting, it became clear that the group was not put together with any thought to physical ability. While the hike itself is relatively easy, it’s still a steady uphill climb—and several people in the group were clearly struggling. I ended up hiking ahead on my own and reached the top in just 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the group stopped multiple times for long historical explanations along the way, which I chose to skip. From what I could gather, there were too many stops and a lot of long-winded storytelling—which would’ve been far more enjoyable if shared at the top, maybe while relaxing at the charming little open-air café, drink in hand. By the time the group finally arrived at the summit, we had gone over the tour’s scheduled time, so we had to start heading back down almost immediately. I didn’t mind—I’d had a lovely time up top chatting with local shopkeepers and soaking in the views. Then came the rain. As we began our descent, the sky opened up. I personally loved running down the mountain in the pouring rain—a fun, spontaneous moment—but it took the group much longer to get down, and we ended up waiting on the bus for everyone to arrive, soaked and exhausted. This could have been a fantastic group experience with a little better pre-screening—a simple questionnaire about hiking comfort levels would go a long way. That said, the hike itself is beautiful, and I’m glad I went. Just be prepared to go with the flow and maybe make your own fun if the group pace isn’t a match for you.

• The tour guides for the...

  Joanne M,

  Jun 2, 2025

  - Viator

  3.00

  The tour guides for the morning and afternoon were good. The morning tour ends at 12.30pm and we were told to meet at 1.30pm for the afternoon bus. We finished looking at Pompeii and had a very rushed lunch to get to the meeting time of 1.30pm only to be told the bus was at 2pm so we had 30mins waiting around after a big rush. I appreciate some people arrive late but we should have been told leaving at 2pm sharp. We could have had an enjoyable lunch or spent more time around Pompeii. Please tell people 2pm in future, it makes a big difference to the experience.

• Absolutely great way to...

  Jason S,

  Jun 1, 2025

  - Viator

  5.00

  Absolutely great way to learn about Pompei and Vesuvius. Made the day easy so we can focus on the experience. Guides were fantastic

• Passionate guides and a fun experience

  Kian P,

  May 29, 2025

  - Viator

  5.00

  The tour of Pompeii was very interesting, we gained an appreciation that we wouldn't have if we'd gone without a tour guide. The tour was a good length and was a good activity for those interested in the history of the ruins. After a break we met up with our group for the hike up Mount Vesuvius. Our guide Mario was excellent. He was punctual and did a great job expanding on the history of the volcano and surrounding volcanic activity. The views from the hike up to the crater were fantastic and the hike, a moderate walk up an incline, wasn't too bad. Overall, a fun experience.

• The hike to Mt Vesivius...

  Liris J,

  May 28, 2025

  - Viator

  5.00

  The hike to Mt Vesivius to me was at intermediate level and was a bit difficult, however Mario who was our guide kept the pace at a relax level so everyone can keep up. He is knowledgeable and nice. Our guide for the pompei tour is an archeologist, i forgot her name but she was really knowledgeable and shared interesting facts and information