South Italy’s Highlights – Sorrento, Calabria and Puglia

Join us on this incredible 12-day tour as we journey to southern Italy and discover the highlights and hidden gems of this stunning region. Enjoy included excursions to beautiful Sorrento with its views over the Bay of Naples, the archaeological site of Pompeii, the spectacular Aeolian Islands, and gorgeous Puglia with its white-washed houses. With the chance to also take a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast, relax on the Isle of Capri and the magical town of Otranto, this Italian adventure will leave you with memories to treasure for a lifetime.

16 days from £1,749pp

Single Room Supplement from £539pp

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Your Tour Includes

  • 15 nights hotel with continental breakfast
  • 13 evening meals
  • Local joining points
  • Porterage at the hotel

Itinerary

Overview

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then to our overnight hotel in northern France.

Overview

We’ll then continue on to reach our overnight hotel in the Parma area in time for dinner, before our overnight stay.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Overview

We continue our journey south to the Sorrento peninsula, where we stay for three nights.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Overview

Today’s optional excursion takes along the Amalfi Coast with a visit to the picturesque towns of Amalfi and Ravello, along the “Divine Coast”: discover Amalfi’s beautiful cathedral, which is one of Italy’s most beautiful and interesting churches. Ravello is one of the Amalfi Coast’s most beautiful and romantic cities. You may wish to visit Villa Cimbrone or Villa Rufolo, with its beautiful parks and the breathtaking vistas of the sea and the coast – one of the most photographed views in Italy.

Please note; this excursion is operated by a local coach.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Optional Excursions

Amalfi Drive

2023 £72.00

2024 £75.00

The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.

Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).

Overview

After breakfast, we head to Sorrento. Spend time at leisure in this beautiful resort, with its exquisite views out over the Bay of Naples and traditional architecture that’s synonymous with this part of Italy. Alternatively, enjoy an optional excursion to the enchanting island of Capri, with its beautiful rugged landscapes, mild climate and luxuriant vegetation. Each year, thousands of tourists are so delighted that they dream to come back again. From the small road that links Capri to Anacapri, we will admire magnificent panoramas. In Anacapri, visit the Villa San Michele and its beautiful gardens, then reach Capri. In the afternoon, after a pleasant walk to the gardens of Augustus, we will be able to stroll on the famous “Piazzetta”.

Please note; this excursion is operated by a local coach.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Included Highlights

Sorrento

Optional Excursions

Isle of Capri

2023 £99.00

2024 £102.00

The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.

Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).

Overview

Today, we head to the Calabria region. On the way, we stop for a visit to the archaeological site of Pompeii. Following the eruption of the Volcano Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 A.D., Pompeii lay buried and forgotten for hundreds of years. The town is high on the list of Wonders of the World and the excavations begun in the 18th century are still being carried out today. Our guide will take you slowly through some of the ancient streets of Pompeii where you can see Baths, Forums and Villas built by the prosperous Romans in the year 80 B.C. Marvel at the fabulously preserved Frescoes which adorned the walls and floors of the Villas. We continue to the area of Ricadi / Tropea in Calabria, where we stay for three nights.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Included Highlights

Pompeii with Guided Tour

Overview

Join our full-day optional excursion to the Aeolian Islands: composed of seven volcanic islands these are some of the most favourite destination for tourists in Sicily. Departure by boat from Tropea early in the morning and arrival in Vulcano, the southernmost of the Aeolian islands and the closest to the Sicilian mainland. It is built from the fusion of four volcanoes, the main craters, the Cavallo and the Gelso caves, are the nicest bathing spots and the most attractive. Here, we make a stop for a swim or mud bath. Departure to Lipari, the largest and the most popular of the Aeolian islands: here you can relax on the finest sand beaches and enjoy the charming town’s old centre. We continue by boat to Stromboli, renowned for its active volcano: cruise around the island to admire the famous “Sciara di Fuoco” and stop for a swim or for a visit to the village.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Optional Excursions

Aeolian Islands

2023 TBC

2024 TBC

The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.

Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).

Overview

Enjoy a scenic drive around Calabria’s hilly landscapes and coastline passing crystal-clear bays, seaside towns and lush highlands. We head first to picturesque Tropea, well known as the “Pearl of Calabria” and one of the region’s most popular resorts. Here we can visit the cathedral, the colorful center and admire, from the terraces that overlook the sea, the Church of Santa Maria dell’Isola on a headland above the sea symbol of the Town and visit Capo Vaticano, a rocky promontory of cliffs and secluded bays. We end the day at the fishing town of Pizzo where you can sample its fabled ‘tartufo’ —a cocoa-covered ice cream dessert with a molten chocolate centre.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Included Highlights

Tropea
Capo Vaticano
Vibo Valentia
Pizzo

Overview

After breakfast, departure to the Puglia region. On the way stop in Matera (Basilicata region) and visit the historic town to discover its ancient “sassi” district of cave dwelling. Carved from soft rock 9,000 years ago, the UNESCO-listed caves were inhabited until the mid-1900s. Wander around the cave district and see how some caves are now re-inhabited and used as shops and restaurants. Continue to the Cisternino area for four nights.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Included Highlights

Matera

Overview

Today we head to the picturesque and iconic town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its quaint 'trulli' houses: whitewashed cottages with cone shaped roofs line the town’s roads. Feast your eyes on the cottages as you stroll and perhaps step inside one to see its domed interior. In the afternoon drive to the White City of Ostuni. The white-washed houses can be seen from afar and they blend perfectly with the soft and colourful hills giving Ostuni its own special charm. Take a walk through the beautifully preserved old town with its quaint winding streets and enjoy the great panoramic views across this stunning landscape.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Included Highlights

Alberobello
Ostuni

Overview

Included excursion to Bari, the capital of the Apulia region, whose centre consists of two contrasting sections: an old town with winding streets is found next to the new town with elegant, landscaped checkerboard commercial districts and fine boutiques. The port of Bari, nicknamed the Gateway to the Orient, is an important transit point for goods from the Mediterranean. In the afternoon drive to the famous Castel del Monte, built by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century. It is a striking octagonal fortress, with eight octagonal towers and which has been included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Included Highlights

Bari
Castel del Monte

Overview

Join our optional excursion, which takes us first to Lecce, the pearl of the Apulian Baroque. The impressive buildings and the unquestionable beauty of its churches have given Lecce, the nickname “Florence of the South”. Take a stroll around the centre, visit Piazza Oronzo, the heart of the city, and see the remains of the Roman Amphitheatre, as well as Palazzo dei Celestini, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and Santa Croce, one of the most beautiful examples of the Baroque period. We continue towards the southern tip of Italy, on the east coast of the boot heel, and reach Otranto. A natural bridge between the Mediterranean and the East, Otranto is a magical town and boasts the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata where the most spectacular and significant mosaics of the Apulian and Italian artistic panorama can be admired. The floor mosaic of the Cathedral is incredible and is made up of about 600,000 polychrome tiles of limestone composition.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Optional Excursions

Lecce & Otranto

2023 £26.00

2024 £27.00

The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.

Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).

Overview

We leave Puglia and head north to the Fano/Pesaro area in the Marche region, where we stay overnight.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Overview

After breakfast, we continue our journey northwards. We make a stop in Bologna and include a walking tour of the this beautiful old town. Visit the huge Gothic Basilica of St. Petronio and the Piazza Maggiore, the heart of the town with its medieval buildings and palaces.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Included Highlights

Bologna

Overview

Continue into France and to our overnight hotel.

Includes Breakfast

Overview

Return home.

Includes Breakfast

Accommodation

You will the stay for three nights at the Grand Hotel Oriente in Vico Equense, or similar in the Sorrento area. You will then stay for three nights in Ricadi, Calabria at the Sunshine Club Hotel, or similar and then four nights in Puglia at a hotel such as the Hotel Sierra Silvana in Selva di Fasano.

Overnight stays in Italy will be in minimum 3-star hotels. Overnight stays in northern France will be in city-style hotels.

Single Room Supplements

Single Room Supplement from £539

Reviews

3 Out of 5 ( 1 Reviews )

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Quality

3 / 5

Value for Money

3 / 5

Jean Ansell, 6 days ago

The places visited were absolutely fantastic, but the hotels were in the main totally unsuitable for older people. One was on a cliff side with steps to everywhere, one was in a completely isolated area on a steep hill and one required a long walk to reception, bar and restaurant. The food in all the hotels was awful.

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Our customer service reviews

Rated 4.5 / 5

Based on 3460 reviews

58 minutes ago

Booked on line after ringing for some more info. Call centre helpful and pleasant. Website booking form a bit awkward at accepting telephone numbers.

Denise Lawn

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1 hour ago

I really enjoyed myself, I was a bit nervous before hand first time I have been away without a family member, but I do make friends easily so settled in really good. My room had a sea view it was perfect, beautiful. The bed was so comfortable, I probably had one the best sleeps the first night, but the rest of the week was fine too. i only had one problem when I went to eat in the restaurant I had ordered soup with a bread roll, well it was rock hard, well I put that down as an error of judgement on their part.

Mrs Carla Atughwe

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1 hour ago

Very efficient with the pick up and transport on coaches .. Hotel was clean and food was good nice choices .

June Jones

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1 hour ago

Excellent customer service

Mrs Pauline Humphreys

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1 hour ago

My husband and I have had several holidays with Shearings and find them a first rate company, they are always wonderfully polite and helpful and do everything within their power to give you a fantastic holiday! We love travelling with them and have already booked a few more holidays in the near future!

SUSAN TAYLOR

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2 hours ago

I couldn't work it at all. The code wasn't accepted and it felt like I was going around in circles . The best feature was we'll call you back..

bob mcclenning

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