Horse Riding On Vesuvius, Lunch Included

Horse Riding on Vesuvius, Lunch Included, 7 hours, rated 4.9 across 456 traveller reviews.

Overview

This seven-hour day bundles three experiences into one itinerary: a guided walk through the Pompeii archaeological park, a wine-tasting lunch on the slopes of Vesuvius, and a slow-paced horseback ride through the surrounding national park. Run by operator TASTETHEXPERIENCE, it is capped at 24 travellers overall, with smaller subgroups of no more than 20 at Pompeii and 8 per horseback ride.

The Pompeii portion lasts two hours and is led by a licensed guide, with the entry ticket already included. Lunch features local products grown on the volcano, with a vegetarian option available and a wine tasting alongside the meal.

Children from age 6 can join the ride, which reviewers repeatedly describe as gentle and suitable for beginners, with guides staying alongside the horses. Anyone hoping for an in-depth, hours-long exploration of Pompeii may find the two-hour stop tight, a point more than one reviewer raises, but as a highlights tour paired with food and riding it works well for travellers short on time.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Porta MarinaMeet the TASTETHEXPERIENCE sign-holder outside the Hortus Pompei restaurant by Porta Marina Superiore, unless a pickup option from Naples or the Amalfi Coast was selected.
2. Guided Tour of PompeiiA licensed guide leads a two-hour small-group tour of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, admission ticket included, hitting the main highlights.
3. Transfer to the VineyardThe group is driven to the winery on the slopes of Vesuvius, where the lunch and tasting take place.
4. Lunch and Wine TastingAround two hours at Quirinoli for a wine-tasting lunch built around local products, admission free.
5. Horse Ride in the ParkA one-hour horseback ride in the National Park of Vesuvius at 500 metres above sea level, with the Terzigno portion of the itinerary covering about an hour. The order of the ride and lunch can change depending on weather and logistics.
6. Return to the Meeting PointThe activity ends back at the original meeting point in Pompei.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day actually runs, from the midday heat at Pompeii to the weight limit on the horses.

• Bring sun protection. There are water bottle refill stations inside the site, so a refillable bottle is worth carrying.
• Pace and stamina. One reviewer skipped the ride entirely for that reason, so pace yourself at lunch.
• Riding level. No experience is needed. The ride is slow-paced, on well worn vineyard paths, and reviewers say the horses are well behaved and the guides stay close by. Riders must be at least 6 years old and weigh no more than 105 kilograms.
• Food and wine. Reviewers often describe the meal and wine as a highlight of the day.
• Group size. Pompeii groups run up to 20 people and each ride up to 8, so the day feels smaller than the overall cap of 24 suggests. One reviewer's group at Pompeii was 10 on the day.
• What to skip. Gratuities are not included, so budget separately if you want to tip the guide, driver or winery staff. Nothing else is listed as excluded.

Common issues. The Pompeii stop is a highlights tour only, and multiple reviewers say two hours covers a small fraction of a site this vast, so serious history enthusiasts may want more time on their own. One reviewer also found the Pompeii guide talked so much that less of the site was covered. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, is not recommended for travellers with back problems or pregnancies, and requires a minimum of two people per booking, with the whole day cancelled and refunded or rescheduled if the minimum number is not met or the weather is poor.

Common Questions