Private Tour, Boat Ride Included

Private Tour, Boat Ride Included, 11 hours, rated 4.4 across 1,888 traveller reviews.

Overview

This is a full day out of Rome built around two very different experiences: a guided walk through the Pompeii excavations, then a stretch of the Amalfi Coast with Positano as the main stop. It runs as a private arrangement, so only your own group travels together, in a Mercedes sedan for two people or a Mercedes minivan for larger parties. An English-speaking driver handles the road the whole way.

The shape of the day is straightforward. You are collected at your centrally located hotel in Rome and driven south to Pompeii, where a local guide takes you through the ruins for a two-hour private tour with skip-the-line tickets already arranged. From there the route continues along the coast, with stops to take in the views, before roughly three hours of free time in Positano to wander, swim in summer, shop or eat at your own expense. The return to Rome brings you back by dinnertime.

The total time on the road is considerable, eleven hours door to door, and several travellers comment that the day feels long because of the driving. For anyone based in Rome who wants Pompeii and the coast in a single trip without planning trains and buses, that trade-off is the point. Gratuities and lunch are not included.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel Pickup in RomePickup at your centrally located Rome hotel, with drop-off back at the end of the day.
2. Drive to PompeiiYour English-speaking driver takes the group south towards Pompeii in a Mercedes sedan or minivan.
3. Pompeii, 2 HoursA two-hour private guided tour of the ruins with a local guide. Skip-the-line tickets are included.
4. Amalfi Coast, 1 HourOne hour along the coast, with stops to take in the views as the route allows.
5. Positano, 3 HoursAbout three hours of free time to walk, swim in summer, shop or eat. Meals are at your own expense.
6. Return to RomeThe drive back to Rome, arriving by dinnertime.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report afterwards.

• Wear and bring. The listing recommends comfortable walking shoes, a windbreaker and clothing suited to the weather, since the tour runs in all conditions. The two hours in Pompeii are spent on foot, so dress for walking rather than for photographs.
• Pace of the day. Eleven hours is a long day, and reviewers say so repeatedly, mostly because of the driving rather than the walking. The two hours in Pompeii are on foot with a guide, while Positano is free time to spend as you like. One reviewer described the Amalfi Coast stop as rushed because of the crowds, so go in expecting a sampler rather than a deep dive.
• Lunch arrangements. Lunch is not included in the price. Many reviewers describe good meals along the coast, some in restaurants with a view, though one traveller found a furnished meal disappointing and another missed lunch entirely because of cancellations. Budget separately for the meal and for gratuities.
• Guides and driver. The Pompeii walk is led by a local guide, while the driver handles everything else. Reviewers frequently praise the archaeology guide's depth of knowledge, and several single out their drivers by name for being helpful and professional. The listing promises an English-speaking driver and a local guide for the ruins.
• Crowds on the coast. One reviewer found the Amalfi Coast stop crowded and rushed, with many visitors converging on the same spot, and noted there was little to be done about it. Going with that expectation helps. The listing promises numerous stops to take in the views along the coast.
• Vehicle and comfort. A sedan is used for up to two people and a minivan for larger groups, which is standard for this kind of private transfer. Because this is a private tour, only your own party travels together. The listing flags the trip as unsuitable for travellers with back problems and not recommended for pregnant travellers.

Common issues. The honest downsides are the length of the day and the amount of driving; reviewers consistently call it long. One reviewer found the Amalfi Coast stop crowded and rushed because of the numbers of visitors. Lunch and gratuities are extra, so the headline price is not the full day's cost. The listing states the tour is not wheelchair accessible, is not recommended for pregnant travellers or those with back problems, and that child restraints must be requested at booking for children under the stated size limits. One reviewer described an uncomfortable ride and a poor driver experience, though most praise the drivers. The operator requires good weather, and a weather cancellation comes with an alternative date or a full refund.

Common Questions