Pompeii and Herculaneum Unveiled: Private Day Tour from PompeiiPrivate Tour

Things to know

What makes this tour special

Rediscovered after centuries buried under volcanic ash, Pompeii and Herculaneum are some of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the world, offering visitors a vivid glimpse of what life was like in Ancient Rome. Visiting these sites with a local archaeologist guide is a truly special experience, making sure you see the most important areas and offering fascinating insights into Roman history as well as the revolutionary techniques being used to make new discoveries.

On this 8-hour private tour, you will:

• Step back in time on a full-day archaeological adventure in Pompeii and Herculaneum;
• Visit both archaeological parks with an expert guide with tickets included;
• Enjoy the convenience of hotel pick up from Pompeii town and comfortable private transportation between sites;
• Admire the luxurious villas, mosaics, and marble decorations on display in Herculaneum and hear about how it served as a resort town for the Roman elites;
• See the Temple of the Augustali, the House of Neptune and Amphitrite, the gymnasium, the House of the Deer, and the House of the Wooden partition;
• Discover the beach area, where hundreds of skeletons were unearthed, and hear about how the pyroclastic surge from the volcanic eruption preserved Herculaneum;
• Proceed to Pompeii and learn about the daily life of the Pompeiians as you wander the cobblestone streets, keeping an eye out for the imprints of carriage wheels and hooves;
• Explore the Forum, the heart of Pompeii, surrounded by important public buildings, temples, and markets;
• Enter the House of the Fawn, and the opulent public bathhouses with stucco decoration and mosaics still intact;
• Behold one of the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatres, dating back to around 70 BC, and find out about the spectacles that took place there;
• Take in the plaster casts of the people and animals that were killed during the eruption and learn about the newest discoveries made thanks to modern technology.

Delve into the stories and secrets of Ancient Rome on an unforgettable private journey through Pompeii and Herculaneum, two of the most extraordinary archaeological sites on Earth. With hotel pick-up and drop-off from Pompeii town and a private driver at your disposal, you’ll travel in comfort through the scenic Campanian countryside, discovering how a catastrophic natural disaster befell these neighbouring Roman cities on that fateful day in 79 AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and forever changed the course of history.

Your adventure begins in Herculaneum, smaller, wealthier, and more intimate than Pompeii, where your archaeologist guide will bring to life the daily rhythms of this seaside retreat for Rome’s elite. Thanks to the pyroclastic surge that buried the town in volcanic material, Herculaneum’s preservation is astonishing. You’ll wander through lavishly decorated villas adorned with vibrant frescoes and intricate mosaics, including the House of Neptune and Amphitrite and the House of the Deer, stroll beneath the colonnades of the Samnite House, and step inside the House of the Wooden Partition, where remarkably intact wooden fittings still stand. At the ancient beachfront, you’ll hear the poignant story of the hundreds who sought refuge there, only to be discovered centuries later. From Marco Nonio Balbo’s Terrace to the Temple of the Augustali, every stop reveals a new facet of Roman luxury, religion, and tragedy.

The afternoon unfolds in Pompeii, the larger and more bustling of the two cities, where your pre-booked entry ensures you make the most of every moment. Walking along the ancient Via dell’Abbondanza, you’ll pass bakeries, workshops, and taverns that seem frozen in time. Your guide will lead you through the Forum, the commercial and civic heart of Pompeii, surrounded by temples and public buildings, and into the Basilica, Macellum, and the beautifully preserved Baths. You’ll see the House of the Faun, one of the grandest homes of antiquity, and peek into a Thermopolium, the Roman equivalent of a fast-food counter. At the stunning amphitheatre, you can imagine the roar of ancient crowds; at the plaster casts of the victims, you’ll pause to reflect on the moment when life in Pompeii stood still.

Throughout the day, your archaeologist guide offers vivid commentary, not only recounting what happened, but also how we’ve come to know it. You’ll learn about the cutting-edge excavations and scientific techniques that continue to reveal new details about Roman society, architecture, and art.

Between sites, there will be time for a relaxed local lunch (at your own expense), with your guide happy to recommend authentic restaurants serving Neapolitan classics. By the end of your tour, as your driver returns you to your hotel, you’ll carry with you not only images of frescoes and ruins, but a sense of connection to the people who once walked these streets, and whose stories still echo beneath the shadow of Vesuvius.

What you'll see

You may also like