In the boisterous and colorful frame of the Bay of Naples a delightful journey to discover the true heart of southern Italy. We travel through its volcanic past that has shaped the history, culture as well as the economy of the region in the past and present. Inhabited since the X century B.C., Naples appears at all time as a place of myth, extolled for the beauty of its bay, the mildness of the climate and the violence of the natural scenery.
The second half of the tour lets us discover one of Italy's most beautiful islands, Ischia. From our base in a wonderful hotel in a gorgeous setting, we explore its volcanic landscape, volcanic hot springs, and of course beaches.
Last but not least, the culinary experience during our tour in the heart of Italy can hardly be matched and will certainly likely stand out as a highlight; one you will remember for a long time. You might get addicted to such delightful Mediterranean traditions... Fresh sea food and tasty local vegetables form the basis of its world-renowned, delicious cuisine.
All historically active volcanoes of the Bay of Naples
Excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum
Easy to moderate hiking
Wonderful volcanic beaches
Relaxing boat trips and spas
Delicious Southern Italian food
Certified archaeological guide fluent in German, English, Italian (Florian)
Competent volcanologist guide from our team
8 days itinerary
J 1: Arrivée à Naples Accueil à l'aéroport, ou la gare, et transfert à l'hôtel dans le centre historique de Naples. Dîner de groupe dans un restaurant typique du centre ville, très animé, de Naples.
J 2: Vésuve - degustation de vin - Herculaneum Excursion au volcan Vésuve, déjeuner dans une maison de campagne et dégustation de l'excellent vin local (Lacryma Christi DOC). En après-midi visite du site des fouilles archéologiques de la ville romaine d'Herculanum.
J 3: Vésuve & Pompeii Visite de l'Observatoire Vésuvien, le plus ancien du monde, et parcours de son exposition très intéressante. Balade dans la "Valle dell'Inferno" pour observer la plus récente coulée de lave du volcan datant de 1944. En après-midi, visite de Pompeii et de l'Antiquario di Boscoreale.
J 4: Pozzuoli et les Campi Flegrei (Champs Phlégréens) Excursions aux volcans des Campi Flegrei: Monte Nuovo, Lago Di Averno, Pozzuoli et la Solfatara, le Cap Misène. Dîner dans un restaurant en bord de mer.
J 5: Private boat tour along Posillipo coast and transfer to Ischia Island Spectacular private boat tour along the impressive Posillipo and Pozzuoli coasts (swimming break). After disembarking, we "meet" our luggage transferred separately to Pozzuoli port, where we take a ferry to Ischia Island, where we will spend 3 nights in a charming sea-side hotel.
J 6: Rotaro volcano and historic volcanism on Ischia Easy hike to Rotaro volcano with its active fumaroles, continue to the southern side of the island with magnificent views, observation of the most recent lava flow, erupted in 1302. Continue to a large beach full of thermal springs, natural spas and fumaroles. Time to swim and explore some ancient spas dating back to Roman times.
Evening: visit an old picturesque fishing village and a volcanic “islet” attached to the mainland by a thin isthmus of sand.
J 7: Sorgeto hot spring, Epomeo volcano, spas in San Montano Bay Hike to an isolated bay with submarine hot springs (bathing even in winter!). Climb to the Epomeo volcano, enjoy a fabulous circular view on the whole Bay of Naples. Walk down to the village of Forio.
Rest of the day to relax in the natural spas of the beautiful bay of San Montano.
J 8: Ischia Ponte, Aragonese Castle, departure from Naples or tour extension Walk to the harbour, visit of the Aragonese Castle, departure or own extension program.
Départs et détails
Demande de réservation
Point de départ:
Travel arrangements to and from Naples are not included in the tour package, in order to give everybody the best chance to plan the trip according to his/her preferences. Naples is easily reached by plane or train (e.g. from Rome airport or other cities). A taxi to the hotel costs about 30 EUR. We will be to help you with such travel arrangements, as well as assist you with your international travel to Italy.
Tom will normally be your tour guide on the Volcanoes of Italy - The Grand Tour.
Dr. Tom Pfeiffer (1970) is a German volcanologist with a PhD degree in geology about the volcanic history of Santorini volcano from the University of Aarhus in Denmark.
For more than 20 years, Tom has been working on volcanic systems (Hawai'i and Vesuvius volcano observatories), observing volcanic eruptions around the world and organizing guided tours to active volcanoes in Europe (Santorini, Etna, Stromboli,...), Kilauea on Hawaii as well as in Africa and Indonesia. During his travels, he found his strongest passion in photography (link to his book) and the sharing of his knowledge and new travel adventures with people outside the scientific community. He first started a tour company in 2004 and is still guiding most VolcanoAdventures tours in Greece and Italy as well as the pilot expeditions and special eruption tours.
His other professional activities include a large number of articles about volcanoes published in newspapers and magazines such as National Geographic, Scientific American and others. Tom also participated in documentary film productions about Santorini (“The myth of the lost city of Atlantis”, "Mystery Hunters", both on Discovery Channel) and Stromboli (“Quarks and co: Vulkane” on the German television channel WDR), as well as the ongoing documentary series about active volcanoes "Volcanic Odysseys" by Canadian filmmaker Michael Dalton (Love Nature & Smithsonian Channel).
Besides his German mother tongue, Tom speaks English, Danish and Italian fluently and can also communicate in Greek, French and some Spanish. He lived for 7 years in Denmark, spent about 2 years in Italy and worked one year on Santorini, Greece, before moving to Athens in 2004.
Volcanologist Dr. Tom Pfeiffer on Santorini
Infos complémentaires
Condition physique
Good general physical condition is required. No hiking experience is needed. The hikes are fairly easy, with climbing efforts between 100-400 m and walking distances of up to around 7 km, total walking times are up to 4-5 hrs during a full day (including stops).
8 days itinerary
J 1
Arrivée à Naples
Le centre historique de Naples
Poisson dur le marcher du centre de Naples
Le port de Naples
Arrivée à Naples et transfert à un hôtel petit, amical et calme (terrasse sur le toit!) dans le centre historique de la vieille ville colorée animée de Naples. Après un cocktail de bienvenue, le reste de la journée peut être utilisé pour vous détendre ou commencer à explorer le centre de Naples. En soirée, nous nous réunissons pour un dîner dans une petite trattoria (= restaurant local) où l'excellente nourriture et une ambiance particulièrement amusante vous sont servis. Nuit d'hôtel à Naples.
J 2
Vésuve - degustation de vin - Herculaneum
À l'intérieur de l'Observatoire du Vésuve : une collection historique de sismographes
Les ruines d’Herculanum et le volcan du Vésuve à l'arrière-plan
Profitant de la lumière du matin et le calme du dimanche, nous roulerons à travers la ville et sa banlieue et marcherons ensuite (ascension facile, à peu près 20 min) vers le cratère au sommet du volcan du Vésuve, dont la dernière activité fut en 1944.
De sa bordure, nous pouvons regarder en bas dans son cratère profond, toujours fumant sur l'un des côtés et les environs avec la problématique de l'urbanisme moderne qui s'étant autour du volcan. Cependant, les vues sur les ruines de Pompéi, la Baie de Naples avec la ville elle-même et les îles de Capri et d'Ischia sont inoubliables.
Après un certain temps passé là, nous nous rendons pour un déjeuner en campagne d'un viticulteur et nous aurons occasion de dégoûter le fameux (et excellent) Lacryma Christi.
Après un casse-croûte lors du déjeuner, nous continuons à visiter les fouilles de < b>la ville romaine d'Herculanum, qui fut détruite par des déferlantes pyroclastiques et des coulées de boues chaudes en provenance du Vésuve en l'an 79 de notre ère.
Pour un dîner typique Napolitain, nous marcherons à une pizzeria ou à une trattoria situées au petit port de pêche de Naples, dans un superbe cadre populaire à côté du majestueux château du 11ème siècle construit sur un petit promontoire au bord de mer.
J 3
Vésuve & Pompeii
Walking in the 2000 year old ruins of the roman city of Pompeii
Colourful mural decoration in one of the better preserved villas
Matin: Visite de l'Observatoire Vésuvien, le plus ancien du monde, avec son exposition très intéressante. Petite balade dans la "Valle dell'Inferno" pour observer la plus récente coulée de lave du volcan datant de 1944.
En après-midi: visite de Pompeii (incluant un tour guidé d'environ 1.5 hrs) et le fascinant musée de l'Antiquario di Boscoreale, où on voit des objets trouvés à Pompeii qui nous donnent une excellente idée de la culture sophistiquée et la vie quotidienne d'il y a 2000 ans.
En soirée retour à Naples et dîner dans un restaurant en centre ville.
J 4
Pozzuoli et les Campi Flegrei (Champs Phlégréens)
Solfatares dans le cratère de la Solfatara près de Pozzuoli
Le temple de Sérapis (un marché romain), montrant l'évidence des mouvements verticaux du sol de Pozzuoli.
Lac du cratère d'Averno
Ce jour est entièrement consacré au deuxième secteur, beaucoup moins connu que la région volcanique près de Naples, mais potentiellement très dangereux, les Champs Phlégréens.
L'excursion nous mène d'abord à la baie voisine de la petite ville de pêcheur de Pozzuoli, où la preuve visible d'activité tectonique récente (des crises sismiques récentes avec des soulèvements important du sol) est préservée. Des ruines romaines impressionnantes comme le temple de Sérapis et l'amphithéâtre sont sur notre route pour le volcan Solfatara, toujours actif avec ses puissantes fumerolles chaudes.
En après-midi, on va visiter le volcan historique du Monte Nuovo qui s'était formé en 1538 et les ruines romaines romantiques près de Capo Miseno, pour un merveilleux coucher du soleil sur la Baie de Naples: le même site où Pline le jeune, en l'an 79 de notre ère, observa l'éruption du volcan Vésuve !
Nous concluons la journée avec un excellent dîner (des fruits de mer frais!) dans une taverne locale sur une bonne plage.
J 5
Private boat tour along Posillipo coast and transfer to Ischia Island
View into the Monte Nuovo crater (Campi Flegreii)
Boat tour along the spectacular Posillipo coast
This morning we walk through parts of the Spanish Quarters and then through Santa Lucia Quarters, in sharp contrast to the elegance of the fashionable palaces of the nearby Chiaia Quarter. We reach the small fishing harbour (Borgo Marinaro) dominated by the majestic 11th century castle (Castel dell'Ovo) built on a islet at the waterfront. From here a private boat will take us to discover the impressive volcanic cliffs of the Phlegrean Fields, passing by world-famous sites such as Mergellina, Marechiaro and Posillipo whose dramatic beauty has inspired songs and poetry of the ancient Neapolitan tradition. The cliffs are dominated by the “Neapolitan Yellow Tuff”, a yellowish rock produced by a main eruption which forms the basement of Naples.
The boat tour ends in the port of Pozzuoli where we meet with out luggage transported separately and take a short ferry to Ischia island where we will stay 3 nights in a charming hotel close to one of the island's finest beaches.
J 6
Rotaro volcano and historic volcanism on Ischia
Using the calm of the morning we will reach the island of Ischia by hydrofoil. We arrive in the harbor of Ischia which occupies the center of an ancient crater. After an easy hike through a shady pine forest we come to the Rotaro volcano still showing steaming fumaroles. We walk down towards the southern side of the island with magnificent views on the coast and passing by the most recent lava flow erupted in 1302.In the afternoon we come to Maroniti beach, the largest of the island. It is full of thermal springs, natural spas and fumaroles. Here we have time to swim and to explore some ancient spas which date back to the Roman times.At the end of the day we walk to S. Angelo, an old fishing village turned into an international tourist resort. It's still a peaceful oasis with no cars, many trees and plants of all sorts, multicolored houses which overlook at the sea, fishing boats in the harbor and a volcanic “islet” attached to the mainland by a thin isthmus of sand.
J 7
Sorgeto hot spring, Epomeo volcano, spas in San Montano Bay
Natural spas at Ischia Island
Little fishing village on Ischia
Light volcanic tuff layers on Ischia
Our day begins with a walk to the isolated Sorgeto Bay where submarine springs discharge hot water (90°C !), which mixes with seawater. We can have a pleasant swim or steam bath on the cliffs (bathing is possible even in winter!)
Later we reach the village of Serrara Fontana from which we start the climb to the Epomeo volcano, consisting completely of the “Green Tuff”. Once we reach the top there is time to enjoy a fabulous circular view on the whole Bay of Naples. We walk down along the shady northern slope of the Epomeo volcano to reach the village of Forio.
We will spend the rest of the day in the natural spas of the beautiful bay of San Montano. They consist of a series of outdoor and indoor swimming pools, containing mineralized thermal water, and are well known for their therapeutic properties.
J 8
Ischia Ponte, Aragonese Castle, departure from Naples or tour extension
Our last day begins with a relaxing walk from the main harbor of the island to the village of Ischia Ponte. There is time to explore the picturesque small streets, the ancient churches and the multicolored fisher's houses, as well as to do shopping.Later in the morning we visit the impressive Castello Aragonese, a Medieval castle built in the XV century, standing on a small volcanic island reached via a stone bridge. This castle offers much to see: walled houses and churches, courtyards, antique archways, terraces, gardens and arcades with superb views onto the sea. After the visit we go back to the main harbor. A ferry will take us to Naples where our journey comes to an end.
7 nights accommodation in double room (4 in the center of Naples, 3 on the Island of Ischia)
Copious half board (breakfast + full dinner menu excluding drinks)
Mineral water during meals
All transports and excursions as described
Entry fees to museums, volcanoes, archaeological sites, spas, guided tours etc. as described
Detailed information material
Experienced guide
Le prix ne comprend pas:
Travel to Naples
Single room supplement*: 320,-EUR
Extra meals (usually light lunch snacks or sandwiches) and drinks
Personal equipment
Réductions prix:
Retour de clients (5-8%): Nos voyageurs fidèles reçoivent 5% (ou 8%, à partir du 4eme voyage) de remise sur le prix de base du voyage. Remise pour la réservation d'un groupe (5%): Si au minimum 4 personnes réservent ensemble sur un voyage de groupe, nous offrons 5% de remise cumulable avec le retour de clients dans une limite de 10% au maximum.
