Rome, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast

We meet at our London St Pancras Departure Office and board the Eurostar to Paris. From here, we change trains and head to Chambéry, where we spend the night, enjoying dinner in a local restaurant. We travel by rail to Rome on Day 2. The city is a feast for the senses, from its fountains and public gardens to its intimate cafés filled with the scent of Italian coffee. The most famous sights here are a wonder to behold.

On Day 3, our day in Rome begins with a guided tour, during which we take in sights including the Roman Forum and theatrical Trevi Fountain. Later, you're free to spend your afternoon savouring the sights and sounds of Rome. Visit St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican museum, stroll through the atmospheric streets, ascend the monumental Spanish Steps or relax in one of Rome's many squares with a coffee or ice-cream. With its abundance of history and culture, Rome offers something to suit every taste.

• Day 1 - Eurostar meal, Dinner
• Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 3 - Breakfast

We travel to Sorrento, a coastal town steeped in history, and perched on a cliff in its own mini bay with spectacular views across the Bay of Naples to Mount Vesuvius. An orientation walk around Sorrento introduces us to its cobbled streets and colourful squares. Sorrento is famous for its citrus products, and we pause for a tasting of limoncello, a refreshing local lemon liquor. We continue to our hotel, the 4-Star Majestic Palace, just outside the centre, surrounded by gardens and citrus trees.

On Day 5, we uncover the Amalfi Coast from its waters. We cruise to Positano, a pristine village where pastel houses seemingly tumble into a turquoise sea. The town retains a distinctly oldfashioned appeal, untouched by time in its secluded spot on the coastline, and at the beach, fishermen haul their wooden boats as they did decades ago. Continue to Amalfi, the 'jewel of the Amalfi Coast' for some free time. Perhaps visit the 9th-century St Andrew's Cathedral, which overlooks the Piazza del Duomo at the top of a beautiful stone staircase. Back in Sorrento this evening, we enjoy a special pizza-making experience, discovering the secrets to this revered Italian dish.

• Day 4 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 5 - Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we catch the Campania Express to Pompeii, the famous town buried by ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. While it was abandoned and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1748, the ash worked to 'freeze' Pompeii and its people in time; having spent the best part of two millennia buried by ash, Pompeii is considered the best-preserved Roman city in the world. We have a guided tour of the shops, restaurants and villas that made up this fascinating city, as well as the Amphitheatre and the Grand Theatre.

Day 7 is free to enjoy the relaxed town of Sorrento. Explore the narrow streets filled with beautiful Renaissance buildings, or relax in the central square - a great place to watch the world go by.

• Day 6 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 7 - Breakfast

We travel by coach today to Herculaneum, a city of Roman ruins that was destroyed by an earthquake in 62 AD. Thanks to its close proximity to Mt Vesuvius, the eruption that blasted Pompeii had a similar effect here, fossilising much of the town. We make our way through the preserved ruins, taking in the fascinating sights of ancient life.

On Day 9 you have another day to spend as you wish. Sorrento's Chiesa di San Francesco, a peaceful church with Renaissance, Gothic, and Arabic influences, is worth a visit.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 8 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 9 - Breakfast

We cruise to Capri, a beautiful island famed for its stunning views. Located just off the coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula, the island has attracted artists and writers for centuries. Our visit includes a ticket on the funicular railway, which carries visitors to the centre of Capri, where you have some free time to discover the historic island. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together.

On Day 11 we transfer by coach to Naples joining the rail service to Turin, where we overnight. On Day 12, we continue to Paris for the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

• Day 10 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 11 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 12 - Breakfast, Eurostar meal