9 days days
|$4995pp
This curated nine-day journey follows the rise and reach of the Roman Empire through Italy’s most remarkable sites. From the Colosseum and Palatine Hill to the buried streets of Pompeii and the temples of Paestum, you’ll uncover how one civilization shaped the peninsula and much of the modern world.
Each region reveals a different aspect of Roman life: the political and architectural heart of Rome, the engineering triumphs of aqueducts and roads, the luxury of imperial villas, and the daily life preserved beneath volcanic ash. Travelling with private guides and seamless transfers, you’ll connect these stories across landscapes of history, art and culture.
This is a journey designed for travellers who want to experience Italy through its enduring legacy not just as a series of landmarks, but as the living framework of a civilization that still defines the country today.
Begin in Rome, the centre of the ancient world. Stay in a centrally located five-star hotel, with early access to the Colosseum for a private guided tour of the arena floor before the day’s crowds arrive. Continue to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, where your guide will bring the city’s political and architectural story to life.
Over the following days, visit Castel Sant’Angelo, once Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum, and the vast Baths of Caracalla, a reminder of how Romans merged engineering with daily ritual. Explore the Appian Way, the Villa of the Quintilii, and the frescoes of Palazzo Massimo, each offering a different window into the empire’s culture and power.
A flexible day allows for further exploration of your choosing – perhaps Ostia Antica, the Capitoline Museums, or the Ara Pacis – before an evening at leisure in the city.
Travel east to Tivoli to visit Hadrian’s Villa, a vast 250-acre complex built as an imperial retreat. With a private guide, explore the Maritime Theater, Canopus pool and subterranean tunnels that once connected the site. Learn how the emperor’s travels and personal life influenced the villa’s design, filled with art and symbolism.
Afterwards, visit nearby Villa d’Este, known for its Renaissance gardens and intricate fountains, before returning to Rome or continuing south.
Take a high-speed train to Naples and check into a centrally located hotel overlooking the bay. Begin at the National Archaeological Museum, home to treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum – mosaics, frescoes and sculptures that give insight into various aspects of Roman domestic life.
The following day, spend a full day in Pompeii with a private archaeologist guide. Explore villas, streets and public spaces that remain remarkably preserved after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Private access to lesser-known areas offers a deeper look at the daily routines, artistry and beliefs of the city’s former inhabitants.
Continue south along the coast to Paestum, one of Italy’s most atmospheric archaeological sites. Originally a Greek colony later absorbed by Rome, it features three remarkably preserved Doric temples surrounded by open countryside.
Visit the site’s museum to see the Tomb of the Diver fresco, a rare survival from the ancient world depicting the journey from life into death. With few visitors and expansive views, Paestum offers a quiet close to your exploration of classical Italy.
Return to Naples for your evening flight, perhaps pausing for an authentic Neapolitan pizza before departure. Travellers flying from Rome may choose to drive north through Lazio’s countryside, stopping at Sperlonga or Circeo National Park along the way.
Experience the Vatican as few ever do — in the calm of evening, guided by those who know its secrets best. This exclusive after-hours visit reveals the artistry and emotion behind the world’s most famous collection, offering time to pause, reflect, and truly see.
Step into Trastevere — the Rome locals keep for themselves. Wander ivy-lined streets with a private historian, meet artisans still shaping the city by hand, and pause for an unhurried meal in a hidden courtyard. A Do Not Disturb experience revealing the soul of Rome through ease and access.
Experience Rome’s culinary artistry in complete ease. From private gardens to hidden terraces, Roman Dining in Style is a Do Not Disturb moment where food, setting, and connection come together in perfect harmony.
Step beyond Rome’s busy streets into its quietest spaces. From Trastevere’s hidden courtyards to the grand gardens of Tivoli, The Roman Garden Escape is a Do Not Disturb experience designed for stillness, beauty, and time shared with those who matter most.
Step inside Rome’s greatest monument in rare quiet. The Colosseum, Unveiled is a Do Not Disturb experience that reveals the arena’s hidden layers — from its underground chambers to its silent grandeur — guided by those who know its stories best.
Step through the ruins that shaped the modern world. Walking Through Time: The Roman Forum Reimagined is a Do Not Disturb experience revealing where power, philosophy, and architecture first met — and how the story of civilization still echoes between these stones.
Step into Rome’s most enduring masterpiece. The Pantheon is a Do Not Disturb experience revealing the harmony between light, structure, and spirit — an encounter with timeless design that continues to define the modern world.
Step into the light and shadow of Caravaggio’s Rome. From hidden chapels to private collections, Caravaggio’s Rome is a Do Not Disturb experience that reveals the artist’s genius as it was meant to be seen — intimately, quietly, and in place.
See Rome through a modern lens. Modern Rome: Art, Design & Aperitivo is a Do Not Disturb experience revealing the city’s evolving creative spirit — from hidden studios and private galleries to an aperitivo shared above the skyline.
A private visit to Leonardo’s Last Supper offers a rare chance to see one of the Renaissance’s most important works in near silence. This moment reveals the mural’s true scale, its fragile beauty and the architectural harmony of Santa Maria delle Grazie, all without the rush of standard viewing slots.
A private tour of the Duomo di Milano reveals the cathedral’s immense architecture, centuries of craftsmanship and the quiet beauty of its terraces, all without the pace and crowds of standard visits. This is Milan’s most iconic landmark experienced with time, clarity and space to appreciate its details.
Experience a private gondola ride in Venice through peaceful canals. Avoid the crowds with a romantic, tailor-made tour led by expert gondoliers.
Tell us how you want to feel, we’ll take it from there.
“Our trip was truly magical and full of core memories that will last us a lifetime.”
Michael • Bora Bora Honeymoon
“We just returned from an incredible journey through Ireland, and we couldn’t have had a better experience”
Brad • Ireland Adventure
“This was a flawless experience right from the beginning, we had so many thoughts and ideas flowing around and they took all of them and perfectly curated the most beautiful honeymoon for us.”
Kris • Sicily Honeymoon
See more reviews on Trustpilot
11 min read
The Basque Country exists in the margins of most visitors’ Spanish itineraries, which is precisely why it deserves to be the center of yours. While Barcelona and Madrid command the guidebook attention, northern Spain’s autonomous region has quietly become one of Europe’s most compelling destinations.
16 min read
Gaudí’s buildings are immediately recognizable, but what makes them distinctive is not stylistic quirk. It is a coherent philosophy applied with obsessive precision. To understand Gaudí requires learning how he thought about architecture, materials, and the relationship between form and function. The buildings make far more sense once you grasp his underlying principles.
12 min read
Angkor Wat is one of the world’s most extraordinary temple complexes, but experiencing it well comes down to timing, pacing and where you choose to stay. This is how to plan the perfect luxury trip.
11 min read
Sri Lanka’s tea country is a place where production and landscape are inseparable. From hand-plucked leaves to historic bungalows, this guide walks you through how the region looks, works and feels.
Ask us anything.
