jules verne travel italy

Head over heels with Italy

From lake como in the north to sicily in the south, develop a deeper appreciation of this enchanting country with expert trips from jules verne.

It is the country of Roman ruins and Renaissance masterpieces, of dramatic coastlines, glorious lakes and charming canals, not to mention delightful cuisine.

Which is why Italy never leaves your travel wish list. No matter how many times you visit, there is always another opera to experience at Verona’s Roman amphitheatre, another sumptuous palazzo to stay in, another historic vineyard to visit.

Jules Verne has a wealth of experience of putting together fascinating trips that help you peel back the layers of this enchanting country. Its small group tours and knowledgeable guides take care of every detail, ensuring your trip will be truly special. It is a wonderful way to explore Italy from head to heel.

Lake Como – still waters, grand vistas

The most spectacular – and exclusive – of the Italian Lakes, Como is surrounded by mountains and forested hills and peppered with exquisite villages and pastel-coloured villas. Stay at the Grand Hotel Menaggio, set right on the waterfront, and explore the scenic south, crowned by the Roman town of Como. The north is altogether more rugged, with lesser-known villages and dramatic mountain scenery. Combining the two, you will explore by boat, train and road, taking in flower-filled gardens, pretty piazzas and endless lake views, aperitivo in hand.   

 Don’t miss  Stunning views

They call it the Balcony of Italy, and nothing beats the Alpine views from Mount Sighignola, on the border with Switzerland. From the mountain village of Lanzo d’Intelvi, you can walk along the paths to a lookout point with views across snow-capped peaks. Look out for the Matterhorn and you may even spot Mont Blanc in the distance on a clear day, too. The balcony that gives the area its nickname is a large terrace and perfect photo spot, while the trails weaving through the mountain landscape are great for hiking and cycling.

Find out more about this inspiring holiday

Como is surrounded by mountains and forested hills and peppered with exquisite villages and pastel-coloured villas

Venice from the wate r.

Made up of more than 100 lagoon islands, woven together with endless canals, Venice is a city that is best seen from the water. The Jules Verne experience avoids the overpriced hotels and restaurants and allows you to enjoy the city from a completely different perspective ­– on a cruise ship. There are fascinating tours to the opulent Doge’s Palace and a factory producing carnival masks, and the quaint fishing port of Chioggia. Plus there’s plenty of time to explore Venice’s picturesque waterways and bridges under your own steam.

  Don’t miss   Venetian specialities

To find a souvenir that sums up your Venice trip, explore the local shops and studios that have been doing brisk business for generations. On the island of Giudecca, you can pick up colourful Murano glass designs by Stefano Morasso at his shop and studio. He was born on the island of Murano and learnt his trade there.

Rest and refuel like the locals with bite-size cicchetti washed down with an aperitivo of your choice at a bacaro. Dotted around Venice, these low-key bars are the place to soak up the atmosphere while sampling fritto misto and the classic Venetian spritz.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS INSPIRING HOLIDAY

There’s plenty of time to explore Venice’s picturesque waterways and bridges under your own steam

Rome – in the company of angels.

Travel is all about immersive experiences and Jules Verne certainly offers that in the Eternal City, where you can spend four nights in a convent with the Sisters of the Order of St Joseph of the Apparition. This spectacular hillside convent overlooks St Peter’s Basilica and is just a 15-minute walk from the Vatican. The nuns have turned part of the complex into a guesthouse and even offer the chance for dinner at a nearby monastery. In the morning there are walking tours round Rome and the Vatican, and free time each afternoon to explore on your own.

 Don’t miss  Subterranean Rome

After gazing up at the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum, it’s time to go underground. Some of Rome’s most amazing sites are subterranean, from haunting catacombs to Emperor Nero’s palace. But be sure to book early and always check for restricted opening hours. Plunge down to the Domus Aurea, which was constructed for Nero in AD64 after the Great Fire of Rome and which is decorated with white marble, frescoes, mosaics and pools and fountains. Perhaps the best preserved of its type in Rome, the Catacombs of Santa Domitilla reveal a world of religious frescoes dating back to the second century and even an underground church.

After gazing up at the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel, it’s time to go underground to the catacombs

Amalfi, pompeii, sorrento–coastal glory.

The pretty clifftop town of Sorrento was a bathing resort in Roman times. Today, it is a chic locale on the Amalfi Coast and the base from which you will discover one of the most beautiful driving routes in the world. You can stay in one of the many gorgeous hotels or opt for dazzling Villa Crawford, once owned by author Francis Marion Crawford. To better explore the dramatic beauty of the Divine Coast, Jules Verne puts on minibuses – giving you access that regular coach tours cannot. You will also visit stunning Amalfi, Positano and Ravello, enjoy a guided tour of Pompeii and have the chance to visit Herculaneum and Naples.

  Don’t miss   The ruins of Herculaneum

Pompeii grabs all the headlines for its sheer size and amazing architecture, but in its own way Herculaneum is just as impressive. Indeed, when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79, Herculaneum was actually the richer of the two cities with more intricate mosaics and bigger houses. Herculaneum is a smaller site than Pompeii, making it quicker and easier to explore, and the site is incredibly well preserved, thanks to slower falling ash from the eruption leaving houses and mosaics more complete.

One of the best ways to explore Italy’s rich heritage is through its cuisine

Sicily – unearthing its treasures and secrets.

An island of riches, Sicily is home to sparkling seas, dramatic Mount Etna, Byzantine mosaics, baroque palaces and Arab castle ruins. To do justice to Sicily’s sheer variety, Jules Verne has created a new grand tour of the island. It takes in the Villa Romana ruins and the volcanic Aeolian Islands, the buzzing capital Palermo, and the baroque towns that form the backdrop of TV series Inspector Montalbano . A whistle-stop tour of Sicily’s Byzantine and Moorish, Norman and Spanish past, it offers a fascinating glimpse of the “crossroads of the Mediterranean”.

 Don’t miss  The flavours of history

One of the best ways to explore Sicily’s mixed heritage is through its cuisine. Sicily is famous for its pistachios and almonds, while saffron and raisins are liberally used in dishes, hinting at its Arab past. In fact, the local dish pasta chi sardi, made with sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts and saffron, was reputedly the invention of an Arab army chef inspired by his arrival on the island. Equally, the olives and capers in the famous sweet-and-sour caponata aperitivo   have a distinctly Greek twist.

No single supplement

If you are considering a solo trip to Italy, book with Jules Verne and you won’t have to pay a single supplement on selected tours. A tour manager will take care of all the details and you ’ ll find that the itinerary has been designed so you can mingle with other like-minded adventurers as well as having free time to yourself. With guaranteed departures and prices, all that’s left is to book now and discover the delights of Italy.

Illustrations: Maite Franchi

Jules Verne Times Two

The plan: travelling across italy with the illusion of control.

“We have the next ten days itemised, prioritised and optimised, it’s the perfect plan”, I proudly stated, while doing my best to avoid getting our small rental car rammed by one of the daily commuters that had turned into Fangios. Jules, after warning me to get out of the way of a young lady doubling the speed limit while putting on makeup, expressed her doubts. – “Verne, we can’t boil down southern Italy to an Excel list. Reality will knock down our perfect plan with fancy colours before the sun sets.”

We wouldn’t have to wait that long. Shortly after getting to Pompeii, it started raining. Jules, while fashioning a poncho for Gabriel out of a couple of laundry bags, had her admittedly deserved I-told-you-so-moment . – “In which tab do we file this moment, ‘ Singing in the Rain ’, or ‘ Umbrella ’?”. – “Come on Gabriel”, I said sulkily, “let’s look at some wet archaeological ruins”.

Fortunately, both the weather and the plan’s standing improved as the day trickled on. Our next stop was the Amalfi Coast, a beautiful – and incredibly popular – stretch of coastline along the southern cliffs of the Sorrentine Peninsula. There seemed to be no end to the number of cars and fellow tourists squeezing down those narrow roads, but we had devised a cunning scheme. Instead of staying at Amalfi, Positano or one of the other trendy cliffside villages – and paying indecently for a room and obscenely for a parking space – we would spend the night at Bomerano – a decidedly less popular inland village – and take the bus down to Amalfi the next day.

“This was the right call, the plan is forgiven”, said Jules between spoonfuls. The three of us were sitting on the steps of Bomerano’s lovely main square, enjoying the sunset with gelato. As the last rays of light disappeared below the horizon, a fourth companion joined us. Strengthened by our words of appreciation, the plan left its Excel ether and materialised into a collective imaginary friend. The plan was now the Plan. Dressed in a drab brown suit and wearing thick prescription glasses, the Plan stood uncomfortably in front of us, unsure of what to do with his cup of gelato.

The next morning, we happily marched back to Bomerano’s main square to get on the bus to Amalfi, only to discover a long queue of like-minding individuals already there. When the bus finally arrived, fashionably late and already crammed from previous stops, only a handful a people managed to get in.

In his best Italian, the Plan asked the driver for the next bus, and was greeted with profuse hand gestures that could either mean “when St. Januarius blesses us with a new bus” or “when my colleague finishes his morning coffee and newspaper”. Both responses were unacceptably vague for the Plan, and he sweated profusely under the morning sun.

When we finally got onto a bus, things did not improve for the Plan. Gabriel, who was sitting on his lap, endured seventeen switchback corners but puked on the eighteenth. Both of them were at their lowest spirits when we finally arrived to Amalfi, so we sat down on the first restaurant we could find.

With the waiter approaching, the Plan lifted his eyes from the phone and read us one of the restaurant’s reviews: “Brought back memories of my school canteen: the cook seems to abstain from regular bathing, the tables are greasy and wobbly, and the food tastes like wet socks. The only difference is that it’s not cheap, far from it”. We quickly got up, muttered ‘scusami’ to the waiter, and followed the Plan as he navigated the narrow streets looking for something better.

Holidays were a rollercoaster ride for the Plan. When things were predictable, logic, and neatly followed the narrow path he had idealised, his eyes shone bright across his thick glasses. The Plan guided us through Basilicata’s beautiful rolling country roads, seeing no other cars for miles on end. We stayed at Tolve, a tiny village perched atop a hill, where we were the only tourists. We strolled through the narrow cobblestone streets of Castelmezzano – one of Italy’s most beautiful villages – again all by ourselves. And, every time we felt weariness settling in, the Plan announced a stop at one of his carefully curated playgrounds, with a bench in the shade for the adults and mighty slides for Gabriel.

Alas, the Plan was not one to enjoy rollercoasters. He anguished in traffic jams and at the sight of a plate of pasta cooked beyond al dente . But what truly sent him down a wormhole of nervousness was the sight of the Unplanned, his nemesis. The Unplanned would rear his ugly head whenever we made an unexpected stop to photograph something pretty on the side of the road, or took a left instead of the planned right.

Near the end of our trip the Unplanned nearly broke the Plan, when we decided to scrap the day’s schedule and freely roam around the beautiful Gargano National Park. At sunset, with no restaurant in sight, we bought sandwiches and a bottle of cheap wine at a roadside grocery store and headed down to a small pebble beach.

The Plan had spent the entire day fighting his unruly inner demon and seemed at his wit’s end. But, just as the sun set below the horizon, he got up, kicked off his shoes, rolled up his brown trousers, snatched the bottle of wine, and walked down to the sea. Wiggling his toes in the tepid water, he took a big gulp from the bottle, shrugged, uttered to himself “hey, this isn’t so bad after all”, and slowly disappeared.

Of course, the Plan had not actually disappeared, but merely returned to where he had come from: the heads of Jules and Verne. Hopefully, he had returned a tiny bit wiser, reducing our urge to dissect, structure and optimise everything.

It seemed that somebody else on that beach also suffered from the illusion of control. Gabriel was frenetically running back and forth with his bucket, attempting to empty the ocean. When he raced past us, Jules caught his arm, sat him down next to us, and proposed a compromise: “let’s plan what we can and enjoy what we can’t”.

You can find high resolution versions of these photographs (and many others that did not fit this text) here , under a Creative Commons license (meaning that you can use them freely but are required to credit the author).

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22 thoughts on “ the plan: travelling across italy with the illusion of control ”.

Ahh, I’m so glad to see you post from Italy again. And you let us see so many other photos as well, I love this! I cannot help but wonder how much more to the north did you go. Did you reach Rome or was this it? I’m sure I will learn everything with time (or you may have told me already, I forget). Beautiful story-telling in words and images. Your forth member’s presence was felt but then happily discarded. Too many favourites: the wonderful light in the 3rd photo, the chair, the cross and ceiling, the wonderful window… And you have so many lovely doors in the rest of the photos. I hope you make a Thursday Doors post with them one day.

Like Liked by 1 person

Thank you Manja! Gargano was the furthest north we went this time, but we’ll be back. We were very close to booking a flight to Sardinia for tomorrow, but the foul weather held us off… soon though, and we’ll slowly make our way up 🙂

– Verne

Great to hear! Welcome to Italy! 🙂

Like father, like son…

No doubt about that, poor kid 🙂

What a marvelous trip! I enjoyed it, laughing at The Plan.

Thank you Anne, from both of us 🙂

– Verne & The Plan

Such beautiful and atmospheric photos. Great narrative weaving in The Plan…I can totally relate.

Thank you Caroline! I noticed that almost half of the images on this post are symmetrical, it would seem that the Plan also has a thing for photography 🙂

Oh I so love this Blog and so want to travel again! But Australia has had us locked in for close to 2 years and everybody else out. 🙄 Ho-hum. Lucky it’s not a bad place to be locked up in! Ursula

Thank you Ursula! Indeed not a bad place to be locked up, although the 18th British convicts taken to the NSW prison colony probably disagreed… 🙂 How are things now, can you travel around the country or are there still many restrictions in place?

Since the beginning of last year, the Unplanned has been in control while the Plan had to resort to just sitting at a quiet corner, far from everyone. But I sense that the Plan’s time has finally arrived, to some extent. I love that shot of the cliff at the Amalfi Coast as well as of Tolve. Such a beautiful village in a spectacular location!

Good point, hopefully the Plan is back for good! Tolve is indeed a spectacular little village, and one with a rather unique topology: it is not much wider than a single street that winds up the hill, passes through a couple of churches, and ends up in the castle.

Thank you Stacy!

“Life is What Happens To You While You’re Busy Making Other Plans.” — John Lennon

Planning a trip kind of reminds me of doing estimates for a project – add a 20% fudge factor for the unexpected.

I like your solution for figuring out which pictures to show with a post when you’ve got a lot of good pictures. Show ’em all in a backup spot!

That’s a great quote, I should have had the Plan muttering it at the end, when he was standing by the water! I think our friend will need to make another appearance in a post, thanks for the inspiration Dave 🙂

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Brilliant. My first read on this site, but I’ll be back for more. My wife and I spent our 20th wedding anniversary on a 14 day adventure through the typical touristy spots of northern/central Italy – Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, and Rome. I was “The Plan” on our trip of planes, boats, trains, and taxis, and we do have high hopes of visiting the southern portion one day so I really enjoyed this.

Thanks for reading! We’re also aiming for a follow-up trip to southern Italy (maybe Sardinia and Sicily). The northern/central bits are beautiful on their own right, but the less touristy south is equally mesmerising.

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• January 5, 2024

Jules Verne Unveils 30 New Tours For 2024

Small group escorted tour operator, Jules Verne , has unveiled its Worldwide Journeys brochure, featuring as many as thirty new tours and dedicated walking holidays for the first time.

Tours span five continents with brand new destinations, thirty new walking, cruise and wildlife-themed experiences and seven new European walking tours.

New destinations include Northern Pakistan, the Channel Islands and Spain’s Basque Country.

Debbie O’Neill, Managing Director at Jules Verne , says:

“In a first for Jules Verne, our seven new European walking tours promise to offer a unique and immersive experience exploring the saw-toothed peaks of Italy’s majestic Dolomites, strolling amongst Côte d’Azur’s glamorous gardens, or roaming along Crete’s golden beaches.

“We are also delighted to offer tours to brand-new destinations. Northern Pakistan, the Channel Islands – two entirely new destinations for us – and Spain’s Basque Country – a largely unexplored area within an already-popular country.

“Alongside these entirely new itineraries, we have also launched a host of new trips which take inspiration from popular pre-existing tours.

“Typically, these offer guests the chance to either cover more of a destination in a set time (perfect for those hoping to see the highlights of an entire country) or take a deeper dive into an area by increasing the amount of time spent there.

“For example, following the continued popularity of India – one of our best-selling destinations – we have launched the new India North to South tour.

“This offers customers the chance to experience the highlights of both regions within one tour and includes unique new experiences such as an early morning jeep safari in search of Bengal Tigers, a cooking demonstration with a local Cochin family and backwater cruising in Kerela.

“With picnics set amongst the mountains in Italy, visits to Mexico’s ancient archaeological sites, wild swimming in spectacular lagoons, sunrises at the Taj Mahal, strolls through the piazzas of Naples, and safaris in Tanzania’s stunning reserves, there really is something for everyone.”

The following are some of Jules Verne’s best new tours for 2024, including Early Booking Offers and no single supplement options, all available to book now.

Walking in the Italian Dolomites | 7 nights from £1,725 | Early Booking Offer

India North to South | 15 nights from £3,495 | No Single Supplement Options

Walking in Crete | 7 nights from £1,845 | Early Booking Offer

Highlights of the Yucatan | 11 nights from £2,795

Tanzania’s Secret South | 10 nights from £3,695

Discover Sorrento & The Amalfi Coast | 7 nights from £1,545

  If specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply and all tours are subject to availability with no additional spaces possible once the tour is filled.

Book online or call 0203 553 3722 to speak to a Jules Verne specialist.

Click here for more exciting trade updates or browse Travel Pursuit UK for the latest travel news from your favourite travel brands!

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Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Jules Verne Unveils Worldwide Journeys Brochure for 2024 Featuring 30 New Tours, Including 7 All-New Walking Adventures

Looking for small group walking, cruising or wildlife experiences in 2024? Jules Verne has you covered with a vast range of new adventures designed to cater to customers’ desires.

Small group escorted tour operator, Jules Verne , has unveiled its Worldwide Journeys brochure, featuring as many as thirty new tours and, for the first time, offering dedicated walking holidays; perfect for those looking to book their next adventure.

Debbie O’Neill, Managing Director at Jules Verne, says , “Spanning five continents, including brand-new destinations, and offering thirty new walking, cruise, and wildlife-themed experiences, we are thrilled to unveil our new Worldwide Journeys brochure for 2024.

“Informed by booking trends, guest feedback, and a desire to meet the demand for new, inspiring, and memorable adventures, every new tour has been carefully curated with customer experience at its heart.

“In a first for Jules Verne, our seven new European walking tours promise to offer a unique and immersive experience for those seeking a slow-paced but active adventure exploring the saw-toothed peaks of Italy’s majestic Dolomites, strolling amongst Côte d’Azur’s glamorous gardens, or roaming along Crete’s golden beaches.

“We are also delighted to offer tours to brand-new destinations. Northern Pakistan, the Channel Islands – two entirely new destinations for us – and Spain’s Basque Country – a largely unexplored area within an already-popular country – have huge appeal for customers looking to explore lesser-visited places alongside like-minded individuals.

“Alongside these entirely new itineraries, we have also launched a host of new trips which take inspiration from popular pre-existing tours. Typically, these offer guests the chance to either cover more of a destination in a set time (perfect for those hoping to see the highlights of an entire country), or take a deeper dive into an area by increasing the amount of time spent there.

“For example, following the continued popularity of India – one of our best-selling destinations – we have launched the new India North to South tour. This offers customers the chance to experience the highlights of both regions within one tour and includes unique new experiences such as an early morning jeep safari in search of Bengal Tigers, a cooking demonstration with a local Cochin family and backwater cruising in Kerela.”

“With picnics set amongst the mountains in Italy, visits to Mexico’s ancient archaeological sites, wild swimming in spectacular lagoons, sunrises at the Taj Mahal, strolls through the piazzas of Naples, and safaris in Tanzania’s stunning reserves, there really is something for everyone.”

Read on to discover some of Jules Verne’s best new tours for 2024, including Early Booking Offers and no single supplement options, all available to book online or via your travel agent now…

Walking in the Italian Dolomites | 7 nights from £1,725 | Early Booking Offer

• Prices from £1,725, with departures in June & September 2024
• Return flights with easyJet from London Gatwic
• Price includes air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation in the family-run, alpine-style Hotel Tschurtschenthaler, daily breakfast, 6 dinners, 5 guided walks, excursions, local guide
• Early Booking Offer: save £200pp on 2024 bookings made by 29 February 2024

This 7-night walking tour takes guests on an adventure through the saw-toothed peaks, bright blue lakes, awe-inspiring mountains, and charming Tyrolean villages of the Italian Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Waking up in an alpine-style lodge, guests can look forward to days spent enjoying picnics with panoramic mountain views, visiting the majestic three peaks of the Tre Cima di Lavaredo, hiking along old military routes (with fortifications still visible from WWI), and tasting steaming strudel in the comfort of a cosy mountain hut.

India North to South | 15 nights from £3,495 | No Single Supplement Option

• Prices from £3,495, with departures in October and November
• Return flights with Emirates from Heathrow
• Price includes air travel and taxes, transfers, 14 nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, 2 lunches and 6 dinners

This 15-night tour is perfect for first-time visitors to India wanting to explore the best of this magical, multifaceted country – the regal and rural from the north to the south, by air, road, rail, rickshaw, and boat. Highlights include a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, a jeep safari in Sariska (famed for its Bengal Tigers), seeing the elegant Pink City of Jaipur, enjoying a home-cooked meal with a local Indian family, and a boat ride on Lake Periyar to witness the mesmerising sight of elephants drinking at the water’s edge.

Walking in Crete | 7 nights from £1,845 | Early Booking Offer

• Prices from £1,845, with departures in April and October 2024
• Return flights with easyJet from London Gatwick
• Price includes air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation in 4-star Hotel Samaria, daily breakfast, 4 dinners, 5 guided walks, excursions, local guide

Explore the magnificent, diverse landscape of Greece’s largest island with this 7-night walking tour. From roaming through its olive groves, majestic mountains, and ancient villages, to wandering along its dramatic gorges and golden beaches. Other highlights include visiting a family-run olive oil producer and the fascinating remains of ancient civilisations whilst touring through the region’s charming villages, as well as enjoying its waterscapes, with a refreshing dip in the spectacular Balos Lagoon and scenic boat trip to the coastal port of Skafia.

Highlights of the Yucatan | 11 nights from £2,795

• Prices from £2,795, with departures in February and November 2024
• Return flights with British Airways from London Gatwick
• Price includes air travel and UK departure taxes, transfers, 10 nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 2 dinners, local guides

Starting at Ek Balam (with its 30-metre-high acropolis) and ending on the Maya Riviera’s Caribbean shore, this 11-night itinerary takes guests on a deep dive into the Yucatan region and into Mexico’s rich history, culture, and landscapes. Highlights include exploring ancient archaeological sites, such as the stuccoed temples and 5-storey pyramid of Edzna, boating through mangrove channels (home to endangered sea turtles), and visiting weaving workshops run by the Yaxunah Mayan community.

Tanzania’s Secret South | 10 nights from £3,695

• Prices from £3,695, with departures in June, July, September, and October 2024
• Return flights with Ethiopian Airlines from London Heathrow
• Price includes air travel and taxes, transfers, 9 nights’ accommodation (including mountain lodges and National Park camps), full board, park fees, local guides

This 10-night tour explores a trio of unsung (and uncrowded) yet stunning reserves in Tanzania’s southern region: Nyerere National Park, previously awarded UNESCO status for its vast untamed wilderness and diversity of fauna; Mikumi, a landscape of low-lying wetlands flanked by mountains; and Saadani, the country’s only coastal conservancy. Highlights include dawn walks, boat safaris, and game drives, with the chance to spot Africa’s Big Five, hippos, crocodiles, and a whole host of other animals.

Discover Sorrento & The Amalfi Coast | 7 nights from £1,545

• Prices from £1,545, with departures in April, May, June, September, and October 2024
• Return flights with easyJet from London Gatwick or with British Airways from London Heathrow (depending on departure date)
• Price includes air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation at 4-star Giosuè a Mare Hotel, daily breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner, local guides

This week-long tour allows guests to explore the best of the Sorrentine peninsula whilst staying in an idyllic 4-star hotel, carved into an ocean-facing cliff in the Italian coastal town of Meta di Sorrento. From visiting the evocative remains of Pompeii and driving along ‘the divine coast’ to Amalfi, to exploring Naples, one of Europe’s oldest cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its plethora of piazzas, palaces and castles, and touring the glamorous island of Capri, it is the perfect way to enjoy la dolce vita!

Please note, if our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply and all tours are subject to availability with no additional spaces possible once the tour is filled. Book online or call 0203 553 3722 to speak to a Jules Verne specialist.

For further press information, please contact: Tilly Everard | Chloe Hernandez | Emma Arthurs | Julie Aguilera T: +44 (0)203 440 8930 E: [email protected]

About Jules Verne: Established in 1978, Jules Verne’s innovative small group escorted tours offer authentic travel with a twist via air, road, rail and river. Every Jules Verne traveller is guaranteed a unique, quality experience within a small group of around 15 like-minded companions.

The spirit of Jules Verne is to seek out fascinating adventures around the world. Jules Verne works thoughtfully with local tour guides and communities to craft tours which reveal the true heart of each destination.

Jules Verne tours are packed with special events and little extras. Fully ABTA and ATOL bonded and winner of many travel awards, our experts organise every detail to the highest standard so customers can book in complete confidence. www.vjv.com .

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Excellent pre travel service from Tara

We have used VJV before had had a wonderful time so have booked the Nile cruise including Aswan. We've not travelled yet, but I just wanted to praise the exceptional service we have received from Tara who went above and beyond in sorting out some specific requests when her colleagues had told me it was impossible previously. She is a credit to VJV.

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

Recently went to Mexico and Guatemala…

Recently went to Mexico and Guatemala with this company. Awful holiday, expensive but done cheaply. Coming through immigration, we had to walk to our bus and the car barrier came down onto my husbands head, splitting the skin and causing him to collapse. We have been offered £300 as a goodwill gesture, because it was out with their control. I asked them if he had died which he could have done (he is 77) would they have said the same thing. Absolutely disgraceful. Please don't book with this company, they do not have your safety as a priority. Their standards have dropped considerably over the last year. I first went with them 35 years ago but will never go with them again. No customer care.

Date of experience : 08 March 2024

JV Golden Triangle India tour

Just came back from JV Golden Triangle India 8 night tour. Fabulous hotels, lovely local guide who organized it faultlessly and small group of just 7 people.

Date of experience : 10 February 2024

Fantastic 600 Mile Nile from Aswan to Cairo…

A SUPER well organised Cruise down the 600 Mile Nile on a comfortable river cruiser MS Darakum Delightfulyl professional and helpful crew. Fantastic food with loads of choice. A knowledgeable guide enhanced the visits at all sites Avoiding the heat and crowds where possible Extra Vjv experiences were a bonus and fun. Cruise includes time to relax and enjoy the interesting river banks passing by.. Finishing in Cairo for the amazing Pyramids, Sphinx and City. Good value for money as everything included, except the Balloon Ride over Valley of Kings.Definitly worth the extra !

Date of experience : 01 September 2023

Appalling. Save your money and use another company

The holiday booked was cancelled 3 weeks before departure. The replacement offered was appalling. It was a so called River Cruise from Stasbourg....No cruise that i know if is so bad. The boat rattles, creaks and bangs the 'cabins' are more akin to a prison cell. The Heath and Safety is dreadful with evacuation over 3 adjoining boats on narrow badly placed planks positively dangerous. During the night, it would be impossible to cross and anyone who is elderly or has mobility problems would simply be left behind. The quality is dire. Don't bother. For a much lower cost I have booked P&O Stateroom for 2 people next December. VJV did exactly the same to a consultant friend who has also provided the most dreadful reviews. They are not what they were and really couldn't care less.

Date of experience : 04 December 2023

Went to uzbeckistan office staff…

Went to uzbeckistan office staff useless I think they are working from home. Not told the printer had broken when I kept emailing. 16 days late receiving info Tour guide young and arrogant No whispers to hear the guide talking when you move away Food repetitive One lady going into dementia One man nearky 90 I have elderly mum so wanted to be without the elderly and taking care of them Photos taken guide gave us hats we provided emails still not received. ! Being used for marketing material. ?! Better not as I will be contacting them. Riveria travel for me !

Date of experience : 30 July 2023

Very poor at responding.

"I´ll get back to you tomorrow" obviously has a different meaning in the Jules Verne lexicon. That´s what we´ve been told three times now, but are still waiting. 20 years ago Jules Verne were the Gold Standard, by which other tour agents were judged, now they are some way below the middle of the pack. That´s a real shame. One commuinication you will receive though is the persistent feedback requests - "Tell us how did we do". Well, I can´t answer that, because you still didn´t do anything!

Date of experience : 17 March 2023

The Golden Road to Samarkand

The Golden Road to Samarkand - Ukbekistan. What a fantastic holiday. The country is culturally rich, very friendly and so much to see and do. Made all the better due to the exacting organisation and admin of VJV customer services team and the exceptional in country guide. He was exceptional. All over every detail, nothing was too much trouble and we were well informed at all times. He earned his tip and more. I can highly recommend this company and this tour. You may find cheaper versions, but having seen other companies whilst I was there, at times they appeared chaotic and disorganised. I having nothing but praise and good words for the the local guide and VJV.

Date of experience : 06 October 2023

Sorrento with VJV

I recently travelled to Sorrento with VJV and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I’ve been on many previous trips (8) with this company and have always been happy with the service in the UK and when on holiday. The negative comments on here are puzzling. VJV trips typically have small numbers of people on them and a light touch when it comes to being guided. I really like this - I don’t want to be kept under close ‘supervision’, but maybe some people do!

Date of experience : 17 June 2023

NO, DON'T CALL ME BACK

Haven't managed to browse the site at all, thanks to unmoveable."Can we call you back?" pleas that obscured the screen seconds after i clicked on a holiday. Clearly this company is too in love with technological hard-sell techniques to appreciate how off-putting they are.

Date of experience : 11 May 2023

Company Not as Good as it Used to be

Sadly since covid the company has lost site of any customer care. There is no loyalty for all the years of travelling with them, and the company feels as though its run by a group of youngsters with little knowledge of the holiday destinations they are selling.

Date of experience : 16 February 2023

Lacking in knowledge of Schengen

Lacking in knowledge of Schengen. VJV rep was unable to advise on Schengen passport rules when flying from the UK to an EU country and then on to another EU country without returning home first. This was surprising given they are a company that have many EU multi-country tours.

Date of experience : 02 June 2023

The very best Safari experience in Tanzania.

We booked a Safari to Tanzania through VJV - and everything worked just perfectly! Their partner in Africa is Tent with a View - a company who reflect perfectly the service from VJV. Everything worked just as planned - the accommodation was quirky and fun -the food extraordinary (I wasn't expecting that in the middle of the Serengeti) - but most of all the people were warm, friendly and loved to share their culture and way of life. Simply the best experience - awesome! No complaints at all - the brochure tells you what to expect but they delivered so much more. Thank you!

Date of experience : 28 June 2022

Why advertise regional flights?

I was interested in a holiday advertised as having regional flights. Asked for call back which I received. However the sales advisor seemed intent on persuading me to book a holiday with a flight from London and evaded my questions as to why regional flights were advertised. She was so patronising, obtuse and bossy I ended the phone call by saying I wouldn’t want to travel with JV anyway after this experience

Date of experience : 06 February 2023

Avoid Egyptair, if you can’t then don’t book the holiday

We enjoyed our holiday, organised by Jules Verne, it was the return home that was the issue. Another tour group arranged the early flights, Luxor - Cairo, to pick up the Heathrow flight that afternoon, Jules Berne arranged the early afternoon flight. Which was late. So we missed the connection and had to spend the night in a hotel chosen by Egyptair. The Le Passage at Cairo airport. Which was horrible. I wondered if Jules Verne would hide behind the ‘nothing to do with me, contact Egyptair’ nonsense and, guess what… ? They did. No discussion about how this sort of situation might be avoided in the future or, indeed, our thoughts on how the Egypt holiday might be improved. Nope… they have our money and that’s that. Well they won’t have anymore of it. Ever.

Date of experience : 25 April 2023

Excellent tours

We used Jules Verne to book a tour to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. It was very well organised and a reasonable price for what we got. Phone information was good and the brochures are excellent. We have just booked a tour to Burma and, again, everything so far has been very efficient.

Date of experience : 28 February 2011

No more holidays with VJV

Having travelled twice before with VJV, this time was one not to be repeated. I managed to get a bad cold after a few days and certain people in the group told me I couldn't eat with them and I should go back to my room. The tour manager did nothing to sort this out so I was ostracised for having a cold which I clearly caught whilst on holiday. The tour rep was very pleasant but age inappropriate (20) for the group who were from 64 to late 80s. Although food was served to me in the lounge bar by the time it came it was stone cold. I do not expect to go on holiday and be treated as if I have the plague when I and many other people on the Renoir riverboat were also coughing and sneezing. My previous trip with VJV started badly as they booked flights from Heathrow that were too late to catch the riverboat in Lyon. The flight was delayed but even if it had been on time the boat had already sailed. We ended up wheeling our cases a long way to a hotel to eat, then getting in a small coach for a mad dash to catch up with the boat with a driver who drove extremely dangerously. £100 was given by way of compensation to spend on another holiday with them which I used for the holiday above. Even then they seemed reluctant to allow me to use the £100 having to check with managers even though it was on their records.

Date of experience : 27 September 2023

Dealing with the unexpected

Just completed my second trip with vjv and both have been excellent. I suspect that the overall low rating is because the majority of highly satisfied customers remain silent. Vjv book flights for their customers but it is not their responsibility to help with airport and in-flight issues. If things go wrong, it is the airline's responsibility to sort out problems. On arrival and throughout the itinerary it is the local guides and drivers who represent vjv. In my experience they have been very good. This trip included a client who was ill and became disabled during the trip.The guide earned our respect as he made every effort to ensure the traveller was looked after, paying for a wheelchair and temporary carer out of his own pocket. He assured me that he was confident that vjv would reimburse his expenses. He said the company never queried such unexpected costs. He was confident of their support. Vjv also arranged for wheelchair assistance when we arrived at LHR. That is an indication of good service. I shall be booking another trip with them.

Date of experience : 18 April 2023

Room for improvement !!!!!

Did VJV's Wild Namibia tour Sep 2023. This was my third more recent tour with VJV having done tours with them in the past. Although the actual booking of the tour seemed well organized the after care was very poor. Slow response to emails, poor or incorrect information given and misrepresentation of the tour where the itinery given (and expected to get) did not match the experience on offer to us. A larger than expected group (they added an extra group of six) so to accommodate the now group of 12 we were split into different accommodations. I enquired before the start of the tour, when I learned about the additions, if we would all have the same accommodation and was told yes. this was not the case. The address given for the lodge was incorrect, not even in the same area as stated in the itinery and NO game drives as stated in the itinery (which is what a safari in Africa is all about). Other accommodation used on the tour were of an ok standard but a couple were awful with no air con and poorly maintained with flooding showers. The excuse used is that Africa is a relatively a basic country and these things happen but that's not the case. There were many better lodges nearby with much better facilities. Myself and other guests complained to the local guides used about our individual issues but heard nothing from VJV. I took the privately guided option at an additional £1,300 and was told I would have that to end of the tour at Victoria falls. Then I was told would only have until Botswana, then told would have all the way and so on depending who I spoke to on the phone. It all seemed like the tour was being made up as it went along. I was supposed to have a private car/jeep to the end of the tour and other 11 split between to mini buses but all twelve of us had to squash into a small van to get us to the last hotel with the sorry apologies again. Seems there is not much communication between VJV and local agents used before and whilst on the tours. On my return I approached VJV for compensation for the misrepresentations in there itinery and was offered £200. They admitted that they had issues with the holiday confirmations sent out and were very sorry. I refused the £200 and we finally settled on £400. Nothing can make up for the safari experienced promised but didn't get on this expensive tour. I totally agree with one of the other comments that it's run by young girls that don't have any experience about the places they are selling and about travel in general. Years ago VJV were excellent and I had every confidence in them but sadly not now. This is my third bad experience with them. Shame as they do have some lovely holidays Would I go with them again......possibly but know from experience to take every thing they say with a pinch of salt and to check every thing out for myself....even flights.

Date of experience : 16 September 2023

Their local agents aren’t up to the job.

We did the 600 mile Nile tour and whilst the Egyptian history side was excellent, the catering and travel arrangements were not at all. Before ever booking I checked they could cater for our dietary requirements and was emphatically assured it would be no problem. It started badly on the flight as there was no food for us, and as there was a delay we missed the connecting flight. Since Jules Verne don’t have personnel with you we were left for hours in the airport with no food or even water while we waited for one of their agent’s staff to sort things out for us. This meant most of our group missed booking onto the early flights the next day and were finally taken to a hotel with mouldy bathrooms and questionable catering early in the morning. That meant we missed the first day of the holiday and when we did finally arrive it was a mad dash to take us round what we had missed. Whilst the delay is not their fault, since there was such a tight window for the connection, and it is well known that Heathrow has real problems with baggage loading, this delay was inevitable. However no one did anything for the 9 1/2 hours we were on the plane to sort things out ready for our arrival and we were left to wait for many more hours. On arriving at the boat our fears were realised when it became evident that the catering crew had no idea about our dietary requirements or how to meet them. It took a lot of explanation but things were very hit and miss and nothing was labelled - needless to say we both lost a lot of weight as you are 12 nights on the boat and there is no opportunity to leave to purchase your own food. Jules Verne charge a premium service but then turn you over to their local agents without thoroughly checking that all has been put in place for clients - not good enough for the high cost of these holidays. The actual itinerary (other than the badly planned first day) is really good, and the Nile is glorious, but the catering is just not acceptable. We were lucky we weren’t eating the meat dishes as several people missed a day or two of the holiday as they had severe tummy upsets. For the money they charge there are better tour operators out there - we saw how useful it was to have a rep on the plane with you as all the other groups were sorted onto flights and into hotels hours before us.

Date of experience : 22 October 2022

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Voyages Jules Verne

9 Trips match your criteria (1 - 9 shown)

Cruise the Heart of Central America

Coiba National Park, Panama City, Punta Arenas

• Visit the Smithsonian Institute
• Visit Panama City and the Canal
• Excursion to the Darrien National Park and Mogue Embera Reserve
• Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park
• Visit to Savegre River

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Sailing

Dalmatian Island Explorer

• Visit to Hvar
• Walking tour including the St. Stephen's
• Vis for independent exploration.
• Visit the cathedral and Maritime Museum.

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

Grand Tour of China

Beijing, Chengdu, Great Wall of China, Hong Kong, Shanghai

• Visit the Forbidden City and Tian An Men Square
• Visit Shuanglin Temple
• Visit the Terracotta Army and Great Wild Goose Pagoda
• Visit Nanjing Road and the Bund.
• Visit the West Lake, Six Harmonious Pagoda

Cultural, Small Ship Cruise, Religious

Jordan's Red Sea

Amman, Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum

• Visit Mount Nebo and Madaba
• Excursion on the 'Yellow Submarine'
• Viewing the Red Sea marine splendours and coral reserve.
• Includes a 90-minute Bedouin jeep drive

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

Krakow Preserved

Krakow, Warsaw

• Eexcursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau
• Visit the castle, royal chambers and cathedral
• Enjoy a traditional Jewish-style dinner with music and performers in the old Jewish district of Kazimierz.

Secret Italy

Assisi, Perugia, Rome

• visit San Francesco church for Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle 'Legend of the True Cross'
• visit to Assisi, including the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis
• See the highest waterfall in Europe
• The most beautiful Renaissance palace in Italy and its art treasures

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

Splendours of Southern India

Chennai, Kerala, Kochi

• Visit the Chennai Government museum
• Visit Shore Temple
• Visit Brihadeshwara Temple
• Visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace and Gandhi Memorial

Cultural, Religious

Venice Simplon Orient Express

Dolomites, Paris, Venice

• Enjoy a walking tour of Venice
• Enjoy the ride on the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
• Enjoy looking at paranomic scenery from your window
• See breathtaking views of Dolomites & Alberg pass

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys

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Voyages jules verne reviews & ratings.

Disappointed

How this company has deteriorated

The cruise was cancelled 2 weeks before departure. The replacement was a serious step down and appalling. The Croisi Boat (MV Beethoven) should be avoided at all pos...

Egyptair… avoid

We enjoyed our holiday, organised by Jules Verne, it was the return home that was the issue. Another tour group arranged the early flights, Luxor - Cairo, to pick up...

VJV cancelled my tour without telling me

I signed up with VJV for the Maldivian Magic tour in March of 2023. I had used them before. My first trip with them (Myanmar) was the best, the next 3 were prett...

Just had to call to amend a booking

Just had to call to amend a booking. Brilliant response... so easy to move the trip to a later date. Just what you need during these difficult times. I've enjoyed so...

FANTASTIC - even though we have not been on holiday with them yet - we were booked to go on Peniche Alsacien at the end of May this year. At the beginning of May I...

See all Voyages Jules Verne reviews

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