Pull on your hiking boots and follow an alpine guide to the summit of Mt Vesuvius, Italy's most famous volcano. Power up with lunch, then trek to the top to peer inside her smoking crater – the architect of Pompeii's destruction back in the first century AD.
It all begins with lunch in Pompeii where you'll fuel up for what's to come. Nature trails, caves, woods and lava flows typify the landscape that leads to the top of Vesuvius. With an expert alpine guide, you'll make the rewarding, zigzag trek to the summit, and learn all about the flora and fauna of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve along the way.
Italy's best-known volcano hasn't been active since the 1940's, but she still rumbles every now and again as a reminder she's only sleeping. Hiking all the way to the smoking crater, the legwork is worth it – as you can imagine, the views over the Bay of Naples from here are staggering