Self-Launched: Rome to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast & Irresistible Southern Italy
6 days · Southern Italy
Rabbie's Small Group Tours charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£780 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Rabbie's 6-day small-group run from Rome through Lazio, Campania and Puglia — Montecassino Abbey, the trulli of Alberobello, Lecce Baroque, the cave sassi of Matera, the Amalfi Coast by ferry and Vesuvius plus Pompeii — rebuilt using regional trains, buses and self-bookable tickets. You trade the guide and private coach for slower public transport legs and hostel/guesthouse stays, but you keep every headline experience and cut the price by roughly two-thirds. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume shared dorm or simple private rooms, self-catering breakfasts and one restaurant meal a day.
Day-by-day
Rome → Montecassino Abbey → San Pietro Infine → Ariano Irpino
Rome / Montecassino / Ariano Irpino
Start early at Roma Termini and take a regional train to Cassino (~1h45, €8–10). From Cassino station, local bus or a 15-minute taxi (~€10 shared) climbs to Montecassino Abbey — entry to the abbey and cloisters is free, so just check opening times before you go. Afterwards, bus or train back via Cassino to Venafro/Caianello, then a short local bus to the abandoned village of San Pietro Infine (free to wander the roofless lanes; buses are sparse, so pool a shared taxi if needed). Continue by regional train to Ariano Irpino (~1h) where cheap B&Bs and agriturismi around the station and hilltop old town are 4–5x cheaper than Rome. Evening wander through Benevento's historic centre only if you have time on the connection — otherwise save it.
🚌Regional trains Rome–Cassino–Ariano Irpino plus local buses and one shared taxi (~£22 total)
🛏Budget B&B or agriturismo in Ariano Irpino (~£28/night private twin, ~£16 dorm equivalent)
- →Montecassino Abbey and cloisters (free entry)
- →San Pietro Infine abandoned village ruins (free)
- →Wander Ariano Irpino old town
Ariano Irpino → Trani → Polignano a Mare → Alberobello → Lecce
Ariano Irpino / Trani / Polignano a Mare / Alberobello / Lecce
Take an early regional train from Ariano Irpino to Foggia, then on to Trani (~2h30 total, ~€14). Spend an hour on Trani's harbour promenade and the honey-stone cathedral (free), then hop the Bari-bound train to Polignano a Mare (~30 min, €4) — walk out to the Balconata sul Mare viewpoint and, if it's summer, watch the cliff divers. Regional train to Alberobello (~40 min, €4) to walk the UNESCO trulli lanes; entry to the trulli zone is free, and a single trullo museum ticket is ~€3 if you want one. Finish with a train to Lecce (~1h30, €8). This is a long day on public transport — buy a Puglia regional day pass (Trenitalia 'Puglia card' style offers) or single tickets via the Trenitalia app. Sleep in Lecce's old town.
🚌Trenitalia regional trains Ariano Irpino–Foggia–Trani–Polignano–Alberobello–Lecce (~£30)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget B&B in Lecce old town (~£20 dorm / £32 private)
- →Trani cathedral and harbour promenade
- →Polignano a Mare Balconata sul Mare
- →Alberobello trulli walk (optional trullo museum ~£3)
- →Lunch of panzerotti and orecchiette (~£9)
Lecce, Otranto & Gallipoli day loop
Lecce / Otranto / Gallipoli
Morning in Lecce: the Basilica di Santa Croce facade and Piazza del Duomo are free — just walk the Baroque streets with a €2 pasticciotto and coffee for breakfast. Take the Ferrovie del Sud Est train from Lecce to Otranto (~1h, €3) for the fortifications, cathedral mosaic floor and harbourside promenade. From Otranto, FSE buses run down the coast to Gallipoli (~1h30, €5–6) where you can swim off the old-town beaches and eat fresh seafood at a cheap trattoria. Return to Lecce by FSE bus/train (~1h30, €6). Check FSE timetables in advance — Sunday services are thin.
🚌Ferrovie del Sud Est regional trains and buses Lecce–Otranto–Gallipoli–Lecce (~£15)
🛏Same Lecce hostel/B&B (~£20 dorm / £32 private)
- →Lecce Baroque old town walk (free)
- →Otranto cathedral and castle exterior
- →Gallipoli old town and beach swim
Lecce → Matera sassi → Castelmezzano → Salerno
Lecce / Matera / Castelmezzano / Salerno
Long transfer day — start at 7am. Bus or train from Lecce to Bari (~2h, €8), then the Ferrandina–Matera bus or the FAL train route to Matera (~1h30, ~€6). Wander the sassi and cave churches on foot (the sassi streets are free; a combined cave-church/casa grotta ticket is ~€10 if you want interiors). For Castelmezzano, the realistic budget option is a bus from Matera to Potenza (~1h, €5) then a local bus or shared taxi up to the village (~€5) — allow 4 hours round trip; if time is tight, cut it and take the direct Matera–Salerno bus instead. Evening bus Matera to Salerno (~3h30, ~€20, Flixbus/Itabus/Marino). Sleep near Salerno station.
🚌Buses and regional trains Lecce–Bari–Matera, local buses to Castelmezzano, coach Matera–Salerno (~£40)
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse near Salerno station (~£35 private twin)
- →Matera sassi self-guided walk (optional cave-house ticket ~£9)
- →Castelmezzano village viewpoints (optional castle-ruin hike)
- →Salerno lungomare evening stroll
Salerno → Sorrento → Positano → Amalfi → Salerno
Salerno / Sorrento / Positano / Amalfi
Use the coastal ferry network instead of the packed SITA buses — Travelmar ferries run Salerno–Amalfi–Positano (€10–14 per leg) and the Alilauro/Linee Marittime link Salerno to Sorrento in summer (~€18). Start with the ferry to Sorrento, walk Piazza Tasso and the Marina Grande lanes, sample limoncello at a shop counter (~€3 a shot), then ferry back to Positano for a Spiaggia Grande swim and a cheap focaccia lunch. Finish with the evening ferry from Positano to Amalfi (€10) and Amalfi back to Salerno (€10). Book ferry tickets on the day at the pier or via the Travelmar site; in shoulder season ferries stop around 18:00, so check the last departure.
🚌Coastal ferries Salerno–Sorrento–Positano–Amalfi–Salerno (~£40)
🛏Same Salerno guesthouse (~£35 private twin)
- →Sorrento piazzas and Marina Grande
- →Positano Spiaggia Grande swim and boutiques
- →Amalfi town and cathedral steps
- →Limoncello tasting (~£3)
Salerno → Pompeii & Vesuvius → Naples → Rome
Salerno / Pompeii / Vesuvius / Naples / Rome
Regional train Salerno to Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri (~40 min, €3.50). Book a Pompeii skip-the-line entry plus an archaeologist-led group tour on GetYourGuide or the official Parco Archeologico di Pompei site (~£22–26 including entry) — a guide is genuinely worth it here. Then take the Circumvesuviana/local bus to Ercolano or Pompeii's Vesuvius trailhead and hike the crater rim; Vesuvius entry is ~€10 and the trail is a steady 30–40 min climb (book on the Vesuvius national park site). Return by train to Naples Centrale (~35 min, €4) for pizza and a quick walk through the historic centre, then the Frecciarossa/Italo fast train Naples–Rome (~1h15, €20–30 booked in advance, or €12 regional via Cassino if you're happy with 2h30). Trip ends at Roma Termini around 20:00 — the guided tour ends at a Via Laurentina hotel, but Termini has better onward connections.
🚌Regional trains Salerno–Pompeii, Naples–Rome high-speed or regional (~£30)
🛏None included — optional Rome hostel (~£25 dorm) if you stay the night
- →Pompeii entry + guided tour booked via GetYourGuide (~£24)
- →Mount Vesuvius crater hike (~£9 entry)
- →Naples historic centre pizza stop (~£8)
Self-launched vs. Rabbie's Small Group Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Rabbie's Small Group Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£780 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,570 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Rabbie's Small Group Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£780
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched: Rome to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast & Irresistible Southern Italy cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £780 per person for 6 days in Southern Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Rabbie's Small Group Tours?+
Yes — Rabbie's Small Group Tours charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £780 — a saving of roughly £1,570 (67%) per person.
How long is the Southern Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Southern Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, budget trip through Southern Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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