About Askos Tours
Askos Tours is a tour operator that specializes in guided tours and experiential activities in Italy, with an archaeological and artistic theme. We’re based in Pompeii, but our operational range extends across the entire Campania Region, to Rome, and to other locations in southern Italy.
We offer guided tours on foot or with transport, for small groups or private clients. On request we also organize customized tours, tailor-made for our valued customers.
Askos Srl is a registered company with the Chamber of Commerce of Naples (Registration No. NA 955536). We fully comply with all legal requirements for operating as a tour operator, including the production and organization of travel services.
The History of Askos Tours
The name Askos originates from a ceramic vase that in ancient times was used to pour and store liquids. Our Founder and CEO, archaeologist Emiliano Tufano, once found a beautiful askos during excavations on the island of Pantelleria. From that moment, this vase became a symbol of discovery and knowledge.
In 2010, Emiliano decided to interrupt his career as an archaeologist, which kept him away from his family for long periods, and he founded our Pompeii agency to offer guided tours in the Vesuvian area. His passion for archeology led Emiliano to experiment with new ways to promote and share the extraordinary ancient testimonies of his region, with the collaboration of trained tour guides. In doing so, he himself became one of the most popular and in-demand tour guides in Campania!
In 2016, our small Pompeiian agency became the “Askos Tours” tour operator you see today, specializing in guided tours with archaeologists and art historians in the most important ruins and museums in Campania, Rome and Southern Italy.
A passion for archeology and the experience gained in the field of tourism have always been the main ingredients for the success of Askos Tours. The company has experienced rapid growth, quickly becoming a reference point in the experiential tourism industry.
In 2019, Askos Tours welcomed over 45,000 travelers from all around the world on its guided tours. In 2020, despite the global health emergency, Askos Tours maintained a positive growth trend. Year after year, our determination and hard work led us to grow steadily, reaching over 220,000 travelers in 2024.
The history of Askos Tours perfectly illustrates how hard work always leads to the realization of one’s dreams.
Our Philosophy
At Askos Tours, our mission is to entertain, inform, and inspire people through the finest archaeology-themed guided tours. We aim to bring Italy’s cultural heritage to life in a clear, engaging, and enjoyable way.
We dedicate our lives to travelers, whom we cherish and treat as members of our own family. People and service quality are our top priorities. We firmly distance ourselves from the logic of mass tourism, where profit is valued above all else.
Our Tours
Each tour we operate is the result of our pooled knowledge and years of experience. We constantly aim towards progress and improvement, experimenting with new itineraries and perfecting those we’ve been operating for over a decade. In addition to this, we use other simple elements to make a difference:
- Above all, a team constantly attentive to the needs of travelers.
- Fully trained and licensed tour guides.
- Small group tours with guaranteed daily departures.
- Itineraries designed in detail by real experts in tourism and cultural heritage.
The Askos Tours Team
Our team is, first and foremost, made up of individuals with integrity – people who carry out their work with courtesy, passion, and a strong sense of purpose in pursuit of our company’s mission. An exceptional human capital is the greatest strength of Askos Tours.
We are proud of our young, well-prepared, and close-knit office team. Every email, phone call, or message receives a prompt and thorough response.
If Askos Tours were a football team, our tour guides would be the strikers – those who turn the team’s efforts into goals. They are true masters of communication, holding university degrees in archaeology and art history. Their mission: to score in the hearts of our clients.
The literally thousands of 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor and on the major international online travel agencies are a testament to the quality of the service we provide. We’re immensely proud of the wonderful comments left by our customers, and the certificates of excellence that are awarded to us year after year.