Grand Tour of Sicily

Benvenuti in Italia! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure starts in Sicily’s second biggest city, Catania.
Your tour starts at 6:00pm with a Welcome Meeting where you will meet you local leader and fellow travellers. (Upon arrival at the hotel you will find a note telling you where this welcome meeting will take place). After the meeting you will start your Italian experience with the first highlight, a typical Sicilian meal.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Habitat Hotel or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Welcome Dinner

After breakfast, an exciting half day adventure around Mt. Etna begins. A volcanologist will pick us up and, on a 4wd vehicle, we will make our way to the biggest volcano in Europe. We will cross lava fields, hundreds-years old forests and we will take an easy walk to the impressive “Monte Fontana” and to the spectacular Bove Valley.
In the afternoon you still have time to explore Catania, shopping or perhaps join your Tour Director on a Like a Local walk.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Habitat Hotel or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Breakfast
• Guided half-day trip to Mount Etna (including 4wd transport)
• Catania “like a local” walk

Elegance, scenic terraces overlooking the Ionian Sea and a theatre that links Sicily directly to the ancient Greece: today adventure is called Taormina, a magnificent town that the greatest artists, writers and movie stars of XIX century elected as the place to be. After breakfast a private car/minivan with professional driver will take us to Taormina, where you will have a like a local walk with your tour director and sometime at your leisure. In the afternoon we will travel to Syracuse, a magnificent town easy to fall in love with. Elegant baroque buildings, origins connected to the Greek history and the lively atmosphere of its centre will be a very pleasant surprise.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Gutkowski  or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meals: Breakfast
• Day trip to Taormina
• Taormina “like a local” walk
• Syracuse “like a local” walk
• Private transfer with professional driver from Catania to Taormina and Syracuse

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1-hour drive from Catania to Taormina
Approx. 1.5-hour drive from Taormina to Catania

Wake up in one of Italy’s most beautiful towns and enjoy a full day at your own leisure. Visit the famous Neapolis archeological park of Syracuse where you can admire an ancient Greek Theatre, visit the Pupi theatre (traditional Sicilian puppets) or have a lovely stroll of the Ortigia peninsula. Syracuse offers a lot of optional activities and your Tour Director will be available for any help you might need during the day.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Gutkowski or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Breakfast

Just after breakfast you will say goodbye to Syracuse and a professional driver will take us to the “Val di Noto” a geographical area with Arabic and Turkish influence. This picturesque area is famous for the excellent baroque buildings and you will have plenty of time to discover the two towns of Modica and Ragusa. Your Tour Director will show you the highlights before we continue our journey to a special Italian experience, a stay in an Agriturismo [comfortable and top-quality country guesthouse]. Tonight, dinner is included and together with your fellow travelers you will enjoy a freshly made meal, using products from the region.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Special Agriturismo stay in the area of Gela
• Daily city tax
• Meal: breakfast
• Private car/minivan with professional driver from Syracuse to Val di Noto and to Agriturismo accommodation

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1 -hour drive from Syracuse to Val di Noto
Approx. 1.5-hour drive from Val di Noto to agriturismo stay

After a relaxing morning start on your farm stay, our private transfer will take us to the Valley of the Temples, the largest archeological site in the world. A local guide will show you around this area included in the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE list since 1997. The Valles of the Temples is a great example of Greek architecture and a magical place to explore. After the visit your private transfer will take you to Trapani, your home for the next two days.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel San Michele or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: breakfast
• Valley of the Temples Guided Tour and entrance
• Trapani Like a local walk
• Private car/minivan with professional driver from your agriturismo accommodation to Valley of the Temple and to Trapani

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1-hour drive from agriturismo stay to Valley of the Temples
Approx. 2.5-hour drive from Val di Noto to Trapani

In the morning we’ll head down to the port to take a local ferry to Favignana, Sicily’s pearl, with its crystal clear water and beautiful beaches. Definitely a day you will never forget. Favignana offers a wide range of activities and your Tour Director will help organizing your perfect day. Favignana is best discovered by bike, so perhaps rent a bike and cycle around the coast, visiting a few of the stunning beaches around the Island. In the afternoon the ferry will take you back to Trapani, and the rest of the day will be at your leisure

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel San Michele or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: breakfast
• Ferry ticket to Favignana and back

After breakfast and check out, you will store your luggage at the hotel and join you Tour Director for your next adventure: a Cable Car ride up to the medieval town of Erice. This fascinating mountaintop village was named after Eryx, son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. From here you will have the most beautiful view over Trapani and Egadi Islands. Back to Trapani, a private transfer will take you to Palermo.

What’s included? How long is the trip today?

• Accommodation: BnB Porta di Castro or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Breakfast
• Cable car to Erice return ticket
• Taxi from hotel to train station in Trapani
• Taxi from train station to hotel in Palermo

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1.5-hour drive from Trapani to Palermo

Buongiorno in Palermo! This morning a local guide will unveil for you the most beautiful part of Palermo’s historic center of Palermo, an incredible city rich in history and colorful alleyways, offering a wonderful mix of styles. In the afternoon you will have time to relax or ask your Tour Director for suggestions, for example a trip to the famous Monreale Cathedral. Later in the evening you will meet your group and tour director for a special dinner rich in delicious flavors.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: BnB Porta di Castro or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Breakfast, farewell dinner
• Palermo guided tour

As the Grand Sicily Tour is a combo tour (and longer than our other trips), we’ve set aside time for a free day in Palermo where you can rest and recharge before starting the second exciting part of your Sicilian experience. Enjoy the bliss of a full day at your leisure and explore Palermo’s markets or its elegant centre. (Don’t forget to try one arancina and one cannolo!) In the late afternoon we’ll reconvene for another Welcome Meeting. (As this is a combo tour, it may be the case that both your tour director and fellow travellers change here in Palermo on Day 10.) In the evening, we’ll enjoy another delicious meal in a popular local restaurant.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: BnB Porta di Castro or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Breakfast, dinner

Enjoy a slow pace morning, before hopping on a train heading to Cefalú.Do you know that Cefalú is included in the list of the 100 most beautiful Italian township? After the check-in follow your Tour Director on a walk around this small, but picturesque township and you’ll understand why.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Ossuna Bay Hotel or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Breakfast
• Taxi hotel-train station in Palermo and Cefalù
• Train from Palermo to Cefalù

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 50 minutes train ride from Palermo to Cefalù

Today is all about outdoor. Start your day with a healthy breakfast, before joining your Tour Director on a hike up to La Rocca of Cefalú, the famous house mountain, from where you have a beautiful view of Sicily’s Northern Coast. The afternoon is at your leisure, but your Tour Director will be available for suggestions and for assisting you.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Ossuna Bay Hotel or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meals: Breakfast
• Hike to La Rocca of Cefalù

Once more enjoy a train ride along the Sicilian coast. This morning you will travel by train from Cefalù to Milazzo, and here you’ll board a ferry to reach Lipari, the biggest Aeolian island. This archipelago is named after Aeolus, the god of winds and its islands were originated as result of volcanic activity. The islands of this archipelago are called the seven pearl of Italy, because of their beauty. Enjoy a swim in a blue sea or walk to the Lipari Castle. This island has got a lot to offer and your tour director will assist you in planning your time.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel La Giara or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: Breakfast
• Taxi hotel-train station in Cefalù and Lipari
• Train from Cefalù to Milazzo
• Ferry from Milazzo to Lipari

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1.5-hour train ride from Cefalù to Milazzo
Approx. 50 minutes ferry ride from Milazzo to Lipari

Today the Aeolian Islands are all for you and you can enjoy a full day at your leisure. Explore the islands of the archipelago on a boat trip, walk through the pumice stone mountains on Lipari island to reach breathtaking hidden beaches or just relax by the pool of your hotel. Your tour director will assist you in planning your day.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel La Giara or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: breakfast

Other day other adventure. You’ll say goodbye to the Aeolian Islands and you still enjoy a morning ferry ride to reach Milazzo. From here a private car with professional driver will take you and your group to Catania. After the check-in, your tour director will guide you on a like a local walk of this elegant and lively city. During the walk stop for eating a granita (delicious local slushy) or eating a gourmet take-away fried fish directly from the fish market. Catania will be full of surprises. In the evening your tour director will take you to a superb local restaurant for spending our farewell dinner all together and for indulging in the exquisite Sicilian food one more time.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Habitat Hotel or similar
• Daily city tax
• Meal: breakfast, dinner
• Catania “Like a Local” walk
• Ferry from Lipari to Milazzo
• Private car/minivan with professional driver from your Milazzo to Catania

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 50 minutes ferry ride from Milazzo to Lipari
Approx. 1 hour and 50-minutes’ drive from Milazzo to Catania

Our tour has come to the end. We hope you’ll have had the time of your life! Enjoy one more Italian coffee with its unforgettable aroma, and then head towards your flight home (or your next destination). Arrivederci!
What’s included?
– Meal: Breakfast
Important notes to Day 16
Our tour ends with breakfast. There are no activities planned for today. If you need help in organizing your airport transfer or purchasing train tickets, just ask. Your tour director will be happy to help you in making these arrangements. Note: If possible, plan for and purchase transportation to the airport a few days in advance – organizing same-day travel can be difficult.