Join us for a specially designed trip to sensational Sicily as we immerse ourselves in the island's culture, history, architecture and cuisine treasures for nine captivating & fun-filled days. Traveling to Sicily in the autumn, when it's less crowded and the temperature is great, is a wonderful time to explore this magical destination in the Mediterranean!

 

The tour will take us from Palermo to Agrigento to Siracusa... with day trips in between.

 

We'll discover Sicily's fascinating and complex history... explore the island's UNESCO World Heritage Sites with historian guides... see the magnificent architecture & archaeological sites... take in the island's natural beauty & lush countryside... enjoy delicious Sicilian cuisine & have cooking class with a Palermo gastronomy chef... experience wine and olive oil tasting sessions... partake in local culture & engage with local people... and much much more!

 

Sensazionale!  

​

We'll begin in Palermo, Sicily's bustling historic capital city, which has been dominated by different civilizations and ruled by different conquerors for over 25 centuries. With our Sicilian historian guide we'll be introduced to the special sites that make up this marvelous and diverse city. We'll see stunning architecture, examples of a social-cultural syncretism between Western, Islamic and Byzantine cultures.... including Palermo's and Monreale's Baroque churches and ancient palaces which make up Arab-Norman Palermo, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

​

We'll have a Sicilian cuisine day. With a Palermo chef we'll start the day sampling some of Palermo's best street food, discovering some of the town's best hidden spots... a perfect way to familiarize ourselves with Sicilian cuisine. We'll visit Ballarò Street Market, Palermo's biggest food market where our chef will tell us about seasonal foods, how to buy fresh fish, vegetables, dry fruits and all the basic ingredients of the Mediterranean diet. For lunch we'll be guest at our chef's home where we'll be served a buffet of traditional dishes of Palermo in a traditional way: antipasto, primo platto, secondo platto and dessert, along with wines from a natural Sicilian winery. Our chef will explain everything about her kitchen and secrets she uses to prepare dishes.

​

We'll travel south... first stopping at Marsala to see the famous Sicilian Salt Pans... then after a seaside lunch travel to Agrigento for an amazing archaeological experience at the Valley of Temples. With our local historian guide we'll explore Sicily's most dramatic archaeological site of standing ancient Greek temples, including visiting Temple of Zeus, the largest in Sicily.

​

That evening we'll spend the night at an olive oil farm where we'll have our evening dinner. The farm has over 10,000 olive trees and voted "The World's Best Olive Oil" for four years in a row by the New York olive oil competition. Be sure to bring your swim suit to take a dip in their pool.

​

The next morning we're off again to visit Piazza Armerina to tour Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With our local historian guide we'll visit this famous villa, part of a 3rd-4th century AD estate, to view the villa's exceptionally beautiful mosaics that have been preserved for centuries. 

​

After touring Villa Romana del Casale we'll stop for a deicious lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Piazza Armerina.

Then head to Siracusa where we'll stay for the next four nights.

​

We'll discover Siracusa, for over two centuries considered to be one of the most powerful cities in the world. We'll joining our local historian guide to first visit and learn about the ancient archaeological park where we'll see the Ear of Dionysius and admire the Greek theate... then take a walking tour of the Baroque historical center of Ortigia Island, including seeing Siracusa Cathedral, a UNSECO World Heritage Site. 

​

We'll take a day trip to visit Mount Etna, at 3,329 feet it is Europe's highest volcano. We'll travel in 4-wheel drive vehicles u the mountain with local guides to see and learn about this extraodinary landscape of Sicily. Afterwards we'll enjoy a special eno-gastronomic adventure at a Mount Edna winery for a wine tasting lunch... sampling four vintages and enjoying East Sicilean cuisine. Mount Etna's many eruptions over the centuries have created extremely fertile soil, which extends from the rocky shores of the Mediterranean to the the mountain's highest slopes, in a great variety of micro-climates. Characteristics of the region's soil reflect in the unique taste of fruits, vegetables and grapes.

​

Afterwards we'll travel north to see Tamorina, the seaside resort town made famous with the recent TV series, "White Lotus".

 

We'll take a day trip with our local historian guide to visit one of Sicily's most beautiful Baroque architecture villages -- Noto -- to see the magnificent golden limestone architecture. Then we'll head to the Sicilean coast for a delicious sea-side Sunday afternoon lunch with local citizens in a historic fishing village where tourists rarely go.

​

The tour includes many extras... a welcome reception/dinner to get to know other guests on the tour... a farewell dinner with traditional Sicilian cuisine and wines... transportation between Palermo airport and the hotelmon arrival.

​

Each evening we'll enjoy traditional Sicilian gastronomic cuisine meals... dining at personally selected restaurants.

​

We'll stay in premiere/luxury hotels -- three nights in Palermo, one night at an olive oil farm, and four nights in Siracusa -- luxurious environments to relax and unwind.

​

There will be personal free time for... exploring & shopping on your own... taking leisure walks... rubbing shoulders with locals... enjoying the Sicilian sunshine... relaxing.

​

Optional before breakfast group pleasure walks are organized for travelers who want some morning exercise before starting their vacation day.

​

The Sicily Discovery Tour Is Designed To Provide:

• A fabulous vacation experience exploring Sicily's cities, villages and countryside...  discovering Sicily's history, culture, architecture, natural beauty and cuisine.

• Friendly and fun small group environment limited to 15 persons. Enjoy the camaraderie and begin friendships with like-minded travelers.

• Many activities -- private tours with local historian guides visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites... learning about Sicilian cuisine, enjoying delicious Sicilian gastronomic meals and having a hands-on cooking class with a local chef... olive oil tasting sessions... seeing the island's beautiful countryside and landscape... and more!

• Free personal time for individual sightseeing... relaxing... shopping

• Optional group morning pleasure walks led by WalkEurope president, Tom Harter.

• Recommended restaurants should you want to explore on your own, yet everyone is invited to join local-cuisine group meals.

• Concierge service & support – fully escorted tour, personal & customized service for a WORRY-FREE vacation!​ 

 

What's Included:​

• Eight nights in personally-selected premiere/signature hotels -- elegant environments to relax & enjoy your Sicily visit. 

  • Grand Hotel Wagner (Palermo) - 3 Nights

  • Olive Oil Farm (Agrigento) - 1 Night

  • Agile Charme Hotel (Siracusa) - 4 Nights

• Daily Sicilian breakfasts.

• Welcome Reception & Dinner with Sicilian wines and cuisine.

• Sicilian lunch hosted by a Palermo chef in her home with traditional dishes of Palermo served in a traditional way: antipasto, primo platto, secondo platto and dessert; with wines from natural Sicilian winery. 

• Mount Etna winery wine tasting lunch

• Olive oil tasting

• Farewell dinner with traditional Sicilian cuisine and local wines.

• Palermo & Monreale City Tours -- with a local historian guide learning about and seeing Arab-Norman Palermo, UNESCO World Heritage Sites - visiting the magnificent churches and palaces, including Monreale Cathedral.

• Palermo Cuisine Day -- with a local Palermo chef learning about Sicilian cuisine, visiting local shops, sampling Palermo street food, and visiting Ballarò Street Market, Palermo's largest outdoor food market.

• Tour of Agrigento's Valley of Temples, Sicily's most dramatic archaeological site of standing ancient Greek temples, including visiting Temple of Zeus.

• Tour of the Marsala Salt Pans

• Tour of  Villa Romana del Casale with a local historian guide to see the exceptionally beautiful mosaics that have been preserved for centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

• Walking Tour of Siracusa -- to see the Baroque architecture historical center, ancient archaeological park, Greek theater and Ear of Dionysius.

• Daytrip with a local historian guide to visit one of Sicily's most beautiful Baroque architecture villages

• Visit to Mount Etna, Europe's highest volcano. 

• Sicilian local professional guides.

• Admission to all museums, gardens, palaces and villas.

• Morning pleasure walks - optional before breakfast group walks.

• Airport transfer on arrival between Palermo airports our Palermo hotel.

• Ground transportation for all group activities and day trips.

• Concierge service & support.

 

Arrival & Departure Cities:

Arrival City: Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Departure City: Catania, Sicily, Italy

 

Trip Cost:

Classic Rooms Option:

• $9,475 – 9 days / 8 nights per person in double occupancy shared hotel room. Tour cost does not include airfare.

• Added cost for private single room hotel accommodation option - $3,295

Deluxe Rooms Option: (limited availability)

• $10,250 – 9 days / 8 nights per person in double occupancy shared hotel luxury room.

• Added cost for private single room accommodation -- $3,975

 

Space Is Limited -- Reserve Early!

Small Group Tour. Limited to 15 persons.