Itinerary Expand all Acireale to Taormina Fly to Catania and transfer to Acireale. Arrive at Catania airport and transfer to Acireale, a charming historic town at the foot of Etna and overlooking the sea. The town is considered the birthplace of Sicilian baroque and boasts a magnificent Piazza del Duomo. Churches worth visiting include San Sebastiano, patron saint of the town, with its ten statues of old testament figures and the frescoes of the painter Paolo Vasta. Day 1 Start in Acireale Our tour starts in Acireale, a charming historic town at the foot of Etna and overlooking the sea. The town is considered the birthplace of Sicilian baroque and boasts a magnificent Piazza del Duomo. Churches worth visiting include San Sebastiano, patron saint of the town, with its ten statues of old testament figures and the frescoes of the painter Paolo Vasta. Day 2 Excursion on Mt Etna, Europe's highest active volcano; afternoon wine tasting. After breakfast we enjoy a spectacular guided walk on Mt Etna, Europe's highest active volcano. We hike up past several old lava flows to be rewarded with a dramatic panoramic view of the volcanic landscape and old craters (1 to 2 hours walking, 5 km). You are strongly advised to take a waterproof/windproof jacket, a warm top and to wear long trousers. In the afternoon we enjoy a delicious wine & cheese tasting in one of the famous wine cellars of the area. Transfer back to Acireale. Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Drive to Syracuse to visit its archaeological site; on to the UNESCO Baroque town of Noto. This morning we drive to Syracuse (approx. 1h 20 mins drive), the most powerful city-state in the Greek world and briefly capital of the Byzantine Empire. Here we visit the superb Neapolis Archaelological Park with its spectacular Greek theatre and well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, accompanied by a local guide. In the afternoon we drive to our next destination, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Noto (approx. 45 mins). This is an absolute gem: a beautiful town built in the unique Sicilian baroque style using beautiful honey-coloured stone. Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Morning visit the hilltop town of Ragusa Ibla; transfer to Agrigento's Valley of the Temples. After breakfast we drive to the hilltop town of Ragusa Ibla (approx. 1hr 30 mins), a fascinating maze of winding streets dotted with remarkable baroque churches, and continue on to Agrigento (2hrs 30 mins). Here we enjoy a guided visit of its magnificent Valley of the Temples: the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concorde, one of the most well-preserved Doric temples in all the Greek world, the Temple of Ercules and the Temple of Castor and Pollux. We then overnight in Agrigento. Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Visit ruins of Selinunte, overlooking the Mediterranean; drive to the hilltop village of Erice. Our day starts with a transfer to Selinunte (1hr 30 mins) to explore one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, set high overlooking the sea. We then move on to the mountaintop village of Erice (1hr 30 mins) , and stop en route for a view of the famous salt flats of Mozia, dotted with characteristic wind mills (time permitting). Once in Erice, we have time for a stroll through its narrow streets and will try the best almond cakes (cassata) on the island. Overnight near San Vito Lo Capo. Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Walk in the stunning Zingaro Nature Reserve; afternoon transfer to Palermo. This morning we take a break from the cultural highlights of the island and head to the coast to explore one of the best examples of idyllic Mediterranean landscape on foot. Stretching along the coast for 7km between the lovely village of Scopello in the east to San Vito Lo Capo in the west, the Zingaro Nature Reserve boasts some stunning walking trails with views out to the cliffs and the glistening sea, hidden coves and pristine beaches. We take a leisurely walk for up to 3 hours (including stops) along beautiful coastal trails with the opportunity of a quick swim before returning to the bus. In the afternoon we make our way to Palermo (approx. 2hrs) where we can enjoy some time at leisure to discover the vibrant historic centre and lively streets filled with restaurants and bars. We then overnight in Palermo. Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Morning visit to Monreale Cathedral; guided tour of Palermo and free time. After a short transfer to Monreale (approx. 1 hr), we visit its extraordinary cathedral, considered the greatest example of Norman architecture in the world. We then head to Palermo (approx. 1 hr) and our local guide will show us the most important sites of this beautiful city, including Quattro Canti, Pretoria Square, the Cathedral and Marina Square. In the afternoon we have some free time in Palermo to enjoy this eclectic city at our own pace. We overnight in Palermo. Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Drive to the fishing village of Cefalu to visit its Norman Cathedral; on to charming Taormina; free time to explore. This morning we drive to the fishing village of Cefalu (approx. 1 hr 15 mins), where we visit the impressive cathedral, home to elaborate Byzantine mosaics, and the lovely historic centre with its winding mediaeval streets. Our tour ends in one of the most renowned treasures of Sicily: the charming town of Taormina (approx. 2hrs 40 mins drive). We have time to visit its Greek theatre and enjoy the spectacular views of Mt Etna and the sea. We overnight in Taormina. Meals included: Breakfast Transfer to Catania airport; fly to London. Transfer to Catania airport; fly to London. If the group flight is scheduled to leave late in the afternoon or evening, we can enjoy some extra free time in Taormina before our airport transfer departs (usually approx. 3 hrs before our flight). Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 End in Taormina. Our tour ends in Taormina in the morning of day 9. Meals included: Breakfast
Sicilian Volcanoes 52 reviews Discover Mt Etna and the beautiful volcanic archipelago of Northern Sicily Walking & Trekking Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Moderate 8 Days from $1,879 USD Guided (Incl. Taxes) View More Details
Italy No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
3 and 4-star Hotels and Agriturismo On this trip we use different comfortable 3 and 4-star hotels and one agriturismo . Some of them have been chosen for their warm hospitality and typically Sicilian character and others for their convenient location. They are often located in proximity of the historic centres we visit so that we can easily explore the towns in the evenings or during our free time. Some hotels have a pool and WiFi. List of hotels normally used: Acireale: Grande Albergo Maugeri Noto: Hotel Flora Agrigento: Hotel della Valle Buseto Palizzolo: Baglio Fontana Palermo: Hotel B&B Palermo Quattro Canti Taormina: Hotel Villa Esperia
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Reviewed October 2019 Sue Potter Trip: Treasures of Sicily Sicily is truly a treasure A fabulous trip with a fantastic mix of scenery, walking , culture and food experiences. An outstanding guide, Alessandro who helped the trip run smoothly, was always friendly and informative. The pace was good with plenty of time to explore on your own. Walks could be taken at your own pace and adapted. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the craters of Etna. Walking in Zingaro. Views from Erice. Selinunte ruins in the sunshine by the sea. Monreale mosaics. Greco RomanTheatre in Taormina .I could go on. Everything was excellent What did you think of your group leader? Alessandro was outstanding, one of the best guides I've had the pleasure to travel with. He provided lots of handouts on food, language, maps, what to see in the towns. He was extremely knowledgeable about his homeland, its history and geography. He was always patient, caring and friendly. A real treasure himself. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take wet shoes if you want to swim in the sea, it's rocky. No need to bring a lunch box. Go on a diet beforehand so you can enjoy all the fantastic food. Is there anything else you would like to add? Go!
Reviewed September 2018 Wanda Howick Trip: Treasures of Sicily Sicily in a week My husband and I had a fabulous trip to Sicily - a place I knew I would adore and I was not wrong. In 8 days you can only scrape the surface of this wonderful island but this round trip was a great way to see what it can offer. It was a perfect introduction to somewhere we will return to many times. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The aching beauty of Eriche, Noto and Cefalu. What did you think of your group leader? Marco was a charming leader, efficient, informative with a dark sense of humour. And he was extremely good company. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? There is an element of walking every day so if you are infirm this may not be the trip for you. Is there anything else you would like to add? It would have been good to have been given a map of Sicily at the beginning of the week so we had a sense of where we were going. Please do not ever use Hotel Europa in Palermo again. Other than this notable blip however the accommodation on the trip was amazing.
Reviewed September 2018 Kara Brown Trip: Treasures of Sicily Sicily in a week ! Overall an excellent trip. This covers the main sites round the island. As it is the largest island in the Mediterranean there is quite a lot of ground to cover so it is quite a busy tour. However it was worth it to see the contrasts of this lovely island which combined with the lovely food made a great holiday. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The wine tasting on the first day was really excellent and a good way at the start of the tour to get to know your fellow travellers. The sites of the island were stunning. Selinunte was not overcrowded with tourists so was particularly lovely to walk around, with its stunning setting overlooking the sea. The town of Erice also had stunning views and was lovely to wander the quite streets of the town. What did you think of your group leader? Marco was excellent. He provided us all with a book at the start of the tour and with a map of each town as we visited them. I have done many Exodus trips and have never had a guide so organised with such maps, highlighting the points of interest. Phillipe was our trusty driver who was also excellent and we all felt safe with his driving. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I would say that the coastal walk was more challenging than the walk on Mt Etna. I wore good walking boots for both although could have got away with walking shoes for the Mt Etna walk. Is there anything else you would like to add? Overall a great trip with excellent guide and good hotels. The only downside was the hotel in Palermo which was a bit “Faulty Towers”. Two sets of people in our group had to change room and my Mum (who was on the holiday with me) had to put out a spark from an electrical socket. i Suggest the Exodus seriously look at changing the hotel for the two nights in Palermo.
Reviewed June 2018 Brian Helsdon Trip: Treasures of Sicily Great Trip This was an excellent well planned tour. I found the pace busy but not overly strenuos or hectic. You have plenty of variety, Mt Etna seaside towns and harbours, quaint old towns as well as the ancient sites. What made this trip so good was the guide, Vanessa,, who often went the extra mile to help the group, and the group itself, 15 very different people who got on well. We stayed on for 4 nights after the end of the tour for rest and relaxation near Taormina and this was certainly the right decision. Taormina itself is very crowded and touristy with the side streets and the public gardens offering a welcome relief. Palermo was the best big city with plenty of character. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The drive up to the hilltop village of Erice plus the stay at the farmhouse. What did you think of your group leader? Vanessa was one of the best, if not the best, tour leader I have travelled with. She had excellent English having lived in Dublin for eight years. She was extremely well informed and organised. She often went out of her way to help the group or individuals. For example we had independently booked a hotel at the end of the tour. Not only did she drop us off but checked the booking before we arrived and arranged for hotel staff to meet us at the end of the drive to the hotel. She was always cheerful and fun. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be be prepared for some long bus journeys and quite a busy pace. Don’t worry overmuch about the walks. Our group managed both walks without any issues but good walking shows are essential for the Etna walk. Consider staying on after the tour but not at the tour hotel.
Reviewed June 2018 martin spiers Trip: Treasures of Sicily Treasures of Sicily Well balanced holiday with a good guide as well as good local guides who had more detailed knowledge of the sites. Plenty of variety in the other activities, What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the Straits of Messina AND the meal cooked at the AGRITURISMO hotel in Busseto Palizzolo. What did you think of your group leader? He was pleasant, engaged, efficient and knowledgable about his homeland
Reviewed May 2018 Rebecca Midvidy Trip: Treasures of Sicily Classic Sicily Wonderful trip. Varied, good hotels and the best trip leader. Francesca is kind, knowledgable, helpful. Probably would have prefered 2 less cities to visit. This would have made the trip a better pace and give us a chance to savour each place. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Valley of temples. What did you think of your group leader? Super as mentioned above. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? None.
Reviewed May 2018 Jen S Trip: Treasures of Sicily Great trip, fabulous gelato This was a great, moderately-paced trip. There's lots to do, but plenty of free time to just sit in a café and watch the world go by... or if you like to keep moving, just grab an espresso and slip around the next corner to see what's there... This was a pleasant balance of old Greek and Roman sites, free time in pretty towns and villages full of twisting alleys and stunning churches, a couple of light walks, and amazing Sicilian food. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We had several hours to explore the beautiful town of Ortiga. It was a microcosm of the trip as a whole... after admiring the ruined temple in the main square, scoring an aranchine (Sicilian fried rice dumpling) and a cake for lunch, I spent hours exploring every tiny alleyway, my camera ever-ready, stopping off for gelato whenever I needed fuelling up... What did you think of your group leader? Francesca was bubbly and enthusiastic, and brought the group together.
Reviewed September 2017 Deborah Hughes Trip: Treasures of Sicily Sicily is a varied and wonderful place to,visit A fast and busy trip that delivered an amazing taste of Sicily. Every site was different and spectacular. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Every place was inspirational. What did you think of your group leader? Milena was fantastic. She was informative, organised and caring. She truely made this trip a wonderful experience. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Pack lightly as you need to get your case in the back of a mini bus and live out of a suitcase. Do not look at any photos before you go so that when you arrive at each site you will be amazed.
Reviewed June 2017 Valerie Berry Trip: Treasures of Sicily The magic of Sicily A great trip and although quite a fast pace there was plenty of time to enjoy the towns, ruins and magnificent scenery. The food and wine was of course splendid wherever we went our wonderful guide Mileena was there with her extremely helpful maps of every town and ruin visited. There is something in this trip for everyone. If you can't walk far there is always a cafe with a lovely outlook to sit at, on the other hand if you want to walk and climb steps for wonderful views, then you can do that too What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting some of the towns really early in the morning where there was just me and the street cleaner around. it was so atmospheric to have an espresso in the Duomo square without the hordes of tourists which would appear later. The Sicilian food specialities were wonderful too What did you think of your group leader? Mileena was exceptional. Nothing was ever too much trouble. She was so enthusiastic and the maps she gave us at every stop must have taken her hours to highlight but they were so useful. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take comfortable walking shoes with you and plenty of sunscreen Is there anything else you would like to add? It was lovely to have a few surprises such as the chocolate and wine tastings.
Reviewed June 2017 Nigel Day Trip: Treasures of Sicily A rush! An enjoyable trip taking in most of the 'must see' places in Sicily: a great overview of the island. One niggle, though, is that because of the scale of the place the whole trip seemed too rushed: lots of time in the coach, and not quite enough time at various locations to give them justice. If you can afford the time (and higher cost), the newly-introduced 'Sicily Grand Tour' would be a better bet, but if you are prepared for the pace of this tour the 'Treasures of Sicily' does live up to its name. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The stunning mosaics at Monreale. The views of Etna were great (except when the scirocco brought in the Sahara sand). What did you think of your group leader? Salvo was very knowledgeable, and helpful. he also made sure there were plenty of loo stops - important given the length of some of the coach trips! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Consider carefully your aims for the trip (see my summary), but then enjoy yourself. Make sure that you have plenty of cash to pay for meals, souvenirs and tips, as you can't rely on credit or debit cards being accepted. If you need more cash, most places have ATMs. When paying by credit/debit card or withdrawing cash at an ATM, you will sometimes be offered the opportunity to pay in your home currency - as a rule, though, this will involve a poor exchange rate and a fee, so you are probably best advised to reject this option and hope your card issuer is more generous. Leave room for the gelati and sorbets (granita)! You will walk them off. As always with such tours, be prepared for some minor disappointments - for example, our tour of the Zingaro Nature Reserve was called off due to the fire risk caused by a scirocco blowing through, and the "elaborate Byzantine mosaics" at Cefalu Cathedral were hidden whilst the building was undergoing some renovation. However, there is so much else to see that such disappointments are unlikely to detract significantly from your holiday. Is there anything else you would like to add? A note to Exodus: given the time pressure at some of the locations, it would have been better to have local guides at more of them, rather than just handing out a photocopied map with instructions to meet back in, say, 2 hours. The walking involved was more of a stroll than a ramble, so I would class this as a leisurely tour rather than leisurely/moderate. However, if the weather had been hotter, my views might have changed.
Sicily Grand Tour 8 reviews Comprehensive two week round island tour discovering Sicily's best towns and UNESCO sites Culture Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely / Moderate 15 Days from $3,649 USD Guided (Incl. Taxes) View More Details