Sicily and its Isles

Day Stop

• Palermo, PA, Italy

Hotel(s)

Hotel Porta Felice, Palermo or Quintocanto Hotel, Palermo

Meal(s)

Dinner

Arrive in Palermo (UNESCO), Sicily’s welcoming capital city. Uncover the island’s deeply rooted heritage, teeming with Arab-Norman architectural masterpieces and delicate Classical designs. Come to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner.

Day Stop

• Palermo, PA, Italy

Experience

Sample Sicilian "street food" during a walking tour of Palermo's Ballarò Market.

Hotel(s)

Hotel Porta Felice, Palermo or Quintocanto Hotel, Palermo

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Lunch

Begin your adventure tasting your way through Palermo’s lively markets on a walking tour unveiling the city’s historical center and introducing you to traditional Sicilian street food. Palermo’s culinary heritage layers Arab and Norman influences with local produce such as wild fennel, olives, and spices. This afternoon, head to Monreale Cathedral, ascending on foot to see its majestic Byzantine mosaics. Then, it’s your choice! Explore the cathedral’s cloisters, taking in their serene atmosphere of the monastic complex -OR- ascend the southern tower to the panoramic terraces for a bird’s-eye view over Palermo.

Day Stops

• Palermo, PA, Italy
• 91025 Marsala, Free municipal consortium of Trapani, Italy

Experience

Venture off the beaten path and meet a local winemaker.

Hotel(s)

Hotel Stella D'Italia, Marsala, Sicily or Grand Hotel Palace, Marsala, Sicily

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Lunch

Make your way to Alcamo, a hilltop town deeply nestled in Sicily’s largest wine-producing region. Venture off the beaten path and meet a local winemaker. Learn about the local types of grapes and production techniques, before joining a hands-on cooking class. Share the meal you prepared for lunch, paired with the farm’s own wines. Late this afternoon, settle into your hotel in coastal Marsala for a three-night stay. Perhaps you’ll take a sunset walk along the waterfront before heading out for an evening at leisure.

Day Stops

• 91100 Trapani, Free municipal consortium of Trapani, Italy
• 91025 Marsala, Free municipal consortium of Trapani, Italy
• 91016 Erice, Free municipal consortium of Trapani, Italy

Hotel(s)

Hotel Stella D'Italia, Marsala, Sicily or Grand Hotel Palace, Marsala, Sicily

Meal(s)

Breakfast

Discover the ancient craft of sea-salt harvesting during a guided visit to the salt pans of the Stagnone Lagoon, once at the confluence of Phoenician, Greek and Roman civilizations. Hop on a local boat* and take in the views of the lagoon and surrounding, low-laying islands before returning to Marsala for an afternoon at leisure.

Day Stops

• 91100 Trapani, Free municipal consortium of Trapani, Italy
• 92100 Agrigento, AG, Italy

Hotel(s)

Hotel Stella D'Italia, Marsala, Sicily or Grand Hotel Palace, Marsala, Sicily

Meal(s)

Breakfast

The day is yours to explore Marsala as you please. Perhaps you’ll visit one of the city’s numerous wineries, noted for producing the eponymous fortified wine. Or, you may join a full day optional excursion to Favignana. A short waterjet ride* from Sicily’s mainland, Favignana island is part of the Egadi archipelago. Once famous for its tuna fish production, this small island boasts crystal clear waters and enchanting gardens.

Day Stops

• 92100 Agrigento, AG, Italy
• 97100 Ragusa, Free municipal consortium of Ragusa, Italy

Hotel(s)

Baia di Ulisse Hotel, Agrigento

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, experience an Impact Moment when you visit an olive oil maker who uses ethical farming methods to produce EVOO. Hear this local man’s story, his dedication to sustainable farming, and how he stands up against the rules that the Mafia tries to impose on local farmers. Explore the olive groves on foot and pause for a rustic picnic-style lunch before continuing to Agrigento’s seaside. Settle in for a one-night stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day Stops

• 97100 Ragusa, Free municipal consortium of Ragusa, Italy
• 90015 Cefalù, PA, Italy
• 92100 Agrigento, AG, Italy

Experience

In company of an expert guide, wander through the imposing Greek ruins of Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples (UNESCO).

Hotel(s)

Mangia's Pollina Resort, Cefalu

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

In company of an expert guide, wander through the imposing Greek ruins of Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples (UNESCO). Discover the myths enshrouding the foundation of ancient Akragas, and watch history come alive. Then, relax aboard your motorcoach during a full afternoon transfer to Sicily’s northern coast. As the sun sets, acquaint yourself with the extensive grounds of your cliffside resort.

Day Stops

• 97100 Ragusa, Free municipal consortium of Ragusa, Italy
• 98057 Milazzo, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• Salina, 98050 Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• 98050 Lingua, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• 90015 Cefalù, PA, Italy

Hotel(s)

Mangia's Pollina Resort, Cefalu

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

Today, set off for the seaside town of Cefalù on Sicily’s northern coast. Stroll the medieval streets and enjoy ample free time to explore on your own. Perhaps you’ll peek into the city's impressive cathedral showcasing Norman architecture, or take in Sicilian medieval art at the Mandralisca museum. Return to your coastal resort mid-afternoon. You will have time to venture down to the resort’s private beach and dip your feet in the Mediterranean, if you choose.

Day Stops

• 98050 Lingua, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• 98060 Salinà, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy

Hotel(s)

Hotel La Salina Borgo Di Mare, Salina

Meal(s)

Breakfast

Grab your bags** and hop on a ferry in Milazzo. Sail by Vulcano and Lipari on your way to Salina,* a far-flung isle surrounded by vibrant blue waters and dark volcanic rock. Somewhat off the beaten path, Salina is one of the less-traveled Aeolian Islands, preserved as a vacation getaway for Italians. Start your 2-night stay and slow your rhythm to the gentle pace of this small island. Today breakfast will be included.

**Travelers are responsible for handling their own luggage when getting on and off the ferry. Guests have the option of storing their larger suitcases on the bus for 3 days until they return to Sicily mainland, bringing a small carry-on with them on the island.

Day Stops

• 98050 Lingua, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• Salina, 98050 Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• 98039 Taormina, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• 98060 Salinà, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy

Hotel(s)

Hotel La Salina Borgo Di Mare, Salina

Meal(s)

Breakfast

Dramatic landscapes of rocky cliffs and vibrant vineyards pass you by on your way to nearby Pollara, famous for its traditional caper cultivation. Wander through the fields, tasting the salted flower buds accompanied by a glass of Malvasia, a locally produced dessert wine. The afternoon is yours to do as you please. Perhaps you’ll find a café by the sea and soak in the local life while sampling their every flavor of granita ice-slush. Today breakfast will be included.

Day Stop

• 98039 Taormina, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy

Hotel(s)

Excelsior Palace Hotel, Taormina

Meal(s)

Breakfast

Early this morning, ferry* back to mainland Sicilia. Journey along the Ionian Coast to Taormina, a seaside hub of ancient Greek theaters and hilly walkways. Discover its well-preserved Greek theatre in company of a local guide. Walk in the footsteps of ancient attendees and take in an unparalleled viewpoint of the adjacent sea. Spend the evening on your own. Perhaps you’ll grab a bite to eat at a sidewalk café, or peruse the local boutiques for handcrafted souvenirs.

*All included and optional boat and ferry rides are weather dependent. In the case of adverse sea and/or wind conditions, some or all ferry and boat rides may be delayed or cancelled. In particular, the boat to the Isle of Salina may be delayed or cancelled resulting in partial reduction of your time on the isle (or cancellation of the visit).

Day Stops

• 98039 Taormina, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• Mt Etna, 95031 Adrano, Metropolitan city of Catania, Italy

Experience

Ascend the sides of Mount Etna on off-road vehicles.

Hotel(s)

Excelsior Palace Hotel, Taormina

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

See Sicily’s wilder side on an off-road adventure to Mount Etna. Stare up at the iconic peak as your vehicle climbs along the sides of Europe’s largest active volcano. Spend the day exploring this legendary giant, passing by lava formations and basalt rocks. This evening, toast to your Sicilian sojourn at dinner, surrounded by local musicians.

Day Stop

• 98039 Taormina, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy

Meal(s)

Breakfast

r journey through Sicily comes to a close today. Return home with memories of Italy’s favorite island.