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Sicily: Pleasures
September 11-19, 2022
$2800
Do you know Sicily? If you’ve been once, it’s just scratching the surface. In this tour, we will surprise and delight return visitors, and also welcome first-timers who prefer the quiet of the country and the pace of village life. We don’t want to spoil the surprises, so the following is an outline. This tour compliments our Highlights tour, and can be done together for a full Sicilian experience.
We will meet in Taormina, and go directly to investigate Mount Etna, up close and personal. Our tour will take us to the lush southeast, full of Baroque architecture, then to the far west and the Egadi islands, and finish with the best beach on the island in the charming village of Cefalu.
Sicily is a passion for Sarah, who co-Authored the Rick Steves Sicily book and has spent a decade exploring every corner of the Mediterranean’s largest island. This tour is shaped by Sarah’s mission to connect visitors with the soul of the island through history, food, off-beat sights, and traditions.
We have enjoyed our small groups so much that we will continue to keep numbers low and personal attention high. We will take a maximum of 16 guests in 2022.
Sign up for the September Tour by clicking the Book Now button
Day One
Overnight: North Face of Etna
Benvenuti in Sicilia
Today we will meet in the town of Taormina for our orientation meeting, and then head off to the north face of Etna. We will dine together at our countryside hotel and sample the famous local wines.
Day Two
Overnight: North Face of Etna
Mamma Etna
We will get a fully immersive experience with the mother of Sicily, Etna. First, we will take a cable car and 4×4 vehicle to the top and inspect the smoking craters. Then, we will head into wine country and sample the culinary gifts of this famous volcano.
Day Three
Overnight: Ragusa
Baroque Sicily
The goal today is to explore the Baroque side of the island. The southeast corner is full of lovely architecture, and we will visit the best in Noto and our homebase of Ragusa.
Day Four
Overnight: Ragusa
Southeastern Sicily
Today will be a joyride through the lush countryside around Ragusa. We will sample chocolate in Modica, walk on the beach, and visit a palace.
Day Five
Overnight: Marsala
Wild West
After a morning drive, we will tour Europe’s largest archaeological park at the Greek city of Selinunte. We will enjoy a beachfront lunch, and then check in to our country hotel near Marsala.
Day Six
Overnight: Marsala
Islands and Salt
Our day today will be determined by the time of year and weather. If it’s summery, we will take an excursion to the Egadi Islands. In the colder months, we will explore the town of Marsala and the nearby salt flats.
Day Seven
Overnight: Cefalu
Western Sicily
Leaving Marsala, we will visit the mystical hilltop village of Erice and sample their famous pastries. After lunch, we will all get a chance to sing our hearts out in a functioning Greek theater at Segesta. To finish our day, we will check in and have an orientation stroll around the fishing village of Cefalu.
Day Eight
Overnight: Cefalu
Relax at the Seaside
Our final full day will be spent however you want. You may choose to swim or lay on the sandy beach, hike to the top of the rock that hover over the city, or eat a granita in the town square. Tonight, we will gather for a traditional seafood feast and toast to our adventure.
Day Nine
Tour over after breakfast.
Our sweet farewell is after breakfast. Your guide can help you arrange transportation to the Palermo airport. Arrivederci!
Price: $2800 (Air not included). Single Supplement is $450. We welcome singles and can try to pair you with another single to room with, but the single supplement will be required if we can’t.
What’s included: 3 dinners and 3 lunches, 8 nights lodging in a clean, comfortable, and centrally located hotel. All admissions and fees for group activities. Transport within the tour and private guides, tips included.
Deposit Policy: A non-refundable deposit of $600 per person is due upon booking. If your plans change, you may transfer your deposit to any other tour that we offer.
Tour begins in Taormina, Catania Airport (CTA) is 90 minutes away. Tour ends in Cefalu, 90 minutes from Palermo airport (PMO).
If you have additional questions please email us at: info@adventureswithsarah.net
If you would like to reserve a spot on this tour, our online reservation form is here
If you would like to book this tour just for your own group of friends or family (minimum 6 people), we can offer a private tour with different dates to suit your travel needs.