From Catania to Aeolian Islands | Partially Guided Small Group Tour | 12 Days

DAY 1:                CATANIA

Upon arrival at Catania Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Welcome drink and dinner at your hotel. Overnight Catania. (D)

DAY 2:                 CATANIA – SIRACUSA – CATANIA

After breakfast, depart for Syracuse to visit Neapolis, including the Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, Latomie of Paradise, and the Ear of Dionysius. Continue to Ortigia, the baroque old town, to see the Cathedral (built on the Temple of Minerva), Arethusa’s Fountain, and the Temple of Apollo. Enjoy a street food light lunch, then free time for strolling and shopping. Return to Catania for your overnight. (B)

DAY 3:                 CATANIA – RAGUSA

After breakfast, take a walking tour of Catania, including the famous A Piscaria fish market to experience Sicily’s seafood culture. Continue to Ragusa, known for its cheeses, with a tasting of artisan cheeses and Sicilian specialties (light lunch). Explore the historic Ibla district on the “Baroque Train,” admiring its stunning palaces and churches-part of the UNESCO-listed Val di Noto. Free time at the pool or spa, followed by dinner and overnight stay. (B, L, D)

DAY 4:                RAGUSA – AGRIGENTO – MARSALA

After breakfast, depart for Agrigento to visit the Valley of the Temples, including the well-preserved Temple of Concordia, along with the Temples of Juno and Heracles. Free time for lunch before continuing to Marsala, renowned for its sweet wines. Arrive at Baglio Donnafranca, a restored 19th-century estate once owned by the Florio family, with views of the Egadi Islands. Visit the cellar, learn about winemaking, and enjoy a wine tasting with light dinner at sunset. Overnight in Marsala. (B, D*)

*Dinner only included for 2026 departures.

2025 DEPARTURES:

DAY 5:                MARSALA – ERICE – PALERMO 

After breakfast, departure to Erice, via the spectacular “Salt Route”, a road flanked by the salt pans, windmills, and the “salt houses” where they still extract the sea salt as did the Phoenicians. Arrival in Erice, located on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes and inner courtyards. Stop for marzipan and biscuit tasting Continue to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Free time for lunch and then we’ll visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach “I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and the Church of Santa Caterina. Overnight in Palermo. (B)

2026 DEPARTURES:

DAY 5:                MARSALA – ERICE – MONREALE – PALERMO 

After breakfast, drive along the scenic “Salt Route,” lined with salt pans, windmills, and traditional salt houses, before reaching Erice, a hilltop town overlooking Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Stroll its narrow streets and courtyards, with a stop for biscuit tasting. Continue to Monreale with a light lunch en route, then visit the Cathedral, renowned for its Moorish architecture and magnificent Arab-Norman mosaics. Proceed to Palermo for your overnight stay. (B, L)

2025 DEPARTURES:

DAY 6:                PALERMO – MONREALE – CEFALU – MESSINA – TAORMINA 

After breakfast, departure to the town of Monreale, situated on a hill at few kilometres from Palermo in a panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down the main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time to explore the town. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we will have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Continue to Taormina for overnight. (B)

2026 DEPARTURES:

DAY 6:                PALERMO – CEFALU – MESSINA – TAORMINA 

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Palermo, visiting Corso Vittorio Emanuele, I Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini, and the Cathedral. Explore one of the city’s historic markets before continuing to Cefalù, a former fishing village turned charming coastal town. Stroll through the centre to see the Arab-Norman Cathedral and medieval washhouse, with free time for lunch, shopping, and exploring. In the afternoon, travel along the coastal road through Messina, admiring views of the Strait of Messina, before arriving in Taormina. Overnight in Taormina. (B)

DAY 7:                TAORMINA – MT ETNA – TAORMINA

After breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Ascend to 1,800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters and enjoy panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. Continue to a winery on Etna’s eastern slopes for a cellar tour and tasting of local wines with cheeses and cold cuts. Return to Taormina, rest of the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Taormina. (B)

DAY 8:                 TAORMINA – MILAZZO – LIPARI  

After breakfast, departure to Milazzo. Boarding at the port of Milazzo for Lipari by hydrofoil. Arrival on the island of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian archipelago. Transfer to the hotel and free time to visit the delightful village of Lipari. Lunch on your own; in the afternoon, taxi tour of the island of Lipari. Free time for dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B)

DAY 9:                LIPARI – PANAREA – STROMBOLI – LIPARI

After breakfast, enjoy a free morning at your leisure. Late morning, depart by boat to Panarea and Stromboli. In Panarea, stroll through the charming village with its white Aeolian-style houses before continuing to Stromboli, known as the wildest of the islands for its close bond with nature and its volcano, “Iddu.” Free time to explore before sailing to the Sciara del Fuoco, where streams of lava descend into the sea. From the boat, admire the spectacular eruptions that occur roughly every 15 minutes. Return to Lipari in the evening. Overnight in Lipari. (B)

DAY 10:             LIPARI – SALINA – LIPARI

After breakfast at the hotel, depart by boat to Salina. Stop in the centre of Santa Marina before continuing around the island by boat. Enjoy a swim at Pollara, the famous beach featured in the film Il Postino. Free time for lunch, then continue to Lingua, home to a historic Salt Lake that gave the island its name. Return to Lipari in the afternoon. Overnight in Lipari. (B)

DAY 11:             LIPARI – MILAZZO – CATANIA

After breakfast, transfer to the port of Lipari and board the hydrofoil for Milazzo. Transfer to your Catania hotel. Afternoon at your leisure for a visit of the historic centre. Overnight in Catania. (B)

DAY 12:             CATANIA

After breakfast, end of our services. (B)

ACCOMMODATION (OR SIMILAR):

CATANIA: Katane Palace Hotel

RAGUSA: Poggio del Sole Resort

MARSALA: Baglio Donnafranca Wineresort

PALERMO: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, or Hotel Politeama Palace

TAORMINA: Hotel Splendid, or Hotel Caparena

LIPARI: Gattopardo Hotel

INCLUDES:

• 10 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels and 1 night accommodation in a wine resort
• Welcome drink on day 1
• Meals as per itinerary
• Mineral water (1/2 bottle per person) at meals in hotel
• 1 Street food lunch experience in Syracuse including a glass of wine
• 1 Light lunch on the way to Monreale (day 5) (for 2026 departures only)
• Cheese & Sicilian products tasting/light lunch in Ragusa including water and a glass of wine
• Almond pastries tasting in Erice
• Visit of a cellar in Marsala with wine tasting and light dinner at sunset in Marsala
• Visit of a cellar and wine tasting on Mount Etna
• Transportation by deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with free wi-fi
• Private arrival transfer in Catania
• English speaking tour escort and local guides where necessary (excluding Aeolian Islands)
• Sightseeing tours in Syracuse, Catania, Ragusa, Agrigento, Erice, Monreale, Palermo, Cefalu and Etna
• Whispers kit (for groups with more than 10 passengers)
• Porterage at hotels (excluding Aeolian Islands)
• Regular multilingual boat excursions from Lipari to Panarea, Stromboli and Salina (no guide, port taxes included)
• Return transfers by hydrofoil Milazzo Harbour/Lipari
• Return transfer by minivan from Lipari Harbour/Hotel
• Transfer by minivan Taormina/Milazzo (on day 8) and Milazzo/Catania-Hotel (on day 11)

EXCLUDES:

• Entrance tickets to sites and museums (unless pre-purchased at time of booking)
• City tax (to be paid directly at the hotel)
• Beverages (excluding water with meals at hotel in Sicily)
• Excess luggage fees
• Ticket to the Blue Grotto
• Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling
• Everything which is not mentioned in “inclusions”

THINGS TO NOTE:

• Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.
• For organisational reasons or health security, the itinerary may be reversed or modified without notice; in this case the operator ensures similar visits and excursions in accordance with the spirit of the tour program.
• If the tour operates with fewer than 9 passengers, it will be conducted by minivan with an English-speaking driver, and local guides will be provided where needed. The travel program may be adjusted, with any changes communicated at least 15 days prior to departure.
• Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.
• For the part of the tour to the Aeolian Islands, in case of adverse weather conditions, the day of the excursions could be modified or cancelled, or early return to Sicily may be required. In this case the tour operator will ensure, where possible, alternative solutions in compliance with the travel program