Sicilian Carousel | Guided Small Group Tour | 8 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, the archaeological park with 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 to explore. Overnight in Catania. (B, L)

DAY 3:                 CATANIA – RAGUSA

After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking tour of Catania, including the famous A Piscaria fish market with its lively, authentic atmosphere. Continue to Ragusa for a tasting of artisan cheeses and Sicilian specialties (light lunch), then visit the baroque old town of Ibla. Overnight in Ragusa. (B, L, D)

DAY 4:                 RAGUSA – AGRIGENTO – MARSALA

After breakfast, depart for Agrigento to visit the Valley of the Temples, including Concordia, Juno, and Heracles. Free time for lunch, then continue to Marsala. Visit Baglio Donnafranca, a restored 19th-century estate once owned by the Florio family, with a cellar tour, wine tasting, and light dinner at sunset. Overnight in Marsala. (B, D)

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 through its charming streets and enjoy a biscuit tasting. Continue toward Monreale with a light lunch of local specialties en route. Visit Monreale Cathedral, famous for its Moorish architecture and stunning Arab-Norman mosaics. Proceed to Palermo for an 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’ll 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 a buffet breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Palermo, visiting Corso Vittorio Emanuele, I Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini, and the Cathedral. Explore a historic local market before continuing to Cefalù, a charming coastal town, to see the Arab-Norman Cathedral and medieval washhouse. In the afternoon, drive along the scenic coastal road through Messina to Taormina. Overnight in Taormina. (B)

DAY 7:                 TAORMINA – MT ETNA – TAORMINA

After breakfast, take an excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, reaching 1,800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters and enjoy panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local winery on Etna’s eastern slopes for a cellar tour and tasting of wines with local cheeses and cold cuts. Return to Taormina, the “pearl of the Ionian Sea,” with free time to explore, shop, or visit the Greek-Roman Theatre. Overnight in Taormina. (B)

Day 8:                 TAORMINA

After breakfast, the tour concludes. 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

TAORMINA: Hotel Splendid, or Hotel Caparena

INCLUDES:

• 6 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 light lunch on the way to Monreale (day 5) (for 2026 departures only)
• 1 Street food lunch experience in Syracuse including a glass of wine
• Cheese & Sicilian products tasting/light lunch in Ragusa including water and a glass of wine
• Panoramic tour by Baroque train in Ragusa (for 2026 departures only)
• Almond pastries tasting in Erice
• Visit of a cellar in Marsala (for 2025 departures only)
• Wine tasting and light dinner at Sunset in Marsala
• Visit of a cellar and wine tasting on Mount Etna
• Sightseeing tours in Syracuse, Catania, Ragusa, Agrigento, Erice, Etna, Palermo, Monreale and Cefalu  
• Transportation by deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with free wi-fi
• Private arrival transfer in Catania
• English speaking tour escort and local guides where necessary
• Whispers kit (for groups with more than 10 passengers)
• Porterage at hotels

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)
• 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.