Sicily history tour, Italy
A cultural tour that does a full circuit of Sicily, run by one of our longest-standing partners who take you beyond the tourist trail, visiting rural communities and local producers, staying in family-run hotels serving up home-cooked delicacies.
Catania Mt. Etna Siracusa Neapolis Archaelological Park Noto Ragusa Ibla Agrigento's Valley of the Temples Selinunte Erice Zingaro Nature Reserve Monreale Cathedral Cefalu' Taormina
US $2670ToUS $3150excluding flights
Optional single supplement £645.
Minimum age 16.
Minimum age 16.
Late availability on these dates: 23 Mar, 04 May, 11 May
Description of Sicily history tour, Italy
Map
Price information
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Travel guides
Less effusive and more inscrutable than their mainland counterparts, Sicilians don’t conform to carefree Italian stereotypes. Life on the island has b...
History vacations suffer from an image problem. They conjure up a picture of a sedate older crowd crammed into coaches, ticking off a list of antiquity...
Vacation information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, traveling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on vacation.
Our top tip:
Bring hiking boots so you don’t miss out on the Etna climb. And always have swimgear in your backpack.
Trip type:
Small group, max.16p eople, min. age 16.
Activity level:
Leisurely.
Accomm:
3-4* hotels.
Included:
Flights from London, accommodation, all breakfasts, wine tasting, all transport, tour leader, entrance fees.
Meals:
Only breakfasts included. Allow €8-15 lunch, €20-30 dinner.
Solos:
Solo travelers welcome. Surcharge for own room.
Reviews
12 Reviews of Sicily history tour, Italy
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 28 Jun 2022 by Vivien Newsome
10 out of 10.. Our guide was lovely and extremely caring Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Jul 2019 by Heather Rushton
The most memorable part of the vacation was visiting the historic sites, the scenery and the food. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 May 2018 by Catherine Smith
So many memorable things - the Greek temples, Roman mosaics, Palermo's street markets and Byzantine churches - swimming, sunshine etc etc. Amazing food. Excellent, although the schedule could be improved in one or two areas and one or two of the hotels were quite basic. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 May 2018 by Chandra Kant Sharma
The most memorable was the walking trail at Mt Etna and the various temples at Agrigento. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Apr 2017 by Eva Doyle
Sicily is very beautiful if a little run down. Reminded me a lot of the Balkans. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 May 2016 by Diana Grant
The locations of the temples at Agrigento and Selinunte were truly spectacular. Entering the Cathedral at Monreale made everyone go "wow!" Read full reviewReviewed on 22 Jun 2015 by Liz Adams
Very much exceeded our expectations. Good value for money. Read full reviewReviewed on 16 Apr 2015 by Meiling Aw
Excellent. Learn a bit of Italian, especially for food items - makes it just that bit easier and more enjoyable! (Makes the locals happy too). Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Jul 2015 by Richard Davey
The most memorable part of the vacation was getting to see most of the Greek temples in Sicily, massive! Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Apr 2015 by Veronica Pride
A very good introduction to Sicily. We used local hotels, local guides and local shops so we hope it benefitted Sicilians. Our guide was dedicated to improving the environment and educating children about how to care for wildlife and nature. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Jun 2014 by Lorraine Hellen
Excellent. In terms of short 'adventure' vacations it was one of the best we have been on. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
Activity:We try to operate on a ‘leave no trace’ basis, which involves being vigilant with proper disposal of waste and being sure to leave any flora, fauna and historical sites undamaged. By using local drivers for transfers, local restaurants and small shops, we make daily contributions to the economy and the community. Using local guides also has the mutual benefit of creating employment opportunities in the region, whilst clients have the advantage of in-depth expertise of the country. By visiting a number of archaeological sites, baroque temples, honey coloured towns and areas of natural beauty, we generate funds which support the maintenance of these important historical and natural places.
UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
People
Accommodation and Meals:We spend the week using comfortable, locally owned hotels. All accommodation is locally staffed and sometimes family run, which has a positive effect on employment levels and economy in the region. Most lodgings are located in proximity to the UNESCO historic sites we visit, which reduces further the need for carbon producing transfer vehicles on the trip. Sicilians are very proud of their local produce and so where meals are provided, fresh, locally sourced ingredients are used as much as possible- which benefits suppliers in the area. Free mealtimes are a valuable chance to explore the wide variety of cafes and restaurants on our route, serving tasty and authentic dishes. If there is time, guides can also direct clients to the daily market in Syracuse, which sells seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and regional cheeses, sausages and preserves.
Local Craft and Culture:
Cuisine is a huge part of Sicilian culture and so we include frequent stops at locally owned businesses to introduce traditionally crafted produce and customary specialties. For example, At Mount Etna, we arrange a wine and cheese tasting in one of the famous wine cellars of the area. Made at local vineyards, we can sample a range of wines, including the famous Sicilian desert wine, Marsala. Locally crafted cheeses including ricotta and pecorino are also prominent. By purchasing these products and other handmade items (paintings, ceramics, embroidery), we help to sustain traditional methods of craftsmanship.
Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
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