12 Day Southern Italy & Sicily
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
✓ Travel with Collette Tours
✓ Journey through a crossroads of civilizations in Sicily
✓ Travel to the spectacular coastlines of Southern Italy
✓ Uncover Sicily’s capital Palermo and its Moorish and Norman influences
✓ Explore Agrigento’s ancient Valley of the Temples
✓ Travel to the historic hilltop town of Taormina
✓ Visit a local winery for a wine tasting and agriturismo dinner
✓ Venture to the ancient cave dwellings of Sassi di Matera
✓ Discover spectacular Mt. Etna Volcano National Park
✓ Explore the stunning Amalfi Coast and Sorrento
✓ Walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans in the excavated Pompeii
✓ Allow the unique culture to capture your heart
✓ Get a glimpse into an age-old heritage
✓ 10 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 6 Dinners
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Your Italian sojourn opens in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Discover the city’s vibrant culture as you take in its picturesque harbors, cobblestone piazzas, and captivating energy.
Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring authentic Sicilian cuisine.
Get to know “Palermo in a Nutshell” and discover the city’s Moorish, Norman, and Spanish architecture on a walking tour. Explore the Kalsa district - home to Mafia legends and lush gardens – before tasting local snacks at a 19th-century eatery.
The afternoon is yours! Perhaps you’ll peruse the open-air markets, visit one of Palermo’s art galleries, or relax in an outdoor café
Decide how you spend your morning because it’s your choice! Embark on a walking tour of the historic city center and visit La Martorana church, Fontana Pretoria, and more -OR- tour the Teatro Massimo Opera House, the third largest in Europe and seen in The Godfather Part III.
This afternoon, perhaps you will join an optional excursion to medieval Cefalù (UNESCO) with a local guide before visiting a nearby farm for a ricotta cheese* demonstration and farm-to-table meal, made with family recipes.
Visit the nearby town of Monreale (UNESCO) and wander along the paintings, mosaics, and cloisters of its 12th-century cathedral. Travel over rolling hills and peaceful farmland to the town of Agrigento.
As the sun begins to set, explore the stunning Valley of the Temples (UNESCO), one of the world’s most esteemed archaeological sites, and get an up-close view of the temples of Juno, Concordia, and Hercules.
Journey east to Sicily’s Ionian Coast. En route, discover the impressive Mt. Etna (UNESCO) Volcano National Park where a local expert introduces you to the park’s spectacular landscapes sculpted by nature.
Later this afternoon, continue on to Giardini Naxos - the “garden of Sicily” - for your 2-night stay.
Set out for beautiful Taormina, home to ancient relics, rocky hills and charming gardens. With an expert local guide, you’ll see Corso Umberto, the verdant public gardens, and the city’s well-preserved Greek Theatre.
Enjoy free time to relax or independently explore on your own. Return to Giardini Naxos for the evening.
Take a short ferry ride to Villa San Giovanni, located on Italy’s mainland. Pass through the unspoiled region of Calabria to the Basilicata region. Wander through the twisting vines of a local winery before joining an expert for a tour of the cellar with a tasting.
Linger over regional cuisine at dinner in the winery’s restaurant.
Explore the Sassi di Matera (UNESCO), an ancient settlement of carved cave dwellings. A local guide shares the history and explains why film producers are seeking out this unique landscape. Visit a local shop and get a taste of regional specialties.
This afternoon decide how you explore because it’s your choice! Discover more of Matera with a guided tour of an underground cistern followed by free time to browse the city’s stores and cave churches -OR- head to Alberobello (UNESCO) and marvel at the town’s whimsical trulli homes, known for their distinct, cone-shaped roofs.
After a stop in Vietri sul Mare, famous for its precious majolica pottery, arrive in Sorrento, where you’ll settle in for a 2-night stay.
Later this afternoon, discover this charming seaside town during a walking tour and learn about the local tradition of wood marquetry.
This morning, take in the sights and colors of the Mediterranean Sea as you wind your way along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast (UNESCO).
Gaze out over the deep blue hues of the sea paired with the bright citrus fruits lining the hillsides.
Pause to sample regional specialties at a family-owned limoncello factory, before returning to Sorrento for an afternoon at leisure.
Journey north to Rome. En route, experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii (UNESCO). A local guide gives you an in-depth look into this 2,000-year-old Roman town, nestled in the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Step into another time as you explore its preserved buildings and imagine life in the 1st century.
Later, check in to your hotel located close to Fiumicino Airport. This evening, celebrate the end of your journey with a delightful farewell dinner.
Your tour comes to a close today.
Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Booking On Request:
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.
Single Supplement
Please follow the 'book now' prompts and select 1 passenger to view the single supplement cost
Triple Share
Not Available
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Group size varies from package to package. Depending on the services provided, the group size might range from private 2 person experiences up to coaches of 50 people depending on your selected holiday.
Tour Type - Independant
On these packages you will travel from city to city on your own, exploring at your own pace. We have arranged transportation in most cases and day tours for you to see the destination. Enjoy the time and flexibility to linger longer or pick up the pace and see as much as possible. The choice is yours.
Children
Children must share a room with parents at all times and are charged the same price as adults.
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