SICILY IN DEPTH - 7 days 8 cities

Day 1 | Arrive in Giardini Naxos

Welcome to Sicily. Relax in your hotel or take a stroll along the beach before meeting your Travel Director and travelling companions this evening. Your Sicily adventure begins with two glorious nights on the Taormina Riviera.

Meals : Dinner with Wine

Hotel : RG Naxos Hotel, Taormina

Day 2 | Taormina and the Dawn Coast of Europe

Your hotel faces east, so early risers may learn why D.H. Lawrence christened this 'The Dawn Coast of Europe.' After breakfast, perhaps take an Optional Experience through the vineyards to Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano. Travel to the old town of Taormina, which clings to the side of Mount Tauro, overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. With your Local Expert, visit the Greek theatre set on a cli and open to the sky. Take a moment to sit in this ancient theatre and admire the view through the crumbling arches to Mount Etna. Stroll through the old town and admire Taormina's grandest building and along the elegant Corso Umberto.

Meals : Breakfast

Hotel : RG Naxos Hotel, Taormina.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

• Mt Etna  - Where myth and legend merge to reality! With a Local Expert we'll drive up Mt. Etna, Europe's largest active volcano. Ascend through the fertile foothills, bypassing small villages, lush forests, ancient craters and lava ows to see amazing lunar landscapes and houses surrounded by lava. Admire astonishing panoramic views over the eastern Sicilian coast and Ionian Sea whilst discovering the history of Sicily’s most popular attraction and its eruptions. (Footwear such as trainers or boots advised)
  Adult: 61.00 EUR
• Dinner in the Clouds  - With one of the most incredible rides of your lives, you will arrive high above the sea, a world apart from the areas that tourists tread. You'll arrive in your terraced authentic local restaurant for a truly educational meal of delicious regional specialties, with accompanying local wines.
  Adult: 83.00 EUR

Day 3 | Cefalu and Palermo

Travel to the quaint shing town of Cefalu. The town's imposing cathedral was erected to fulll a vow made by the Norman King Roger II. Stroll down to the medieval stone fountain and seek out the Gothic arch of the Porta Marina for a picture-perfect view of the little harbour. Later, travel onwards to Palermo.

Meals : Breakfast

Hotel : NH Palermo

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

• Dinner in Palermo  - Sicilian dining is one of life's true pleasures! We'll indulge in great food made from the freshest ingredients, accompanied by the island's delicious wines.
  Adult: 70.00 EUR

Day 4 | Palermo & the Golden Age of the Normans

Explore Palermo with Insight Choice. Choose a walking tour with a visit to the spectacular 12th century Palatine Chapel with a Local Expert. Alternatively, join the Anti-Maa tour of Palermo, part of a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and nd out how locals are working together in modern day Palermo. In your free time this afternoon, you could visit Palermo Cathedral which has been altered many times over the years and observe its unique blend of architectural styles. For your dining pleasure, you can experience the foods the locals like to eat and experience how they like to eat it on your Dine-Around Evening.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Hotel : NH Palermo

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

• Hidden Palermo  - Walk the ancient streets of the historical centre and learn, through the eyes of our Local Expert, how the Palermitani live. You’ll discover hidden treasures of this fascinating city that most visitors don't get to see. This unique tour also includes a drink and light snacks.
  Adult: 54.00 EUR
• Exploring Palermo  - Prepare to be swept away by the captivating city of Palermo, where every corner holds a story waiting to be discovered. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere as you step into a world where a thousand faces and varied atmospheres intertwine. From the ancient churches to the magnicent palaces, each step of your journey will transport you through the centuries, revealing the fascinating tales of past civilisations.
  Adult: 54.00 EUR

Day 5 | Explore the Valley of the Temples and on to Ragusa

Journey to Agrigento. Explore the Valley of the Temples with a Local Expert and see the massive Temple of Concordia and the clitop Temple of Juno overlooking the sea. Your travels continue to the hilltop town of Ragusa.

Meals : Breakfast

Hotel : Mediterraneo Palace, Ragusa

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

• Dinner In Ragusa  - Indulge in the varied and complex avours of Sicily, at this evening's dinner. Sicillian shores are washed by three dierent seas, so sh is a must (meat alternative available). The large greenhouses around Ragusa also produce a wide range of fruit and vegetables to enjoy. Arabian settlers brought sugar with them and now the island's dolci are considered among the best in Italy. Of course any Italian meal wouldn't be complete without the wonderful local wine. Buon Appetito!
  Adult: 63.00 EUR

Day 6 | Ancient Syracuse and Catania

Sightseeing with your Local Expert takes you to Syracuse’s Paradise Quarry with its unusual Ear of Dionysius, an ear-shaped grotto with an unusual echo. See the superb Greek theatre, carved out of solid rock, one of the largest of the ancient world. There is time to explore the atmospheric Old City, a maze of narrow streets lined with palaces, sprawling over the island of Ortygia. It was here that the famous geometrician Archimedes ran naked through the streets, crying ‘Eureka!' Continue to Catania to celebrate your time in Sicily over Dinner with your fellow travellers.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Hotel : NH Catania Centro

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

• Guided Tour Of Ragusa Ibla  - Join a Local Expert to explore the jumble of churches, houses, old squares and civic palazzi that make up Ragusa Ibla. Devastated by the earthquake of 1693, this part of town was rebuilt along the lines of the old medieval layout. With most of the nobility and wealthier citizens choosing to live in the new upper town, the fortunes of Ibla waned. Now you can step back more than three hundred years into the past, where every turn of the winding streets and stairways comes with the promise of another fantastic discovery.
  Adult: 28.00 EUR

Day 7 | Depart Catania

Appreciate views of Mount Etna on your way. Departure transfers arrive at Catania Airport at 06:30 and 08:30.

Meals : Breakfast