Sicily holidays
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Sicily |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | 2008: 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct 2009: 10 May, 24 May, 7 Jun, 21 Jun, 28 Jun |
| price: | From £605 (9 days) excluding flights, local payment €150. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
If your time is short, then this trip filled with the diversity of sun-drenched Sicily, is for you.
Bask in the sun on beautiful beaches, explore ancient Greek and Roman architecture, taste rich pastries and desserts and be awed by the highest volcano in Europe. Experience the exotic flavours of the Mediterranean first-hand on this trip to the island of Sicily.
Bask in the sun on beautiful beaches, explore ancient Greek and Roman architecture, taste rich pastries and desserts and be awed by the highest volcano in Europe. Experience the exotic flavours of the Mediterranean first-hand on this trip to the island of Sicily.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Palermo. Once the capital of the Norman Kingdom, eclectic Palermo is home to many beautiful palaces and churches, combining the majesty of Norman architecture with the lavish style of the Byzantine Empire. Marvel at the magnificent mosaics in the Duomo di Monreale. Afterwards, there's time to discover the city's prosperous past, with a wander through its carefully restored Arab quarter and the Quattro Canti. |
| Day 3: | Ficuzza. Leave the tourist trail behind with a trip into the glorious scenery of Sicily's mountainous interior. Hike through the lush woods of Ficuzza and perhaps get to know the local wildlife with a visit to an animal refuge. |
| Day 4-5: | Taormina. Have your pick of cafes and restaurants in Sicily's most fashionable tourist resort. The views from the village of Castelmola, perched on crags high above Taormina, are simply stunning. Clamber down the grassy path back to town in the afternoon. Use free time to enjoy a spot of shopping along Corso Umberto, take a cable car to soak up the sun at nearby Lido Mazzaro, go for a stroll, or sit at an elegant open air cafe and watch the world go by. |
| Day 6-8: | Catania/Syracuse. Be mesmerised by the mighty - and still smouldering - Mt Etna, a volcano standing at 3323 metres. Take in the colourful sights and lively sounds of the Middle Eastern-influenced Catanian market in the Piazza Carlo Alberto. Then take a step back in time with a visit to Ortigia, the historical heart of Syracuse, once the greatest city in ancient Greece. A traditional Sicilian puppet show in the evening promises a delightful end to the day. |
travellers' tales
If I have to pick one highlight it would probably be the WOMAD concert in the Greek amphitheatre at Taormina with Simple Minds on top of the bill, and Etna obligingly erupting in the distance. (more)
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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In Sicily, our focus is on making a positive impact, providing numerous opportunities for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey.
Your leader will be able to direct you to many local eateries that highlight this corner of Italy, helping you discover real local fare, at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some local language at the same time). In some destinations, such as Catania, you get to enjoy the atmosphere and rub shoulders with the locals in the markets at 'Piazza Carlo Alberto'. During this trip we have many opportunities to visit the UNESCO World Heritage sights that feature in many of Europe’s destinations, where our entrance fees help maintain and restore of these precious icons. Our patronage also helps to continue the unique private railway that circles Mount Etna. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |