Private Tour: The Best of Sicily:
13 days / 12 nights
With Anna and Ashley
If Italy, comparing landmass, fits into the state of Arizona, then Sicily is Massachusetts, and for how dense it is with history and culture, essentially it could be considered a country in its own right! For this reason, we (Ashley and I) felt that to try and do both Sicily and Malta in 13 days would not do her justice.
Sitting strategically in the middle of the Mediterranean, its desirable location meant that it was frequently coveted by those looking to conquer new territories. While many cities and regions suffered at the hands of their conquerors, it would seem that for most of its history, those who came, embraced what was already there, and merely added to it. This is how Sicily has come to be known for its distinctive and complex culture; from Byzantine to Baroque, and both what came before and what was beyond. It is a culture that you can devour with all five sense. Our 13-day journey will allow you to take it all in, balancing the big, important sights with some ‘off the beaten track’.
TRIP DATES 2025:
Monday October 6th to Saturday October 18th 2025
*Fly out Sunday October 5th or before (flights not included)
Price: $5799*
Deposit: $2000 due latest March 31st, subject to availability
Balance: $3799 due June 30th 2025
Payment:
Deposit can be made by credit card by following the online link. Balance payment will be made via email invoice with a credit card payment link.
Single room upgrade on request: $900.
*Subject to meeting the required number of participants (15 people). In the event that the number is not met the price may increase.
What’s Included
- Accommodations in 4 star hotels in a double or twin room (single room upgrade available)
- 4 nights in Palermo, 1 in the Valley of the Temples, 4 nights in Syracuse, and 3 nights in Taormina
- 12 breakfasts included
- 5 dinners included
- 2 lunches included (one lunch at an exclusive Sicilian cooking class and one at a winery in the foothills of Mt Etna)
- All meals include wine, water, and coffee (sufficient not unlimited)
- Personalized arrival transfers from the Palermo airport to the hotel.
- Personalized departure transfers from Taormina to the Catania airport, train station, or port.
- Transport by private air-conditioned coach. Once we leave Palermo we will travel together with our expert bus driver for the duration of the tour.
- Welcome cocktail and dinner the first night in Palermo, get to know your travel companions.
- Special Event: Unique Cooking Class In an exclusive location, explore Sicilian culture through its traditional recipes.
- Walking tour of the highlights of Palermo including the Cathedral.
- Day trip to Monreale and Cefalù
- Corleone Mafia Tour with AddioPizzo formed by locals who actively support the Anti-Mafia Movement.
- Specialized Guide to navigate us around the Valley of the Temples, recreating what would have been one of ancient Sicily’s most important civilizations.
- Tour of Syracuse Taking the day at our own pace, we will cover the history and sights as well as pointing out great places to spend your free day.
- Free day in Syracuse to shop, soak up some sun, recuperate from our busy schedule or visit more of Sicily’s historic sights.
- Day trip to Noto and Marzamemi.
- Visit a winery in the foothills of Mt Etna Tour of the cellar with a guided tasting of their wines and lunch in the shadow of Italy’s most famous volcano!
- Farewell Seafood Dinner with a view of the coast from the town of Taormina.
- Assistance of a professional, English speaking tour director for the length of the tour.
- When necessary/required an audio system will be provided so that you can hear your guide from a distance.
- Hotel taxes and service charges.
- City taxes.
What’s Not Included
- Flights to and from Italy
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Meals not mentioned
- Incidental Expenses
- Optional activities
- Tips and gratuities
Meet Your Tour & Tour Leaders
There will be no large tour operators, big groups, or standard tours. Everything will be small and bespoke, uniquely crafted to showcase the main attractions in Palermo, Syracuse, Taormina, and their surrounds featuring both the best of the history and culture as well as highlights of Sicily’s most famous food.
Anna is Australian, long term living in Florence. Arriving in 2001 she carved out a career for herself working in tourism. Having worked in the industry for 14 years, in 2018 she started her own travel agency focusing on food and wine tourism and small group personalized travel itineraries.
Ashley has a PhD in European History with a focus on Early Modern Italy. When she’s not sipping cappuccini or visiting museums, you’ll find her researching in the Florence State Archive. Italy is Ashley’s second home and she loves exploring and sharing her favorite country.
From the moment that you land in Sicily, Anna and Ashley will be there to accompany you, facilitate all of your experiences and ensure that your time is nothing short of amazing.
HIGHLIGHTS
1
Slow Walking Tour of Palermo
2
Cooking Class hosted by a Duchess
3
Day Trip to Monreale and Cefalu
4
The Valley of the Temples
5
Syracuse, Island of Ortigia
6
Noto and Marzamemi
7
A Winery in the Foothills of Mt. Etna
8
As Seen in White Lotus - Taormina
THE FINE PRINT
ENTRY RRQUIREMENTS & HEALTH: You must abide by any airport, airline, and /or immigration policies and procedures from both the United States and Italy (or your home country) in place at the time of departure (for example Covid-19). Participants are responsible for checking rules prior to departure.
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking. Travel insurance policies can cover not only medical expenses in country but also expenses associated with cancellation in the event of illness or other unforeseen eventualities.
You must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the required visas*, permits, certificates, proof of vaccinations, and other travel documentation for all the countries in which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of the trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you satisfy all entry requirements and that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits and certificates for your trip and that all of the information on those documents are accurate. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.
Participants should check with consulates for the latest health requirements. Participants must bring their own medications, insect repellent or other recommended prescribed drugs, including but not limited to allergy medication (e.g., EpiPen).
*In the foreseeable future the European Union will be introducing a visa that applies to American travelers. It will be similar to the ETS launched this year by the UK. It will cost approximately 7 euro, will be valid for 2 years, and the process is completed online. It is not ready but is expected sometime in 2025.
CANCELLATIONS: It is important to understand that tourism in Italy has relaunched at or above the pre-pandemic capacity. We are required to reserve earlier than in previous years, not only to ensure availability but also to contain prices as much as possible. As such our booking and cancellation lead times are now longer than usual. In many cases we will be required to make not refundable payments in full well before your arrival in Italy.
This trip is subject to a minimum number of participants. If the minimum number of participants is not reached 100 days before departure, we reserve the right to cancel the trip. If this happens, any participant who has already registered and paid the trip deposit, or paid in full, will be fully refunded.
To register for the program and secure your spot, there is a 2000 USD deposit. Payment in full for the trip is due, at latest 90 days before departure.
If for some reason you need to cancel your trip, A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation from you by email at info@florenceandbeyond.com. Cancellation by any other means, including phone call or messaging services, are not considered by us and do not constitute a cancellation. If you cancel your trip, you will be responsible for the below amounts based on the date we receive your written confirmation of cancellation.
- 90 days or more prior to departure, full refund minus non-refundable bank transaction fees and taxes (approximately 5% ).
- 89 – 31 days prior to departure, full refund minus the deposit.
- 30 – 16 days before departure, 50% of the trip is refunded. The rest is non-refundable.
- 15 days or less prior to departure NO REFUND.
No refund is due if a traveler fails to join a trip, joins it after departure, or leaves it prior to its completion for any reason. There will be no refunds for unused services after a trip has commenced.
There are no exceptions to this cancellation and refund policy, including for reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, airline default, strikes, personal, family, or medical emergencies or any other circumstances beyond our control. This means that even if you cancel because of medical issues, virus, sickness, quarantine, travel restrictions/warnings, fear of traveling or any other reason, your booking will be subject to this cancellation and refund policy. This is why we strongly suggest that you secure travel insurance in order to participate on a trip.