Sicily’s soul - from Palermo to Etna
Sicily Highlights Tour
Journey through Sicily’s living history, from Etna’s slopes to Agrigento’s ancient ruins. Savor the warmth, stories, and spirit that make this island unforgettable.
Tour Details
Explore Sicily’s west and east - bustling Palermo, Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, and the timeless beauty of Taormina and Ortigia.
Price
From US$10,490 per personGroup Size
Maximum 12 guestsDuration
12 days / 11 nightsDepartures
May/October 2026Starts/Ends
Palermo to Catania
Inclusions
Boutique stays, guided experiences, and meals with wineAccommodation
Charming luxury 4 star accommodationActivity Level
Light walking — some uneven terrain
Highlights
Why You'll Love This Tour
Taste the soul of Sicily, from market-fresh seafood in Palermo to rich wines poured beneath Etna’s volcanic slopes.
Walk in the footsteps of history among Agrigento’s ancient temples and the golden Baroque streets of Noto, Ragusa, and Modica.
Feel the island’s living energy as you wander Catania’s markets, stroll dreamy Taormina, and watch the light dance across the sea.
Drift through Ortigia by boat, where honey-colored stone and sea breezes tell stories of civilizations past.
Stand where fire meets sky on Mt Etna, the ever-changing heart of Sicily’s landscape and legend.
Savor slow, sun-drenched days filled with warmth, laughter, and the magic that makes Sicily unforgettable..
What our guests say
your untold italy tour Includes
11 nights in charming luxury 4 star accommodation – 2 nights at a city hotel in Palermo, 2 nights in a countryside resort in Menfi, 3 nights in a Mt Etna relais, and 4 nights at a boutique hotel in Ortigia
Guided walking tours, wine tasting, cooking class, chocolate making class, artisan workshop visits, boat tour, salt pans visit, Mt Etna walk, Agrigento ruins visit and more
11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 10 dinners as specified in the itinerary, wine and bottled water is included with meals other than breakfast
Air-conditioned minibus/minivan will get you around on tour.
Tips and gratuities are included for local guides and your driver. Tips are not included for your tour host.
We meet at our hotel in Palermo and drop off at Catania International Airport
Not included
Fly into Palermo’s international airport Falcone Borsellino Airport.
No one books a trip expecting the unexpected – travel insurance ensures you’re covered if plans change. See our trip FAQ below for more information and suggested providers.
Nearly all meals are included – you’ll have three free meals to explore the local food scene at your own pace.
Tour Overview
Sicily Highlights Tour Description
Step into Sicily’s living story – a land shaped by empires and blessed by sun, sea, and volcano. Over twelve unforgettable days, discover an island where every street, market, and meal reflects the spirit of its people. From Palermo’s bustling heart to the shadow of Mount Etna, this is a journey through contrasts – vibrant cities and quiet fishing villages, crumbling ruins and Baroque masterpieces, rugged coastlines and golden hills.
Western Sicily - Where Cultures Collide
Begin in Palermo, a city of bold flavors and faded grandeur, where Arabic domes sit beside Norman palaces and the scent of arancini fills the air. Taste your way through lively markets before tracing the coast to Cefalù’s golden beaches and the gleaming salt pans near Trapani. Sip Marsala among hilltop vineyards, wander the temples of Agrigento, and feel the centuries of stories that live within Sicily’s western light – a landscape both wild and deeply human.
Eastern Sicily - Beauty Beneath the Volcano
Continue east to discover the island’s softer rhythm – Taormina’s terraced gardens and ancient Greek theatre, the fertile slopes of Mount Etna, and the tranquil island of Ortigia. Explore Baroque towns like Noto, Ragusa, and Modica, each glowing with sunlit stone. Between tastings, vineyard visits, and laughter over long Sicilian lunches, you’ll uncover a culture that celebrates life through food, art, and conversation.
The Spirit of Sicily
This is more than a highlights tour – it’s a deep connection with a land of resilience and beauty. Share stories with locals who welcome you like family, taste dishes rooted in centuries of tradition, and feel the warmth of an island that gives with both hands. By the journey’s end, Sicily won’t just have captured your heart – it will have become a part of it.
Sicily Highlights Tour Itinerary
We often don’t publish specific destinations in order to preserve the local flavor of your trip and allow you to enjoy special surprises along the way.
Day 1-2
Welcome to Sicily
Discover mesmerizing Palermo and its Arabic/Norman roots as we taste delicious street food and are enchanted by stories of its past whilst wandering through palazzi and impressive churches. Breathe in the sea breeze in Cefalu – one of the prettiest towns on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
See Details
- Places: Palermo and Cefalu
- Activities: Food/history walking tour of Palermo, visit to Cefalu
- Accommodation: Casa Nostra Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Day 3-4
Sicilian Tastes and Traditions
Delve deeper into Sicilian food traditions with a hands-on cooking class at a local woman’s home in the countryside. Take in the spectacular sight of windmills, the lagoon, and the glimmering salt as we approach Trapani’s sea pans. And taste Sicily’s most famous sweet wine – Marsala at a boutique winery.
See Details
- Places: Trapani, Marsala and Menfi
- Activities: Cooking class, Marsala Winery, Salt pans visit
- Accommodation: La Foresteria Planeta Estate (or similar)
Day 5-7
Ancient Ruins and Dreamy Taormina
Cruise through the Valley of the Temples and gaze in wonder at some of the best-preserved Ancient Greek ruins in the world in Agrigento. Discover vibrant Catania and its delicious food. And soak in the spectacular views from dreamy Taormina (the setting of HBO’s The White Lotus series).
See Details
- Places: Agrigento, Catania and Taormina
- Activities: Guided tour in the Valley of the Temples (Agrigento), Winery visit and Guided walking tour of Catania, Guided tour of Taormina and Greek theater
- Accommodation: Relais San Giuliano (or similar)
Day 8-9
Smouldering Etna and Coastal Ortigia
Wander around the craters and lava flows of smouldering Mt Etna, visit Ortigia’s bustling fish market, Siracusa’s incredible archaeological park and soak in the beauty of baroque Noto.
Meet locals along the way who bring to life the thousands of years of history that run through Sicily and organic winemakers nestled in the slopes of a volcano.
See Details
- Places: Mt Etna, Ortigia and Noto
- Activities: Guided tour of Mount Etna craters with expert local guide, and winery visit, Siracusa Archaeological park, Ortigia tour and free time in Noto
- Accommodation: Hotel Gutkowski (or similar)
Day 10
Baroque Tastes and Traditions
Fall in love with the artisans of Ragusa who have dedicated themselves to the painting and restoration of traditional Sicilian carts. Meet the local chocolate maker who teaches us the ancient chocolate-making traditions dating back to the Aztecs still used in Modica.
See Details
- Places: Ragusa, Modica and Ortigia
- Activities: Chocolate making class and Artisan workshop visits in Ragusa
- Accommodation: Hotel Gutkowski (or similar)
Day 11-12
Arrivederci Sicily
Get lost in the labyrinth of streets opening onto elegant piazza or the turquoise sea lapping at the shoreline in coastal Ortigia. Relax on an unforgettable sunset cruise and raise a glass to incredible Sicilia.
See Details
- Places: Ortigia and Catania
- Activities: Free time in Ortigia and sunset boat ride
- Accommodation: Hotel Gutkowski (or similar)
Over 1000+ satisfied guests
Departures
Upcoming Dates and Prices
Book now →Highlights of Sicily Tour
Tue 5 May - Sat 16 May 2026- Book now →
Highlights of Sicily Tour
Thu 1 Oct - Mon 12 Oct 2026
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Private Tour
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Frequently Asked Questions
Our Highlights of Sicily tour departs from the lobby of our hotel in the early afternoon from the vibrant city of Palermo.
Our Highlights of Sicily tour concludes on the morning of our final day in Ortigia when we check out of our hotel. Transfers to the Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport arriving around midday are included in your tour price.
Fly into Palermo’s international airport Falcone Borsellino Airport. There are quick direct flights from many of Italy’s main cities including Rome and Milan.
For onwards travel, there are direct flights back to the mainland including Rome and Milan. The city has a small international airport that services Italian and European destinations.
Please let us know well in advance if you have any dietary needs, including allergies. We’re happy to work with tour accommodation and restaurants to ensure that you have suitable meal options.
You’ll feel completely at home – whether you enjoy a glass of wine or prefer to skip it. Our tours celebrate the stories, traditions, and people behind Italy’s incredible food and wine culture, so there’s always something meaningful to experience. Non-alcoholic local options are happily provided, and every tasting, vineyard visit, or shared meal is about connection, not just what’s in the glass.
Absolutely! We always welcome solo travelers in our groups and generally have at least a couple of solo guests join.
This tour includes moderate physical activity, with guided walks lasting around 1–3 hours at a time. If you have mobility concerns, please get in touch and we can help you determine if this itinerary is the right fit.
Alongside USD, we offer payment in Australian, Canadian and New Zealand dollars, Euro and British pounds using the mid-market rate at time of payment on xe.com. Please reach out to us at info@untolditalytours for a quote.
Pay a USD $500 deposit per person to secure your place. Then three easy instalments at 180 days, 120 days and 90 days prior to departure or as specified on our tour booking page. The balance is due 60 days before departure or on the date specified on the trip booking page. Email us if you’d like to break up the instalments even more.
Our Sicily Highlights tour offers unbeatable value for money and includes 4 star accommodation, luxury transportation, nearly all meals, guided tours, entrance fees, artisan visits, local experiences, a dedicated tour host and more.
Most guests find they spend money on souvenirs, a few snacks and additional services such as laundry and spa treatments. You also have two free time lunches and one free time dinner.
When you book a tour with us, we take care of all the details so you can sit back, completely relax and enjoy your Italian experience.
Yes our 2026 tour schedule has an opportunity to combine this tour with another Untold Italy experience. Our fall dates can be combined with our Umbria in Fall tour. Please reach out for more information.
The unexpected can occur and becoming ill or injured in a foreign country is a very daunting experience, therefore we require guests take insurance with international evacuation coverage for all trips.
Please consider cancelation insurance also because refunds are made available only per our
terms and conditions, and we are unable to make exceptions for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies.
You should book a policy as soon as the trip has been confirmed. Some companies to consider:
- World Nomads – simple and flexible travel insurance for independent travelers. Includes 24×7 assistance when abroad
- Safety Wing Nomad Insurance – designed to meet the unexpected medical and travel needs faced by people traveling outside of their home country
- Travelex (USA residents only) – comprehensive travel insurance options covering medical assistance and delays
Unfortunately these providers may not offer policies for those aged over 69. In this case you can try Travel Insurance Master – a service that allows you to compare quotes and insurance policies.
Discover Sicily
Italy’s largest island has a long and rich history marked by waves of invasion and immigration that informed its culture – from architecture and art to food and wine. Combined with stunning natural assets – from Mount Etna, the central hills to the surrounding sea, this colorful past makes Sicily one of the most exciting Italian regions to visit.
Read
Sicily Travel Guide
Uncover the highlights of the region
Listen
Val di Noto
Exploring Sicily’s Baroque valley
