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The Magic of Sicily

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8 days From £1,999 £1,899 per person
4.2 stars(48 reviews)
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Encounter natural wonders, ancient history, fantastic architecture, Mediterranean culture and delicious cuisine on this holiday to stunning Sicily

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Save £100pp on selected Europe 2025 holidays when you book by 16th December 2024.

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Mobility Rating 3

2025 Tour code: PTJ25

About the tour

Uncover the charms of Sicily, from bases in cosmopolitan Palermo and the laid-back coastal resort of Giardini Naxos.

Discover the historic towns of Monreale and Syracuse whose architecture showcases the history and cultural influences of Sicily. Explore the Valley of the Temples and Taormina's Greek theatre, overlooking the blue Ionian Sea.

Visit Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna, taking a train ride past the lava fields of this spectacular natural wonder.

Sample local street food at a market in Palermo, savour Sicilian wines, and indulge in a lunch of regional produce at an 'agriturismo'.

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Unforgettable experiences

Viewing Mount Etna from the Circumetnea Train
Viewing Mount Etna from the Circumetnea Train
Explore the craters and surreal landscape of the most active volcano in Europe, enjoy a train ride past the lava fields on the most scenic stretch of a charming narrow-gauge railway, and lunch at a local winery.
Enjoying a street-food experience at Palermo’s Capo Market
Enjoying a street-food experience at Palermo’s Capo Market
Savour the flavours of Sicily on a tour of Palermo’s vibrant Capo Market, indulging in a street-food tasting of the island’s excellent local flavours.
Exploring the ancient Valley of the Temples
Exploring the ancient Valley of the Temples
Travel back in time to the ancient city of Agrigento to discover the mesmerising Valley of the Temples, one of the best-preserved locations of ancient classical culture in Sicily, followed by a delicious lunch at an ‘agriturismo’.
Visiting buzzing Palermo and majestic Monreale
Visiting buzzing Palermo and majestic Monreale
Uncover the spectacular sights of Sicily’s capital on a tour of the golden mosaics of the Palatine Chapel, before viewing Monreale’s UNESCO-listed cathedral.
Discovering Sicily’s Greek history in Taormina and Ortigia
Discovering Sicily’s Greek history in Taormina and Ortigia
Delve into the island’s past at Taormina’s Greek theatre, dug out of a mountain in the 3rd century BC with a backdrop of the Ionian Sea, and wander the ancient streets of Ortigia – Syracuse’s island town founded in 733 BC.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – Flying directly to Sicily, getting to know Palermo

Your holiday starts at London Gatwick airport, where you are greeted by the Tour Manager, before boarding a flight to Sicily. On arrival in Catania, we transfer by coach to the island's capital, Palermo. The city is a treasure trove of rich history, art and culture, as well as fantastic food.

Our 4-Star hotel is perfectly located in the cultural heart of Palermo, close to numerous museums and theatres and the main shopping streets. With spacious and elegant rooms, and a wellness area, it is an ideal base for both exploration and relaxation. The hotel has a lounge bar and a restaurant, where we are served a three-course dinner tonight.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – Discovering the sights and flavours of Palermo

On our first morning in Sicily, we explore Palermo's most renowned attraction - the Palatine Chapel. Located in the 9th-century Norman Palace, the chapel glistens with golden mosaics and marble floors, beneath a painted wooden ceiling. With its blend of Norman, Byzantine and Arab influences, the chapel reflects Palermo's diverse history.

We continue to Capo Market to experience a traditional Sicilian market. The fruit and vegetable stalls are ablaze with colour, while fragrant spices and the sizzle of grills create a treat for the senses. We sample local flavours on a street-food tasting before time to explore independently.

After lunch, we travel by coach to Monreale to view its World Heritage cathedral. The exterior of this 12th-century church blends Norman and Arabic architecture with twin-column cloisters. The interior is a swirl of golden mosaics leading to a colossal representation of Christ at the centre, which seems to illuminate the church.

There is free time to explore Monreale, and the main piazza outside the cathedral is a great place to soak up the sun. We return to Palermo in the early evening before dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Into the Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

Today, we travel to the south of Sicily for a full-day excursion to Agrigento to discover the Valley of the Temples. This UNESCO-listed site of Greek temples is one of the most important and best-preserved locations of ancient classical culture in Sicily. Amid groves of almond trees dappled across a rolling valley, are the remains of exquisite temples to Greek and Roman gods such as Zeus, Juno and Hercules.

Dating from around 460BC, the Valley of the Temples demonstrates the importance of this Mediterranean island throughout the ages. Amongst the Doric columns, wild cacti and succulents dot the arid landscape.

Later, we head to a nearby 'agriturismo' for drinks and a four-course lunch. These establishments are popular in Italy and are the best way to experience rural life, providing fresh farm-to-fork food and traditional Sicilian flavours in idyllic surroundings.

We return to Palermo, where there is a free evening to explore and no shortage of inspiring trattorias and other tempting places to eat.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – By rail to Taormina and the Greek theatre

This morning, we leave Palermo and travel by train along the north coast to Messina, with the azure Tyrrhenian Sea in view. From Messina, we transfer by coach to the historic town of Taormina.

We have a guided tour of this delightful town, familiar to some as the setting of the American TV series 'The White Lotus', visiting sites including the Greek theatre which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Dug out of Mount Taurus, this vast venue once seated thousands who gathered to watch Greek tragedies or comedies and, during the Roman period, gladiators. Impressive in its own right, the amphitheatre offers views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, the active volcano which dominates the east coast of Sicily.

Our tour ends at a local cake shop or 'pasticceria', where we taste cannolo, a crisp pastry filled with ricotta, the island's most famous dessert.

We arrive at our new hotel, in neighbouring Giardini Naxos, in the early evening, where our luggage will be waiting for us. With views over the sea, our elegant beachfront hotel has a private beach, a pool and a wellness centre. This evening, we gather in the restaurant for dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Exploring Mount Etna: Europe’s most active volcano

A highlight of our Sicilian holiday awaits today as we visit the island's most iconic sight. An active volcano with a height of over 10,000 foot and a circumference of around 93 miles, Mount Etna has captivated visitors for centuries.

We travel to Rifugio di Sapienza, the highest point of vehicle access on Mount Etna, where there is time to view the Silvestri craters and the volcanic scenery. With basalt rocks formed from lava flows, the effect is a lunar-like landscape.

This afternoon we have a different view of Mount Etna as we join the Circumetnea Railway on part of the route, to Randazzo. This is the most scenic stretch of the narrow-gauge railway that encircles the base of Mount Etna.

The unique soils on Mount Etna's slopes make it an excellent place to grow grapes for wine, which we discover on an afternoon visit to a winery. Following a tour of the winery, we enjoy a lunch of Sicilian produce and a wine tasting in beautiful surroundings.

We return to our hotel where we have a free evening to spend as we please.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 – A day at leisure in coastal Giardini Naxos

Today is free to explore the local area as you wish. You might be tempted to simply relax and make the most of the facilities at our hotel, spending time on the private beach or lounging by the pool.

Another option is to take a boat tour from Giardini Naxos harbour to the picturesque marine park of Isola Bella. This tiny outcrop is connected to the mainland by a thin ribbon of sand which appears to float on the turquoise Ionian Sea.

History buffs could visit the archaeological park near the hotel, to walk among the ruins of ancient Naxos. It is believed that Naxos is the oldest Greek settlement in Sicily, being founded by settlers in the 7th century BC. There is also a museum with interesting artefacts recovered from the settlement.

Giardini Naxos has a good choice of restaurants in the area surrounding Piazza Municipio. Local specialities include seafood such as swordfish, and the baked pasta dish 'ncasciata, also known as the favourite dish of Sicily's famed literary character, Inspector Montalbano, which features aubergine, maccheroni and ragù.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 – A day trip to Syracuse and Ortigia Island

After breakfast, we travel south by coach to Syracuse. The heart of this historic city is Ortigia, a small island inhabited for nearly 3000 years and renowned for its Greek heritage. It is believed Syracuse was founded by Greeks in around 733 BC and rivalled Athens in size by the 5th century BC. The birthplace of Archimedes, Ortigia is a UNESCO-listed landmark due to its importance to Mediterranean culture.

On a guided tour, we visit some of Ortigia's best sights, such as the Baroque cathedral built on the site of the Greek Temple of Athena, part of which still remains. The cathedral stands on the Piazza Duomo, regarded as one of Sicily's loveliest squares.

The Arethusa Spring is an ancient freshwater pond near the sea, bedecked with papyrus plants and shrouded with myth and legend. With a free afternoon to explore independently, you could wander the sun-soaked streets or cool off beside a fountain in a piazza, soaking up the charm of old Syracuse. You may like to stop for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the peaceful bay.

We return to our hotel in Giardini Naxos in time for our final dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 – Homeward bound

We bid farewell to Giardini Naxos after breakfast this morning as we transfer by coach to Catania airport for our flight back to London Gatwick.

Touching down in London in the afternoon, it's time to say our goodbyes and head home with memories of our holiday in magical Sicily.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour features the same excursions, they may not necessarily be in the order listed above.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Hellenia Yachting Hotel

Hellenia Yachting Hotel, Giardini Naxos

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Grand Hotel Federico II

Grand Hotel Federico II, Palermo

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Train

The Circumetnea Train

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Flight upgrades
London Hotels
UK rail connections
Door to door luggage service

Reviews

4.2 stars4.2 / 5 · 48 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (19)
  2. 4 stars
    (20)
  3. 3 stars
    (8)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Nigel T

5 stars

Submitted 31/Oct

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Collected by Trustpilot

M Johnson

5 stars

Submitted 18/Oct

Great tour director who made sure we were always in the right place at the right time to see the fantastic sights, sounds and tastes of Sicily.

Collected by Trustpilot

M Neville

5 stars

Submitted 8/Oct

Good trip.

Collected by Trustpilot

Kamal Khosla

5 stars

Submitted 8/Oct

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Our tour manager, Brenda, was helpful and great company to be with. She was excellent. The daily tour were great with the local guides who were very good extremely knowledgeable. However, we would like to make a few criticisms. 1. The lunch after visiting Arigento was not good. The venue should have been better. 2. The dinners at the hotel in Giardino Naxos were not good. Quality of food was poor and the waiters were too eager to clear your plates. 3. The hotel in Polermo was not quite upto standard. Rooms were dark and lacked some facilities.

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Allan Taylor

5 stars

Submitted 4/Jul

A full on tour as we knew from the itinerary. But for seeing some of the major cathedrals, temples , obviously Etna and getting the flavour of Scicily the tour is ideal. Not a rail journey though.

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Customer

5 stars

Submitted 11/Jun

I thoroughly enjoyed the Magic of Sicily holiday. Our entire trip went very smoothly considering the changes that were made at short notice. Sicily is a marvellous island to visit, especially if you are interested in classical temples and ancient cathedrals, which I am! I love coach journeys with a knowledgeable guide, exciting roads and sunshine all the way. The food and wine were enjoyable, both hotels were comfortable with splendid views over a tranquil Mediterranean. I have to finish by saying that we had a memorable USA coast to coast holiday with Great Rail in 2011 and our tour guide was Roger Marsden. What a pleasure it was to meet with Roger again this year and his caring helpfulness made our holiday,again unforgettable! Naturally we are looking forward to our next holiday but when you become older you have to give it some thought. But Sicily 2024 was wonderful!, Thank you very much ?? David Brunton.

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