Collette > Discover Sicily

Discover Sicily
9 Days starting from $1,149

Countries Visited:
Italy

 

Length: 9 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: Europe Tour
Operator: Collette
Tour Code: 3438
   
 
About This Tour


Warm beaches, charming hilltop villages, fascinating history, and a relaxed atmosphere make the Mediterranean Island of Sicily the perfect vacation spot. Enjoy everything this beautiful island has to offer from the convenience of a single hotel in one of the most popular resort towns, Giardini Naxos. Nicknamed the "crossroads of civilization," Sicily contains some of Europe's finest archeological sites where you can see an impressive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. On a visit to Taormina, a picturesque village perched high above the Ionian Sea, you'll enjoy a guided tour of the Greek Theatre, the Duomo, and the beautiful public gardens. An unforgettable motorcoach ride will take you up to see the spectacular fire-shaped landscapes atop the largest active volcano in Europe, Mt. Edna, which continues to release smoke and ash over the island. Then visit a vineyard whose famous wines are produced from grapes grown in the rich volcanic soil. And of course, your trip just wouldn't be complete without experiencing a delicious Sicilian meal with local specialties, fine wines, and traditional folk music. On an optional excursion, see the true colors of the island's villages at a Sunday outdoor market, where vendors sell fresh local produce and foods. In the medieval town of Piazza Armerina, located in the breathtaking Erei Mountains, tour the Villa Casale with its collection of Roman mosaics that date to the 3rd century BC. You'll also visit a studio in Caltagirone to watch the traditional craft of pottery making. Even with all of these amazing experiences, you will have ample leisure time to soak up the sun on the gorgeous beaches, dine at lively sidewalk cafes, or browse the many local boutiques.
 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing Highlights
  • Additional Details

Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip.

Meals
7 Breakfast(s), 4 Dinner(s)

Hotel Accommodations:
Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges

GIARDINI NAXOSHellenia Yatching Hotel or Hotel Russott. On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

Complimentary hotel-to-hotel baggage handling.
Sightseeing
Private transportation via a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach
Day 1
Overnight Flight
Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean Islands, offers a wonderful climate, spectacular landscapes, historic towns, charming hilltop villages, and some of the finest archaeological sites in Europe. You will enjoy this spectacular destination with a relaxing single hotel stay. Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Catania.

Day 2
Taormina Area, Sicily - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in the Taormina area, one of the most popular resort destinations in Sicily. Gather with your fellow travelers this evening during a welcome dinner at a local restaurant located in Giardini-Naxos’ port, offering beautiful views of the area.

Day 3
Taormina
Taormina is symbolic of the splendor of Sicily. History and beauty abound in this small town perched high above the Ionian Sea. Join a local guide to explore the many treasures of the town, including the Greek Theatre, the Duomo and the public gardens. The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy strolling around the town or shopping in the local boutiques. Later, learn to live La Dolce Vita the way Italians do…take a typical Italian coffee break in one of Giardini-Naxos’ outdoor cafes where you can relax as you sample local pastries and a cappuccino while enjoying time with new friends.

Day 4
Day at Leisure or Optional Excursion*
Spend your day at leisure absorbing the charms of the region. Or, perhaps you would prefer to join an optional excursion* to the city of Catania. Join a local expert and discover the sights of Sicily''s second largest city, famous for its vibrant fish market. This evening your group gathers for dinner in the true Italian tradition. Sicily is world-renowned for its pizza and no trip here would be complete without a chance to sample some. Spend a fun evening tasting this perfect combination of dough, sauce and cheese while soaking in a panoramic view.

Day 5
Mt. Etna
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. This morning you will experience the natural majesty of Europe’s largest active volcano, Mt. Etna. This spectacular treasure continues to release smoke and ash over Sicily. Travel up the mountain by coach to personally witness the spectacular landscapes sculpted by fire. This afternoon, visit a well-known local winery famous for producing wines from grapes grown in the volcanic soil on the slopes of Mt. Etna.

Day 6
Caltagirone - Piazza Armerina
This morning your journey will take you to Caltagirone, the capital of the Sicilian pottery industry. A visit to a local shop allows you to see first hand how these traditional crafts are produced. After enjoying lunch on your own, you will travel to the medieval town of Piazza Armerina, located in the beautiful Erei Mountains. A guided visit of nearby Villa Casale showcases an extraordinary collection of Roman mosaics that date to the 3rd century BC.

Day 7
Day at Leisure or Optional Excursion
A full day at leisure allows you to explore more of Sicily at your own pace. Perhaps you will enjoy a stroll along the local beaches or some last minute shopping. You may also wish to sign up for an unforgettable optional tour across Sicily to Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, a famous UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 8
Siracusa
Walk in the footsteps of history and reflect on the magnificence of ancient Greece during an included excursion to Siracusa. The city boasts as fine a collection of archaeological treasures as any island in Greece. A local expert guides you through the Archaeological Park, featuring an impressive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities and brings this incredible ancient world to life. Enjoy some free time in the historic old city before returning to your hotel. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a special farewell dinner featuring a cooking demonstration in one of Taormina’s well-known restaurants. The chef will teach you how to make some of the most popular Sicilian delicacies, including cannoli. Take home these recipes and unforgettable memories of a spectacular stay in Sicily.

Day 9
Taormina Area - Tour Ends
Your tour of Sicily ends today.

Day 1
Overnight Flight
Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean Islands, offers a wonderful climate, spectacular landscapes, historic towns, charming hilltop villages, and some of the finest archaeological sites in Europe. You will enjoy this spectacular destination with a relaxing single hotel stay. Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Catania.

Day 2
Taormina Area, Sicily - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in the Taormina area, one of the most popular resort destinations in Sicily. Gather with your fellow travelers this evening during a welcome dinner at a local restaurant located in Giardini-Naxos’ port, offering beautiful views of the area.

Day 3
Taormina
Taormina is symbolic of the splendor of Sicily. History and beauty abound in this small town perched high above the Ionian Sea. Join a local guide to explore the many treasures of the town, including the Greek Theatre, the Duomo and the public gardens. The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy strolling around the town or shopping in the local boutiques. Later, learn to live La Dolce Vita the way Italians do…take a typical Italian coffee break in one of Giardini-Naxos’ outdoor cafes where you can relax as you sample local pastries and a cappuccino while enjoying time with new friends.

Day 4
Day at Leisure or Optional Excursion*
Spend your day at leisure absorbing the charms of the region. Or, perhaps you would prefer to join an optional excursion* to the city of Catania. Join a local expert and discover the sights of Sicily''s second largest city, famous for its vibrant fish market. This evening your group gathers for dinner in the true Italian tradition. Sicily is world-renowned for its pizza and no trip here would be complete without a chance to sample some. Spend a fun evening tasting this perfect combination of dough, sauce and cheese while soaking in a panoramic view.

Day 5
Mt. Etna
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. This morning you will experience the natural majesty of Europe’s largest active volcano, Mt. Etna. This spectacular treasure continues to release smoke and ash over Sicily. Travel up the mountain by coach to personally witness the spectacular landscapes sculpted by fire. This afternoon, visit a well-known local winery famous for producing wines from grapes grown in the volcanic soil on the slopes of Mt. Etna.

Day 6
Caltagirone - Piazza Armerina
This morning your journey will take you to Caltagirone, the capital of the Sicilian pottery industry. A visit to a local shop allows you to see first hand how these traditional crafts are produced. After enjoying lunch on your own, you will travel to the medieval town of Piazza Armerina, located in the beautiful Erei Mountains. A guided visit of nearby Villa Casale showcases an extraordinary collection of Roman mosaics that date to the 3rd century BC.

Day 7
Day at Leisure or Optional Excursion
A full day at leisure allows you to explore more of Sicily at your own pace. Perhaps you will enjoy a stroll along the local beaches or some last minute shopping. You may also wish to sign up for an unforgettable optional tour across Sicily to Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, a famous UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 8
Siracusa
Walk in the footsteps of history and reflect on the magnificence of ancient Greece during an included excursion to Siracusa. The city boasts as fine a collection of archaeological treasures as any island in Greece. A local expert guides you through the Archaeological Park, featuring an impressive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities and brings this incredible ancient world to life. Enjoy some free time in the historic old city before returning to your hotel. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a special farewell dinner featuring a cooking demonstration in one of Taormina’s well-known restaurants. The chef will teach you how to make some of the most popular Sicilian delicacies, including cannoli. Take home these recipes and unforgettable memories of a spectacular stay in Sicily.

Day 9
Taormina Area - Tour Ends
Your tour of Sicily ends today.


To speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.
         
Touring Date
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Single
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Single
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11/1/2008 - 11/9/2008
$1,299
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2/18/2009 - 2/26/2009
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3/4/2009 - 3/12/2009
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3/11/2009 - 3/19/2009
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4/22/2009 - 4/30/2009
$1,399
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4/29/2009 - 5/7/2009
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5/13/2009 - 5/21/2009
$1,599
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9/23/2009 - 10/1/2009
$1,599
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10/14/2009 - 10/22/2009
$1,599
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10/31/2009 - 11/8/2009
$1,399
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11/7/2009 - 11/15/2009
$1,399
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12/2/2009 - 12/10/2009
$1,299
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2/17/2010 - 2/25/2010
$1,299
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3/10/2010 - 3/18/2010
$1,399
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4/14/2010 - 4/22/2010
$1,599
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Due to flight schedules, you may require an early morning departure from the hotel on the last day of your tour.
Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.
Itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain, heavy walking on uneven terrain or heavy walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes.
If you have not purchased air through the tour operator and wish to purchase transfers, you must transfer at our pre-scheduled times.
Air passengers will arrive and depart from the Catania, Sicily airport and all transfers will depart from/return to that airport.
*The option to Catania is not available on Sundays. If day 5 falls on a Sunday, this option will instead be offered on day 8. Included Breakfasts are Buffet Breakfasts.

Enjoy your vacation in a single hotel on the beautiful island of Sicily, the crossroads of civilization.
Walk in the footsteps of Greek history with a local expert at Siracusa’s Archaeological Park.
Witness the impressive power of nature as you visit Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano.
Spend a day exploring the jewel of Sicily, the historic hill top town of Taormina.
Enjoy your vacation in a single hotel on the beautiful island of Sicily, the crossroads of civilization..
Spend a day exploring the jewel of Sicily, the historic hill top town of Taormina.
Witness the impressive power of nature as you visit Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano.
Walk in the footsteps of Greek history with a local expert at Siracusa’s Archaeological Park.

Due to flight schedules, you may require an early morning departure from the hotel on the last day of your tour.
Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.
Itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain, heavy walking on uneven terrain or heavy walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes.
If you have not purchased air through the tour operator and wish to purchase transfers, you must transfer at our pre-scheduled times.
Air passengers will arrive and depart from the Catania, Sicily airport and all transfers will depart from/return to that airport.
*The option to Catania is not available on Sundays. If day 5 falls on a Sunday, this option will instead be offered on day 8. Included Breakfasts are Buffet Breakfasts.
   
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