Real Sicily

Day 1 Catania

Welcome to Catania! This colourful cacophony of baroque piazzas and ancient ruins is the perfect place to get acquainted with Sicily. We'll have a chance to check out Catania's UNESCO listed historic core before an included dinner in a local restaurant. Is Sicilian cuisine the best in the world? It has to be up there...

Included experience: Get to know Catania - Stroll around the ancient Sicilian port at the foot of Mount Etna. See the Piazza Stesicoro and the Baroque and Renaissance buildings of Via dei Crociferi.

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 2 Catania/Taormina

We've got more spectacular Sicilian towns to explore today, as we head from Catania to Taormina. Uniquely perched on the side of a mountain, this elegant resort town (Taormina) is the perfect place to live the good life in Italy. We'll waste no time admiring the gorgeous panoramas, as we take the cable car that connects the town's historic centre with its awesome beaches. After sunning ourselves for a bit, why not opt for a cooking class with some local masterchefs, learning how to whip up local delicacies like Arancini & Cannoli? It's the perfect way to impress everyone when you get back home.

Included expereince:

Explore Taormina - Greek and Roman ruins. Sun-drenched beaches. Epic Italian food. There’s so much to do in this seaside town, you’ll never want to leave. Optional experience:

Arancini & Cannoli Making Class - Spend the evening learning how to make two of Sicily's most famous and delicious delicacies- Arancini and Cannoli. The best part of this Master Chef experience - sitting down to dine on your wonderful creation.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3 Taormina

Today we've got an unmissable optional for you. Sicily’s stupendous stratovolcano Mt Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. And what better way to experience this majestic monster than on an adrenaline filled ride, as you pass vineyards and orchards spread across the fertile slopes? You won’t find views quite like this anywhere in Europe. Whether or not you opt for the tour, you'll have a free afternoon to explore Taormina - lazing on the beach, checking out the Roman theatre or sitting and drinking a spritz as life lazily moves by. It's a hard life.

Optional experience:

Mt. Etna Tour - Conquer the highest active volcano of Europe, Mount Etna on an adrenaline filled ride.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 4 Taormina/Syracuse via Noto

See ya, Taormina – it's time to visit some historical hotspots. Next stop, Syracuse. We’ll have some free time to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse. Famed for its rich Roman and Greek history, with ancient amphitheatres and architecture everywhere you look, this place was even mentioned in the Bible (how's that for history creds?). Our next outing is to Noto, home to some of Sicily’s most impressive historic architecture. We’ll check out the Corso Vittoria Emanuele and other legendary landmarks, and then it’s off to an organic farm for a Tastes of Sicily experience – the freshest Sicilian ingredients, brought to us direct from farm to table. Just what the doctor ordered! Back to Syracuse. And after a long day, it’s time to hit the hay. ’Til tomorrow, friends.

Included expereince:

Visit Noto - Float around this opulent Sicilian city, taking in the Baroque architecture and panoramic views as you go.

Optional experience:

Taste of Sicily (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience) - Sit down for a unique, Sicilian dinner using produce that was grown on the hosts' organic farm. Tour the farm, learn about life in Sicily, and then eat lunch together! Fabio and Annarella are both passionate Farmers who decided to take care of their families lands 15 years ago. Their mission is to share their love of Sicilian Mediterranean culture and culinary traditions. In addition to producing Extra Virgin Olive Oil, they also produce almonds, citrus, bread, jam​s with the fruits that they grow, tomato sauce, spirits and many other things on their Bio Farm Zisolhouse.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 5 Syracuse/Agrigento/Cefalu

Heading from Syracuse we'll arrive in Agrigento, the perfect base to explore another ancient wonder...

From Agrigento we have an included tour of the Valley of the Temples. This mystical valley is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological heritage. As we wander the valley, in the shadow of blooming almond trees, we'll discover ancient temples, sanctuaries and a necropolis. It’s a spectacular testament to Sicily’s ancient history (and natural beauty). Arriving in Cefalu we'll enjoy another included dinner of Sicilian delicacies. What a day - and we're not done yet.

Included expereince:

See the Valley of the Temples - Explore the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO-listed site featuring some of the world's most treasured Greek art and architecture.

Meals included:

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 Cefalu

Cefalu is a real gem, home to Sicily's best beaches and most impressive Arabic architecture. This truly is the island that keeps on giving. Today's all about coastal vibes, soaking up that sun, sea and sand - with plenty of water sports to get involved with. If you're feeling a little more zen, why not opt for the coastal cruise and soak up some scenery instead? Later on we'll stroll the winding cobbled streets and watch fishermen taking stock of the day's bounties, before exploring the town's foodie and nightlife scene. Ah, Sicily - sigh.

Optional experience:

Coastal Cruise - Take a relaxing coastal cruise to admire the spectacular scenery of Cefalu

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 7 Cefalu/Palermo

It's time to end on a high, as we make our way towards Sicily's sizzling capital.

Palermo is vivacious, colourful and boasts a thriving culinary scene, but it’s also been plagued by organised crime for decades. Today on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® experience, you can join a walking tour through the historic centre, learning about the history of the Mafia in Palermo and how the civil antiMafia movement was formed. We'll round things off with a farewell dinner at Al Fresco, AKA the 'bistro of second chances'.

Optional experience:

Anti-Mafia Walking Tour of Palermo (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience) - Learn about the Mafia and the civil Anti-Mafia movement on a locally guide walking tour through the picturesque historic centre. Discover a city that is finally rebelling against the protection rackets and meet some of the locals supporting the cause. (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)

Eat at the Bistro of Second Chances (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience) - On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll visit a charming restaurant in Palermo and tuck into some of the finest cuisine in Sicily, served fresh by people who’ve been given a second chance in life… and grasped it with both hands.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8 Palermo

Time to head home after one final breakfast together. Hug it out, swap social details - and don't be sad, we'll see each other on the road again soon.

Meals included:

Breakfast