Discovering Sicily's Roots 2026
Tour Essentials
Daily breakfast included; lunches and dinners are at your leisure throughout
Tour Details
Discovering Sicily’s Roots is a 6-day private journey designed for travellers who want a flexible but well-structured introduction to Sicily’s most significant historic sites, landscapes, and flavours. It combines guided touring where it matters most with independent time to explore towns at your own pace.
Your journey begins in Palermo with a half-day guided walk through the island’s vibrant capital before an independent visit to Monreale. From there you travel west to Erice, continue to Marsala for a winery visit and tasting, then shift toward Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples and Piazza Armerina’s extraordinary Roman mosaics.
Your final days are based around Catania, with a drive up Mount Etna, a second winery visit and tasting on the volcano’s slopes, and free time in Taormina before departure. It is a concise itinerary, but one that covers a rewarding cross-section of Sicily with strong food, wine, and cultural depth.
Inclusions
- Accommodation in 4-star hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- Car with English-speaking driver at disposal from Day 2 to Day 5
- Winery visit and wine tasting in Marsala
- Winery visit and wine tasting on Mount Etna
- Half-day local guide in Palermo
- 2-hour local guide at the Valley of the Temples
- Arrival transfer from Palermo Airport to your Palermo hotel
- Departure transfer from Catania to Catania Airport
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: PALERMO
Private transfer from Palermo airport to Hotel 4**** in Palermo.
Overnight.
Day 2: PALERMO – MONREALE – PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, meet your local guide for a walking tour of the capital of Sicily Palermo, one of the richest towns in the island for its history and art: the wonderful Arab-Norman Cathedral (during the Holy Mass, exterior visit only); the Norman palace (outside) with the amazing Cappella Palatina, mirable example from an historical and an artistic point of view, of how different cultures, religions and way of thinking apparently incompatible can coexist; the debated fountain in Pretoria Square, adorned with XVI century sculptures; the most beautiful baroque church in Palermo, Santa Caterina and its cloister.
Lunch on your own.
Then proceed to Monreale for aan indipendent visit of its huge Norman Cathedral, proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World.
The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.
Overnight in your Hotel.
Day 3: PALERMO - ERICE - MARSALA visit of a winery & wine tasting - AGRIGENTO
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Erice, charming medieval town situated on a hill in panoramic position over Trapani and the Mediterranean sea.
Proceed to Marsala, a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine.
Lunch on your own.
Independent visit of the historical centre and stop to a prestigious winery, where You will enjoy a wine tasting and learn about local production.
Proceed to Agrigento.
Accommodation at your hotel and overnight.
Day 4: AGRIGENTO – PIAZZA ARMERINA – CATANIA AREA
After a buffet breakfast, meet your local guide and visit the magnificent Valley Of Temples of Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Temple of Concord, which is in almost perfectly preserved conditions, Juno and Heracles that represent the most beautiful example of the Greek Civilization in Sicily. Proceed to Piazza Armerina in the inland of Sicily.
Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, independent visit the worldwide known Villa Romana del Casale: it is the richest, largest and most complex collection of late Roman mosaics in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Continue to Catania.
Accommodation and overnight at your 4**** Hotel.
Day 5: CATANIA – MOUNT ETNA– TAORMINA – CATANIA AREA
After a buffet breakfast, weather conditions permitting, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across fascinating landscape, we will reach a height of 1900 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters where you can enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea.
Stop in a winery on the slopes of the Volcano for a nice wine tasting. Proceed to Taormina, charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”, founded in 400 BC and beautifully located overlooking the sea and the peak of Mount Etna.
Lunch on your own.
Enjoy time at leisure to shop for handmade lace, coral jewels, ceramics, home-made sweets and preserves down “Corso Umberto” or simply walk through its tiny streets. Individual visit of the fascinating Greek-Roman theatre.
Back to your Hotel in Catania and overnight.
Day 6: CATANIA
Buffet breakfast.
Private transfer to Catania airport.
End of services.
Tour Highlights
- Private touring with an English-speaking driver on Days 2–5
- Palermo half-day guided walking tour (key landmarks and historic squares)
- Independent visit to Monreale Cathedral, often called Sicily’s greatest Norman masterpiece
- Erice hilltop medieval town with panoramic views over Trapani and the sea
- Marsala winery visit and wine tasting
- Agrigento Valley of the Temples (UNESCO) with a 2-hour local guide
- Piazza Armerina and Villa Romana del Casale mosaics (UNESCO), independent visit
- Mount Etna excursion (weather permitting) with Etna winery visit and tasting
- Taormina free time and optional independent Greek-Roman theatre visit
Accommodation
This tour uses 4-star hotels chosen as comfortable bases in key overnight hubs, supporting a smooth Palermo-to-Catania route with minimal backtracking. You’ll typically stay:
- Palermo (2 nights): Hotel Federico II (or similar), a central 4-star hotel base for guided sightseeing and easy independent exploring
- Agrigento (1 night): Hotel Della Valle (or similar), convenient for early access to the Valley of the Temples and onward travel inland
- Catania area (2 nights): Hotel Katane Palace (or similar), practical base for Mount Etna and an easy departure transfer
Tour Notes
Physical Requirements
Moderate. Expect walking on uneven historic streets and steps, extended time on your feet at archaeological sites (Valley of the Temples), and some walking on volcanic terrain at higher elevation on Mount Etna.
Exclusions
- Beverages
- Entrance fees at monuments
- City tax, if applied locally and payable directly at hotels
- Anything not clearly specified under Inclusions
General Notes
- Daily departures operate throughout 2026
- Low season pricing applies from January 1 to March 7 and from November 1 to December 15: $4,999 per person, double/twin share
- High season pricing applies from March 8 to October 31 and from December 16 to December 31: $5,299 per person, double/twin share
- Single supplement is $500 in low season and $600 in high season
- Driver Escort is not a Licensed Tourist Guide and cannot escort guests inside monuments under Italian regulations, but can provide general historical and cultural context
- Licensed Tourist Guide is the only professional with a regional license permitted to conduct visits and tours in sites and museums within a city
- Mount Etna touring is weather dependent and may be adjusted if conditions require
Cancellation Fees
- 100% penalty for no-show and until 7 days before the beginning of the tour
- 75% penalty from 8 to 15 days before the beginning of the tour
- 50% penalty from 16 to 30 days before the beginning of the tour
- 30% penalty from 31 to 60 days before the beginning of the tour
Cancellations
For information related to cancellations and any associated costs, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
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