Sicily Carousel & Aeolian Islands | 11 Day Small Group Tour 2027
Tour Essentials
10 breakfasts, welcome dinner, street food lunch and wine tasting light lunch
Why we've chosen this tour
We like this itinerary because it gives travellers Sicily’s cultural and food story first, then changes rhythm completely with the Aeolian Islands. The escorted section covers Palermo, western Sicily, Syracuse, Etna and Taormina, while the Lipari stay adds island scenery, boat travel and the volcanic drama of Panarea, Stromboli and Salina. That combination is difficult to reproduce smoothly independently.
Is this tour for you?
This tour suits travellers who want a planned Sicily journey but are comfortable with a more independent island extension. It is best for guests who enjoy historic cities, archaeological sites, food and wine experiences, boat excursions and some flexible free time, and who understand that Aeolian Islands touring is weather dependent.
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Tour Details
This 11-day journey is a good choice for travellers who want Sicily’s cultural depth but also want the journey to open out onto the sea. The first part follows an escorted small group route through Palermo, Erice, Marsala, Piazza Armerina, Catania, Syracuse, Mount Etna and Taormina, before the pace changes with a semi-independent Aeolian Islands stay based on Lipari.
The Sicily section gives the itinerary its historical backbone: Palermo’s layered Arab-Norman heritage, western Sicily’s wine and salt-pan traditions, Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina, Syracuse and Ortigia, and the volcanic landscapes of Mount Etna. Food and wine are part of the story too, with street food, arancina, Marsala wine and Etna cellar experiences included.
The Aeolian Islands add a very different rhythm. From Lipari, shared boat excursions reach Panarea, Stromboli and Salina, with time for villages, sea views and volcanic landscapes. These island days are more independent in style, which suits travellers who like the reassurance of a planned route but still enjoy some freedom once they arrive.
Inclusions
- Ten nights accommodation across Palermo, Catania and Lipari
- Ten breakfasts and one welcome dinner in Palermo
- Street-food lunch experience in Syracuse including a glass of wine
- Arancina tasting in Palermo
- Marsala cellar visit with wine tasting and light lunch
- Visit to the Marsala salt pans
- Mount Etna cellar visit and wine tasting
- Shared boat mini-cruises from Lipari to Panarea and Stromboli, and to Salina
- Taxi tour of Lipari
- Hydrofoil transfers between Milazzo Harbour and Lipari
- Minivan transfers between Lipari harbour and hotel, Catania hotel and Milazzo harbour, and Milazzo harbour and Palermo hotel
- Entrance fees for Syracuse Neapolis, Syracuse Cathedral, Villa Romana del Casale, Monreale Cathedral and Mount Etna Silvestri Craters
- Transport by deluxe coach, or minivan with English-speaking driver for smaller groups
- English-speaking tour escort and local guides where required on the escorted Sicily section
- Whispers headset kit for groups of more than 10 passengers
- Hotel porterage and destination staff assistance
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Palermo
Arrive independently in Palermo. Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers at a welcome dinner, a gentle introduction to Sicily’s capital and the journey ahead.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Palermo
Day 2 - Palermo
Begin with a guided visit of Palermo, where Arab, Norman, Byzantine and Spanish influences have shaped one of Italy’s most fascinating historic centres. See Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and Palermo Cathedral, then continue to one of the city’s open-air markets for an arancina tasting.
The afternoon is free in Palermo, or there may be an optional excursion to Cefalu with its Arab-Norman Cathedral, medieval centre and waterfront.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Palermo
Day 3 - Erice, Marsala And The Salt Pans
Travel to Erice, a medieval hilltop village overlooking Sicily’s western coast. Continue to Marsala for a guided cellar visit, wine tasting and light lunch, then visit the Stagnone Lagoon salt pans, one of western Sicily’s most recognisable coastal landscapes.
Meals: Breakfast and light lunch
Overnight: Palermo
Day 4 - Piazza Armerina And Catania
Leave Palermo and travel to Piazza Armerina to visit Villa Romana del Casale, renowned for its extraordinary Roman mosaics. In the afternoon, continue to Catania, with free time to settle in and begin exploring independently.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Catania
Day 5 - Syracuse And Ortigia
Visit Syracuse, once a powerful city of the ancient Greek world. Explore Neapolis Archaeological Park, including the Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, Ear of Dionysius and Latomia del Paradiso, before continuing to Ortigia.
The historic island centre of Ortigia brings together baroque streets, sea-facing squares and ancient monuments including the Cathedral, Fountain of Arethusa and Temple of Apollo. A street-food lunch introduces local Sicilian specialities before returning to Catania.
Meals: Breakfast and street-food lunch
Overnight: Catania
Day 6 - Mount Etna And Taormina
Travel to Mount Etna, ascending through volcanic landscapes of lava fields, vineyards and forests to around 1,800 metres. Visit the Silvestri Craters and an Etna winery for a guided visit and tasting with local cheeses, cured meats and traditional specialities.
Continue to Taormina for free time along Corso Umberto, with artisan shops and viewpoints overlooking the coastline. Return to Catania for an evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Catania
Day 7 - Catania, Milazzo And Lipari
After breakfast, transfer without a guide to Milazzo and board the hydrofoil to Lipari, the largest island in the Aeolian archipelago. Transfer to the hotel, enjoy time in Lipari village, then take a taxi tour of the island in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Lipari
Day 8 - Panarea And Stromboli
Enjoy the morning at leisure before a shared boat excursion to Panarea and Stromboli. In Panarea, there is time to walk among the white Aeolian-style houses, before continuing to Stromboli, an island shaped by its still-active volcano.
From the boat, the route continues towards the Sciara del Fuoco, the volcanic slope where lava descends towards the sea. Return to Lipari in the evening. This island excursion is weather dependent.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Lipari
Day 9 - Salina
Take a shared boat excursion to Salina. After a stop in Santa Marina, continue around the island, with time around Pollara, known for its dramatic coastal setting, and Lingua, where salt was historically extracted from the local salt lake.
Return to Lipari in the afternoon, with time at leisure for shopping or dinner independently.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Lipari
Day 10 - Lipari To Palermo
Transfer to Lipari harbour and take the hydrofoil back to Milazzo. Continue by minivan to Palermo, where the afternoon is free after hotel check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Palermo
Day 11 - Palermo
After breakfast, the tour ends in Palermo and individual onward arrangements begin.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour Highlights
- Escorted small group touring in Sicily, followed by semi-independent Aeolian Islands touring
- Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Marsala, Piazza Armerina, Catania, Syracuse, Mount Etna and Taormina
- Three nights on Lipari in the Aeolian Islands
- Shared boat excursions to Panarea, Stromboli and Salina
- Stromboli’s Sciara del Fuoco viewed from the water, weather permitting
- Syracuse street food, Palermo arancina, Marsala wine and Etna wine experiences
- Hydrofoil transfers between Sicily and Lipari
- Maximum group size of 20 guests
Accommodation
This journey uses Palermo, Catania and Lipari as its accommodation bases, combining city-centre touring with three nights in the Aeolian Islands.
Indicative Sicily hotels include Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa in Palermo and Katane Palace Hotel, Hotel Principe Catania or San Giorgio Palace Hotel in Catania, or similar. On Lipari, accommodation is planned at Hotel Gattopardo or similar.
Tour Notes
Physical Requirements
This tour suits travellers comfortable with regular walking in historic centres, archaeological sites, markets and hill towns, as well as transfers by hydrofoil, minivan and shared boat. The Aeolian Islands section is semi-independent and boat excursions may involve steps, docks and changing sea conditions.
Important Notes
- The Sicily portion is escorted; the Aeolian Islands section is semi-independent.
- Aeolian Islands boat excursions are affected by wind and weather. Excursion days may be changed, cancelled or require an early return to Sicily if conditions require it.
- Triple-room pricing is on request.
- The itinerary may be adjusted for public events, religious holidays, sporting events, adverse weather or operational reasons, with similar visits arranged where possible.
- If the group has eight or fewer participants, touring may operate by minivan with an English-speaking driver and local guide services at main sites.
- Entrance fees listed in the inclusions are based on the supplied 2027 arrangements and should be reconfirmed before final booking if site managers revise admission costs.
Exclusions
- Transfers in and out unless otherwise arranged
- City tax, payable directly at the hotel
- Beverages unless specifically included
- Optional excursions, room upgrades and personal expenses
- Anything not clearly listed under inclusions
Cancellations
For information related to cancellations and any associated costs, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
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