Sicily Carousel Tour 2026
Tour Essentials
Daily breakfasts, two hotel dinners, plus traditional Sicilian food and wine experiences throughout the tour
Tour Details
Experience the very best of Sicily on this eight-day escorted small group tour, combining the island’s remarkable history, spectacular landscapes and renowned culinary traditions. Beginning in Catania and finishing in Taormina, the journey explores Sicily’s most celebrated cities, UNESCO World Heritage sites and picturesque coastal towns, with carefully selected four-star accommodation throughout, including a memorable stay at a wine resort in the Marsala countryside.
Designed to balance sightseeing with authentic local experiences, the itinerary visits ancient Greek and Roman ruins in Siracusa and the Valley of the Temples, the magnificent Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo and Monreale, the baroque beauty of Ragusa, the medieval streets of Erice, and the dramatic landscapes surrounding Mount Etna. You’ll also experience Sicily beyond its famous landmarks with visits to bustling local markets, charming fishing villages and time to wander at your own pace.
Food and wine are central to the experience, with street food in Ortigia, artisan cheese tastings in Ragusa, traditional pastries in Erice, and wine tastings in both Marsala and on the slopes of Mount Etna. From vineyard stays and local wineries to regional specialities and authentic Sicilian hospitality, the tour offers an immersive introduction to the island’s distinctive flavours and traditions.
Travelling with an English-speaking tour escort in a small group of up to 20 guests, this thoughtfully paced itinerary combines guided touring with free time to explore, shop or relax. It’s an ideal introduction to Sicily for travellers wanting to experience the island’s rich cultural heritage, exceptional cuisine and unforgettable landscapes in comfort and style.
Inclusions
- Welcome drink on arrival
- Street food lunch in Siracusa
- Cheese and Sicilian specialties tasting with light lunch in Ragusa
- Light lunch en route to Monreale
- Wine tasting and light dinner at sunset in Marsala
- Wine tasting on the slopes of Mount Etna
- Traditional almond pastry tasting in Erice
- Panoramic Baroque train tour of Ragusa Ibla
- Deluxe air-conditioned coach transportation with Wi-Fi (or minivan for smaller groups)
- English-speaking tour escort throughout
- Local guides where required
- Entrance fees to featured attractions
- Hotel porterage
- Whisper audio system (for groups of more than 10 guests)
- Staff assistance throughout the tour
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1st Day /Saturday CATANIA
- Independent arrival at hotel in Catania, accommodation.
- Welcome drink and dinner at hotel and overnight.
2nd Day /Sunday CATANIA – SIRACUSA (street food Light lunch) – CATANIA
After a buffet breakfast, departure to Syracuse: visit the World Heritage Site “Neapolis”. The visit of this archaeological area includes the famous Greek theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the “Dyionisios Ear”.
Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of Siracusa; Visit of the beautiful Cathedral, which is built upon the site of the Doric Temple of Minerva, the legendary Arethusa’s Fountain, and the Temple of Apollo. We will enjoy a “street food” light lunch in the centre of Ortigia.
Afternoon at disposal to stroll through the streets of the centre and for shopping.
Return to your hotel in Catania. Free evening at your disposal to experience the city and its nightlife and to dine in one of the typical restaurant in the city centre.
Overnight.
3rd Day /Monday CATANIA (fish market) – RAGUSA (tasting of Sicilian cheese and other specialties /light lunch)
After a buffet breakfast, departure for a nice walk in Catania, stroll through the city centre and visit the famous fish market “A PISCARIA”, one of the largest fish markets in Sicily. As old as the city itself, it’s a great way to experience the abundant fishing and seafood culture of Sicily, with a very special and authentic atmosphere.
Depart to Ragusa, renowned for its cheese production; stop for a tasting of artisan cheeses and sicilian specialties (light lunch). We will enjoy an enchanting panoramic tour of the historical centre “Ibla” by the “Baroque train”. We’ll admire its stunning baroque palaces and churches; together with other seven cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will continue to the reserved hotel. Free time at disposal to relax at the swimming pool or at the Spa.
Dinner in hotel and Overnight.
4th Day /Tuesday RAGUSA – AGRIGENTO – MARSALA (wine tasting and overnight in a wine resort)
After a buffet breakfast, departure to Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; visit of the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is in almost perfectly preserved condition, the temples of Juno and Heracles. Free time at disposal for lunch.
In the afternoon we’ll proceed to Marsala a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine.
Arrival at Baglio Donnafranca, a perfectly restored nineteenth century baglio, in the Marsala countryside, on the hills in front of the Egadi Islands. The baglio was a property of Florio family. Here we will have the opportunity to visit the cellar and learn all about winemaking. At the end of the tour, we will enjoy a wine tasting and light dinner at sunset.
Overnight.
5th Day /Wednesday MARSALA - SALT ROUTEERICE (taste of traditional pastries) - MONREALE - PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, departure to Erice, via the spectacular “Salt Route”, a road flanked by the salt pans, windmills, and the “salt houses” where they still extract the sea salt as the Phoenicians.
Arrival in Erice, on the top of a hill overlooking the Trapani and the Egadi Islands: walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes and, inner courtyards and stop for biscuit tasting.
Departure to Monreale, light lunch with local specialties on the way.
Arrival in Monreale, situated on a hill, few kms far from Palermo in panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Proceed to Palermo. Accommodation at hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner.
Overnight.
6th Day /Thursday PALERMO – CEFALU’ – MESSINA - TAORMINA
After a buffet breakfast walking tour of Palermo, the capital of Sicily. We will start our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach “I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini. We will visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will then reach one of the most famous and historical markets of Palermo to experience the authenticity of this wonderful and colourful city.
Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock.
Free time at disposal to explore the town and shopping. Lunch on your own. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we’ll have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Accommodation at your hotel and free time at disposal for dinner.
Overnight.
7th Day /Friday TAORMINA – MT. ETNA (wine tasting) – TAORMINA
After a buffet breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. We will reach a height of 1800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters where we’ll enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local winery on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar. We will have the opportunity to taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese and cold cuts.
In the afternoon back to Taormina, charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”: enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Greek Roman Theatre on your own.
Free time for dinner and overnight.
8th Day /Saturday TAORMINA
After buffet breakfast, end of the Tour
Tour Highlights
- The only regular tour of Sicily, staying two nights in Taormina city centre
- Small groups up to 20 people
- Exclusively in English
- Itinerary designed to alternate the visits to the main archaeological and monumental sites with gastronomic and ecological experiences
- Visit to the Catania fish market to have a full immersion in the “Authentic Sicilian life”
- Free time at disposal for shopping or to enjoy a walk
- Charming Hotels located in the historical centre of the main Sicilian towns, an Exclusive Resort with swimming pool and spa and a Wine resort in the Marsala countryside
- Visit of the Main Sicilian UNESCO SITES:
- Ragusa, Siracusa, Valley of Temples, Etna volcan, the Arab-Norman Palermo itinerary and the Cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalù
- Other visits: Catania, Erice, Ragusa Ibla, Salt Route, Cefalù, Palermo; Panoramic tour of the Messina strait and Taormina
Typical Sicilian Food & Wine Experiences
- Cheese and Sicilian specialties tasting/light lunch in Ragusa
- Wine tasting/ light dinner at sunset experience in Marsala
- Overnight in a winery immersed in a vineyard
- Traditional pastries tasting in Erice
- Street food lunch in Syracuse
- Visit a winery on Etna and wine tasting
Accommodation
This route uses a series of 4-star hotels across eastern and western Sicily, giving the tour a comfortable structure while keeping the itinerary broad and rewarding.
- Catania: Katane Hotel 4-star or similar
- Ragusa: Poggio Del Sole Resort 4-star or similar
- Marsala: Baglio Donna Franca Wine Resort or similar
- Palermo: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa 4-star or similar
- Taormina: Hotel Splendid 4-star / Hotel Caparena 4-star or similar
Tour Notes
Exclusions
- Airport transfers before and after the tour
- City taxes payable directly to each hotel
- Beverages other than water included with hotel meals
- Lunches and dinners not specifically listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities and attractions not included in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Any items not specifically listed under tour inclusions
Optional Supplements
- Accommodation (Taormina) Hotel Splendid 4* Sea View Room: On Request
- Accommodation (Palermo) G. Hotel Piazza Borsa 4* Deluxe Room: On Request
Cancellations
For information related to cancellations and any associated costs, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
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