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ToursExplore!Classical Sicily

Classical Sicily

8 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
98%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Small Group Tour
Postcard-perfect scenery, fascinating history, and divine local dishes, explore Sicily on our all-encompassing tour. Delve into the island's rich past, ticking off ancient Greek and Byzantine greats, take on Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, and get lost amongst the streets of Taormina, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea. With gelato and arancini joints at ever...
$2,792
From$2,270
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Call us:+1-844-686-1327

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Visit the best preserved Greco-Roman sites in the Mediterranean
    • Discover spectacular scenery, from its picturesque coastline to Mount Etna
    • Absorb Sicily's distinct culture and sample delicious food and wine

What's this trip about?

    Postcard-perfect scenery, fascinating history, and divine local dishes, explore Sicily on our all-encompassing tour. Delve into the island's rich past, ticking off ancient Greek and Byzantine greats, take on Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, and get lost amongst the streets of Taormina, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea. With gelato and arancini joints at every turn, and surrounded by the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily comes close to paradise. Agrigento - Visit Sicily's most famous Classical remains in the Valley of the Temples, with its remarkable Doric architecture. Erice - Discover the walled medieval hilltop town with its maze of narrow winding cobbled streets and quaint shops. Villa Romana del Casale - See some of the best-preserved and most extensive mosaics left in Europe at this Roman villa. Why not extend your trip? - This trip can be combined with our Malta and Gozo Discovery trip (code: MLAS) to make a two-week island adventure.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transport
Start CitySyracusa
End CityGiardini Naxos

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Attractions

  • Agrigento
  • Bar
  • Catania
  • Cefalu
  • Mount Etna
  • Sicily
  • Taormina

Activities

  • Hiking

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 20

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 20

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join trip in Syracusa

Our tour of Sicily starts today in Syracusa. During the Greek Classical period, this east coast city was the largest in the ancient world - even bigger than Athens. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's also notable as being the birthplace of antiquity's greatest mat...

Day 2 Discover Syracusa's historic Neapolis and Ortygia Island

We'll start today by driving the short distance to the city's Neapolis Archaeological Park, where a local guide will show us its famous Greek theatre, hewn out of the hillside, and the fine Roman amphitheatre where gladiators once fought. We'll then drive over to ...

Day 3 See the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale and the Valley of the Temples

Today we'll visit two of Sicily's most important historic sites. We'll start at the Villa Romana del Casale, which is just a short hop from our hotel. We'll aim to arrive before the crowds. A local guide will show us the ruins of this magnificent country mansion that ...

Day 4 Explore Erice and the Greek ruins of Segesta en route to Palermo

This morning we have a later start to rest after the full day we had yesterday. We'll drive up the twisty mountain roads to one of Sicily's best-kept secrets, the delightful medieval hilltop walled town of Erice. Here, we'll have the morning free to soak up the atmosp...

Day 5 Visit the Palatine Chapel and Monreale Cathedral, free time in Palermo

This morning, we'll get to experience some of Sicily's Norman history. In Palermo, we'll visit the Palatine Chapel with a local guide. This is the royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily and is packed with spectacular Byzantine mosaics. Driving into the hills j...

Day 6 Drive along the coast with a stop in Cefalu en route to Giardini Naxos

Leaving Palermo this morning, we'll drive along the spectacular northern coastline to the picturesque fishing village of Cefalu. Here, we'll stop to explore the town and have the opportunity to go for a swim. You might like to visit the Norman Cathedral, with its stup...

Day 7 Travel to Mount Etna, afternoon in Taormina

This morning, we'll travel to the base camp of Mount Etna to explore the lunar landscape, craters and lava fields of one of the most active volcanoes in Europe. We'll head directly to the cable car base at Rifugio Sapienza, which is on the south side of Etna and 1,900...

Day 8 Trip ends in Giardini Naxos

Our trip ends after breakfast this morning at our hotel in Giardini Naxos. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Giardini Naxos at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at ou...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,270
Price per day$284
Last Updated: 4/13/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room (Optional)
Availability
26 Apr 2025
03 May 2025
$2,840
$520
03 May 2025
10 May 2025
$2,630
$520
10 May 2025
17 May 2025
$2,630
$520
17 May 2025
24 May 2025
$2,980
$520
07 Jun 2025
14 Jun 2025
$2,270
$520
14 Jun 2025
21 Jun 2025
$2,270
$520
30 Aug 2025
06 Sep 2025
$2,270
$520
06 Sep 2025
13 Sep 2025
$2,270
$520
13 Sep 2025
20 Sep 2025
$2,270
$520
20 Sep 2025
27 Sep 2025
$2,270
$520

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Write a review
Excellent
10,290
Great
3,299
Average
517
Disappointing
158
Terrible
82
T

Trusted Customer

Mar 2025

Written on
Classical Sicilyby Explore!

Classical Sicily

I really enjoyed this trip. It packed a lot in to a week, visiting many amazing sites. The hotels were all comfortable and our tour leader was excellent. A week isn...

D

Diana

Mar 2025

Written on
Classical Sicilyby Explore!

Classical Sicily

Excellent itinerary, competent and resourceful leader, good guides, comfortable transport.

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2024

Written on
Classical Sicilyby Explore!

Classical Sicily

The guides bored us with over lengthy history lessons which extended the specific tour too long. The guides accents were very hard to understand. In crowds, it wa...

P

Philip

Oct 2024

Written on
Classical Sicilyby Explore!

Classical Sicily

this is a great fast paced tour. Less time in Palermo would be good

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Other Explore! Reviews

H

Hilary

Apr 2025

Written on
Explore! Company Reviewsby Explore!

Helpful and knowledgeable

Very efficient and re assuring as a single traveller

S

Susan

Apr 2025

Written on
Explore! Company Reviewsby Explore!

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Friendly, knowledgeable and very helpful.

S

Sophia

Apr 2025

Written on
Explore! Company Reviewsby Explore!

Customer service team was really helpful.

I can't remember who specifically helped me but they were all good.

See all Other Explore! reviews

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

Bus,

Transportation & flights

Bus
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s), Local Guide(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Italy: Visas are not required by UK, E.U Nationals, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant embassy prior to departure.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 7
  • Dinner : 1
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
[object Object]
Tour operator cancellation policy
https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/the-small-print/booking-conditions
Trip ID
explore-CS

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