13 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

In Italy, shoulders should be covered while visiting churches and cathedrals. Ask your CEO for more specific advice.

ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

COMBO TRIP

Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

LOCAL GUIDES

It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places.

LUGGAGE

In Europe it is very rare to find elevators in train stations, hotels or other public places. We use public transport on this trip, which means you will need to carry your luggage from platform to platform, in and out of trains and buses etc. and also possibly up several flights of stairs. You will also need to be able to stow your luggage safely on trains and buses. It is therefore essential that you pack light and bring luggage which is compact and lightweight, and which you can easily transport. The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times. We highly recommend travelling with a backpack or duffel bag over any wheeled luggage options.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES NOTE:

During high season in Europe (May-October) we highly recommend booking reservations for any popular optional activities/museum tickets etc. in advance to avoid encountering sold-out activities on the ground while on tour.

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.

On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations.

Note that most accommodation in Europe does not have air conditioning units in rooms. Air conditioning is not routinely installed in European homes and workplaces. However, nearly all hotels will provide a standing or desk fan for your room on hot nights. If you do not already have one in your room, please ask your CEO to organize one for you with reception.

We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage. You must be prepared to carry your luggage up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels (max 15-20 mins.)

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Join a guided tour through almond groves to the Doric colonnades of the Temple of Concordia, among the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere. Continue to the temples of Juno and Heracles, set on a ridge above the sea.

Hear how Akragas flourished in the 5th century BCE and why these Doric colonnades still stand against wind and time. The site’s ochre stone glows in Mediterranean light—a powerful encounter with Magna Graecia.

Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on arancini cooking class in Syracuse. Learn to season risotto, shape, and crumb golden spheres before you shape and fry saffron-scented rice around fillings like ragù, pistachio, or caciocavallo.

Hear the story of Sicily’s beloved street snack—from Arab rice and saffron to today’s regional variations—then taste your creations over a convivial light lunch. It’s a delicious window into local technique, ingredients, and tradition.

Wander the honey-toned lanes of Ragusa Ibla, a hilltop quarter rebuilt after the 1693 quake and celebrated within UNESCO’s Val di Noto. Pause by sculpted balconies and the grand stair of the Duomo di San Giorgio.

Set among Hyblaean limestone, the town’s churches and palazzi glow in late light, revealing carvers’ virtuosity and Sicilian Baroque drama. Cafés on quiet piazzas invite you to linger and absorb the town’s layered elegance.

Step inside Villa Romana del Casale, a 4th-century country residence famed for its vast, in-situ mosaics. Trace lively scenes of the Great Hunt, marine myths, and daily life rendered in shimmering tesserae.

Marvel at the athletic “Bikini Girls” panel and richly frescoed rooms that reveal elite Roman taste and technology. A UNESCO-listed treasure, the villa offers a vivid, intimate look at late Imperial artistry and domestic grandeur.

Pause at the Stagnone salt pans, where mirror-bright basins blush pink at sunset and historic whirring windmills turn above shimmering flats. See traditional tools and the pyramid mounds of sea salt drying in the breeze.

Between lagoon islets and quiet channels, this centuries-old craft still shapes the landscape. On clear days, views stretch toward ancient Mozia while egrets and herons stalk the shallows—an evocative blend of nature and industry.

Visit the World Heritage–listed Monreale Cathedral, ablaze with gold mosaics that narrate biblical cycles beneath a cedar roof. Gaze upon the monumental Christ Pantocrator presiding over the apse—one of Europe’s great sacred images.

Step into the cloister’s carved capitals, then look out across citrus groves to the view over the Conca d’Oro and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Norman, Arab, and Byzantine influences meet here in a single, dazzling harmony.

Taste Palermo’s soul on a guided stroll through Ballarò or Vucciria markets. Sample street foods like sfincione and panelle, and—if you dare—pane ca’ meusa (spleen sandwich), while hearing stories of traders and traditions.

This experience is available at additional cost and bookable on tour. Special meal requirements cannot be accommodated on this activity. It’s a vivid immersion in Sicilian flavours, slang, and market theatre.

Ferry from Lipari to Vulcano and hike to the Gran Cratere for sweeping views over the Aeolian chain. Peer into a sulfur-tinted rim and feel the earth’s breath at sulfur-steaming fumaroles.

After the descent, you may soak in the mud baths (when accessible) or swim in warm shallows scented with minerals. This half-day adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour; sturdy shoes recommended.

Step into the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, a 3rd-century BCE marvel later adapted by the Romans. Stone tiers frame a perfect panorama of Etna and the Ionian Sea, turning performances—and quiet visits—into spectacles.

Wander vaulted passages and photo-ready viewpoints while learning how Greeks and Romans shaped the stage. Entry is at additional cost and bookable on tour; best enjoyed in softer morning or late-day light.

Join a local for an evening graze through La Pescheria and historic alleys to taste arancino and cipollina, grilled swordfish, and sweet cannoli. Learn why Catania’s black-lava blocks host Sicily’s boldest flavours.

This experience is available at additional cost and bookable on tour. Special meal requirements cannot be accommodated on this activity. It’s a lively blend of food lore, dialect, and neighbourhood pride.

Ascend Mount Etna by coach to Rifugio Sapienza, then ride the cable car and 4×4 (weather permitting) toward smoking craters. Walk among lava fields and the Silvestri craters, feeling volcanic gravel underfoot.

Guides explain eruptions that shaped modern Catania and the vineyards below. This high-altitude adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour; bring layers, sun protection, and sturdy footwear.

Explore the Neapolis Archaeological Park to see the monumental Greek Theatre, the acoustically curious Ear of Dionysius, and the Roman Amphitheatre. Cypress and citrus scent ancient stone.

In one compact area, Greek ambition and Roman engineering come vividly to life. Entry (and optional guiding) are at additional cost and bookable on tour; the site pairs beautifully with Ortigia’s baroque island ambience.

From Syracuse, travel to UNESCO-listed Noto and walk Corso Vittorio Emanuele past balconies dripping with ironwork. Step inside the Cathedral of San Nicolò and admire its pale, honey-coloured stone.

Rebuilt after 1693, Noto showcases Sicilian High Baroque at its most theatrical—curving stairways, winged putti, and warm limestone facades. This half-day visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour; consider pairing with an almond-granita stop.

From Trapani, cruise to Favignana and Levanzo, dropping anchor in glassy coves for swims and snorkelling. On Favignana, the cliffs of Cala Rossa glow over turquoise water; Levanzo offers whitewashed calm.

Learn about tuna-fishing traditions and the islands’ protected marine environment as you swim in cobalt coves. This full-day cruise is at additional cost and bookable on tour; seasonal conditions may affect routing.

Trace cliffside paths through the Riserva dello Zingaro and follow coastal trails perfumed by dwarf palms and thyme. Detour to tiny beaches like Cala dell’Uzzo where clear water laps limestone shelves.

Look for peregrine falcons and lizards as the Tyrrhenian shimmers below. This active half-day is at additional cost and bookable on tour; bring sturdy shoes, water, and swim gear for refreshing dips.

From Trapani, ride the panoramic funicular up to medieval Erice, a hill town of misty ramparts and cobbled lanes. Climb to the Castello di Venere for vast sea views and photo-worthy angles.

Amble past stone-arched courtyards and pastry shops, sampling almond pastries credited to local convent traditions. This atmospheric excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour; layers are advised as the summit can be breezy.

Stroll the elegant Corso Umberto with your CEO, pausing in Piazza IX Aprile where musicians and painters frame balconied palazzi and Ionian blues. Learn how this hilltop resort charmed Grand Tour travellers and film directors alike.

Absorb cliffside panoramas with snow-dusted Mount Etna on the horizon and discover where to find granita, ceramics, and quiet gardens. With key landmarks and local tips mapped out, you can savour Taormina at your own pace.

Walk the lava-stone spine of Via Etnea to the Baroque stage of Piazza del Duomo and the Elephant Fountain, symbol of Catania. Your CEO highlights markets, museums, and transit so you can navigate with ease.

Rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, Catania wears its resilience in black-lava facades and airy squares. Glimpse churches by Vaccarini, feel Etna’s presence in every cobble, and note favourite spots to revisit during your free time.

Explore Ortigia, Syracuse’s island old town, with a CEO-led walk through luminous squares and limestone lanes. Take in the sculpted sweep of Piazza Duomo and the myth-laced waters of the Fonte Aretusa.

Hear how ancient Greek power and Spanish Baroque left their stamp on facades and fountains. With practical pointers and a sense of place, you’re set to wander courtyards, shoreline ramparts, and café terraces later on.

Meet your fellow travellers and meet your CEO and group for an informal welcome that sets the tone for your Sicilian journey. Get a clear overview of logistics, safety, and daily rhythms, and learn how the trip works so you can relax into the experience.

Pick up insider tips on neighbourhoods, markets, and regional customs, then enjoy a free evening to start soaking up Palermo’s street life. This relaxed session is designed to help you feel at home from the outset.

Join a guided orientation walk through Palermo’s historic heart, taking in the neoclassical grandeur of Teatro Massimo, the theatrically curved crossroads of Quattro Canti, and the Norman-Arab lines of the Palermo Cathedral.

Trace streets shaped by Phoenicians, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards, and notice baroque balconies and bustling piazzas that reveal a city layered with conquests and craft. Your CEO points out essentials—ATMs, markets, transit—so you can explore confidently on your own.

Cruise the Aeolian Islands, skimming cobalt waters to Panarea’s bays and the turquoise curve of Cala Junco. Wander whitewashed lanes perfumed by bougainvillea, then sail past the sea stack of Strombolicchio to Stromboli’s volcanic shores.

As dusk deepens, your captain positions the boat beneath the Sciara del Fuoco to witness Stromboli’s eruptions puncturing the night. This is classic Mediterranean seafaring—salt air, island silhouettes, and a living volcano painting sparks across the sky.