Throughout  your tour of Sicily you will be able to discover beneath the Sicilian sun, explore a diverse array of architectural styles and learn how a wide variety of cultural influences have converged to shape Sicily’s unique character.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Palermo

Fly through the night to Sicily.

Day 2 - Palermo

Land in Palermo, Sicily’s capital city. Meet your Go Ahead representative, who will escort you to your hotel and assist with check-in. Enjoy an included dinner this evening with the rest of your group. (B in flight, D)

Day 3 - Palermo

Situated by the Tyrrhenian Sea at the foot of Mount Pellegrino, Palermo bears diverse influences of the past including Arab, Christian, Byzantine and Roman. On your guided sightseeing tour, pass the city’s palazzi and view the dazzling design of the Martorana Church with its glittering mosaics. Pass the Duomo and the Four Corners, where four Spanish Baroque palaces stand, and the “Fountain of Shame,” whose nude figures shocked its 16th-century audience. Your tour then continues on to nearby Monreale for a visit to the town’s magnificent Norman cathedral and mosaics. (B)

Day 4 - Palermo

Spend the day at your leisure, or choose to see some of the best-preserved Greek ruins in the Mediterranean area on today’s optional excursion. First stop is the ancient ruins of Segesta. Then visit the village of Erice, perched on the summit of Monte San Giuliano. (B)

$99 USD

Erice & Segesta First stop on this Sicilian excursion is the ruins of Segesta. Next explore the preserved village of Erice, once a worship center for the goddess Aphrodite.

Day 5 - Agrigento

Travel south through the Sicilian countryside to Agrigento, whose history dates back to 580 B.C. As you approach, look for Agrigento’s golden temples on the skyline. This afternoon, visit the Valley of the Temples, a magnificent cluster of Greek ruins overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, on a guided tour. Tonight, enjoy an optional evening of Sicilian cuisine. (B)

$59 USD

Sicilian Dinner Learn about the flavors and food preparations that are traditional in Sicilian cooking as you savor a typical regional dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 6 - Syracuse

This morning, pay a visit to Piazza Armerina, a town famous for its Roman mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale. Arrive later in Syracuse (Siracusa), the wealthy and powerful heart of Greek civilization in ancient times. (B, D)

Day 7 - Syracuse

Enjoy a free day in Syracuse and check out the vast Archaeological Museum. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to a local farm situated in the heart of the countryside. You’ll indulge in a gourmet, three-course meal and tour the estate owned by a Sicilian contessa. (B)

$75 USD

Sicilian Farm Visit With its warm climate, open fields and fertile soil, Sicily is one of Italy’s most abundant agricultural areas. Local crops include oranges, lemons, olives, onions, nuts, tomatoes, eggplants and herbs.

Day 8 - Syracuse

An expert local guide introduces you to the crown jewel of Sicily, Syracuse’s Archaeological Park. You’ll visit the 2,500-year-old Greek amphitheater, the most complete ruin of its kind. Then tour the massive Paradise Quarry and gardens, featuring the cave that Caravaggio dubbed “The Ear of Dionysius” for its unique acoustics. Later, cross a bridge to the island of Ortygia for a walking tour of this beautiful old center of Syracuse. (B)

Day 9 - Taormina

Follow the coastline north to Taormina, a mountaintop town of breathtaking natural beauty. On your guided tour, take in the same gorgeous views of Mount Etna that inspired both Goethe and D.H. Lawrence. Witness the astonishing acoustics of the 2nd-century Greek Theater, still in use today. (B, D)

Day 10 - Taormina

Spend a day at your leisure or opt for an excursion to visit the archelogical site of Tindari. (B)

$69 USD

Tindari Leave Taormina to venture back in time to the remains of ancient Tindari, situated on cliffs with great views across to the Aeolian Islands. The ruins and famed mosiacs await your arrival.

Day 11 - Taormina

Explore Taormina on your own today. Magnificent beaches and cliff walks are among the natural attractions. Or opt to join a half-day excursion to Mount Etna with lunch. (B)

$79 USD

Mt. Etna Travel from Taormina to the base of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and highest active volcano. Here, you’ll have a guided tour with the chance to hike on the lava dunes and crater-pocked landscapes

Day 12 - Taormina

Fly home today or continue your stay in Italy with our Rome extension. (B)

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

• Trip cancellation & interruption protection
• Medical & accident protection
• Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

• Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
• Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
• Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
• Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
• In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
• The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
  • Medical & Accident: $70 USD
  • Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

In order to enter Italy, U.S. citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return to the United States. No visa is required for U.S. citizens. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must contact the Italian consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Health

There are no major health risks when traveling to Sicily. It is always advisable to check with your doctor or health-care provider for the latest updates and overseas travel requirements.

Transportation / Walking on tour

Round-trip flights arrive in Palermo and depart from Catania. When you first arrive in Palermo, a Go Ahead representative will meet you at the airport. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.

Included transportation on “Scenes from Sicily” is by private motorcoach. In your free time, most of Sicily’s locations are best accessed on foot. Local city buses in Palermo and Syracuse can break up periods of walking. Taxis are also useful, particularly in connecting downtown Syracuse (where most hotels are located) to the island of Ortygia (where most shops and restaurants are). In Taormina, local buses connect the beachfront city of Naxos to Taormina proper. You can also ride a funicular up to Taormina’s city center.

Clothing & Packing Tips

Light, loose-fitting clothing that provides comfort when exploring the sights is essential for your tour. A sun hat, sunglasses and a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for sightseeing. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for any eventuality—a lightweight sports jacket and emergency rainwear are advised. If you plan to visit an especially elegant restaurant or attend the opera or theater, you will probably feel more comfortable with something more formal to wear. Also, remember that bare legs and shoulders are officially not allowed in churches or other religious sites. Entrance may be denied on this basis.

Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitters for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!

Currency

The euro is the currency you will be using on your tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in Italy rather than in the United States, although it is worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be exchanged for cash at local banks, as needed. You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. Please note: With the conversion to the euro, it has been increasingly difficult to exchange traveler’s checks outside of Europe’s major cities—both at banks and shops—and they often attract higher fees.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour it is customary to offer your Go Ahead Tour Director and driver a gratuity.

We recommend €2 per person per day for your driver and €4 to €6 per person for your tour director. If applicable, we also recommend €1 per local guide.

Tips may only be paid in cash.