THE BEST OF SICILY in 11 days
My BEST OF SICILY TOUR takes you on a route visiting my best destinations on the island. We will visit all the main tourist sights, but the cultural experiences, small villages, and unique destinations often make the most vivid travel memories. I think we’ve come up with a balanced mix of both. Beginning in Palermo, you’ll experience a lively and vibrant city full of colorful characters, ancient churches, and bustling markets. Then we will get out of town to visit the ancient Greek sites of Segesta, Agrigento, and Syracuse. Along the way, you’ll experience the culture, cuisine, and sense of community only found in small villages and hilltowns. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy some free time on your own to make your own travel memories. Sicily will provide an intense dose of Italian culture supercharged with a Sicilian flair. Your Adventure Starts Here!
| PRICE FROM | DATES | |
|---|---|---|
| $3989 + air | Sep 29-Oct 9, 2025 |  |
| $3989 + air | May 4-14, 2026 | |
| $4189 + air | Sep 30-Oct 10, 2026 | |
Palermo – 2 nights
Trapani – 2 nights
Agrigento – 1 night
Syracuse – 2 nights
Taormina – 2 nights
Catania – 1 night
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Single Room Additional Cost ~$625
ITINERARY
DAY 1: WELCOME TO PALERMO! – Let’s plan to meet for drinks and introductions at 4:00 p.m. in our hotel. Then, we will set off to explore the streets and neighborhoods of Palermo. After an orientation walk, enjoy a true Sicilian dinner at a local restaurant. Sleep for 2 nights in Palermo. Walking: Light. Dinner.
DAY 2: MONREALE AND THE MARKETS – We will begin the day with a visit to the hill town of Monreale and its cathedral. Here you’ll have an opportunity to visit the cathedral’s interior featuring Arab-influenced mosaics and lavish decorations. Back in Palermo, we will take a strolling tour through the backstreets and a local outdoor market. You’ll have the remainder of the afternoon and evening to poke around and do some exploring on your own. Walking: Strenuous.
DAY 3: GREEK TEMPLES AND HILLTOP ERICE – Sicily was dominated by the Greeks long before the Romans settled here, and we’ll get our fair share of “Greece” on our tour around Sicily. Leaving Palermo, we will drive west to Segesta, the site of a magnificent Greek temple and theatre. Later, enjoy a scenic drive into the mountains to Erice, a mountain-top town dating from the middle ages with a fortress, castle, and fantastic views of the sea and islands. After a short orientation, enjoy lunch and a free afternoon for sightseeing. Later, we will head down the hill to Trapani, a bustling seaside town on the far west coast. Here, enjoy an orientation walk around the harbor and a free evening on your own. Sleep for 2 nights in Trapani. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Lunch.
DAY 4: THE SALT FLATS AND MOZIA – Heading south, we will visit a coastal area where salt has been harvested for thousands of years. We will have a look at the salt harvesting process and then visit nearby Mozia, a small coastal island and the home of an ancient Phoenician civilization. Later, we’ll return to Trapani for a free evening. Driving: 2 hours. Walking: Moderate.
DAY 5: AGRIGENTO “VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES” – Enjoy another scenic drive along the southern coastal road en route to the “Valley of the Temples.” Agrigento was founded by the Greeks some 2,500 years ago as an outlying colony of their empire. During the Greek era, the hills along this valley were prime spots for building temples, just like the Parthenon in Athens. Today, you’ll experience some of the best-preserved of all Doric Greek temples in the world. Later, we will arrive at our hotel for a relaxing evening and a fantastic dining experience. Sleep 1 night near Agrigento. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 6: ANCIENT ROMAN MOSAICS & SYRACUSE – We will spend most of the day visiting a Roman Villa that was lost until just 60 years ago. The Villa Romana Casale was covered with mud and debris by a landslide in the 12th century. What we’ll see today are wonderfully preserved and detailed mosaic floors dating from the 4th century. Then travel to Syracuse, known by the Greeks as their most beautiful city. We will take an orientation walk and have dinner together on the island of Ortygia. Sleep for 2 nights in Syracuse. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 7: GREEK THEATRE – Enjoy a visit to an archaeological park for a look at an impressive Greek theatre carved out of solid rock. The remainder of the day is event-free to allow you to experience Syracuse and Ortygia on your own. Walking: Moderate.
DAY 8: MONT ETNA & TAORMINA: Heading north, travel the slopes of Mt. Etna, an active volcano, en route to Taormina. In Taormina, enjoy a delightful evening passiggiata and dinner. Sleep for 2 nights in Taormina. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Lunch or Dinner.
DAY 9: GREEK THEATRE– This morning, we will visit a very well-preserved Greek theatre that is still used today for open-air performances. Enjoy a free afternoon on your own to shop, relax in a café, take a walk in the park or visit the cliff-top village of Castelmola. Walking: Light.
DAY 10: CATANIA– After breakfast, travel down to Catania, where we will visit the Museum dedicated to the 1943 Allied Landings in Sicily (Museo dello Sbarco). Later, you’ll be free to wander through Catania’s fish market and enjoy the beautiful Baroque city center. We’ll gather for a farewell dinner at a local ristorante to cap off your Sicilian tour experience. Sleep 1 night in Catania. Driving: 2 hours. Walking Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 11: HEADING HOME – Breakfast is provided this morning, but there are no planned activities. Catania’s airport is just a short taxi ride away. Arriverderci!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
INCLUSIONS
Transportation is provided by a coach and/or minibus from your hotel in Palermo to the airport in Catania.
10-night accommodation in centrally located hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurants, and hotel staff.
Strictly Small Group consisting of 6-18 travelers.
All breakfasts and six of your dinners or lunches.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David’s personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority, and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, wine, beer, and other drinks are your responsibility.
Tours and admissions to the following attractions, experiences, and sights: Walking tour in Palermo ·Entrance and tour at Monreale Cathedral · Segesta Temple · Erice orientation walk · Visit to the Salt Flats · visit to the island of Mozia · Valley of the Temples tour · Villa Romana Casale · Ortygia neighborhood walk · Syracuse · Neopolis Archaeological Park tour · WWII Landing Museum · Taormina walking tour · and much more.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts who are dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
EXCLUSIONS
Anything not listed above in the “inclusions” area is not included in the cost of your tour.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposits- Deposits for tours are fully refundable for 30 days from your initial application and deposit date, unless otherwise noted. If you book a tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- Tour payments are due in full 90 days before your tour departure date. If you find you must cancel between 90-0 days before your tour departure, please contact us immediately. We will work with you to transfer your payments to another tour departing within 18 months. We strongly recommend that everyone purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers tour cancellations, emergency medical, and other unexpected events.
Cancellations will be effective when the written notification is received at David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe by mail, e-mail, or fax.
SIGN UP BY EMAIL OR POST
If you do not want to sign up online:
You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
-OR-
You may return it by:
- FAX 1-800-570-1351
- Email – info@davidmcguffin.com
- email – take a photo of the form with your smartphone and attach it to an email
- TXT – take a photo with your smartphone and TXT to 904-612-8149
KEY TO WALKING & ACTIVITY
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
PRE-TOUR RESOURCES
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry; we are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
DAVID’S AUDIO & E-PRINT PDF DESTINATION GUIDES
David has a complete PDF and Printable Guidebook for all destinations on his Essence and Best of Italy tours. You’ll also find downloadable AUDIO WALKING TOURS for Rome’s Colosseum and the Roman Forum. https://davidmcguffin.com/dg-italy/
DAVID’S VIDEO SERIES: THE BEST OF ITALY
David and his team have produced an episodic video series detailing many of the destinations on this tour itinerary. They are all neatly organized on his YouTube channel. Watch the complete series or view one episode at a time on his Best of Italy Playlist.
DAVID’S 60 SECONDS DESTINATION VIDEOS
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in Italy. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David’s Explore Italy.
DAVID’S TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY ALMOST-WEEKLY BROADCAST AND VIDEO SERIES BLOG.
Every week, when David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
Each Travel Talk Tuesday session is recorded. Watch them here.
DAVID’S BLOG ARTICLES
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Just type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (it’s the gray rectangle with a small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.
Testimonials & Reviews of our ITALY Tours
I’m quite pleased with my first experience with David McGuffin tour company. The itinerary was spot on - from sites (expected tourist highlights to less known treasures) to hotels (especially Barr Na Straide) & restaurants (Rinuccini❣️) to planned time balanced with free time. And our guide David Grey was THE BEST! David is respectful, thorough, flexible, & a wealth of knowledge and all the while just being plain fun. As my late mother would say, “he’s a keeper.”
We were a family of 5 with three adults and two children 7 and 9. In London we had great food, site seeing and special moments like tea at Harrods, seeing Wicked live and a trip to Harry Potter WB studio experience as well as a trip to Abbey Road for a photo moment. We rode The Eye, boats, busses and the subway. John and Audra guided us expertly . On to Paris via train and more wonderful sites and food. We absolutely loved the Eiffel Tower both from the top and from the river. Spectacular experience of seeing the lights coming on at dusk. Took a cooking class and it was fantastic. The macarons were delicious. Lots of walking. This hotel was convenient to transportation but room too small for a family. All the hotels had delicious breakfasts. Flew to Rome and the hotel there was very nice. Very hot here but enjoyed all the sites and food. No water in Trevi Fountain but lots of other things to enjoy. Had a wonderful memorable time. Came home exhausted but with lots of lasting memories. Thanks to David, Leslie John and Audra for a trip of a lifetime.
The trip to Ireland was just GREAT. David McGuffin Exploring Europe really provides a very nice itinerary and very comfortable everything, very nice hotels, great food, highlighted places and experiences. The part I liked best was David the personal full time tour guide, he was exceptional. The company took care of all of the details like where to go, where to stay, all attraction payments, the beautiful motorcoach. All we had to do is relax and enjoy. And what a great group of people. It couldn't have been better!
My wife and I traveled to Italy last month for David’s “Essence of Italy” tour and we had a great time. Traveling with David and Charlotte was so much easier not having to worry about our hotel, food, and transportation arrangements.
Due to the Jubilee and the Pope’s death, Rome was extremely crowded. We missed the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica because of the Conclave. We plan on returning to Rome with David to see these sites.
The train ride to Cinque Terre was fun with a lot to see. Once there, we were able to visit a few of the five villages using local trains. The views of the mountain villages next to the ocean were fantastic.
Our next stop was to the hilltown of Volterra in Tuscany. Now I know why David calls Volterra one of his favorite places. It’s really beautiful and has a lot of history. We would never have thought of visiting some of the locations David took us.
We finished our trip visiting Siena and Florence. The museums, Cathedrals, and famous historical sites were great to see.
Traveling with David, Charlotte and our group was very enjoyable. We have already booked our next trip with David in 2026.
Essence of Italy 10 days our first David McGuffin Tour and we were thankful to have David and Charlotte with us on this tour. Rome was quite the experience 2 full days of site seeing with the Vatican, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain to name a few all so beautiful, but a little over whelming with the crowds.
Our hotels in every location were quaint and lovely! Not having A/C is some of them was an adjustment , I definitely recommend you bring the portable fan that David mentions to bring we used it.
We really enjoyed our small group 10 people including our guides it was perfect. We had so much fun at our group dinners having a guide for the restaurants was definitely a plus, as well as what food to order.
Cinque Terre- Monterosso was my favorite village and Volterra the Tuscany area was also a favorite of ours! The tour guides in Rome (Guilai was amazing) and Volterra were informative and enjoyable as well as David and Charlottes information on each area.
We packed just like David suggested and we didn’t have any issues or problems handling our own luggage but we did do laundry once while there. David’s tour prep instructions were spot on.
We had the most enjoyable time making new friends and seeing beautiful Italy our next adventure is hopefully Greece!
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