Mediterranean Fantasy · 11 days
From Rome to the deep south: Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri’s Blue Grotto, an overnight ferry crossing to Sicily and the grand Sicilian loop with Monreale, Agrigento, Baroque Sicily, Etna and Taormina.
Departures: Apr 2027: 18 · May 2027: 2, 9, 16, 30 · Jun 2027: 13, 27 · Jul 2027: 11 · Aug 2027: 15, 29 · Sep 2027: 5, 19, 26 (peak season) · Oct 2027: 3, 17
Day-by-day itinerary
B · Breakfast · L · Lunch · D · Dinner
Day 1 · Rome
Welcome to Rome! After the transfer to the hotel, enjoy a daily ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off panoramic bus and admire the city’s main monuments, hopping on and off at any stop. Free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Accommodation in Rome.
Day 2 · Rome › Pompeii › Sorrento (B, D)
Breakfast and 07:00 departure by coach south along the “Motorway of the Sun”. Arrival in Pompeii and guided tour of one of the world’s most important archaeological sites (UNESCO), buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79: houses, frescoes and mosaics. Then a coastal route to Sorrento, arriving at dinner time (dress code: jacket for men). Accommodation.
Day 3 · Sorrento › Capri › Sorrento (B, D)
Breakfast and transfer to the port to sail to Capri, an island of mountainous relief, mild climate and lush vegetation. On arrival, board at Marina Grande to visit the Blue Grotto (weather permitting). Free time for lunch (not included) and to explore the island. In the afternoon, return to Sorrento. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 4 · Sorrento › Naples › overnight ferry (B)
Breakfast and free time in Sorrento. In the afternoon, transfer to the port of Naples to board the ferry to Palermo (departs 20:00, arrives 07:00, about an 11-hour crossing) with accommodation on board in an inside cabin. Dinner and breakfast are not included and there is no tour leader today; boarding is done independently. The transfer to the port, the ferry ticket and the cabin are included.
Day 5 · Palermo (D)
Arrival in Palermo and transfer to the hotel. Time to relax. In the afternoon, meeting with the tour leader and welcome dinner at the hotel. Accommodation in Palermo.
Day 6 · Palermo › Monreale › Palermo (B, D)
Start the day with an excursion to Monreale, famous for its Norman architecture and its Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with time to buy local products. Return to Palermo for a walking tour of the historic centre: palaces, churches and the Cathedral, with its blend of styles. Free afternoon. Dinner and accommodation in Palermo.
Day 7 · Palermo › Erice › Marsala › Agrigento (B, L, D)
Breakfast and departure for Erice, a picturesque medieval town on Mount San Giuliano. Continue to Marsala, famous for its wine: visit a historic winery with a light lunch and tasting of regional products. In the afternoon, visit the impressive Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (entrance included), a World Heritage Site, with remarkable Greek ruins such as the Temple of Concordia. Dinner and accommodation in Agrigento.
Day 8 · Agrigento › Ragusa Ibla › Ragusa (B, D)
Breakfast and departure for Ragusa to visit the charming historic centre “Ibla”, with its Baroque palaces and churches (a World Heritage Site together with other Val di Noto towns): the San Giorgio gate, the Iblei Gardens, San Giorgio Cathedral and the Cosentini Palace. Dinner and accommodation in Ragusa or surroundings.
Day 9 · Ragusa › Noto › Syracuse › Taormina (B, D)
Breakfast and departure for Noto, known for its Baroque architecture, with a visit to San Nicolò Cathedral. Continue to Syracuse to discover the island of Ortigia, the city’s ancient core, with its Baroque churches and medieval palaces. Then on to Taormina: afternoon arrival and check-in at a central hotel. Dinner included at the hotel and accommodation.
Day 10 · Taormina › Mount Etna › Taormina (B)
After breakfast, departure for Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Discover the lava fields and black magma rock and, weather permitting, climb close to the summit (1,800 m). Return to Taormina, the romantic town on Mount Tauro, and rest of the day free. Accommodation.
Day 11 · Taormina (B)
Breakfast and end of our services.
What’s included
- Arrival and departure transfers in Rome and Sicily
- Accommodation in 4* hotels (or similar) with daily breakfast
- Rome: Hop-on Hop-off panoramic bus (daily ticket)
- Pompeii visit with skip-the-line entrance
- Visit to the Blue Grotto in Capri
- Overnight Naples – Palermo ferry crossing in an inside cabin
- Guided tour in Palermo and Agrigento and Monreale Cathedral (entrance included)
- Entrance to the Valley of the Temples and wine tasting in Marsala
- Mount Etna excursion and Baroque Sicily
- 7 meals + 1 light lunch with wine tasting
Not included
- International flights to and from Italy
- Tips of any kind and personal extras
- City accommodation tax (paid at the hotel)
- Drinks not included with meals, unless part of the experience
- Entrance to museums or monuments not mentioned
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Planned hotels
4-star hotels (or similar)
- Rome · Hotel St. Martin 4* or Hotel Diana Roof Garden 4*
- Sorrento area · Grand Hotel Vesuvio 4* or similar
- Palermo · Hotel Mercure Palermo Centro 4*
- Agrigento · Hotel Della Valle 4*
- Ragusa · Hotel Poggio del Sole 4*
- Taormina · Hotel Splendid 4*
Prices per person
| Season | Double | Triple | Single |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak season · September 2027 | 3549 € | 3440 € | 4499 € |
| High season · Apr–Oct 2027 | 3339 € | 3240 € | 4299 € |
Prices per person in euros by season and room occupancy. The final confirmation and payment method are arranged with our team.
Important notes
- Prices per person in euros, by room occupancy.
- In high season, visiting the Blue Grotto in Capri may involve long queues or, given its limited capacity, may not be possible. If access is not possible or weather does not allow it, the guide will suggest alternatives (for example, the Faraglioni rocks).
- The city accommodation tax is not included and is paid at the hotel.