TOUR OVERVIEW
My Best of Sicily Tour takes you on a circular tour visiting my best destinations on the island. We will definitely visit all the main tourist sights but often it is the cultural experiences, small villages, and unique destinations that 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 visiting the ancient Greek sites of Segesta, Agrigento, Taormina, 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!
My Best of Sicily Tour takes you on a circular tour visiting my best destinations on the island. We will definitely visit all the main tourist sights but often it is the cultural experiences, small villages, and unique destinations that 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 visiting the ancient Greek sites of Segesta, Agrigento, Taormina, 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!
TOUR 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 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 outside, enjoy some time on your own in Monreale for a coffee and photos. Back in Palermo, we will take a strolling tour through the backstreets and a local street 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 1 night in Trapani. Bus: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate.
DAY 4: THE SALT FLATS AND MARSALA – Heading south, we will visit a coastal area where salt has been harvested for thousands of years. After a look at the “harvesting process” we will continue our coastal drive to Marsala. Enjoy a walking tour of the fine Baroque town center, we’ll make sure to get in on the evening passeggiata. Later, we will meet for dinner featuring the speciality products from this regions: olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and Marsala wine! Sleep 1 night in Marsala. Bus: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 5: AGRIGENTO “VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES” – Enjoy another scenic drive along the southern coastal road enroute 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 countryside B&B for a relaxing evening and fantastic dining experience. Sleep 1 night near Agrigento. Bus: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 6: A ROMAN VILLA & ANCIENT MOSAICS – We will spend most of the day visiting a Roman Villa that had been 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. Later, we will travel to Ragusa, another beautiful hilltown on the southern peninsula. Once set up in our hotel, we’ll take an orientation walk and set you loose to make more discoveries on your own. Sleep 1 night in Ragusa. Bus: 4 hours. Walking: Moderate.
DAY 7: NOTO AND ORTYGIA- This morning, enjoy a visit to nearby Noto and its notable Baroque Cathedral of St. Nicholas. After lunch, travel on 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 2 nights in Syracuse. Bus: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 8: GREEK THEATRE AND ROMAN CATACOMBS – Enjoy a guided visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park for a look at an impressive Greek theatre carved out of solid rock. Then we’ll fast forward several centuries through history with a visit to the Roman Catacombs of St. John. The remainder of the day is event-free to allow you to experience Syracuse and Ortygia on your own. We will meet later this evening for a traditional Sicilian puppet theatre performance. Walking: Strenuous.
DAY 9: WWII LANDING AND MT ETNA: Heading north, we will stop to tour the Museum dedicated to the 1943 Allied Landings in Sicily. Afterwards, travel the slopes of Mt. Etna, an active volcano, enroute to Taormina. In Taormina, enjoy a delightful evening passiggiata and dinner. Sleep 1 night in Taormina. Bus: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Lunch or Dinner.
DAY 10: GREEK THEATRE & A FISHERMEN VILLAGE – We visit a Greek theatre and linger in Taormina this morning. Later, you’ll enjoy Cefalù as you wander its narrow cobbled streets. Enjoy the Byzantine mosaics in the cathedral, take a hike up “La Rocca” for fantastic views, or while away your time with a drink in the local piazza. Sleep 1 night in Cefalù. Bus: 3 hours. Walking is your choice.
DAY 11: CEFALÙ & RETURN TO PALERMO – Enjoy most of the day in Cefalù before returning to the Palermo area. We will set up for our final night in a seaside village just minutes from the airport. Later, we’ll gather for dinner featuring a grand farewell feast and an opportunity to share memories, and say goodbye. Sleep 1 night at a village near the Palermo airport. Dinner.
DAY 12: TOUR OVER AFTER BREAKFAST – Breakfast is included, but there are no other activities today. From here, you can make easy connections to the airport. Ciao e buon viaggio!
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Transportation provided by coach and/or minibus from your hotel
in Palermo to your final hotel near the Palermo Airport.
11
nights accommodation in
centrally located hotels, guesthouses, and B&B’s. All rooms have
private en-suite bathes.
All
tips and gratuities to guides,
drivers, restaurant and hotel staff.
Guaranteed Small
Group consisting of no more
than 24 travelers.
All
breakfasts and six of your dinners or
lunches.
Traditional and gourmet 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.
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 · Marsala orientation walk · Valley of the Temples tour · Villa Romana Casale · Ortygia neightborhood walk · Syracuse · Neopolis Archaeological Park tour · WWII Landing Museum · Taorimina walking tour · Cefalù orientation walk · and much more (itinerary specifics are subject to
change).
A
fulltime Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history,
and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s printed
tour handouts detailing each day’s historical and cultural
experiences.
Free
luggage tags and David’s custom
designed drawstring backpacks.
Our
Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee that
once locked in, will never change.
Comprehensive
Travel Insurance providing full
coverage for emergency medical, baggage loss, and trip delay from the moment
you depart for your tour.
$50
Tour Alumni discount for each David
McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to 2016.
$100
discount if making all payments by check, cash or bank draft. The $400 initial deposit may be made by credit
card and still qualify for this discount.
Single
rooms for solo travelers are
available for an additional cost of $575.
KEY TO WALKING & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences by foot, boat, and vehicle. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the countryside. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is our key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some small hills and elevation gains. In most cases, the bus will drop-off and pick-up at nearby locations. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths. To enjoy the full tour experience, some up and down hill walking is to be expected. Four to five miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths with some steps and stairs. Up to six 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 everyday with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences by foot, boat, and vehicle. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the countryside. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is our key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some small hills and elevation gains. In most cases, the bus will drop-off and pick-up at nearby locations. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths. To enjoy the full tour experience, some up and down hill walking is to be expected. Four to five miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths with some steps and stairs. Up to six 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 everyday with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
SIGN UP FOR THIS TOUR
To reserve a seat on this tour you must agree to our Tour Conditions and provide us with a deposit of $400 per person. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and PayPal for all tour deposits and payments. Additionally, we accept personal checks (US banks only), bank drafts, and money orders made payable to David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe (in US dollars).
Your final tour payment is due in our office at least 90 days prior to the start of the tour. The due date is noted on your tour confirmation letter and invoice. If you sign up for a tour less than 90 days before its departure, the entire tour price must be paid, and the deposit portion ($400) is non-refundable.
We offer a $100 discount if all payments (beyond the initial $400 deposit which may be paid with a credit card) are made by check, cash, bank draft, or money order.
Deposits for tours are refundable for two weeks from the date we receive it in our office. Additionally, deposits received in 2015 for any 2016 tour departing after April 1 are 100% refundable through January 5, 2016. After these dates, deposits are not refundable for any reason and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation. All cancellations must be in writing. Cancellations will be effective on the date the written notification is received by David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc. by mail, e-mail, or fax.
The quickest way to sign up is to reserve your tour online and make a deposit payment of $400 with a credit card. If making payment for 2 or more people, be sure to change the quantity in the box. Click the “Sign Up Now!” button to go to our secure server and make your $400 deposit payment.
If you prefer to print an application and pay by check, money order, or credit card you can download an application here: TOUR APPLICATION. You may also download and print a tour brochure here: TOUR ITINERARY.
1. Fax Application and Credit Card information to (800) 570-1351.
2. You may scan the application and email it to: david@davidmcguffin.com.
3. OR you can take a photo of the application with your smartphone and email it to us.
4. Mail Information to: Exploring Europe – 4036 Hidden Acre Rd. – Middleburg, Florida 32068.
Once we receive your application and deposit, we will send you a confirmation over e-mail (or written notification if no e-mail address is provided). If you would like to talk to a tour expert before signing up, please give us a call at 800 570-1351 or e-mail us at tours@davidmcguffin.com.
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 and his team have produced hundreds of videos featuring many destinations in Europe. They are all neatly organized on his YouTube channel.
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 and Greece.
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