8-Nights Sicily in Depth - Small Group from $3,326

Insight Vacations

OFFER ID 1556470

Sicily In Depth - Small Group
See every slice of Sicily during this 9-day Sicily guided tour. Take off to Paradise Quarry in Syracuse with a Local Expert, who will show you its Ear of Dionysius, an ear-shaped limestone grotto: call out to your fellow travelers here, and your voice may echo as many as 16 times. Visit the Palatine Chapel to marvel at the glittering gold mosaics for a stunning sight. Travel to the salt pans and windmills on the western coast and taste Marsala wine in its home town. In Taormina, perched above the Ionian Sea, join a Local Expert at the city’s cliffside Greek theater, from which you can see Mount Etna, the island’s active Strato volcano.


Dining Summary

  • 5 Dinner (D)
  • 8 Breakfast (B)
Choice Highlights
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Syracuse: Walk through the gardens of Paradise Quarry, listen to the acoustics in the mysterious Ear of Dionysius and visit the Greek theater.
  • Syracuse: Stroll through Old Town Syracuse on the island of Ortygia and learn the legends of the Fonte Aretusa.
Additional Included Highlights
  • Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
  • Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
  • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
  • If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
  • Palermo: Embark on a fun exploration of Palermo's tasty culinary scene on a Dine-Around evening.
  • Marsala: Enjoy a tasting of some of the island's richest Sicilian wines at a local winery in Marsala.
  • Ragusa: Savor the flavors of Ragusa during your Farm-to-Table dining experience, highlighting the freshest locally sourced ingredients.
  • Giardini Naxos: Your celebration dinner reflects some of Sicily's top culinary heritage.
Insight Choice
  • Syracuse: Walk through the gardens of Paradise Quarry, listen to the acoustics in the mysterious Ear of Dionysius and visit the Greek theater.
  • Syracuse: Stroll through Old Town Syracuse on the island of Ortygia and learn the legends of the Fonte Aretusa.
Make Travel Matter
  • Trapani: Discover how the ancient traditions of salt extraction has been handed down from generation to generation. Set in a breathtaking natural landscape, home to pink flamingos and various aquatic birds, the salt pans and windmills create a picturesque scene against a backdrop of sea and sky. This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 11 & 12 - Sustainable Cities and Communities & Responsible Consumption and Production
Top Rated Highlights
  • Palermo: Visit the spectacular 12th-century Palatine Chapel. Its sombre exterior gives away few clues to the riches inside. Step into a world where the walls glitter with 12th-century mosaics, the best of their kind in the world.
  • Agrigento: Admire magnificent Hellenistic remains in the Valley of the Temples, such as the massive Temple of Concord and clifftop Temple of Juno.
  • Piazza Armerina: Travel to the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO site since 1997. The Villa is one of the most luxurious of its kind, showcasing it's rich and intricate mosaics which decorate almost every room.
  • Ragusa: During your walking tour with your Local Expert see the famous Baroque buildings and churches.
  • Modica: Experience Modica's celebrated hand-made chocolate.
  • Taormina: Should you awake early, you may see why this is known as 'The Dawn Coast of Europe.'
  • Taormina: Visit the ancient Greek Amphitheater with your Local Expert. Set on a cliff, open to the sky, take your seats and enjoy the view through the crumbling arches to Mount Etna.
  • Taormina: Visit Taormina with a Local Expert and enjoy free time to stroll along Corso Umberto to Piazza IX Aprile.
Travel Director
  • "A type of food I really love introducing my guests to is the street food because it tells a lot about the habits of the locals, it can be a slice of pizza folded up or a sfogliatella in Naples, an arancini, a gelato in Sicily, or a cannolo. "
  • "One fun fact people don't usually know before they come to Italy is that the Italian alphabet only has 22 letters."
  • "One thing I really love about showing guests about Italy is how art and beauty can be found around every corner of some of Italy's cities, which are real open air museums."
Well-being
  • Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.


8 nights from $3,326 per person

Special Promotion: Save up to 15% on September 2025 tours or up to 15% on tours departing in the next 4 months

Valid for new bookings deposited March 24, 2025 – May 29, 2025 for travel from September 1 – September 30, 2025 (or) on select tours departing in the next 4 months.

*Promotion may not be combinable with any other offers, promotions, or discounts, and is subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. 

Itinerary

Insight Vacations: Sicily in Depth - Small Group

Day 1 - Welcome to Palermo
Relax and settle in before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodations: Casena dei Colli, Palermo
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Palermo & the Golden Age of the Normans
Discover Palermo on a walking tour featuring a visit to the stunning 12th-century Palatine Chapel with a Local Expert. This afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring Palermo Cathedral, a fascinating site with its unique blend of architectural styles reflecting centuries of history. For your dining pleasure, you can try the foods the locals like to eat and experience how they like to eat it on your Dine-Around Evening.
Accommodations: Casena dei Colli, Palermo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 - Trapani and Marsala
Nestled along its crescent-shaped coastline, Trapani is embraced by the Mediterranean Sea. Discover the age-old tradition of salt production when you visit the colorful salt pans and an ancient stone windmill during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to see where sea water is transformed into salt crystals. Then, savor the flavors of Marsala with a tasting at a local winery, where you can enjoy the town's renowned wine in beautiful surroundings.
Accommodations: Seawater, Marsala
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Explore the Valley of the Temples
Travel along the southern coast of Sicily en route to Agrigento. In Agrigento, explore the Valley of the Temples with a Local Expert. Recognized by UNESCO, these temples are exceptional examples of ancient Greek architecture. Marvel at the imposing Temple of Concordia and the cliff-top Temple of Juno, both overlooking the sea. Reflect on this unforgettable day with your fellow travelers over dinner at the hotel, sharing insights and experiences.
Accommodations: The Scala dei Turchi Resort, Agrigento
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 - Discover Villa Romana del Casale and Ragusa
Travel inland to the Villa Romana del Casale, a luxurious Roman villa renowned for its rich and intricate mosaics. This UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized since 1997, showcases the opulence of ancient Rome. Continue to Ragusa and explore the labyrinthine alleyways of Ragusa Ibla with your Local Expert. This town, with origins dating back to the Bronze Age, was inhabited by the Sicels tribe, who lent their name to Sicily. Admire the significant Sicilian Baroque architecture that has earned Ragusa UNESCO recognition. In the evening, savor the rich flavors of locally sourced ingredients with a delicious Farm-to-Table dinner at a charming local restaurant.
Accommodations: Mediterraneo Palace, Ragusa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 - Modica Relaxed Start
Enjoy a Relaxed Start this morning or join an Optional Experience to the Val di Noto and the town of Noto. Later, explore the town of Modica, rebuilt after the 17th-century earthquake, and discover its artisanal techniques used to create the town's celebrated handmade chocolate.
Accommodations: Mediterraneo Palace, Ragusa
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Ancient Syracuse
Discover Syracuse through Insight Choice. Opt for sightseeing with your Local Expert at Syracuse’s Paradise Quarry, home to the unique Ear of Dionysius, an ear-shaped grotto with remarkable acoustics. Next, visit the impressive Greek theater, carved from solid rock, and one of the largest of the ancient world. Alternatively, take time to explore the atmospheric Old City on the island of Ortygia, a labyrinth of narrow streets lined with palaces. This historic area is where the famed mathematician Archimedes famously ran through the streets, exclaiming 'Eureka!' Continue your journey along Sicily’s picturesque Ionian Riviera to the charming town of Giardini Naxos.
Accommodations: Delta by Marriott Giardini
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 - Taormina and the Dawn Coast of Europe
Your hotel faces east, offering early risers a glimpse of why D.H. Lawrence dubbed this 'The Dawn Coast of Europe.' After breakfast, consider an Optional Experience through the vineyards to Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. Journey to the charming old town of Taormina, perched on Mount Tauro with views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. With your Local Expert, visit the ancient Greek theater, set on a cliff and open to the sky. Sit and absorb the breath-taking view through the crumbling arches to Mount Etna. Stroll along the elegant Corso Umberto and enjoy panoramic views from Piazza IX Aprile. Celebrate your time in Sicily with a delightful dinner at a local restaurant, savoring Sicilian cuisine with exquisite Italian wines.
Accommodations: Delta by Marriott Giardini
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 - Depart Catania
Your Sicily tour has now come to an end. Appreciate views of Mount Etna on your way to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Featured Destinations
Taormina
Ragusa
Palermo
Marsala
Agrigento
Catania

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
07/11/2025 - 07/19/2025
from $3,326 per person
10/31/2025 - 11/08/2025
from $3,795 per person *


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
from $3,326 per person
Length
8 Nights
Air City
Call for airfares from your city.
Vacation Rating
Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
Remarks
Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1556470

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