Tour Description

This one swings you from Rome to Naples, the home of pizza and gateway to Pompeii, before gliding along the dreamy Amalfi Coast. After falling for Capri and postcard pretty Positano, it's time to head to Sicily for a week of dreamy beaches, incredible food and endless ancient history. This Italian adventure has a little something for everyone.

Priced From:

$ 4873pp ^*

From: 2023-06-20

To: 2023-09-26

Start Location: Rome, Italy

End Location: Palermo, Italy

Trip Type: In Depth Explorer

Tour Advisors

Tiffany McCrea-Lennon

Managing Director

Russell Mein

Travel Specialist

Caitlin Lennon

Travel Coordinator

Michelle Baldwin

Travel Specialist

Gaylyn Murdoch

Administration Manager

Holly Skene

Travel Co-ordinator

Kim Thomas

Broker

Itinerary

Start Rome

Day 1

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel Genova (or similar)

Welcome to Rome! Once known as the 'capital of the world' this richly historic, passionate and elegant city will steal our hearts as soon as we arrive. We'll meet and greet our Contiki crew at 4pm and enjoy an included dinner this evening.

Rome to Naples

Day 2

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel Vergilius Billia (or similar)

Today we're headed to another richly historical and cultural city, known for it's naturally beautiful sights and excellent cuisine. Welcome to Naples, the rough and ready but oh so charming city which encapsulates everything we love about Italy. The home of pizza, a hub of culture, and a bundle of passionate Italian energy, this is also the site of Mt Vesuvius, the infamous active volcano. Today we have the option to check out the ruins of Pompeii, the fascinating Roman town that was destroyed by Vesuvius and then perfectly preserved in volcanic ash. Another option today is to take a tour, learning about the city, it's history and it's food culture.

Naples to Amalfi Coast

Day 3

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Salerno (or similar)

We're headed to the coast today to check out some of the most glamorous seascapes in Europe. We'll visit a spectacular Amalfi jewel today. Capri, with its gorgeous cragged coastline and opulent cafes. Its easy to see why this is such a playground for the rich and famous. An optional Capri cruise will let us check out plenty of swim stops to beat the heat. We'll settle in Salerno for the night after a day of postcard pretty sun bleached buildings and sparkling sea.

Amalfi Coast

Day 4

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Salerno (or similar)

We've got a free day on the Amalfi coast today. Lucky us. We've got plenty to do including a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience. First up, we'll visit a lemon farm to learn how these huge, sunshine-coloured fruits are harvested and turned into limoncello. We'll then take an included boat ride around the stunning Amalfi Coast. Dramatic cliffs and idyllic buildings await us in picturesque Positano. Back in Salerno we'll rest up after our Amalfi Adventure.

Amalfi Coast to Rome

Day 5

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel Genova (or similar)

We're headed back to Rome today. Time for the Colosseum? Back in Rome we recommend taking our optional Emperors & Gladiators tour, where you'll skip the queues and enter the jaw-dropping Colosseum through the exclusive Emperor's gate. This is the perfect way to learn about this fascinating, blood-stained arena, in which Romans used to flock to watch epic battles between elephants, tigers, and gladiators. Then, we have a free night to check out the nightlife and toast what has been an unforgettable Italian adventure.

Rome to Catania

Day 6

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel Villa Del Bosco (or similar)

Today we're hopping on a speedy flight to the incomparable isle of Sicily. This colourful cacophony of baroque piazzas and ancient ruins is the perfect place to get acquainted with Sicily. We'll have a chance to check out Catania's UNESCO listed historic core before an included dinner in a local restaurant. Is Sicilian cuisine the best in the world? It has to be up there...

Catania to Taormina

Day 7

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel Antares (or similar)

We've got more spectacular Sicilian towns to explore today, as we head from Catania to Taormina. Uniquely perched on the side of a mountain, this elegant resort town is the perfect place to live the good life in Italy. We'll waste no time admiring the gorgeous panoramas, as we take the cable car that connects the town's historic centre with its awesome beaches. After sunning ourselves for a bit, why not opt for a cooking class with some local masterchefs, learning how to whip up local delicacies like Arancini & Cannoli? It's the perfect way to impress everyone when you get back home.

Taormina

Day 8

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel Antares (or similar)

Today we've got an unmissable optional for you. Sicily’s stupendous stratovolcano Mt Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. And what better way to experience this majestic monster than on an adrenaline filled 4x4 ride, as you pass vineyards and orchards spread across the fertile slopes? You won’t find views quite like this anywhere in Europe. Whether or not you opt for the 4x4 tour, you'll have a free afternoon to explore Taormina - lazing on the beach, checking out the Roman theatre or sitting and drinking a spritz as life lazily moves by. It's a hard life.

Taormina to Syracuse via Noto

Day 9

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Le Residenze Archimede (or similar)

See ya, Taormina – it's time to visit some historical hotspots. Next stop, Syracuse. After checking into our hotel, we’ll have some free time to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse. Famed for its rich Roman and Greek history, with ancient amphitheatres and architecture everywhere you look, this place was even mentioned in the Bible (how's that for history creds?). Our next outing is to Noto, home to some of Sicily’s most impressive historic architecture. We’ll check out the Corso Vittoria Emanuele and other legendary landmarks, and then it’s off to an organic farm for a Tastes of Sicily experience – the freshest Sicilian ingredients, brought to us direct from farm to table. Just what the doctor ordered! And after a long day, it’s time to hit the hay. ’Til tomorrow, friends.

Syracuse to Cefalu via Agrigento

Day 10

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel La Giara (or similar)

Heading from Noto we'll arrive in Agrigento, the perfect base to explore another ancient wonder... From Agrigento we have an included tour of the Valley of the Temples, This mystical valley is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological heritage. As you wander the valley, in the shadow of blooming almond trees, we'll discover ancient temples, sanctuaries and a necropolis. It’s a spectacular testament to Sicily’s ancient history (and natural beauty). Arriving in Cefalu we'll enjoy another included dinner of Sicilian delicacies. What a day - and we're not done yet.

Cefalu

Day 11

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hotel La Giara (or similar)

Cefalu is a real gem, home to Sicily's best beaches and most impressive Arabic architecture. This truly is the island that keeps on giving. Today's all about coastal vibes, soaking up that sun, sea and sand - with plenty of water sports to get involved with. If you're feeling a little more zen, why not opt for the coastal cruise and soak up some scenery instead? Later on we'll stroll the winding cobbled streets and watch fishermen taking stock of the day's bounties, before exploring the town's foodie and nightlife scene. Ah, Sicily - sigh.

Cefalu to Palermo

Day 12

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Astoria Palace Hotel (or similar)

It's time to end on a high, as we make our way towards Sicily's sizzling capital. Palermo is vivacious, colourful and boasts a thriving culinary scene, but it’s also been plagued by organised crime for decades. Today on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® experience, you can join a walking tour through the historic centre, learning about the history of the Mafia in Palermo and how the civil antiMafia movement was formed. We'll round things off with a farewell dinner at Al Fresco, AKA the 'bistro of second chances'.

End Palermo

Day 13

Duration: 1

Time to head home after one final breakfast together. Hug it out, swap social details - and don't be sad, we'll see each other on the road again soon.

Dates & prices

Start Date: 2023-07-04

End Date: 2023-07-16

twin

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6274

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6274

triple

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5970

tripleShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5970

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8096

Start Date: 2023-07-11

End Date: 2023-07-23

twin

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6274

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6274

triple

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5970

tripleShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5970

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8096

Start Date: 2023-07-18

End Date: 2023-07-30

twin

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5119

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5119

triple

Child Price:

Adult Price: 4873

tripleShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 4873

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6594

Start Date: 2023-08-08

End Date: 2023-08-20

twin

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6274

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6274

triple

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5970

tripleShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5970

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8096

Start Date: 2023-09-12

End Date: 2023-09-24

twin

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5812

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5812

triple

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5531

tripleShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5531

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7634

Start Date: 2023-09-26

End Date: 2023-10-08

twin

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5812

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5812

triple

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5531

tripleShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5531

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7634

Italian Escape & Sicily

Tour Advisors

Itinerary

Dates & prices