SICILY ESCAPE
Description
Itinerary
Price
Hotel
Remarks
Description
Overview
Sicily Escape by Contiki (Social Travel for Ages 18-35)
Sicily is best understood one bite, piazza and sea breeze at a time. On this 8-day Sicily trip, wander the ancient streets of Catania, discover the mountainside charm of Taormina and swim in the crystal-clear waters of Cefalù before slowing down in Palermo. Along the way, savour market flavours, journey up Mt Etna, explore UNESCO-listed landmarks and uncover the stories behind Sicily’s past and present. This is the Sicily the locals love – sun-soaked, slow-paced and full of stories.
Included/Excluded
- Hotel/hostel accommodation
- Local transport
- Various experiences like guided tours and meals
- An expert Trip Manager & Driver
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences
- Breakfast daily (plus a few lunches and dinners too)
- A group of friendly travellers from around the world, all aged 18-35
- 24/7 support
- Flights to/from your start/end destination
- Optional Free Time Add-Ons
- Meals not mentioned
- Visa and Travel Insurance
Included
- Hotel/hostel accommodation
- Local transport
- Various experiences like guided tours and meals
- An expert Trip Manager & Driver
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences
- Breakfast daily (plus a few lunches and dinners too)
- A group of friendly travellers from around the world, all aged 18-35
- 24/7 support
Excluded
- Flights to/from your start/end destination
- Optional Free Time Add-Ons
- Meals not mentioned
- Visa and Travel Insurance
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Catania
Catania:
- Welcome to Catania! 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…
Included Experience:
- Get to know Catania
Day 2: Catania to Taormina
Catania:
- We’ve got more spectacular Sicilian towns to explore today, as we head from Catania to Taormina.
Taormina:
- Perched on a mountainside and serving peak Italian elegance, Taormina is all about la dolce vita.
- We’ll ride the cable car, soak up the sun, and live our best holiday lives.
- Feeling foodie? Opt for a cooking class with local pros and master Sicilian specialities like arancini and cannoli.
Included Experience:
- Explore Taormina
Optional Experience:
- Arancini & Cannoli Making Class
Day 3: Taormina
Taormina:
- Today’s optional is a total thrill – a ride up Mt Etna (AKA Europe’s highest active volcano!), passing vineyards and orchards that scream Sicilian magic.
- Not feeling the volcano vibe? No worries — your day’s free to chill on the beach, explore the ancient Roman theatre, or sip a spritz and watch life drift by in true Italian style.
Optional Experience:
- Mt. Etna Tour
Day 4: Taormina to Syracuse
Taormina:
- See ya later, Taormina – it’s time to visit some historical hotspots.
Noto:
- Next stop: Noto, Sicily’s baroque beauty packed with stunning architecture and legendary landmarks like Corso Vittoria Emanuele. After soaking up the sights, we’re heading to an organic farm for a Tastes of Sicily experience – think farm-fresh flavours served straight to your plate.
Syracuse:
- We’ll have some free time to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse.
- Famed for its rich ancient Roman and Greek history, with ancient amphitheatres and architecture everywhere you look.
- And after a long but lovely day, it’s finally time to hit the hay.
Included Experience:
- Visit Noto
Optional Experience:
- Tastes of Sicily MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
Day 5: Syracuse to Cefalù
Syracuse:
- Heading from Syracuse we’ll arrive in the Valley of the Temples, the perfect base to explore another ancient wonder…
Valley of the Temples:
- Leaving Italy without visiting the Valley of the Temples? Impossible. This mystical valley is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological heritage. We’ll discover ancient temples, sanctuaries and a necropolis.
Cefalu:
- Arriving in Cefalù we’ll enjoy another included dinner of Sicilian delicacies.
Included Experience:
- See the Valley of the Temples
Day 6: Cefalù
Cefalu:
- Cefalù is a real gem, home to Sicily’s best beaches and most impressive Arabic architecture.
- 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.
Optional Experience:
- Coastal Cruise
Day 7: Cefalù to Palermo
Cefalu:
- It’s time to end on a high, as we make our way towards Sicily’s sizzling capital.
Palermo:
- Palermo’s a vibrant, colourful city with a food scene that’ll blow your mind.
- But it’s also got a complex history with the Mafia. Today, you’ll join a walking tour through the historic centre to hear the real story behind Palermo’s fight against organised crime and the rise of the anti-Mafia movement. Then, we’ll finish strong with a farewell dinner Al Fresco, at the ‘bistro of second chances’.
Optional Experience:
- Anti-Mafia Walking Tour of Palermo MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
- Sicilian Farewell Dinner MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
Day 8: Palermo
Palermo:
- 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.
Price
PRICE FROM RM7875 SUBJECT TO DATE AND AVAILABILITY.
Hotel
- Day 1: Mercure Catania Excelsior (or similar)
- Day 2 – Day 3: Villa Esperia (or similar)
- Day 4: Panorama Palace Hotel (or similar)
- Day 5 – Day 6: Le Sabbie D Oro Hotel Cefalu (or similar)
- Day 7: Ibis Styles President (or similar)
Remarks
