Southern Italy & Sicily
Snapshot
- 12 days
- Guided Tour
- Palermo to Sorrento
- Multiple departures
From
$3,869*
per person twin share
BOOK NOW
Overview
All about Collette
You're not just going on tour; you’re having a travel experience!
True adventures go beyond incredible destinations or inclusive packages. Collette delivers a sense of possibility across hundreds of destinations across the world.
Since 1918, we have been sharing our love of travel. Today our worldwide travel collection features comprehensive land tours, river cruises, rail journeys, small group tours, garden holidays and more. With Collette, wake each morning on tour with a new experience in front of you, and when your head hits the pillow, you will know it has been an amazing day. Best of all - we seamlessly handle the details. All you must do is enjoy the adventure!
Why choose Collette Tours?
- When Collette says guaranteed, we mean a guaranteed departure.
- Family owned Since 1918
- 24/7 Emergency Services
- Be immersed with fewer one-night stays and more 2 – 3 – 4 night stays.
- 5-Star Touring with 4-Star Plus Accommodation
- Includes both the must-sees and unique local experiences - not one or the other.
- Culinary Immersion dining at local restaurants unique to each region
- Location, Quality & Uniqueness of Accommodation staying in a grand castle, picturesque villa, glass igloo, private yacht, safari lodge, French chateau and more.
*Advertised price based on 7 December 2024 departure, correct as of 1 May 2024. Offer valid until 13 May 2024, unless sold out prior.
Inclusions
Tour Inclusions
- Accommodation in 4 star hotels
- 16 Meals
- 4 Choice on Tour options
Must-See Inclusions
- Venture along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast
- The excavated ruins of Pompeii at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius
- Sassi di Matera, known for its cave dwellings
Cultural experiences
- Stand in awe before the ancient Greek threatre in Taormina
- Experience Mt Etna Volcano National Park with a local expert
- Tour a vineyard and cellar located in the badlands of Basilicata, Matera's region.
Culinary Inclusions
- Indulge in a delicious regional dinner inside a winery's agriturismo restaurant
- enjoy hors d'ooeuvres with a contess during a visit to a medeival palace
Itinerary
Day 1: Palermo, Sicily - Tour Begins
Your Italian sojourn opens in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Discover the city’s vibrant culture as you take in its gritty, unshakable spirit and captivating energy. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner featuring authentic Sicilian cuisine.
Stay: NH Palermo
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Palermo - Cefalù - Palermo
This morning, set off for the stunning seaside town of Cefalù on Sicily’s northern coast. Stroll the charming medieval streets with a local guide and visit the city's impressive cathedral showcasing Norman architecture. Next, journey to a family-owned farmhouse, picturesquely set in the surrounding hills. Meet the owners and discover what a typical day on a Sicilian farm is like. Later, sit back and tuck into a hearty farm-to-table dinner, made with family recipes.
Stay: NH Palermo
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 3: Palermo - Monreale - Agrigento
Begin the day with a walking tour of Palermo’s old town. Uncover cobblestoned piazzas and ornate buildings, many worn by time and conflict. Visit hilltop Monreale (UNESCO), ascending on foot to its 12th-century cathedral for a guided tour of its majestic Byzantine mosaics. Then, it’s your choice! Explore the cathedral’s cloisters, taking in their serene atmosphere of the monastic complex -OR- ascend the southern tower to the panoramic terraces for a bird’s-eye view over Palermo. This afternoon relax aboard your bus as you travel over rolling hills and peaceful farmland to Sicily’s southern coast for a relaxing 2-night stay.
Stay: Baia di Ulisse
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4: Agrigento - Valley of the Temples
Step back 25 centuries and delve into ancient Greek history for a visit of the stunning Valley of the Temples (UNESCO), one of the world’s most esteemed archeological site. Get an up-close view of the temples of Juno, Concordia, and Hercules during an extensive walking tour of this vast archeological site. The afternoon is yours to relax. Perhaps you’ll venture into Agrigento’s old town or stroll along the beach close to your hotel, taking in the glittering Mediterranean Sea. This evening, pause for dinner at a local restaurant and an evening view of the illuminated Valley of the Temples.
Stay: Baia di Ulisse
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5: Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Giardini Naxos
Venture deep into Sicily’s countryside to Piazza Armerina, home of the ancient Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO) and explore the site with an expert insider for a locally guided tour of its impressive mosaics. In the afternoon, journey east to Sicily’s Ionian Coast and to Giardini Naxos – the “garden of Sicily” – for your 2-night stay.
Stay: Una Hotel Naxos Beach Sicilia
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6: Giardini Naxos - Taormina - Giardini Naxos
This morning, explore beautiful Taormina, home to ancient relics, rocky hills, and charming gardens. With an expert local guide, you’ll stroll the lively pedestrianized main street, see the imposing Corvaja Palace and climb to the city’s well-preserved Greek theatre. The afternoon is yours to explore more of this hillside resort or opt to see Sicily’s wilder side on an off-road adventure to Mount Etna. During this optional tour, stare up at the iconic peak as your vehicle climbs along the sides of Europe’s largest active volcano. Spend the day exploring this legendary giant, passing by lava formations and basalt rocks. This evening let traditional Sicilian melodies fill the air during an optional Sicilian dinner with musical accompaniment.
Stay: Una Hotel Naxos Beach Sicilia
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Giardini Naxos - Matera
Take a short ferry ride to Villa San Giovanni, located on Italy’s mainland. During your full day bus transfer, pass through the unspoiled region of Calabria to the Basilicata region. Wander through the twisting vines of a local winery before touring the cellar for a tasting. Linger over regional cuisine at dinner in the winery’s agriturismo restaurant.
Stay: UNA MH Matera Hotel
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8: Matera
Explore the Sassi di Matera (UNESCO), an ancient settlement of carved cave dwellings. A local guide shares the history and explains why film producers are seeking out this unique landscape. Visit a local shop and get a taste of regional specialities. The afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps you’ll join an optional tour to Alberobello (UNESCO) in the nearby region of Puglia. Here, marvel at the town’s whimsical trulli homes, known for their distinct, cone-shaped roofs.
Stay: UNA MH Matera Hotel
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 9: Matera - Sorrento
After a stop at a sustainable buffalo dairy farm* for a taste of freshly made mozzarella and a peek into the history of this iconic cheese, arrive in Sorrento where you’ll settle in for a 2-night stay.** Later this afternoon, discover this charming seaside town during a walking tour and learn about the local tradition of wood marquetry.
Stay: Hotel Michelangelo
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 10: Sorrento - Positano - Sorrento
This morning, take in the sights and colours of the Mediterranean Sea as you sail*** along the initial stretch of the breathtaking Amalfi Coast (UNESCO). Gaze out over the deep blue hues of the sea paired with the bright citrus fruits lining the hillsides. Pause in Positano with its pastel-colored houses and pebbly beaches. Spend time in this legendary locale browsing the posh boutiques or resting along the beach, before returning to Sorrento for an afternoon at leisure.
Stay: Hotel Michelangelo
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Sorrento - Pompeii - Rome
Journey north to Rome. En route, experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii (UNESCO). A local guide gives you an in-depth look into this 2,000-year-old Roman town, nestled in the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Step into another time as you explore its preserved buildings and imagine life in the 1st century. An afternoon-long transfer leads to Rome where you arrive in the early evening. Celebrate the end of your journey with a delightful farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Stay: Radisson Blu GHR
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 12: Rome - Tour Ends
Your tour comes to a close today.
Meals: Breakfast
* Term and conditions apply:
All pricing subject to change and availability.
Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise.
Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change.
Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies.
Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.