go ahead tours sicily

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Sizzling Sicily - 7 days

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Coach / Bus

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Palermo
• Day 2 Monreale & Palermo sightseeing
• Day 3 Medieval Erice & Agrigento
• Day 4 Ragusa
• Day 5 Syracuse
• Day 6 Mount Etna & Taormina free time
• Day 7 Taormina

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Operated by on the go tours.

On The Go offer tours to a variety of destinations worldwide, while specialising in travel for...

Sustainability Initiatives

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Average 3.0
• Itinerary Good 4.0
• Guide Good 4.0
• Transport Good 4.0
• Accommodation Average 3.0
• Food Average 3.0
• Tour Operator On The Go Tours 4.6

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024

Space on this tour is not guaranteed. Book this tour to request your place and the operator will confirm availability.

• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 22 Aug, 2024 Wednesday 28 Aug, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 Confirm Dates
• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 5 Sep, 2024 Wednesday 11 Sep, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 12 Sep, 2024 Wednesday 18 Sep, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 26 Sep, 2024 Wednesday 2 Oct, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 3 Oct, 2024 Wednesday 9 Oct, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 10 Oct, 2024 Wednesday 16 Oct, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 24 Oct, 2024 Wednesday 30 Oct, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -19% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 7 Nov, 2024 Wednesday 13 Nov, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,915 €1,551 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h

Frequently Asked Questions

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Good to Know

• Currency € Euro Italy

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, L.

• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 27th August 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 27th August 2024, a minimum payment of €450 is required to confirm your booking with On The Go Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and On The Go Tours will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "On The Go Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of On The Go Tours. Please familiarise yourself with the On The Go Tours payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Experience Sicily

Small Group Tours of Sicily and Customized Sicily Travel

2024 Tours of Sicily

Immerse Yourself in Sicily in 2024   with Experience Sicily

About our small group sicily tours.

Experience Sicily tours are fully escorted and supported by professional, licensed drivers. Owner/Curator Allison Scola is your tour leader. Each journey is limited to 12 or fewer guests. See the day by day descriptions to see all of the benefits of traveling with us!

If you would like to travel to other parts of Sicily or Italy before or after your tour, please let us know and we can help plan your trip. Also, ask us about Malta and Sardinia!

Special Early Registration Incentives!

See below for early registration incentives. 

Spring in Sicily: Yoga and Cultural Immersion

Saturday, april 20 to sunday, april 28, 2024.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Amy and Shawna will whisk you away to the stunning, soulful, ancient island of Sicily! Go deep with daily yoga, meditation, and embodiment practices at a dedicated retreat center steps from the Mediterranean Sea. Immerse yourself in Sicilian culture, heritage, and history and feel inspired ad reborn with the energy of Sicily’s vibrant and enchanting cultural wonderland!

$3,850 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $475). Land only. 9 days, 8 nights. Includes all transportation, all entrance fees and tickets, most tips, and eight breakfasts (if time allows), five lunches, and seven dinners, consult day to day description for details.

Book Spring in Sicily 2024 Now

Enchanting Sicily

Tour 1: monday, may 6 to sunday, may 19, 2024 tour 2: monday, may 27 to sunday, june 9, 2024.

On our signature tour of Sicily, you’ll discover off-the-beaten path towns, interact with locals, and immerse yourself in Sicilian culture and ancient history. You’ll tour intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites, remote mountain communities, and charming seaside villages. You’ll attend a world-class performance of a classic Greek play in Siracusa’s Ancient Greek theater. You’ll amble through Palermo’s open-air markets and interact with Sicilians in a meaningful way. You’ll stay in 4-star hotels and characteristic inns and relish family-run trattorias as you explore Sicily’s 3,000 years of human history with authentic experiences, vibrant flavors, and sweet melodies that will capture your imagination. Join us on our optional pre-tour stay in Taormina!  

$7,297 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $1225). Land only. 14 days, 13 nights. Includes everything but eight meals (Includes all breakfasts, ten lunches, and seven dinners, all transportation, all entrance fees and tickets, most tips.) Taormina Pre-Tour Option:  One-Day: $400/person Double Occupancy, $585/person Single Occupancy, Two-day: $610/person Double Occupancy, $920/person Single Occupancy

Soul-stice Sicily Retreat Tour: Nourish your Mind, Body, and Heart

Sunday, june 16 to sunday, june 23, 2024.

Celebrate the Summer solstice in Sicily and awaken your senses through a transformative journey, where the scenery of your adventure is the Mediterranean island’s vibrant villages, profound UNESCO sites, heartwarming locals, and awe-inspiring natural beauty. You’ll explore your own divine energy through tours of ancient sites in Palermo, Selinunte, and along Sicily’s Western coastline, stimulate your awareness through walks in nature, a coastal boat excursion, a hands-on cooking experience, and a winery tour. Nourish your mind, body, and heart surrounded by grape vines and olive trees. Co-hosted by Philadelphia-based yoga instructor Clio Mallin and Experience Sicily owner and curator Allison Scola, this sensational Wellness Retreat in Sicily will heighten your insight and inspire your spirit.

$4,175 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $775). Land only. 8 days, 7 nights. Includes everything but six meals (Includes all breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners.)

• Early Registration Incentive Pricing!  Pay in-full by April 25, 2024 and receive $200/person off the cost of your tour.

Stirring Sicily: Cooking in Sicily Tour

Tour 1: wednesday, august 28 to wednesday, september 4, 2024 tour 2: wednesday, september 11 to wednesday, september 18, 2024.

Delight in hands-on cooking classes, wine tastings of Sicily’s outstanding vintages, and interaction with locals. You’ll learn time-tested recipes of traditional Sicilian dishes while relishing the beauty and enchantment of central and western Sicily’s UNESCO sites and hidden communities. We’ll savor moments in Palermo’s vibrant markets, among the trees at an organic olive farm, with singing sheep at a family-run dairy (mmm… fresh ricotta!), and by getting our hands in the dough with home-schooled mammas and trained chefs. Co-hosted by chef Antonino Elia of Lititz, Pennsylvania, you’ll be entertained while having the peace of mind that we’ve taken care of all the details. Join us for the Eastern Sicily Prelude based in Siracusa starting on September 7th! 

$4,325 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $500). Land only. 8 days, 7 nights. Includes everything but one dinner (Includes seven breakfasts, six lunches, and six dinners.).

Eastern Sicily Prelude: $1,995/person double occupancy (Single Occupancy $350).   5 days, 4 nights.

Stunning Sicily Tour

Tour 1: friday, september 27, to  wednesday , october 9, 2024 tour 2: friday, october 18, to wednesday, october 30, 2024.

Stimulate your intellect and your senses with our October tour of Sicily! Intriguing UNESCO Worlds Heritage sites will take your breath away. Remote mountain towns and charming seaside villages will enchant you. Local harvest festivals will inspire you. Palermo’s open-air markets will mesmerize you. And your interaction with Sicilians will warm your heart. You’ll enjoy 4-star hotels and characteristic, family-run inns and relish typical trattorias as you discover Sicily’s 3,000 years of human history with authentic experiences, vibrant flavors, and sweet melodies that will capture your imagination.  

$7,297 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $1225). Land only. 13 days, 12 nights. Includes everything but nine meals (Includes all breakfasts, nine lunches, and five dinners)

Contact Us for More Information 

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Welcome to our world. we’re glad you’re here..

Since you’re here, we’re guessing we already know a thing or two about you: You’re curious, you have an appetite for adventure (good food, too!), you’re eager to see the world, and you’re always up for expanding your circle of friends. Did we nail it? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Why? Well, here’s where we tell you a little about us.

A family-owned company. A global community.

We’re an experiential group travel company, but we’re so much more than that, too. We’re also part of EF Education First , a family-owned, global community dedicated to opening the world through language, travel, cultural exchange, and academic programs. EF operates 600-plus schools and offices in more than 50 countries around the world, and is powered by an international team of 50,000 esteemed educators, savvy travel planners, top-of-their-field safety experts, dependable customer-support specialists, and so many other essential players.

For more than 55 years, we at Go Ahead have been fueled by constant curiosity and a natural desire to bridge cultures, communities, and people. We’ve been committed to making safe, authentic, life-changing travel experiences affordable and accessible. And we weave all of that into every tour we plan.

We don’t just plan travel. We live and breathe it.

Our team of in-the-know travel experts crafts immersive, experiential itineraries in 87 countries and on all seven continents. Whatever kind of tour you decide to join—a rail journey through the Canadian Rockies, wining and dining in Argentina and Uruguay, a solo-friendly escape to Sicily—we won’t just show you the highlights. We’ll take you behind the scenes, inside private spaces, and off the beaten path, too. And we’ll introduce you to creative, enterprising, and passionate locals where they live and work. The best part? We take care of every last logistical detail so that you can spend every second soaking it all in.

We think travel’s pretty magical. And, whether you’re traveling with a group, a few close friends, or solo, we can’t wait to share it with you.

Want to know more?

Check out the benefits of going guided →

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Food & Wine: Southern Italy & Sicily

4.7 out of 5 stars

You have up to 60 days to get a full refund

Feel good about putting a tour on the calendar today: Enroll in AutoPay or pay in full when you book, and if you change your mind,  you’ll get your money back .†

Taste tradition, history, and TLC in every bite and sip.

Throughout history, southern Italy has served as a cultural crossroads, and a mashup of international influences remains evident in the region’s cuisines. On this small group Food & Wine Tour, explore tucked-away coastal towns, medieval villages, and hillside vineyards—and experience the flavors and culinary traditions that make Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata, and Campania so utterly and deliciously unique.

Your tour package includes

• 11 nights in handpicked hotels
• 11 breakfasts
• 5 dinners with beer or wine
• 3 wine tastings

Included highlights

• Baroque Noto
• Avola wine region
• Italian contessa dinner
• Sassi di Matera cave dwellings
• Campanian cooking lesson

An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.

Day-by-day itinerary

Board your overnight flight to Catania today.

Welcome to Italy! Tonight, get to know your Tour Director and fellow travelers over a welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Catania. Savor the signature flavors of the city—along with local, Sicilian wine—and whet your appetite for more of Sicily’s culturally and historically rich cuisine still to come in the days ahead.

Head outside of the city of Catania today to explore the culinary traditions of southeastern Sicily.

• Join a local guide for a tour of Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Baroque churches and palaces.
• Wander along Noto’s Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a long, pedestrian-friendly avenue lined with cafes, shops, and historic buildings.
• Visit the Cathedral of San Nicolò, an imposing Baroque structure that was built in the 18th century and stands at the top of a wide, stone staircase.
• Stop in a local sweets shop to sample Sicilian pastries and chocolates, keeping an eye out for varieties made with almonds or pistachios—both types of nuts grow on the island and are commonly featured in Sicilian confections.
• Enjoy a pasta or seafood lunch on your own in one of Noto’s cafes, or treat your sweet tooth to a distinctly Sicilian dessert; local specialties include dense and creamy gelato, which you can enjoy atop a crunchy cone or sandwiched between two slices of buttery brioche.

Travel northeast to the Avola wine region. Its thick-skinned, namesake grape, the Nero d’Avola, has grown on Sicily for hundreds of years. It remains the most widely planted grape on the island—in its indigenous region and beyond—for the production of red wine.

• Visit a local winery for a behind-the-scenes look at its growing and production processes.
• Learn what factors contribute to Nero d’Avola’s fruit-forward flavor, full-bodied structure, and high acidity.
• Enjoy light snacks paired with a variety of vintages of Nero d’Avola wines.

After your winery visit, transfer to a historic countryside villa and the home of an Italian contessa.

• Enjoy wine with focaccia, olives, fresh buffalo mozzarella, and other antipasti, then sit down for a homemade, family-style dinner set in the villa’s former stables.
• Learn some of the contessa’s most-trusted cooking tips, which will help you recreate her rustic dishes—such as linguine with lemon, and rice with mushrooms—at home.

Meet your local guide and set out to discover Catania, an ancient port city that sits at the base of active Mount Etna volcano.

• Discover Catania’s historic city center, with its narrow, stone streets, busy Piazza del Duomo, and Baroque Catania Cathedral.
• Explore the city’s famous, open-air fish market, where you’re likely to spot whole branzino, tuna, and many other freshly caught delicacies neatly laid out on ice.
• Tour the Museo Storico dello Sbarco, a WWII museum focused on the allied invasion of Sicily.
• Try to spot ash from previous Mount Etna eruptions in Catania’s streets as you make your way through the city.

Enjoy a free afternoon in Catania or add an excursion.

Mount Etna Wine Region Tasting & Dinner

From $125 per person

Travel to Messina, Sicily’s third-largest city, then take a ferry across the Strait of Messina to Reggio Calabria. You’ll explore this coastal city in southern Italy alongside your Tour Director.

• Visit the National Museum of Magna Graecia to view the storied Riace Bronzes—two life-size, bronze statues of Greek warriors sculpted in Greece in the 5th century B.C. and pulled from the Ionian Sea in the 1970s.
• Enjoy free time to explore Reggio Calabria on your own.

Then, travel north to Tropea. The town is situated along the coast in Calabria, a southern Italian region whose culinary traditions are rooted in la cucina povera, or peasant food. This evening, sit down for an included dinner. Enjoy wine alongside dishes such as fried seafood and stuffed eggplant, which capture the spirit of Calabrian cooking.

Get to know Tropea on a sightseeing tour led by your Tour Director.

• View the spectacular Santa Maria dell’Isola monastery perched high above the sea in Tropea.
• Stop for a tasting of locally made pecorino sheep’s-milk cheese, salami, breads, roasted vegetable spreads, and cipolla rossa, the sweet red onions for which Tropea is known.
• Continue on to Pizzo for a taste of the coastal city’s famous tartufo di Pizzo—a ball or bombe of chocolate and hazelnut gelato shaped around a hidden center of melted chocolate and rolled in cocoa powder.

Sit down this evening for an included dinner served with wine. Traditional dishes to try might include baked spaghetti-and-eggplant involtini.

This morning, pass through the Calabrian countryside on your way to Matera. The ancient town is built on a rocky outcrop in Basilicata, a southern Italian region whose traditions of grain cultivation and baking have endured for centuries.

Explore Matera, known as the Subterranean City, with a local guide.

• Visit Sassi di Matera, the two districts that make up Matera, which are known for their 9,000-year-old cave dwellings.
• Stroll through the Old Town, passing Matera Cathedral and the ruins of the 16th-century Castello Tramontano.
• Admire the bell towers, mosaics, sculptures, and other architectural details of the 16th-century Palazzo del Sedile, or Palace of the Seat, which has served as the seat of the municipality of Matera as well as a music conservatory.
• Step inside Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario to see what life was like inside a typical cave dwelling.
• Explore the chiese rupestri, or rock churches.
• Visit a local shop to taste regional breads, such as highly regarded, sourdough-style Pane di Matera, and cheeses, like soft mozzarella and gooey stracciatella.

Enjoy a free evening in Matera or add an excursion.

Please note: Depending on the season, this may take place on the afternoon of day 7.

Puglia Wine Tasting & Dinner

From $119 per person

Today, venture to Sannio, a hilly and highly regarded wine-producing area and Domain of Controlled Origin, or DOC. In Sannio, regulations require that grapes—Aglianico, Falanghina, and other varietals among them—be sourced from hillside vineyards, where the climate is ideal for producing high-quality fruit.

• Walk along steep streets in the medieval town of Guardia Sanframondi, and take in views of its hilltop castle.
• Grab a seat at a local bar and enjoy a cocktail made with Falanghina wine and Strega—a saffron-infused, after-dinner liqueur that originated in Benevento in the late 1800s.
• Visit a sustainable winery co-operative that produces wines under the brand Janare.
• Sit down at the co-operative for an included lunch paired with Janare wines, which are produced from Falanghina and Aglianico grapes grown on Sannio vineyards.

Please note: The order of today’s activities is subject to change.

Today, make your way to San Marco dei Cavoti, located northeast of Naples. This mountain village in the province of Benevento is one of the best-known places in Italy for the production of toronne, a nut-and-nougat confection.

• Join a local chocolatier for an artisanal chocolate tasting and shop tour.
• Watch a chocolate-making demonstration and try a few different sweet treats, including Croccantino—a crunchy torrone covered in dark chocolate.

Later, settle in to your agriturismo in the Benevento countryside. Then, head to the nearby town of Telese Terme for a cooking class in the kitchen of a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its creative dishes that marry traditional and innovative techniques. Follow along as the restaurant’s world-class chefs teach you how to craft traditional Campanian dishes, such as tortellini Campagnola, and make note of tips and techniques to try out when you get back home. For dinner tonight, savor the fruits of your labor, along with wine, in the company of your fellow travelers.

Take a guided sightseeing tour of Benevento this morning.

• Marvel at the Arch of Trajan, a triumphal arch built by Emperor Trajan in the second century.
• Continue past the 10th-century Church of Saint Hilary, a stone structure that has served as a church, a convent, and a farmhouse.
• Enter the UNESCO-recognized Church of Santa Sofia, which was built in the eighth century and features an unusual, star-shaped structure and radial arrangement of columns and pillars.
• Cap off your guided tour with a taste of ice cream or chocolate infused with Benevento Strega liqueur.

Then, continue on to the Taurasi wine region. This is where the flagship red wine of southern Italy is produced from 100% local Aglianico grapes or, in some instances, a blend of Nebbiolo and Sangiovese grapes as well.

• Walk through a vineyard alongside a local wine expert to learn about the harvest and wine production processes.
• Enjoy light snacks and a taste of white and red wines—including Taurasi, the region’s signature red, which is known for its structure, complexity, and aging potential.

Continue on to Salerno, a lively port town steeped in cultural tradition. This evening, celebrate your trip over a farewell dinner served with wine. Menu items might include regional products such as seafood, prosciutto, sardines, zucchini, and other local specialties.

Explore the coastal area of Cilento today. This spot is known as the birthplace of the widely celebrated Mediterranean diet, which is a set of skills, rituals, symbols, and traditions centered around food production and consumption—and which UNESCO declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

• Tour a local, organic dairy farm, and savor freshly made mozzarella, ricotta, and buffalo-milk gelato during a light lunch and tasting served with wine.
• Travel to nearby Paestum for a guided tour of the ancient city’s Greek and Roman ruins.
• Visit the Archaeological Museum of Paestum to see the Tomb of the Diver, which was created around 470 B.C. and contains a rare Greek wall painting.

Raise a toast to your trip—and your fellow travelers—as you enjoy a farewell drink this evening.

Transfer to the Naples airport for your flight home or extend your stay to visit Naples.

After a short ride to Naples, set off on an afternoon tasting tour in the city with a local guide.

• Walk through Piazza del Gesù to view the Church of Gesù Nuovo.
• Stop at a local cafe to try a dark and dense espresso Napoletano.
• Enter the Basilica of Santa Chiara, the largest Gothic church in Naples, to see its beautifully tiled cloister.
• Step inside a shop to taste the famous Vesuvius chocolate.
• Walk along Via dei Tribunali and enjoy a cuoppo, or cone, filled with fried street foods such as arancini, polenta, croquettes, and vegetables.
• Sample sfogliatella, a flaky pastry, near the Church of San Domenico Maggiore.

Spend a free day in Naples or add excursions.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

A Naples Tradition: Neapolitan Pizza

From $79 per person

The Lost City of Herculaneum

From $75 per person

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Book for just $99 down

That’s all it takes to secure your spot on tour with AutoPay. Then, pay for your trip in interest-free, monthly installments.†

Overall rating 4.7 out of 5

4 out of 5 stars

This is my second time doing this exact tour- because I loved it so much when i experienced it in 2018and because I did another food and wine tour in 2022 in another region of Italy and wanted my husband and friends to have this experience which in my opinion a “far exceeds in expectation” For this ...

3 out of 5 stars

The main issue I had was w/the food. I was definitely underwhelmed with the food on this trip which was so disappointing for me. Otherwise, we had such a great group of people to travel with ‼️

Thank you for your honest review. We regret to hea...

5 out of 5 stars

He is the BEST!! Excellent at his job and made this tour simply Fabulous!

Traveler photos

Hotels, flights & FAQ

This charming hotel is located on Catania, Italy’s famous Via Etnea. Guests enjoy Sicilian specialties for breakfast, Turkish bath, and gym. Nearby yo...

This elegant hotel is located in Maierato municipality of Calabria. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a restaurant. Nearby, you'll find C...

This recently renovated hotel is located in the center of Matera. Guests enjoy the quiet and comfortable rooms, the on-site restaurant, and compliment...

This charming hotel is located in the medieval village of Melizzano deep within the Benevento countryside. Guests enjoy the swimming pools, rural-styl...

This seaside hotel is located in the town of Vietri sul Mare. Guests enjoy a private beach, nightclub, and pool table. Nearby, you’ll find the Path of...

This modern hotel is located in the historical center of Naples. Guests enjoy a restaurant, a lounge bar, and meeting space. Nearby you’ll find Castel...

• Round-trip flight for your tour
• Airport transfers at your destination
• A great price locked in today
• 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
• Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
• Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
• Find out more about flights
• In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
• Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
• Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center .
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code TSI.
• You will walk for at least 2 hours daily across uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and paved roads, with some hills and stairs.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the amount of walking on your tour.
• You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Catania and depart from Naples. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
• A ferry between Messina and Reggio Calabria is included in the price of your tour.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov .
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• The cuisine of Southern Italy is often what diners think of when imagining Italian flavors—pasta with tomato sauces, olives and olive oil, zucchini, veal, and fish are all featured prominently on menus throughout the region.
• Sicilian cuisine in particular is heavily influenced by Spanish, Greek, and Arab traditions. The Spanish brought New World influences to the region in the form of tomatoes, chocolate, and maize, while the Arab influence can be tasted in recipes that include rice, spinach, saffron, and citrus fruits. Regional specialties include arancini , cannoli , and granita .
• The incredible wine regions of Southern Italy and Sicily grow prized grapes thanks to volcanic soils. Try varietals or blends made with grapes such as nero d’Avola and anglianico.
• For more authentic meals, try local trattorias , small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello .
• Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
• Your hotel may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
• Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.
• You will use the euro on this tour.
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
• Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
• Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
• Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

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