10 Days Off the Beaten Path Tour of Southern Italy and Sicily

What to expect on this itinerary
Experience scenic hikes, exhilarating ziplines, intriguing caves with this immersive 10-day vacation to southern Italy and Sicily. Unique experiences and private day trips are included in this amazing and unforgettable vacation. Zipline in Castelmezzano, climb Mt. Vesuvius to enjoy incredible views of Naples, and venture to the Blue Grotto.
Customizable Itinerary
Naples – Explore Mt. Vesuvius
Your 10-day journey will begin when you land at Naples International Airport, where a private driver will greet and transfer you to your luxurious accommodation. Upon your arrival, you will have some time to settle in and relax before your guide leads you on an excursion to Mt. Vesuvius. Your guide will lead you up the side of the famous volcano, and once you are at the top, you will have an incredible view of Naples and the surrounding area.
What's Included:
Sorrento – Capri and the Blue Grotto
Matera – Adventures in Castelmezzano
Matera – The Unique Homes of Alberobello
Cosenza – Immersive Nature Hike
Catania – The Gorgeous Island of Sicily
Catania – Explore Syracuse and Ortigia
Palermo – Stroll through Enna
Palermo – The History of the Catacombs
Palermo – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Climb Mount Vesuvius to enjoy incredible views of the Bay of Naples
- Venture into the narrow opening of the legendary Blue Grotto and witness the amazing blue aura all around you
- Experience an exhilarating zipline ride in Castelmezzano with the Lucanian Dolomites in the background
- View the traditional homes of Alberobello that are known for their stone construction and cone-shaped roofs
- Discover the fresh air and natural beauty of Sila National Park during a hike through the area
- Traverse the bridge that connects Syracuse to the island of Ortigia, which is full of historic ruins and stunning views
- Enjoy the views in Enna as you explore the Enna Cathedral and Lombardy Castle
- Explore the winding twists and turns in the Capuchin Catacombs, home to the world’s largest collection of skeletons
Detailed Description
This journey through southern Italy and Sicily leads you to some of the most magnificent towns and villages in the area. Your exciting 10-day tour will begin when you land at Naples International Airport. In the afternoon, you will head out for a private tour of the impressive Mt. Vesuvius. The next morning, you will transfer to Sorrento. Here, you will enjoy an excursion to the stunning island of Capri, which will feature a memorable visit to the Blue Grotto.
The following day, you will continue to Matera. Along the way, you will stop in Castelmezzano for a zipline experience. The following morning, you will enjoy a day trip to the nearby town of Alberobello. During your private tour, you will get an up-close look at the unique trulli homes for which the town is known. After one more night in Matera, you will head to the age-old city of Cosenza. After having some time to get acquainted with your new hotel, you will indulge in a scenic hike through Sila National Park.
A relaxing private transfer and a scenic ferry ride will be in store for you the following day as you make your way to the island of Sicily. By the end of the day, you will reach your hotel in the delightful city of Catania. The next morning, you will journey to Syracuse and the island of Ortigia. Syracuse is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and during your private tour, you will get to see and explore ancient ruins. On the next day of your trip, you will transfer to your final destination of Palermo. During your drive through the countryside, you will stop for a tour in the city of Enna, which is located over 3,000 feet above sea level. After your first night in Palermo, you will explore the history of the city with a private visit to the Capuchin Catacombs.
Starting Price
$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 1254 reviews
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We had a fantastic trip that exceeded our expectations. We had an excellent trip planned with Marilisa and she was open to our ideas and to our requested changes and implemented them quickly and got back to us with the confirmation that it was done. The travel arrangements at the airports and daily for tours and excursions were always on time and with great drivers who were helpful and had fun conversations about where we were going and in-depth history. Their skills in driving the vans along the Amalfi coast was amazing and we were all so glad that we were in the hands of expert drivers on these extremely tight and curvy congested roads. Each tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the area we went to. More commentary on the tour guides below.The hotels that were provided were great for the two groups. Each one had a good reason why they chose them. In Naples it was right in the center of the old town beaming with life and restaurants. The hotel had a fantastic breakfast room and a great bar service in the afternoon. The rooms were ok, nothing special.The hotel in Vietri sul Mare was a gem. Great location, great views of the ocean, friendly and helpful staff and had some great restaurants nearby. The hotel in Palermo was also right in the middle of the city center with great restaurants in walking distance, but the rooms were just ok, and the breakfast area was very tight to move around. The Resort in Taormina was fantastic also. Same owner as the hotel in Vietri sul Mare. Great location on the beach, easy to get to downtown Taormina. A great bar cafe on the beach and the breakfast area was overlooking the beach. A great place to spend our two free days at the end of the trip. The hotel in Naples was also beautiful for our last night, but we didn't get to use it much as it was the last night before flying home. Our only real disappointment was the first transportation of the trip from Naples airport to the hotel. The driver seemed to be in a hurry when getting us to the hotel. He didn't know the area very well and said he couldn't get any closer to the hotel due to the small roads. He pointed up the road and said it should be up there. We all had two bags to drag around while searching for the hotel. Luckily, we had our phones to use. He wasn't even on the right street, and we had to walk around to find it. The next morning our driver was right outside the hotel, so there was no problem with the road.
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We enjoyed our trip to southern Italy. The hotels in Naples, Capri, Sorrento, Vieste, Polignano, Monopoli, Lecce, and Matera were in great locations, all near or in the historic sites.
We were able to maximize our time in each location and all hotel staff were very helpful. We especially enjoyed our hotel in Matera. However, our tour guide there did not give us the in-depth tour we were expecting.
The drivers assigned to us were very helpful and knowledgeable about the areas we were in. Our driver will be remembered fondly!
Our only concern is that we ordered wine from a Medici winery and haven't been able to contact them.
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We found this travel company wonderful.
All the cities were great
Great Restaurants. Amazing locations and tours.
Excellent hotels. Our favorites Piccolo Giardino in Taormina, Acqua dell'Arte in Catania, and Casato Licitra in Ragusa. Great service.
Loved our days on the beaches.
They were very helpful for the complete trip.
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Matteo provided exactly the trip we wanted, which was a 12-day tour of Sicily, starting in Palermo and ending in Catania. We spent 3 nights in most hotels and approved of his choices, which gave us different experiences of hotels in Sicily. In Taormina we stayed at Hotel Calipso, Hotel Kore in Agrigento, and A Casa Di Anna in Palermo. He provided us with a cellphone upon arrival and checked in from time to time. His English is excellent. We sometimes had problems with internet, and he would call the hotel to try to get a solution, then report back. We used two guides provided by him for specific tours, but basically did things by ourselves. I would turn to him for my next trip to Italy.
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