Sicily & Southern Italy
ScrollFresh artichokes, tomatoes, sweet almonds, aubergine and cold pressed olive oil will never taste the same. The south of Italy has its own spin on everything, and food is only one example. Lose yourself in the Sicilian heartland and learn about the myriad of civilizations that each left their mark on the island. Discover Greek temples, Arab-inspired markets, Norman castles, and the shimmering beauty of the volcanic Aeolian Islands. A few kilometres north, Calabria and Puglia offer distinct culinary traditions and spectacular coastal towns. Celebrate the art of living, eating and travelling slowly, in the region that started it all.
Departure Dates
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Book this tour
The Details
16 days
All-inclusive
$9,895CAD
Per person in double occupancy
Single supplement: $1,500
Max Group Size: 30 travellers
Deposit Terms:
$500 per person at time of booking
$1,000 per person 45 days later
Balance due 90 days before departure
Our approach perks
Private car service to and from your home airport
International flights and transportation while abroad
Meals and excursions that are typically sold separately
Tips for all service providers
24/7 Group Guru (in addition to tour guide and local guides)
$5 million of emergency medical travel insurance coverage, as well as protection for lost, damaged or stolen luggage
All taxes at home and abroad (including airport and hotel taxes)
This tour also includes
Tour essentials
International flights with Air Canada / Air Dolomiti (details)
14 nights in first class hotels
Dedicated English-speaking tour guide and local guides
Carefully selected visits, with entrance fees
Luxury coach bus transfers and luggage porterage throughout
Food & drink
All 41 meals, including: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners
Pugliese farewell lunch (included in meal count)
Welcome cocktail
2 local product tastings
Bottled water daily (2 x 500ml)
Our happy travellers rave about Southern Italy
We got a real sense of Sicily
We loved the local sights and all the major towns and cities we visited. We felt we got a real sense of Sicily and would definitely come back on our own. Our National Guide, David, really made the trip with his historical analysis and our Group Guru Christiane was always on top of things, looking for a way to make things run smoothly.
I enjoyed the entire tour
Caroline is the best Group Guru ever. I enjoyed the entire tour, but highlights for me included boating back from Stromboli, mosaics in the other “Montreal”, Erice, Ortigia, Mount Etna, Lipiari, Messina clock, Pizzo, Matera, and Trulli houses.
She made the tour so easy
We loved all the people that we met and all the places we went to. Caroline, our Group Guru, was the best! She made the tour so easy. A wonderful person.
Every day had something special
Every day had something special. The market in Palermo, Erice, the mosaics at Plazza Amerina. The wine tasting! Etna was amazing. Tropea was so beautiful and Matera was fascinating.
We never could have seen this on our own
We loved seeing small towns and cities that we could have never seen on our own! Valley of the Temples, stone houses in Matera, Ortigia and Tropea were very enjoyable!
Fascinating geological history
This was our second tour with Approach Tours. We were very pleased with the administrative service. Our inquiries were promptly addressed and invoices are concise and accurate. Our pre-tour surprise gifts (adapter, earplugs, suitcase strap, name tags) are very much appreciated, and the spiral-bound itinerary journal was perfect! The scenery was formidable: the mountains, volcanoes, seaside roads, and amazing colours; the trees (olive, orange and lemon); the poppy and daisy fields. Another highlight is the fascinating geological evolution we witnessed: tectonic plates with Earthquake and Tsunami consequences, the volcanoes, the caves in Southern Italy, soil and stone riches, the tunnels and bridges erected with stones.
We loved all the different sites and history
We loved our Group Guru, Caroline! We also loved all the different sites and history of the places we visited including the farm and winery visits, and watching Franco make ice cream. We really enjoyed meals together and mealtime discussions.
This tour’s itinerary
DAYS 1 & 2 GOODBYE CANADA, CIAO SICILIA!
DAY 3 PALERMO & MONREALE
DAY 4 ALMOND COOKIES & MARSALA WINE (325 KM)
DAY 5 TRACES OF ANCIENT GREECE (246 KM)
DAY 6 NOTO’S BAROQUE WONDERS (75 KM)
DAY 7 SYRACUSE & CATANIA (135 KM)
DAY 8 MOUNT ETNA & TAORMINA (110 KM)
DAY 9 AEOLIAN ISLAND ADVENTURE (150 KM)
DAY 10 PANAREA & STROMBOLI
DAY 11 MESSINA & VIBO VALENTIA (200 KM)
DAY 12 PIZZO CALABRO & TROPEA
DAY 13 FAMOUS SASSI DI MATERA (307 KM)
DAY 14 CASTELLANA CAVES & ALBEROBELLO
DAY 15 WHITEWASHED OSTUNI (375 KM)
DAY 16 HOME SWEET HOME
Hotels we've previously visited in Southern Italy
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Our unique approach
Radically All-Inclusive
When we say we are all-inclusive, we mean it. Our tours have everything you need to sit back and enjoy your experience. No precious time wasted, no extra costs, no fine print.
All-inclusive doesn’t mean “all of my time”
While everything is included on an Approach tour, we built our experiences with different travel styles in mind. After all, your time is yours to enjoy as you please.
WHEN I'M ON VACATION...
I want free time
I want free timeFeel free to break away and to rejoin the group whenever you want – we’ll even give you tips on how to get around and what there is to see. Just give us a heads up!
I want to do & see everything!
Feel free to break away and to rejoin the group whenever you want – we’ll even give you tips on how to get around and what there is to see. Just give us a heads up!
No commission. Ever.
We sell directly to you so that you never have to pay for expensive agency commissions
24/7 delight? We’ve got that.
From 24/7 customer service, to making every interaction as delightful as possible, we make it easy for our guests – every step of the way. Just ask.
MULTIPLE GATEWAYS. ONE FLAT SUPPLEMENT.
$100. Flat.
(Toronto gateways are included)
PRE TOUR
Call, message or email us anytime – we will respond 24/7
ON TOUR
Your dedicated Group Guru is available to help anytime.
DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE
We pick you up and drop off in a private car.
All you need to do is pack and walk out your front door!
Comfort that travels with you
WORLD-CLASS AIRLINES
- Assisted check-in
- Complimentary baggage allowance
- In-flight entertainment
- Possibility for upgrades at your discretion
FOOD IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE
We’ve taken time to select our favourite spots for you to safely explore the local cuisine while on tour. Pack your taste buds.
HOTELS WE KNOW AND LOVE
We believe a restful night’s sleep is the cornerstone of any trip. Check out the tour pages for images from our favourite hotels for that destination.
HIGH QUALITY, MODERN COACHES
- Air conditioning
- Premium seating
- Large windows to take in the view
- Extra seating
- Dedicated baggage storage so you can stretch out
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Sharing is Caring
We love sharing our passion for travel with new people, that's why we'll give you a $250 travel credit towards your Approach tour for every new traveller you refer.
Credits are unlimited, so bring your friends!
