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Sicily & Southern Italy

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Fresh 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

2024 May 02 - May 17
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2024 September 26 - October 11
Double rooms waitlist available | 1x single room left! Book this tour
2024 October 03 - October 18
2x single rooms left! | Double rooms available Book this tour
2025 April 17 - May 02
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2025 May 01 - May 16
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2025 May 15 - May 30
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The Details

16 days

All-inclusive

$9,795CAD

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)


Total PERKS value: $4,208

This tour also includes

Tour Essentials

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 & drinks

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)

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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.

John & Christine from Cobourg, ON
Joined us Fall, 2023

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.

Jay from Kamloops, BC
Joined us Fall, 2023

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.

Greg & Audrey from Mississauga, ON
Joined us Fall, 2023

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.

Ian and Carol from Waterloo, ON
Joined us Fall, 2023

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!

Ralph & Rachel from Kemptville, ON
Joined us Fall, 2023

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.

Lucille & Gaston from North Bay, ON
Joined us Spring, 2023

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.

Susan & Mike from Winnipeg, MB
Joined us Spring, 2023
Sicily & Southern Italy Highlight Video

This tour’s itinerary

Overview
Detailed View

DAYS 1 & 2 GOODBYE CANADA, CIAO SICILIA!

Enjoy a private car ride to the airport. Travellers departing from the Toronto airport are assisted with their check-in. Meet your dedicated Group Guru and fellow travellers and fly overnight to Palermo. Upon arrival, our luxury coach will bring you to your hotel. Settle in or walk around the beautiful, chaotic city before joining us for our welcome cocktail. Overnight in Palermo. (D)

DAY 3 PALERMO & MONREALE

Learn about the history of Monreale on a guided tour including Santa Maria Nuova cathedral and its cloister. Return to Palermo for a guided stroll through the colourful local markets. A Sicilian dining experience awaits after our visit in the quaint fishing village of Sferracavallo. Overnight in Palermo. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 4 ALMOND COOKIES & MARSALA WINE (325 KM)

Travel to the medieval town of Erice, home to the impressive 13th-century Castello di Venere, and enjoy lunch followed by a delicious almond cookie tasting. Relaxing tour of one of the region’s oldest vineyards for a tasting of distinctly deep Marsala wine. Overnight in Agrigento. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 5 TRACES OF ANCIENT GREECE (246 KM)

Discover Sicily’s most riveting archeological site, the Valley of the Temples, dominated by colossal Greek temples dating back to the 5th century BC. Artistic stop in Piazza Armerina to visit Villa Romana del Casale and its well-preserved Roman mosaics. Overnight in Syracuse. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 6 NOTO’S BAROQUE WONDERS (75 KM)

Gorgeous Noto awaits! The picturesque Baroque town is home to the best gelato in the world. Our day trip showcases the Cattedrale di Noto and a stroll along the storied Vittorio Emanuele avenue. Free afternoon in Syracuse, or join us for an optional visit of the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi (at no additional cost). Overnight in Syracuse. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 7 SYRACUSE & ORTIGIA (111 KM)

At its peak, Syracuse was the largest city in the ancient world. The Neapolis archeological park, the Greek Theater and the tiny, eclectic island of Ortigia will leave you wanting more. Today, lunch is at a local manor overlooking fields of almond, lemon and olive trees. This is Sicily! Scenic drive to Taormina for dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight near Taormina. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 8 MOUNT ETNA & TAORMINA (110 KM)

Wake up to the towering presence of Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest volcano, and enjoy a drive through lunar landscapes to appreciate its striking beauty. Perched on a cliff nearby, the resort town of Taormina hosts us for lunch and a guided tour of its epic Greek amphitheater. Overnight near Taormina. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 9 AEOLIAN ISLAND ADVENTURE (150 KM)

From Milazzo, set sail on the Tyrrhenian sea to the sunny landscapes of our first postcard-worthy Aeolian island, Lipari. Following lunch, enjoy free time on the island, or join us for an optional visit of the Museo Archeologico Regionale Eoliano (at no additional cost). Overnight in Lipari. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 10 PANAREA & STROMBOLI

Leisurely start before our boat ride to charming Panarea and striking Stromboli. Our slow pace will only be interrupted by the dramatic image of Stromboli’s volcano. Enjoy lunch with a view of the mountain’s smoking silhouette, before returning to Lipari for the night. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 11 CROSSING INTO CALABRIA (200 KM)

Return to Milazzo by boat and drive to Messina for a photo op with the world’s largest astronomical clock. Following lunch, cross the strait of Messina to rejoin terra firma on the Calabrian outpost of Villa San Giovanni. Enjoy the viewpoint of Capo Vaticano and its turquoise waters, before heading to Vibo Valentia for the night. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 12 PIZZO CALABRO & TROPEA

Discover the seaside town of Pizzo Calabro, where local must-sees include Castello Aragonese Murat, the Baroque St. George Church as well as the intricate Piedigrotta Church. The beautiful town of Tropea will be a restful stop before we return to rustic Vibo Valentia for the night. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 13 FAMOUS SASSI DI MATERA (307 KM)

Drive along the Ionian coast to beautiful Matera and down into the district of “Sassi” (or stones), where 1,500 cave dwellings spectacularly dot the flanks of a steep ravine. Your day is capped off with a tasting of local products from the Basilicata region. Overnight in Matera. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 14 ALBEROBELLO’S TRULLI HOUSES

A true haven of the far niente and dolce vita, Puglia is a special place. Discover the awe-inspiring Castellana Caves before a serene walking tour of Alberobello and its unique trulli houses. Delight in a Pugliese lunch and enjoy free time to discover the city at your own pace, or join your Group Guru for an optional activity (at no additional cost). Overnight in Alberobello. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 15 RICH LECCE & WHITEWASHED OSTUNI (223 KM)

Enjoy a guided tour of stunning Lecce to explore its rich artistic heritage, before our farewell lunch. Stop in Ostuni, contrasting centennial olive trees and whitewashed buildings. Return to Alberobello for the night. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 16 HOME SWEET HOME

Travel to Bari airport and fly to Canada, arriving the same day. Your driver will meet you at the airport to help you with your luggage and drive you home. (B)
Download the complete itinerary

Hotels we've previously visited in Southern Italy

Palermo Hotel Giardino Inglese
Agrigento Grand Hotel Mosè
Syracuse Hotel Parco delle Fontane
Taormina Sant Alphio Garden Hotel & Spa
Lipari Hotel Bougainville
Vibo Valentia Hotel Tirreno
Matera Hotel Nazionale
Alberobello D'Aragona Hotel & Spa
Send me your full brochure I want to book now!

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Our unique approach

 

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.

 

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

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!

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!

 

We sell directly to you so that you never have to pay for expensive agency commissions

 

 

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!

 

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!