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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

2025 April 17 - May 02
1x single room left! | Double rooms available Book this tour
2025 May 01 - May 16
2x double rooms left! | Single rooms available Book this tour
2025 May 08 - May 23
1x single room left! | Double rooms available Book this tour
2025 May 15 - May 30
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2025 September 18 - October 03
1x double room left! | Single rooms waitlist available Book this tour
2025 October 02 - October 17
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2025 October 16 - October 31
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The Details

16 days

All-inclusive

$9,995CAD

Per person in double occupancy


Single supplement: $1,500

Fall 2025: +$100

Max Group Size: 30 travellers

Land Only: save $1,375

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. Meet your fellow travellers and fly overnight to Palermo. Upon arrival, meet your Group Guru before our luxury coach brings you to your hotel. Embark on a short orientation walk around the city before your welcome cocktail and dinner at the hotel. 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. Enjoy a delicious almond cookie tasting, then transfer to Marsala for a relaxing tour of one of the region’s oldest vineyards and 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 and overnight in Syracuse. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 7 SYRACUSE & CATANIA (135 KM)

Explore the Neapolis Archeological Park before a trip to Catania, Sicily’s breathtaking ancient port city that will leave you wanting more. After lunch, enjoy a walking tour and time to explore at your own pace. Scenic drive to Gardini Naxos where you’ll spend the night. (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 a walking tour of the island. 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. Overnight in Lipari. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 11 MESSINA & VIBO VALENTIA (200 KM)

Return to Milazzo by boat and drive to Messina for a photo op with the world’s largest astronomical clock. Following lunch in Messina, head to enchanting Vibo Valentia where you’ll spend 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 the Aragonese castle, 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. Here you’ll visit Chiesa di Piedigrotta, a seaside church built inside a cave, and Casa Grotta e Chiesa Grotta, a historical cave dwelling. Overnight in Alberobello area. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 14 CASTELLANA CAVES & ALBEROBELLO

Start your day with an adventure! Visit to Castellana Caves, one of the most famous cave systems in Italy, known for its impressive underground chambers and tunnels. Onto Alberobello, where you’ll immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of its unique trulli houses. Enjoy a tour of the city, then free time. Conclude your day with a delightful farewell dinner. Overnight in Alberobello area. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 15 WHITEWASHED OSTUNI (375 KM)

Walking tour of Ostuni, where centennial olive trees contrast whitewashed buildings. Walk through winding streets in the historic center and observe the Byzantine, Norman, and Aragonese influences. After lunch, make your way to Naples for your final night in Italy. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 16 HOME SWEET HOME

Fly from Naples 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
Giardini Naxos Area Hotel Nike
Lipari Hotel Bougainville
Vibo Valentia Hotel Tirreno
Alberobello D'Aragona Hotel & Spa
Naples Area Hotel de la Ville
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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!