Get more information about our tours & some of the most commonly asked questions we get asked.
Doing a small group tour in Sicily is no different to doing one in mainland Italy or other parts of Europe. The best part is that it suits foodies who are travelling on vacation to experience a destination like a local.
So the focus isn’t to try and see as many attractions as possible, but rather, to immerse yourself in the food, wine and culture of the area.
Below are some of the most common tour questions we get asked.
Our tours will only ever have a maximum of 20 people, they are designed to be small, intimate & personal. It means we can go to different places, we aren’t rushed through like the big tour groups & you can enjoy more time in each location.
The other huge benefit is we don’t waste 30 – 40 minutes at each stop to wait for people to get on and off the tour bus.
If you are a couple or a family & would like a private tour organised we can assist with this as well. We can craft an itinerary that is customised to your timing & locations you want to visit.
We do spend some time in different locations learning about how to make authentic Italian dishes, but this is not a cooking class tour where you stand behind a kitchen all day long. Our tour is a mix of food and wine experiences where you can get involved learning to cook a few things along the way.
There are a few ways to travel to Sicily to join one of our tours with a choice of transport methods available that are very accessible.
1.Fly to Catania or Palermo Airport located in Sicily
There may not be direct flights from international airports but many airlines will fly to Rome or Milan and have connecting flights available.
Qantas have also just added direct routes from Australia via Perth (info)
United, Neos Air, Ital Air, Jet Blue & Meridiana have flights from major cities in the USA to Milan or Rome. You can connect to the cities in Sicily, Catania or Palermo via Ryan Air, Easy Jet, Wizz Air or ITA Airways. Please be aware that many of these airlines don’t include a luggage allowance when you are booking so please allocate luggage to your ticket if needed.
2.Get a ferry from the Italy mainland that leaves from Naples
You might already be travelling on the mainland of Italy exploring the northern parts or perhaps the Amalfi Coast. You can continue your vacation by travelling by ferry from Naples with choices of landing at Catania or Palermo. This trip by ferry takes about 8 or 9 hours and there are options to have a cabin or even carry a vehicle over
3.Drive across to Sicily by vehicle
For the more adventurous traveller you might already being doing a road trip around Italy, if you drive down to Reggio, Calabria it is possible to purchase a ticket to get the car transferred over by vehicle ferry and the crossing takes less than an hour. From there you can drive around to Palermo, but you will need to find a location to store your vehicle while you are on the tour.
Unfortunately we are not a travel agent as such, so things like flights or car hire you will need to book yourself or with a travel agent. We can certainly help you with recommendations and suggestions for travelling to Sicily.
All your accommodation & transport while on the tour is managed by us, we take care of everything for you.
We stay in local hotels that have been chosen for their mix of service, location & facilities.
Never – we don’t believe people should be penalised for travelling on their own. So, if you’re a solo traveller you’ll have your own room to relax after your day exploring the Sicilian countryside with us, no extra cost.
We eat and drink more & walk outside a lot less… just kidding. We are able to continue most activities that are planned even if it is raining or we will swap days around to suit the unpredictable weather.
The benefit of joining our small group tour is we have plenty of flexibility to alter things as needed.
Generally speaking the weather is quite good as we are still in summer season.
It’s totally up to how much you spend while you are on holiday. While on tour, the majority of your food, drinks and activities are already paid for.
So it comes down to how much you’re likely to shop, or spend on activities during your spare time. We have had guests that have only spent 50 Euros on the tour and that’s to buy a souvenir or a drink because they’ve decided to opt out of our prearranged activities.
While other people enjoy some fine wines, do other activities or extend their tour to stay longer – the best part is you are not holidaying in Northern Italy which can be a lot more expensive and busy with tourists. So it is a completely different holiday experience that won’t cost as much to enjoy.
Italy accepts Euros either in cash or most locations will take debit or credit cards.
While many locations in Italy allow pets to enter shops or venues, unfortunately our tour isn’t pet friendly. This tour may suit children under the age of 18 but only if they have an interest in history, food & culture. For children who prefer a more active holiday visiting theme parks or doing adventure activities this may not be suitable for them.
We recommend taking out basic travel insurance so you’re covered for things such as;
If you’re planning to buy travel insurance it’s better to buy it the moment you have locked in flights or tours as you’ll be covered from the date you take out your policy as well as the dates you’re travelling.
This tour is suitable for singles, friends, couples or families. Our age group varies from 30 to 80 years old.
Absolutely, every day you get 2 to 3 hours where you can explore at your leisure or simply relax. We leave that totally up to you, we are not under the same time pressures as the large bus tours companies who have full schedules from 8 am to 6pm each day.
The unique aspect of our tour is that we don’t travel to ten places in a few days that require you to check in and out of hotels every day & load up on a bus. We spend our time in two main locations and travel to/from those each day which makes it a more relaxing experience and less rushed.
You don’t need to know how to speak Italian to join our tour. One of the benefits of booking with us is that we are your 24/7 translator and it also means everything is taken care of for you so that you can relax and enjoy your tour. We manage all the talking, organising and dealings with local hotels, transport and activity partners. You just have to arrive & enjoy.
Although it is always good to learn a few words, the locals appreciate the effort.
As all travellers know, you get the best when you venture the furthest, meaning, when you explore places that are nowhere near the major tourist attractions you will discover the places where the locals eat. Behind those doors are typically very authentic eating experiences that aren’t heavily influenced by heavy tourist visitor volumes.
If you see a food place in Italy offering hamburgers, steak or fish and chips – well, walk away.
Our food tour in Sicily takes you to some of the best food locations on the Island to taste a range of dishes made by locals.
Well we are biased of course, but the Southern region of Italy has the best food, it’s the region that is ‘untouched’ by a lot of the commercialisation of the Northern parts of the country. If you do a tour of Rome you’ll see a lot of areas that are full of tourists and their menus have changed to accommodate western tastes rather than uphold traditional cooking values.
In Southern Italy there isn’t as much high volume tourism therefore you don’t have those pressures or influences. What you find is that quite a few local eateries will have a high proportion of locals eating out – this is always a good sign.
Sicily has some of the best, most authentic food in Italy with strong roots to local producers & farmers with menus that change rapidly based on the season. So the taste, texture and flavours are typically not what you experience in other locations.
You will need to consider what to pack to ensure you can use your personal electrical appliances safely whilst abroad. This normally includes the use of a travel adaptor, which is a device that simply allows you to plug an electrical appliance into a foreign electrical socket. It is important to note that it does not convert the voltage or frequency.
For Italy there are three associated plug types, types C, F and L. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins, plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side and plug type L is the plug type which has three round pins.
Italy operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
You can determine whether you’ll need to use a converter or transformer, by looking at the appliance rating plate.
A dual voltage rated appliance will display for example ‘INPUT: 110-240V’ on the body of the appliance or its power supply. This means that you will not need a converter or transformer but just a travel adaptor, because Italy operates on a 230V supply voltage, which is within the 110-240V range that the dual voltage appliance operates on.
We are travelling when the weather is relatively pleasant in Sicily as it is located in the South of Italy. The temperature will run between 56-69˚F (14-21˚C). The main city of Palermo will see an average high of 75˚F (24˚C) and most other coastal towns experience something similar, plus or minus a few degrees depending on the ocean breezes. The water temperature is inviting at 73˚F (23˚C) with crystal clear blue waters.
Although most important are;
