exodus travel sicily food adventure

Sicily Food Adventure

Best price guaranteed
No booking fees
COVID-19 protected
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Customizable
duration 8 days
tour type Small group Request as private
age requirement 16-95 yrs
max group size 18
guiding method Fully guided
Tour Code BM-7477

Starts Palermo, Italy
Ends Catania, Italy
Wander through colourful markets and try the unique street food of Palermo
Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Erice
Sample a variety of local specialities during produce and wine tastings
Visit unique heritage sites and baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto
Day 1: Start Palermo
Day 2: Explore the markets of Palermo and indulge in fabulous street food; optional afternoon visit to Monreale and the ‘duomo’
Day 3: Transfer to Erice; hands-on cookery class with a local chef; continue to Marsala and sample the local wines
Day 4: Morning visit to an olive farm for olive oil and produce tasting; transfer to Agrigento for a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples
Day 5: To Piazza Armerina; guided tour of the Villa Romana del Casale followed by a delicious produce tasting; afternoon visit to the town of Ragusa
Day 6: Transfer to rural farm for cheese tasting; to the baroque town of Noto; time to explore and transfer to Catania
Day 7: Visit the loud, fast-paced fish market; travel to Etna for an excellent wine and produce tasting and short walk; return to Catania
Day 8: End Catania
All accommodation
All breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cookery class/lunch and 4 produce tastings (3 of which are also considered lunch)
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Tour leader throughout,Special guided tours in main UNESCO sights and cities
Travel insurance
Single accommodation
Visa or vaccinations
City taxes (approx. €10-15)
On Dec 23 2019
On Apr 16 2017
Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected Travel within your own bubble.
Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Earn US$ 97+ in travel credits.
Best price guaranteed.
No credit card or booking fees.
100% financial protection.
Carbon neutral tours.
25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Read more reasons to book with Bookmundi less Read less

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Sicily Food Adventure tour. You can cancel the tour up to 93 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 92 days of departure.

For any tour departures within 21 July 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 21 July 2024, a deposit of 25% is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 92 days before trip departure.

Sicily Food Adventure tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

For this Sicily Food Adventure tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene protocols have been adhered to.
Group sizes are kept small to maintain a low risk ‘small group bubble’, with an average of 10 guests in each group.
Hygiene safety measures and distancing will be followed in transportation, accommodation and meal venues.
Several COVID-19 distancing measures have been adopted on this package tour to keep travellers safe.
All travellers will be required to be fully vaccinated no less than two weeks prior to travel.

Highlights of the Amalfi Coast
Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy
Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia
Walking on Gozo - Calypso's Isle
Finnish Wilderness Week
Highlights of Albania
Discover Namibia - Camping
Italy tour packages
Italy group tours
Europe tour packages
England tour packages
France tour packages
Spain tour packages
Germany tour packages
Spring 2024/2025
Summer 2024/2025
Winter 2024/2025
August 2024
September 2024
October 2024
November 2024
December 2024
January 2025
February 2025
Europe Tours
Everest Base Camp Trek
Italy Tours
Spain Tours
Argentina Tours
Canada Tours
Sri Lanka Tours
Chile Tours
Antarctica Tours

If you book the Sicily Food Adventure tour within the next 5 days , you can get by applying the following code:

Sign-in to unlock instant trip discounts. Create wish lists and save up to USD 1,500.

Sicily Food Adventure

$2,099/person

Book this tour through our partner: Exodus Travels

The original adventure and activity holiday company specializing in cultural, walking, cycling, winter and wildlife adventures.

Start Palermo.

Explore Palermo, its famous markets and indulge in the city's fabulous street food; afternoon optional visit to Monreale and its Duomo.

Transfer to Trapani; hands on cookery class with a local chef; continue to Marsala and sample the town's world famous wines.

Morning visit to olive farm for olive oil and produce tasting; transfer to Agrigento for a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples.

To Piazza Armerina; guided tour of the famous Villa Romana del Casale followed by a delicious produce tasting; afternoon visit the charming town of Ragusa Ibla.

Transfer to rural farm for cheese tasting; stop in the UNESCO Baroque town of Noto before reaching Syracuse; free time.

Drive to Catania and visit the loud and lively fish market; travel to Etna for an excellent wine and produce tasting and short walk; return to Catania.

End Catania.

Additional Information

Sicily food adventure reviews.

Add your business today to reach The Outbound's audience of adventurous travelers.

Local Adventures
Tours and trips
Camping Nearby
Outbound PRO Membership
Add your property

Mobile Apps

Foodie and Wine Tours

Sicily Food Adventure

1,853 Views

8 Days Starting in Palermo and ending in Catania

Visiting: Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Marsala, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Ragusa, Noto, Catania, Mount Etna

Tour operator:

Guide type:.

Fully Guided

Group size:

Physical rating:, special diets catered:.

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

Trip styles:.

Coach tours (worldwide)

Cultural , Foodie and Wine Tours , Photography

Activities:

Sightseeing , Snow and Ski Activities

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour overview.

From cannoli to arancini, Sicilian food is world famous, but on this tour prepare to be overwhelmed at how varied and diverse Sicily’s cuisine really is! The various civilisations that have occupied the island over millennia have not only left an unparalleled cultural heritage, but also a culinary history that sets Sicily apart from mainland Italy. Sample Palermo’s fragrant street food in its vibrant markets, practise hands-on cooking with local chefs in Trapani, sip the finest wines in Marsala and Etna and indulge in mouth-watering gelatos whilst relaxing in sun-kissed Baroque piazzas. Let food lead the way in this captivating journey through culinary and cultural highlights.

Visit heritage sights and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Syracuse

Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Trapani

Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street food

Sample a variety of local specialities during the included produce and wine tastings

Visit heritage sights and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto

Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street food

Visit unique heritage sites and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto

Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street foodEnjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in TrapaniSample a variety of local specialities during the included produce and wine tastingsVisit unique heritage sites and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto

— Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street food — Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Trapani — Sample a variety of local specialities during the included produce and wine tastings — Visit unique heritage sites and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto

tourhub | Exodus | Sicily Food Adventure | ADY | Route Map

Not what you're looking for?

People that have booked this tour have also searched for the following:

Day 1 : Start Palermo.

Location: palermo, accommodation: hotel, accommodation name: b&b hotel quattro canti (or similar), meals included: no meals.

This tour starts in Sicily's regional capital, Palermo. This busy port city situated on the north-western coast of the island encloses some very interesting and often overlooked attractions. There is some fine architecture to be admired, as well as good museums, palazzi and churches. It is the city's food scene, colourful local markets and long established food shops, however, that give the city a very original and eccentric character worth discovering.

Day 2 : Explore Palermo, Its Famous Markets And Indulge In The City's Fabulous Street Food; Afternoon Optional Visit Monreale And Its Duomo.

Location: monreale, palermo, meals included: breakfastlunch.

We start our week with a special guided foodie tour through the historic centre of Palermo, ranked amongst the best cities in the world for street food. During our walk we wander through carts and kiosks of street vendors, colourful markets and local bakeries whilst trying some of the best local specialities. These may vary depending on the season and usually include arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with meat sauce and cheese), panelle (fried chick peas pancake), and sfincione (Palermo’s traditional pizza) - all absolutely delicious. As we walk, the local guide will reveal some of the secrets of Sicilian street cuisine and explain the history of the city, while pointing out notable monuments and historic streets such as Piazza San Domenico, Vucciria, Quattro Canti. The rest of the day is free; you may decide to continue sightseeing in Palermo at your own pace or take an optional visit to Monreale, famous for the extraordinary Duomo, considered the greatest example of Norman architecture in the world. Overnight in Palermo.

Day 3 : Transfer To Trapani; Hands On Cookery Class With A Local Chef; Continue To Marsala And Sample The Town's World Famous Wines.

Location: erice, marsala, accommodation name: villa favorita bungalow (or similar).

In the morning we transfer to our next destination, the coastal town of Trapani. The local gastronomy in this part of Sicily is strongly influenced by the Arabs, who occupied the area for many centuries until the Normans took over. A hands-on cookery course with a local chef will give us the opportunity to learn more about the interesting culinary fusions, while practising (and tasting!) traditional regional recipes. In the afternoon we head to the southern town of Marsala, internationally famous for its finest fortified wines. A wine tasting will be offered after a tour of one of the best local wineries. Overnight in Marsala.

Day 4 : Morning Visit To Olive Farm For Olive Oil And Produce Tasting; Transfer To Agrigento For A Guided Tour Of The Valley Of The Temples.

Location: agrigento, accommodation name: hotel della valle (or similar), meals included: breakfast.

In the morning we leave Marsala and transfer to a traditional organic olive farm, run by the Centonze family, owner of the estate since 1953. We will learn of the cultivation and production methods and sample some of the world's finest olive oil accompanied by local produce. In the afternoon we transfer to the iconic sight of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. A guided tour will allow us to discover and learn of the history of this splendid archaeological park, which consists of eight temples (and various other remains) built between about 510 BC and 430 BC. Overnight in Agrigento.

Day 5 : To Piazza Armerina; Guided Tour Of The Famous Villa Romana Del Casale Followed By A Delicious Produce Tasting; Afternoon Visit The Charming Town Of Ragusa Ibla.

Location: piazza armerina, ragusa, accommodation name: hotel mediterraneo or hotel barocco (or similar).

Today's destination is Piazza Armerina, home of world famous Villa Romana del Casale. Built in the 4th Century AD as a hunting lodge by a Roman patrician, the villa is home to some of the best preserved Roman mosaics spread over around 3500 square meters. After a guided tour of this extraordinary UNESCO sight, we enjoy a delicious produce tasting of local sicilian delicacies. In the afternoon we transfer to the Baroque gem of Ragusa, without doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily and Italy. The town is part of the Val di Noto UNESCO Heritage site and 18 of its buildings are protected by UNESCO patronage. After a short orentiation walk we will have time to enjoy a relaxing and well deserved aperitivo (word for the traditional Italian pre-dinner drinks and snacks) in one of the town's elegant piazzas. Overnight in Ragusa.

Day 6 : Transfer To Rural Farm For Cheese Tasting; On To Unesco Baroque Town Of Noto; Time To Explore And Transfer To Catania.

Location: noto, catania, accommodation name: b&b hotel catania (or similar).

We start our day with a transfer to a family-run farm in the countryside near Ragusa, a province where cheese making traditions are stonger than anywhere else in Sicily. After a cheese making demonstration and a tour around the farm we will sample some delicous cheese, including the famous ricotta, hand-made by the proud owners. Later, we transfer to the other Baroque gem of the Noto Valley, the town of Noto itself. After a relaxing stroll through what is considered one of Sicily's most beautiful historic centres, we have the opportunity to enjoy another staple of Sicilian cuisine: the famous 'granita' (thin flakes of ice flavored with fresh fruit or nuts and sugared) accompanied by the traditional 'brioche' (a soft and fragrant sweet delicacy). In the afternoon we transfer to Catania, our base for the last two nights of the tour.

Day 7 : Visit The Loud And Fast-Paced Fish Market; Travel To Etna For An Excellent Wine And Produce Tasting And Short Walk; Return To Catania.

Location: mount etna, catania.

After breakfast we visit the famous Pescheria, the colourful, loud and smelly fish market, which is one of the oldest and biggest in Italy. Held every morning except Sunday, this market is everything one expects an Italian market to be: following the local traditions, fishermen will try to attract buyers with their loud voices and lots of gesticulations. Nearby there are also fruit and vegetable stalls as well as other delicious local produce from the mountain villages around Etna. Later this morning we transfer to a famous wine cellar on Mount Etna and enjoy a delicious wine and produce tasting for lunch, followed by a short walk around the highest most active volcano in Europe (1 to 2 hours walking depending on time, 5 km maximum). We return to Catania in the afernoon and in the evening our leader will recommend an excellent local restaurant where to enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner.

Day 8 : End Catania.

Location: catania.

This tour ends in Catania in the morning of day 8.

What's Included

Special guided tours in main UNESCO sights and cities

All accommodation

All breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cookery class and 5 food tastings/lunches included.

London flights (if booking incl. flights)

Airport transfers (if booking group flights or alternative flights arriving before or at the same time as the group)

Transport by private air-conditioned minibus throughout the trip

7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 0 dinners.

All accommodationAll breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cookery class and 5 food tastings/lunches included.London flights (if booking incl. flights)Airport transfers (if booking group flights or alternative flights arriving before or at the same time as the g

All accommodationAll breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cookery class/lunch and 4 produce tastings (3 of which are also considered lunch)London flights (if booking incl. flights)Airport transfers (if booking group flights or alternative flights arriving befor

— All accommodation — All breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cookery class/lunch and 4 produce tastings (3 of which are also considered lunch) — London flights (if booking incl. flights) — Airport transfers (if booking group flights or alternative flights arr

What's Not Included

City taxes (approx. €10-15)

Travel insurance

Single accommodation

Visa or vaccinations

Travel insurance Single accommodation Visa or vaccinationsCity taxes (approx. €10-15)

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation — Visa or vaccinations — City taxes (approx. €10-15)

All breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cookery class/lunch and 4 produce tastings (3 of which are also considered lunch) are included. Sicilian cuisine is a melting pot of all the different cultures that have occupied the island, from the Arabs to the Normans. The island itself is incredibly fertile, enjoying a perfect climate which is ideal for the cultivation of fresh produce such as olives, oranges, lemons, eggplants, tomatoes, pistachios, almonds, grapes, and more—not to mention all of the seafood, tuna and swordfish fished right off the coast. The result? A cuisine that’s fresh, varied, and absolutely delicious! Sicilian wines are also superb and known to be strong and syrupy, like Marsala and Moscato. These are some of the regional specialities we recommend to try during this trip: Caponata: a tasty salad made with eggplant (aubergines), olives, capers and celery, makes a great appetizer. Sfincione: a local form of pizza made with tomatoes, onions and (sometimes) anchovies. Prepared on a thick bread and more likely found in a bakery than in a pizzeria. Pane e pannelle: A favorite street food of Palermo, panelle—or chickpea fritters—are served between bread, like a sandwich. Arancini (also known as arancine): fried rice balls stuffed with meat or cheese. Pani ca meusa: The name of this street food means, literally bread with spleen! But don’t let that scare you. It is delicious speciality of Palermo! Cannoli: tubular crusts with creamy ricotta (made from sheep's milk) and sugar filling. A must! Cassata siciliana: A sponge cake is soaked in liqueur, its slices layered with sweetened ricotta, and the whole thing covered in almond paste, then icing. It is also studded with candied fruits and other goodies. Pasta alla Norma: it’s made with fried eggplant, tomatoes, basil, and salted ricotta. Pasta with pistachio pesto. Pasta con le sarde: Sardines are popular in Sicily, so it’s common to see them as a topping for pasta. One common variety is bucatini with sardines, fennel, saffron, pine nuts, and raisins. Frutta martorana: Other places call this 'marzipan' but here in Sicily, the almond paste is molded into little (incredibly realistic) fruits—hence fruits of Martora, or frutta martorana. Granita: The perfect summer refreshment, granita, originally from Sicily, can now be found all over Italy. It’s just ground ice with sugar and fresh fruit, simple but truly delicious. Involtini di Pesce Spada: Little rolls of thinly sliced swordfish are stuffed with pine nuts, raisins, bread crumbs, anchovy filets, orange juice and lemon juice, eggs and grated pecorino. Tonno e Spada Affumicata: Smoked tuna and swordfish shaved paper thin, and layered on a plate. These can be accented with shaved fennel and oranges, or olives and sun-dried tomatoes, or can be served with just a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and some good crusty bread.

Accommodation

On this Sicily trip, we use comfortable three- and four-star hotels. Some have been chosen for their warm hospitality and typically Sicilian character and others for their convenient location. They are often near the historic centres we visit so we can easily explore the towns in the evenings or during our free time. Below are the hotels normally used: Palermo: B&B Hotel Quattro Canti (nights 1-2) Our first stop is Quattro Canti, a three-star hotel in the historic centre of Palermo. For foodies, the highlight may well be the rooftop restaurant, which serves Italian cuisine with views over the city. Marsala: Villa Favorita bungalow (night 3) In Marsala, we stay at the Villa Favorita resort. It was built by wine entrepreneur Salvatore Amodeo in 1860 and we typically stay in simple igloo-style accommodations within the property. There’s also a pool with loungers, plus plenty of green space to wander. Agrigento: Hotel della Valle (night 4) After visiting the Valley of the Temples, we head to the nearby Hotel della Valle. Relax post-exploration with a dip in the pool or dine together in one of the two restaurants, which serve a mixture of Sicilian and international cuisines. Ragusa: Hotel Mediterraneo or Hotel Barocco (night 5) In Ragusa, we either stay at Hotel Mediterraneo (above) or Hotel Barocco, depending on availability. The former is a modern hotel within a few minutes’ walk of Ragusa Ibla (the old town); it has a restaurant-bar serving Mediterranean cuisine. The latter is within Ragusa Ibla and has a restaurant-pizzeria. Catania area: B&B Hotel Catania (nights 6-7) We spend our final two nights at the modern Hotel Catania. It’s well placed for our activities, and, when we’re not out exploring, it has a lobby shop for food and drink and a solarium with showers and loungers on the terrace.

Check out our Q&As

Who is exodus travels.

At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.

Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.

Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.

Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

Yes, our local guides are English speaking.

Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.

Are flights included in this tour?

International flights are not included with this tour.

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

How long has the tour company been trading?

Exodus has been trading since 1974

What documents will I receive before I travel?

Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

Can I join the tour once it has departed?

You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews from Travellers on this Tour

A lovely trip.

I travelled with my husband and we have both enjoyed our trip. our guide Titsiana was excellent, being informative, friendly, accommodating and anxious to ensure we all enjoyed our trip. Timings of all pick ups and activities was perfect. Activities including wine tasting, cheese making, cookery and olive oil tastings were all enjoyable and very well organised.

Sicily Food Adveenture

Our week in Sicily was the highlight of 2 months in Europe. The places we visited, and stayed, and the food experiences we enjoyed were well planned to make for a varied tour: a mixture of popular tourist sites and low-key personal off the beaten track ventures all designed to keep a group of 6 well-travelled 70s year olds stimulated but not over taxed. Guide Rosario was a wonderfullyorganised yet relaxed companion who who treated us as friends not customers (and driver Giuseppe was great to be with as well. Thoroughly recommended.

Well worth waiting for: the first post-Covid trip!

We first booked this trip to travel in April 2020, and had postponed it 3 times before we heard it would happen - and with fewer restrictions/requirements as the departure date approached, for which we were most grateful.

My daughter Jane's and my wonderful holiday

My daughter Jane and I enjoyed a most wonderful holiday in Sicily last April 22nd to 29th. There was so much to see and do and Rosario looked after us so weii from meeting us in Palermo airport til we said goodbye at Catania. He went to so much trouble to find us lovely restaurants with delicious food. He helped us understand the menu and it was lovely for our group to dine with the local people. Our tour was amazing and Rosario and his colleagues had such a wealth of knowledge about all the wonderful places they showed us and their history. The opportunity to visit the farm and see the cheese being made and of course taste it was wonderful. Also to see the Masala wine being made and taste it. The market, the olive farm the winery and wine tasting was brilliant. The cookery class was amazing and it was great to learn how to make the dishes and then be able to eat them. The hotels were all excellent and Guiseppe was an excellent driver and all our travel was very comfortable.

Fabulous trip

Really interesting, active trip with plenty of interesting food & wine experience, history, culture and lovely group of people. Led by an excellent tour leader.

Really enjoyed the trip. A fascinating island, great food, wonderful history. My only criticism is that we tried to cover too much, which at times led to us only reaching our hotel at 19.00.

Sicily Food and Culture Trip

A great balance of food and culture - all of the highlights covered, and no food specialities left untasted. The itinerary was a perfect blend of food and culture, and the itinerary itself was perfect - nothing could really be improved upon.

Sicily Food Tour

A wonderful introduction to this enormous island, combining the must-see sites (Etna etc.) with wine, cheese, chocolate, gelato and other tastings. A lot of movement with 6 different hotels.

Food Trip to Sicily

A thoroughly enjoyable, varied holiday. Plenty of interesting visits, no shortage of excellent local food and wine.

A packed week of food and culture

It's incredible the amount of activities and experiences that this trip packs in. It's pretty full on. But extremely interesting and rewarding, in terms of the amount you learn about Sicily... especially its food and culture.

Dates & Availability

tourhub Discount Available - Sign In

Sunday - Sunday

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$87 (USD)

Operator discount: -$148 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$83 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$78 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$76 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$80 (USD)

Book with Confidence

Transfer as credit to future tours.

Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.

Low Deposit

Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

Cancellation Policy

We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.

Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

Why book with tourhub?

Safe & secure.

Your money is protected in an external trust until you travel.

100% Guaranteed Refunds if your trip is cancelled.

The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.

Guaranteed Best Value

Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.

No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.

(Operator terms may apply)

Expert Knowledge

Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.

Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.

Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.

Trusted Service

Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.

Don't just take our word for it...

"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."

Similar Tours

Travel guru features, our reviews.

Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates and travel inspiration.

Street Food & Sunshine in Sicily

Itinerary Expand All

Day 1: welcome to palermo, day 2: take a mafia tour. tonight, you’ll taste the best of the city on a foodie exploration.

Get under the skin of Palermo with the help of a local guide. You'll learn about the dark Mafia history (and the civil anti-mafia movement) as you walk beneath the domes and frescoed arches of the city. Tour complete, the afternoon is yours to explore Palermo.

You'll join a food tour tonight to sample some of the region's celebrated street food around the port of La Cala and the nightlife area of La Vucciria. Try rascatura croquette washed down with a beer served from the carts and kiosks of street vendors. The evening ends at Piazza Fonderia, with ice cream from a legendary gelateria (B/D).

Day 3: Travel to Cefalu for beach time, then on to Taormina Bay

Day 4: ride taormina’s cable car, explore the historic centre or relax at the beach, day 5: discover the formidable mount etna by 4x4. go wine tasting and travel to catania.

Adventure levels are dialled up today. In a kitted out 4X4, you'll head up the slopes of Mount Etna , Europe's largest active volcano. Off-roading over cold lava streams, it's an exhilarating and memorable journey. You'll hop out to talk to an incredible vantage point over the Bove Valley.

Then you'll visit a wine cellar for a tasting and feast on local dishes for lunch. In the late afternoon, it's on to vibrant Catania, Sicily's second-largest city for a tour. You'll stay at Hotel Katane tonight, centrally located for easy access to the city hubbub. Enjoy an al fresco aperitivo, with views of Mount Etna. You can choose whether or not you'd like to join your fellow travellers for a final dinner in a local restaurant (B/L).

Day 6: So long, Sicily!

Trip inclusions expand all, journey highlights.

Learn about the darker side of Palermo on a Mafia tour
Escape the city in search of Sicily's beaches and hilltop towns.
Get lost in ancient streets and sit back in the sunshine with an espresso
Try the very best of Sicilian cuisine: aperitivo in Catania, street food on a Palermo night tour, wine tasting on Mount Etna and sweet treats in Taormina

Trip Inclusions

Five nights in comfortable and central 4-star hotels
Four days of guided sightseeing and activities
All breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner, one aperitivo and one wine tasting
All transport and listed activities
Free arrival transfer from Palermo airport to start hotel at two set times and one departure transfer to Catania airport
Tour leader throughout
Two special guided walking tours in Palermo
Mount Etna excursion by 4x4
Wine tasting and lunch on Mount Etna
Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included

From classic small group tours & family adventures, to walking holidays, cycling trips and self-guided tours. Read more

Exodus chooses their Leaders carefully. Professional, dedicated and are passionate about sharing their home countries. Read more

Wherever possible, Exodus chooses properties that are locally owned and that reflect the area you are visiting. Read more

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Similar Tours

7 Day Trails & Treasures of the Amalfi Coast – Premium Adventure (Exodus)

7 Days Naples Amalfi

Operated By: Exodus

7 Day Parma to Florence: Italy's Culinary Highlights (Exodus)

7 Days Parma Florence

6 Day Italian Apennines: Walks & Wildlife (Exodus)

6 Days Rome Rome

12 Days Tallinn Vilnius

Exodus Adventure Travels

Travel Styles

About Us | View Your Booking | Terms & Conditions | Site Map | We're Hiring!

Global Journeys Pty Ltd. Member of The Australian Travel Industry Association (AITA) & ATAS Travel Accredited (No. A11351).

Sicily Food Adventure

— Wander through colourful markets and try the unique street food of Palermo — Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Erice — Sample a variety of local specialities during produce and wine tastings — Visit unique heritage sites and baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto

Highlights and Inclusions

— All breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cookery class/lunch and 4 produce tastings (3 of which are also considered lunch) — All accommodation — Tour leader throughout — Special guided tours in main UNESCO sights and cities — Group arrival and departure transfers available

Fly to Palermo airport and transfer to the start hotel in the city centre. This busy port city situated on the north-western coast of the island encloses some very interesting and often overlooked attractions. There is some fine architecture to be admired, as well as good museums, palazzi and churches. It is the city's food scene, colourful local markets and long established food shops, however, that give the city a very original and eccentric character worth discovering. Accommodation: B&B Hotel Quattro Canti (or similar)

We start our week with a guided foodie tour through the historic centre of Palermo. During our walk, we wander through the carts and kiosks of street vendors, colourful markets and local bakeries while trying some of the best local specialities. These vary by season, but usually include arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with meat sauce and cheese), panelle (fried chickpea pancake), and sfincione (the traditional pizza of Palermo) – all delicious. As we walk, the local guide reveals secrets of Sicilian street cuisine and explains the history of the city, while pointing out notable monuments and historic streets, such as Piazza San Domenico, Vucciria and Quattro Canti. The rest of the day is free; you may decide to continue sightseeing at your own pace or take an optional visit to Monreale, famous for its duomo (cathedral), considered the greatest example of Norman architecture in the world. Accommodation: B&B Hotel Quattro Canti (or similar)

In the morning, we transfer to our next destination, the hilltop town of Erice. The local gastronomy in this part of Sicily is strongly influenced by the Arabs, who occupied the area for many centuries until the Normans took over. A hands-on cookery course with a local chef gives us the opportunity to learn more about the interesting culinary fusions, while practising (and tasting) traditional regional recipes. In the afternoon, we head to the southern town of Marsala, home to the much-loved fortified wines of the same name. A wine tasting is offered after a tour of one of the best local wineries. Accommodation: Villa Favorita Bungalow (or similar)

In the morning, we leave Marsala and transfer to a traditional organic olive farm. We learn about the cultivation and production methods and sample olive oil accompanied by local produce. In the afternoon, we transfer to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. A guided tour allows us to learn about the history of this archaeological park, which consists of eight temples (and various other remains) built between about 510 BCE and 430 BCE. Accommodation: Hotel della Valle (or similar)

Today’s destination is Piazza Armerina, home of Villa Romana del Casale. Built in the fourth century CE as a hunting lodge by a Roman patrician, the villa is home to well-preserved Roman mosaics, which are spread over 37,670sqft (3,500sqm). After a guided tour of this UNESCO-listed site, we enjoy a delicious produce tasting of Sicilian delicacies. In the afternoon, we transfer to the baroque gem of Ragusa, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. The town is part of the Val di Noto World Heritage site and 18 of the buildings are protected by UNESCO. After a short orientation walk, we have free time to enjoy a relaxing and well-deserved aperitivo (traditional Italian pre-dinner drinks and snacks) in a piazza. Accommodation: Hotel Mediterraneo or Hotel Barocco (or similar)

We start our day with a transfer to a family-run farm in the countryside near Ragusa, a province where cheese-making traditions are stronger than anywhere else in Sicily. After a cheese-making demonstration and a farm tour, we taste samples, including ricotta made by the owners. Later, we transfer to the other baroque gem of the Val di Noto, the town of Noto itself. After a relaxing stroll through what is considered one of the most beautiful historic centres in Sicily, we can enjoy another staple of Sicilian cuisine: granita (crushed ice flavoured with fresh fruit or nuts and sugar) accompanied by traditional brioche (a soft, fragrant sweetbread). In the afternoon, we transfer to Catania, our base for the last two nights of the tour. Accommodation: B&B Hotel Catania (or similar)

After breakfast, we visit La Pescheria, the colourful, loud and pungent fish market, which is one of the oldest and biggest in Italy. Held every morning except Sunday, it is everything one expects an Italian market to be; following the local traditions, fishermen try to attract buyers with their loud voices and plenty of gesticulation. Nearby, there are also fruit and vegetable stalls plus other produce from the mountain villages around Etna. Later this morning, we transfer to a renowned wine cellar on Mount Etna and enjoy a wine and produce tasting for lunch, followed by a walk (one hour, 3mi/5km maximum) around the most active volcano in Europe. We return to Catania in the afternoon, and in the evening our leader will recommend an excellent local restaurant where we can enjoy a farewell dinner. Accommodation: B&B Hotel Catania (or similar)

This tour ends in Catania in the morning of Day 8. Depending on the group flight departure time, there might be some free time to explore the city. In case the group flight is scheduled to depart in the evening, you may also want to consider an optional day-trip to the charming hilltop town of Taormina (your leader will be able to provide you with directions and information locally).

Is there anything else you would like to add?

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Our tour leader, Alessio, made the trip. But the nights in Palermo and Ragusa were the best. As those cities were most interesting. Along with the vineyard visit on Etna. All the visits to the produce makers (olive oil, cheese, wine) never felt like merely a sales exercise. There was no hard sell. But all were interesting. And delicious in terms of sampling. The mix of accommodation types was really good.

What did you think of your group leader?

Alessio was brilliant at making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. You felt in very capable hands. We didn't have any dramas on our tour but I'm sure he would be excellent at sorting anything out if required. His local knowledge, as a Sicilian himself, and enthusiasm for the food and culture of Sicily is incredible. He can talk (!)but always in an interesting and sometimes amusing way.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Don't do this trip if you just want to sit on the beach or by the pool. You won't get much chance of that. Our group were almost all 50 years plus. There aren't any onerous levels of exercise involved but you do need to be able to manage a certain amount of walking. I would suggest that doing this in the spring or autumn is best to avoid the intense heat. But it did feel a bit end of season'ish in late September.

An incredible week exploring Sicily! We toured food markets, made pasta from scratch, did an olive oil tasting at a local farm, saw fresh burrata being made at a buffalo farm then sampled cheese products, went to a beautiful winery on Mt Etna, then did a hike to the Volcanos craters. We learned so much about Sicily's history, and culture, and of course, had lots of delicious food and wine!! I am already planning my next trip to Sicily!

all the local experiences (family run cheese farm, olive oil, wineries, cooking classes, etc)

Veronica was amazing - so knowledgeable and passionate about Sicily! Marco our driver was also great!

Book a post-night in Catania! After an incredible week of exploring the island, it is nice to spend one extra day by the seaside or exploring the city of Catania

This is a fantastic tour if you’re interested in both the food and the history of Sicily, as the tour combines both of them very well. The trip manages to pack so much in, every day there is something new to see, a new place to visit and a new tasting experience. The tour hops from hotel to hotel, using 5 different establishments, everything from small boutique style, to a holiday village with dome shaped bungalows and a 2 night stay in a large hotel complex on the outskirts of Catania. My week was full of a few unexpected things! Lost luggage between Milan & Palmero airports, absolute torrential rain on day 1 while in Palmero, an abandoned walk on Etna due to more extreme weather and to top it off an eruption of Etna on my departure day which coated Catania & the airport in a layer of black volcanic ash! This resulted in the airport being closed, several flight changes and finally getting home 2 days later than planned! It’s a packed itinerary, some early morning starts and a lot of distance covered in the bus. A good guide book together with the trip notes will help you no end.

Lots of moments to mention. Visiting a mountain village to learn how to make pasta, the whole village was covered in thick fog! The visit to Ragusa, a perfectly beautiful town, I wished we’d had a little more time there. Being in Catania when Etna erupted! Although she ruined my return home, as a bit of a volcano enthusiast it was a bit of a special moment being part of that.

Alessio was a superb group leader. As an original native of Palmero himself, his knowledge of Sicily was unsurpassed. I found him informative, a great story teller and I appreciated that he shared a lot about life in Sicily as a real local, it gave what he said true authenticity. He very clearly knows his job, and seems to know someone familiar in every town! I liked that Alessio wasn’t overbearing as a group leader, if people wanted a bit of ‘space’ away from the group there was always time to do this.

Despite thinking May would be glorious weather, I’d pack a raincoat and an umbrella as well as your sun cream.

One thing I’d ask about before you book are the flights offered by Exodus. I had an arduous journey from London, via Milan, with lots of hanging around. What should be a 2.5 hr flight direct ended up being more like 6 hours, plus if you don’t live near London there is the travel there to also factor in. All in, it took me a full day to get to Palmero. I think this is one area Exodus need to look at, offer more direct flights. In hindsight I’d have booked my own flights. As a final point, I’d give special praise to Monica, the local emergency contact. She was brilliant in helping me when I was stranded at the airport, sorted me an extra nights accommodation and text me the following day to make sure I was ok.

A thoroughly enjoyable, varied holiday. Plenty of interesting visits, no shortage of excellent local food and wine.

The cookery experience, and then enjoying the results!

Knowledgeable and enthusiastic, Francesca worked really hard to make our trip work.

Wear loose clothes! Be prepared to hotel hop and abundance of coach travel.

A short trip on the last morning after hotel check out would be helpful, the overly long wait at the airport was a pain.

Really enjoyed this trip, we got to see most of the island of Sicily whilst being able to taste some traditional dishes and wines.

Visiting the local markets in Palermo and Catania

Our group leader Francesca was a little disappointing- she wasn’t proactive enough. On the first night she didn’t organise dinner for the group, she had to be prompted to organise the optional extra tour. There were issues with one persons room in Ragusa but she didn’t offer to sort it out in the end myself and my companion helped the other person. The coach driver had a room in the main hotel whilst an elderly lady had a room at the top of 2 flights of stairs in another hotel down the road. She felt uncomfortable, I felt the group leader should have swapped the room etc. She left us 3 nights to sort out our own meals and in Catania just left us without a clue where the best places to go to were. Also in food tasting she always made sure she got her food first, she should wait until guests had their chance to taste the food. On the plus side her knowledge of Sicily was excellent and she was very interested in making us fall in love with the country and culture.

Be prepared for rooms in Sicily to not always have access to windows and fresh sir

I did enjoy the trip very much, I have been on 4 other tours and I am only being negative about the tour leader as in comparison to my other trips she was a 5 out of 10 rather than a 9 or 10 out of 10 that I’ve experienced before.

Too many to mention, but street food in Palermo markets, lunch in Piazza Armerina, and all the incidentals associated with visits to local producers (meeting water buffalo herd, cookery lesson near Trapani). Visits to cultural sites were a good contrast: it was interesting to see how they had developed and changed since we visited over 15 years ago. The fact that, despite its being the first tour for over 2 years, it all seemed to run smoothly.

Rosario was really enthusiastic about the history and culture of his home island, and ready to transmit this in his good English; he also has a good sense of humour, which may have been tested at times. He managed to deal with the varying requirements of the group, and was always ready with recommendations of ways to spend any spare time, or places to eat. Our driver, Maurizio, was excellent, both at negotiating some of the roads and dealing with slight changes to the route, in particular being led through Piazza Armerina by a police car, rather than having to wait for an hour while the Giro di Sicilia passed through.

Don't expect a restful holiday! Apart from at the beginning and end, with 2 nights each in Palermo and Catania, we stayed somewhere different every night; that provides a challenge for sensible packing. if you're going in early April as we did, you may need some warmer clothes to deal with the time in Ragusa, Noto and Mt. Etna: while the UK was having a heatwave, we were all scrabbling for extra layers to cope with the cold winds!

It would have been good to visit Siracusa (as in the original itinerary) and possibly Taormina, which would mean a longer tour - and perhaps slightly more relaxed. if you make the trip longer, would it be possible to arrange a trip from Palermo to Cefalu? It was the original French capital of Sicily, and has the first cathedral, which is like a mini-Monreale.

As we'd first booked to travel in April 2020, this was a much-anticipated break, and our first one travelling abroad, and it really went well. It was the first post-Covid trip, so we weren't sure that everything would happen as expected, but it was well organised, and all eventualities catered for. We were impressed by the range of food tasting opportunities (too many to mention), particularly the chance to visit small producers who are obviously diversifying from their original production - and the street food in Palermo was a revelation! We also enjoyed the cultural visits, but would have liked to visit Siracusa (on the itinerary when we originally booked).

Seeing the range of produce in local markets, and tasting regional products in their locality.

Rosarios was great fun, but well organised, and took account of the various requirements (particularly dietary) of our varied group. His English was pretty good, and he was extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of Sicily - and eager to share it. He was also helpful in suggesting where to go in the limited spare time, and on places to eat (though there were some evenings when we didn't need to, after the tastings of the day). Maurizio, our driver, was extremely good, and very patient with us and the odd hiccup with traffic conditions. He did a wonderful job on some intersting roads.

Don't expect this to be a restful holiday! There's a lot of travelling, even with stops for tastings or cultural sites, and it's only at the beginning and end that there are 2 nights in the same place. Palermo airport seemed very well organised; Catania not so much. Be prepared for much waiting around in between check-in and boarding. Gatwick was extremely well run on our departure, but earned a few black marks on our return: no staff to move a stairway to the plane for disembarcation, and long waits before baggage arrived.

I think it would be worth making this a slightly longer tour, to include Siracusa and Taormina in the east, and possibly a day trip to Cefalu from Palermo/. Cefalu was the original French capital, and has an earlier, scaled-down version of Monreale with its own cathedral.

This was my first holiday outside the UK since the first covid lockdown and it was excellent. The group remained covid-free for the entire week - a bonus! Rosario was enthusiastic and energetic throughout. As his first group in 2 years, he was determined to ensure we enjoyed ourselves!

I loved the quality and quantity of fruit and veg in the different food markets we visited in Palermo (and watching the non-veggies attempting to eat certain local delicacies).

As before - he was excellent. Not only was he knowledgeable but also his spoken English was really good. Maurizio the driver deserves praise too for safely negotiating spaces scarcely wider than his vehicle.

Don't think that holidays are restful in any way! If you fancy a rest, I'd recommend extending the holiday by a few days. Arriving a day or two early ensures you start the holiday well-rested rather than tired from rising very early for the group flight. Plus add a day or two at the end if you'd like to see Taormina which sadly isn't included in the current tour.

I'm sorry that covid led to small changes in the tour - for example I was looking forward to tasting the range of local cheeses near Ragusa and was sorry we didn't go to Taormina. However having any holiday at all post-covid was a thrill!

Great way to spend a week in Sicily. The trip is pretty busy, moving on most days, packing in the main sights and a lot of food! I enjoyed the mix of history (valley of the temples and the roman villa) with the food and culture aspect, particularly the visits to the local producers and food market trips.

For me the valley of the temples, made even better by the great guide.

Rosario was a great guide, very knowledgeable of all aspects of Sicilian history, culture and food. Organised us well and provided good options for what to do with any spare time we had, allowing me to make the most of these limited times.

Not much time to unpack in each location so dont take too much! Catania airport is a crazy place, be prepared to queue.

We booked this trip to go in 2020 and finally made it in 2022. It was well worth the wait. It was everything we'd hoped for and more. Bustling local markets, stunning Greek/Roman temples, fascinating architecture (the baroque balconies), a chance to walk on Mount Etna and of course all the amazing food and wine. There were certainly plenty of opportunities to sample the delights of Sicilian food and wine with our superb guide, Rosario.

There were so many great moments on the trip but for me it was all about the food: meeting the buffalo before sampling the mozzarella cheese; the cooking lesson where we ate what we had prepared; the olive oil tasting and seeing the olive trees which were still producing the olives even though they were hundreds of years old; the wine tasting at Mount Etna and the sumptuous lunch that went with it; sampling the Marsala wine; several buffet lunches where we had the chance to eat the local produce and trying the street food from the market in Palermo. It truly was an indulgent week.

Rosario has a great sense of humour and obviously enjoys his job. He has clearly put in the time to research all the activities and would give guidance on what to see in our free time and recommendations of restaurants in the evening. We couldn't have asked for a better guide.

Try everything, even some of the strange street foods - you never know you might like it!

The picnic of market-bought treats, in a Palermo pub. Cooking lesson. Exploring Greek, and Roman, remains. Gelato. 'Climbing' Mt Etna.

Absolutely the best. It was like being with a favourite member of the family, one who knew his stuff inside out.

Just do it.

With 6 in our group and with our guide Rosario and our driver we did a one week tour of Sicily. It was magic. We saw wonderful sights, were taken into old medieval homes, learned how to make pasta, climbed Mt Etna, saw great cathedrals, learned of the Mafia and ate wonderful food. Our guide and driver were wonderful and we had such fun together. All our needs were attended to and we became good friends. I can heartily recommend this tour.

If possible keep to a small group. This allows you to be more involved with the guide

If you idea of a Mediterranean holiday involves languorous lie-ins & bobbing about on a Lilo with a spritzer, forget it! We were an international group of 16. We were very busy. We visited places we could not have found independently, and discovered the secrets of wine, olive & cheese production. We sampled lots of lovely Sicilian foods, visited food markets, feasted on caponata & pesto made by ourselves, tried street food ("what IS that?" - "Cow spleen-its very popular...."). The trip was quite hectic, Rosario our excellent guide had us whipped into shape from the start- NO lie-ins, no matter how much we consumed the night before. We were on the coach by 8 or 9 am, ready to face what the day presented. It was also full of contrasts, from busy markets to gentle countryside, from chi-chi resorts to the blackened slopes of Mount Etna, we got a real flavour of Sicily, including even a bit of Inspector Montalbarno. Rosario joined in with us and was both helpful and caring of our various needs, and Guiseppe our driver was just brilliant. A kind, friendly, helpful, careful driver who lugged our suitcases as well as driving and looking after us. The relatively small coach easily negotiated roads that would have been tricky for a bigger bus. Most of the hotels were perfect for our needs, and mostly very well located.

Too many to mention- The excellent Archaeologist/guide at the Valley of the Temples, smoky Mt Etna, sunsets over the Mediterranean, the clubby atmosphere around the street bars of Palermo, the Roman mosaics, paddling across the Causeway to Isola Bella, the amphitheatre at Taormina.....

Rosario was an excellent leader, fully involved with our varied group, caring, fun, sympathetic, well-organised. His English pretty much perfect, and his knowledge of Sicily beyond compare. Crucially he always managed to find us a clean toilet stop without anyone having to ask!

A hat & comfortable shoes, suitable for walking city streets AND climbing Mt Etna, are essential. Don't over pack, you are unlikely to UN-pack. Drink plenty of water. There is a fair amount of time spent on the coach, but it's well divided up. Beware Catania Airport, which is much too small to handle all those passengers.

Just to thank Rosario and Guiseppe for their kind professionalism.

This is a busy week with a lot crammed in to a short space of time. As you would expect, a lot of the scheduled activities are food and drink related but there's also some sightseeing. After two nights in Palermo, you transfer to a different hotel every night so there's little in the way of down time but you certainly get a flavour of Sicilian life and culture - and, of course, food! The hotels were a bit of a mixed bag - some better than others but all of them were adequate for one night - we particularly liked the Hotel Carmine in Marsala.

Probably the (optional) walk at the top of Mt Etna with stunning views. And, although I wouldn't describe it as inspirational, we really enjoyed the cookery lesson - and eating the results!

Rosario was friendly, helpful and knowledgable, ensuring everyone got the best out of the trip. As the only vegetarian/pescatarian on the trip, he had made sure that the organisers of the scheduled food tastings and activities (such as the cookery lesson) were prepared with suitable options for me.

Travel light - there are lots of opportunities to purchase food and drink to take home so you'll need room in your suitcase.

This is quite a hectic, whistle-stop tour which could easily occupy ten days at a more leisurely pace. If we'd had the time available it would have been good to stay on for a few days relaxing at the end.

We chose the trip after seeing an advert in the Guardian and decided that it sounded fun - mixing food and drink experiences with archaeology, history and geography. We weren't disappointed. Though we don't normally go for group holidays, this trip worked well. The opportunity to share food and drink tastings with the group added a dimension that would have been missing if we had been on our own. Rosario, our guide, and Maurizio, our driver, both worked dilgently to ensure we really enjoyed the trip - getting us to everywhere we needed to be without fuss or bother, and handling queries and minor problems with unfailing patience and good humour. In a relatively short time, we saw a good cross-section of the island, and came back with happy memories and a much stronger 'mental image' of Sicily. Thanks to all concerned who made this work.

Hard to choose....! The cathedral at Monreale (Palermo) with seemingly every surface covered with mosaics was amazing. Similarly the temples at Valle dei Templi near Agrigento. Ragusa Ibla was a fascinating hilltop village which repaid careful exploration. The trip up Etna was well worthwhile - the snow and gale-force winds a stark contrast to conditions at sea-level. On the food side of things the market visits in Palermo and Ortigia, and the olive farm were memorable, though in fairness to all the other locations, we were warmly welcomed and treated as honoured guests by owners and staff.

Rosario worked hard throughout the trip to make sure we got the most out of it , without being pushy or bossy. He quickly gained the confidence of the group, answered a myriad of questions (on a wide variety of topics) with enthusiasm and insight, and routinely gave us sufficient information about the next few hours' activities without overloading us with minutiae. As appropriate, he organised local restaurants for evening meals and was a good person to have around to help navigate menus, clarify issues etc. He seemed to cope well with the occasional personal issues that arose, treating the person with the issue with respect, while not overlooking the needs of the wider group.

The trip is described as 'leisurely' and in terms of physical effort that is probably about right if you choose to take a laid-back approach. However, the days were long and action-packed (not complaining) and the various stops offered lots to see and do - so in practice you could be on the go for big chunks of time. Warm clothes (layers best) and decent walking shoes / boots essential for the Etna excursion. Several people commented that they wish they'd brought a decent map to keep track of our progress. I had the TCI:Touring Club Italiano 1:200 000 Sicily with me, that was more than adequate. Available locally or from Stanford's in London ~ £10.00

The hotels were the usual eclectic mix - some with great character: eg Hotel Carmine in Marsala, Hotel dell'Orologio in Ragusa Ibla; some with a good location eg Hotel Villa Esperia on the coast road in Mazarro (close to, but away from the tourist throng of Taormina) . Some people were unimpressed with the Hotel Posta in Palermo, but we were fine with it. The Jolly Aretusa Palace (what a name!) in Syracuse was OK but not brilliant - no idea whether there are better alternatives. The booby prize goes to the Hotel Dioscuri in Agrigento/Santa Leone. On paper and from the outside it looks fine - seaside location, generous plot etc, but the reality disappoints. The room was fine but the walls terribly thin and hence neighbour noise an issue. The hotel handles a lot of tour groups (I do realise the irony of this comment) and struggles to cope - especially at breakfast where service was overwhelmed and finding things became farcical.

Our first experience of Sicily so chose this holiday. It gave us a mixture of culture, Greek, Roman as well as modern. A variety of food and drink experiences as well as exploration of the countryside. The small group and an excellent leader made for very good holiday travel.

Going to the top of Mount Etna in unseasonal snowy weather.

Rosario was very well informed and caring. He conveyed his love of the area to the group. He obviously had made many contacts which enabled us as a group to participate with local people.

Not really a relaxing week. Be prepared for a variety of activities from early morning until evening.

A positive experience for our first time with Exodus

The Roman villa mosaics

Rosario was excellent. He looked after every detail of the trip, was always available to assist with any question or problem that arose. Incredibly enthusiastic, and a native Sicilian, he acted as our entree to Sicily.

While classified as level 1, there was a great deal of walking on some days - up and down stairs in most locations, and while detail is provided under "Is this trip for you?", the word "leisurely" is a little misleading, and it would be worth reclassifying the trip to at least a 2! That said, in many places, there were options to do more or less strenuous activities. e.g. at Mount Etna, there were three grades of activity possible. While nothing more could have been included within the 8 days of the tour, travellers may consider adding two-three days on their own to visit Cefalu (including a trip to one or more of the Aeolian Islands) which is easily accessible by train from Palermo. The other locations visited relied on in-depth local knowledge, and some of the attractions are only accessible by private transport, so it would be impossible or impractical to visit most of the places we went to if you did your own thing in Sicily.

The tour is at least as much about culture as it is about food, and while this is detailed in the trip notes, it might be worth reflecting this in the title of the trip.

trip to mount Etna was fabulous although quite expensive at 130 euros for a couple. Also the cookery and cheese making were excellent.

group leader w as excellent. very friendly and welcoming. enthusiastic, courteous and anxious to ensure our trip ran to plan and was enjoyable.

two of the hotels were of a poorer quality. The hotel Poste in Palmero was a bit shabby but not too bad. The worst hotel was the Jolly ... Palace Hotel for the last night. This was very shabby with stained and chipped furnishing, rusting air vent in bathroom, dirty walls and no air conditioning. This hotel should not be used as it spoils the quality of the trip as a whole. no need to bring a thick coat for Mount Etna as you can hire a thick coat for 4 euros at the ticket office. If you don't want to do four flights just to get to Sicily and back, book your own flights.

Please take the last hotel off your list. It is anything but a Palace Hotel! very enjoyable trip. If I had known that this trip involved changing at Rome on the outward journey and Milan on the return I would not have booked it. It took 10 and a half hours to reach Palmero due to waiting for flights, delayed flights and having to change gates.

This trip was an excellent experience blending history and tourist sites with food experiences. The itinerary is well done. We were a small group of 7, and got along well, and our guide Tiziano was energetic and good natured, and attentive to everyone's needs. He was very organized and everything went off as planned. He was also personally helpful to me on 2 occasions, with forgotten eyeglasses and arranging individual transport to the airport. I really enjoyed all the tasting/eating experiences, including olive oil, cheese farm, wine tastings, cooking class, street food tour in Palermo, and group dinners. We moved a lot, staying one night in most places, but that was enough to see everything, and get a feel for the towns. The travelling distances were not very long between towns, so we had plenty of walk around time. My only criticism would be of the choice of the Siracusa hotel, which could be greatly improved, even if it meant charging a bit more for the trip. The rest of the hotels ranged from decent to lovely. Would definitely travel with Exodus again. Great value.

The church in Monreale with the breathtaking mosaics. Also the Greek temples in Agrigento.

our guide Tiziano was energetic and good natured, and attentive to everyone's needs. He was very organized and everything went off as planned. He was also personally helpful to me on 2 occasions, with forgotten eyeglasses and arranging individual transport to the airport.

Go a day earlier- but not on a Sunday like I did- and try to see the mosaics in the Palatine chapel in Palermo. Also taxis are very expensive in Sicily to/ from the airports, so if you do your own transport, be aware of this. You need to be pretty fit to do the Mt Etna excursion to the top, as air is thin and walking is precarious on the lava. Our guide did an easy walk at the bottom for those who did not want to go up.

The trip is an excellent value, and well planned for 8 days. Includes all the highlights of Sicily and very nice food experiences. Also enough free time to walk around and eat extra food! Have been all over Italy and the food here is some of the best.

The Sicily group tour was excellent. Very well planned and organised.

The great mixture of activities.

Excellent. Very well organised, thoughtful and friendly.

The tour was well organised and interesting. The group dynamics worked well and we were given the opportunity to experience many aspects of Sicily including the delicious food, fascinating history, fantastic archaeology and beautiful scenery.

I was blown away by the mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale and the tastings of various marsala wines was fun!

Rosario was one of the best group leaders we have met and we have met many over the years. He was a mine of information, his English was perfect and he made sure that we all had a wonderful holiday.

The distances in Sicily were far greater than I appreciated so it takes longer than expected to get from place to place and the weather can be chilly, particularly on Mount Etna.

Thank you for arranging such a successful trip.

This trip is a wonderful mixture of food and culture, with Etna thrown in for good measure! From sampling spleen sandwiches (yes, really) on the Palermo street food tour to a Marsala wine tasting and eating ricotta, still warm, that we had watched being made just minutes before, all the gastronomic experiences were enjoyable and delicious (even the spleen wasn't that horrendous). The cultural highlights for me were the amazing mosaics at the Villa del Casale and the Duomo and cloisters at Monreale, whilst experiencing Etna in the snow was simply stunning. Our guide, Rosario, was brilliant, and our group, made up of mostly couples and with around 30 years from oldest to youngest, bonded really well - as one of the three singles, and one of the youngest, I never felt isolated.

Definitely the cable car/4WD/guided crater tour at Mount Etna. The combination of snow with lava showing through just made the scenario so beautiful, and we were lucky that the clouds parted and it was a beautiful sunny day. Awe-inspiring.

Rosario was so lovely - he guided us with a gentle touch so that we felt like adults and not a school group, yet somehow we were always ready to go when needed! His passion for Sicily and delight in showing us everything just shone through and his attention to detail in organising our activities was amazing. He had time for all of us as individuals and regularly checked that we were happy. Superb!

If you go in April (and, I'm guessing, October) make sure you have plenty of layers, including a waterproof one, so that you can add/take away as needed. Our temperatures, in early April, ranged from really quite warm (I got slightly sunburnt one day) to -2 at the top of Etna! You probably won't have time for a swim at any of the hotels, as generally you do get to them quite late (and I think only one or two of them had pools anyway). Don't bother taking much reading matter - apart from airports you won't have time to read! There is a fair bit of walking around to be done, so make sure you have good shoes. Make sure you can cope with your suitcase as you do have to move it around a bit, although there's usually someone around to help. And make sure you have plenty of space in your case - you will bring back plenty of foodie souvenirs, if our group is anything to go by!

The hotels we stayed in were a real mixture in terms of standard; for me, there were two I would happily book to stay in again (Hotel Carmine in Marsala - which we all agreed was the best one - and Villa Esperia in Mazzaro, for Taormina). The others were much more variable in quality, a lot of which often depended on which room you had ( my worst two were fine for others in the group). But you are never more than 2 nights in any one place anyway, and mostly only one, so it really doesn't matter that much. One negative point was having to change flights - Rome on the way out and Milan on the way back (where it was quite a scramble to get to the second flight). Our guide was amazed we weren't on direct ones as he said he hasn't flown indirectly for about 15 years! My only other comment was that a week wasn't quite long enough! It would have been great to have a bit more time at some of the places we visited (an extra half an hour or hour would have made all the difference at times) and in 10 days we could have gone all the way round the island.

Lovley holiday. Great overview of many different towns visiting lots of cultural sites. Amazing food and wine, with great tours and tastings. You'll never be hungry or thirsty ;) on this trip.

Going up mount Etna, an optional extra but well worth it! Going to buy lunch in the local market was a great experience and visiting the different producers was very interesting. The Etna wine tasting with food pairings was really fun. There were so many great bits, it's hard to pick only one!

Rosario was very good! Got us from a-b, fed and watered us. He was very knowledgeable about the local areas and answered any questions or querys with the patience of a saint! What more could you ask for :)

Take a larger suitcase or sacrificial clothes! There was so many things we wanted to bring home. Nothing too unwieldly though, as there was a few short walks to some of the hotels with some uneven surfaces.

Hotels were okay, did the job for a night's stay, some were better than others. One night did result in a supermarket supper due to the closure of the hotels restaurant but tbh we were so full from lunch didn't miss it and the bar was still open.

A gastronomic delight!. From the hands on cookery class and wine tasting tasting to sampling Sicilian delicacies in the historical Capo market. Plus a big thank you to the team for arranging gluten free alternatives throughout the tour, from fusilli pasta to wheat free desserts, it truly exceeded all my expectations.

Capo market, was a delight, seeing the extensive mosaics at the Roman Villa, the hands-on cookery class, drinking sparkling wine in the square in Ragusa surrounded by beautifully lit architecture and the list goes on...

Our guide was very helpful, informative and was keen to ensure we really got the most out of our tour.

Really enjoyed the trip. A fascinating island, great food, wonderful history. My only criticism is that we tried to cover too much, which at times led to us only reaching our hotel at 19.00.

Cooking tutorial

It is a pretty hectic tour.

Rosario was a great host and guide. He very much became one of the group.

Really interesting, active trip with plenty of interesting food & wine experience, history, culture and lovely group of people. Led by an excellent tour leader.

The cookery demonstration & practice. This was in a beautiful environment & we had excellent tuition in preparing the food for our lunch. And then eating our food in a delightful outdoor courtyard in the warm sun was just wonderful.

He was great. Really friendly & good fun but also efficient & very knowledgeable. I’d happily go on a trip with him again.

You do need a reasonable level of fitness. There was quite a lot of walking to do & a couple of the people in our party struggled a bit. It does say about good health & reasonable fitness in the tour details but this needs to be emphasised at the booking stage.

Just a big thank you to the booking team, to our tour leader & to our wonderful coach driver.

We enjoyed it all. My daughter loved the mosaics at Piazza Armerina. I found Mt Etna breathtaking. I also loved Palermo and the valley of the temples. Taormina was wonderful too. We certainly got our food adventure and the wine to accompany it with the added bonus of seeing the wonderful sights and learning the history of the beautiful island of Sicily.

Our group leader Rosario was amazing. He was very kind, thoughtful understanding and patient. He had so much knowledge about all the places we saw and explained it all so well. He made sure we had plenty of comfort breaks and opportunities to have coffee granita, ice cream etc aswell as the food tasting which was arranged for us. This was very much appreciated by us all. He arranged for us all to have our evening meal as a group if we wished and that was a great help for us all to get to know each other and made the holiday extra special because we all got on so well. Our sincere thanks to him.

Wear comfortable footwear the streets are beautiful but very steep and uneven.

It was a wonderful holiday and I highly recommend it.

This was the trip of a lifetime, words cant describe how amazing it was. Everything went perfectly and smoothly we had zero issues or problems other than very very minor ones. Vincenzo our guide was absolutely amazing and our driver Salvadore as well. They both did everything to make our trip wonderful. I could not recommend this more highly. The food, the hotels, the scenery, everything was perfect.

I was brought to tears several times, it is hard to say what was the most inspirational. The whole thing was outstanding. Generally the best thing about the trip was the schedule. It was just so well planned with the right amount of adventure but also enough rest time. Really well done!

I loved Vincenzo!!! He was like a brother to all of us, he put up with our silly questions and helped us in every way he could. He was very professional and knowledgeable. I would go on a tour again with Vincenzo as the guide any time.

Make sure to have electrolyte tablets with you at all times. It is very hot and it is easy to get dehydrated. Those tablets saved our bacon a few times.

You cant go wrong booking the Italy Food Adventure. It was so well planned, the daily excursions were just right - we were tired some days but not too much and every day was a new and wonderful adventure. We were all ladies in our 50's and 60's and we got along really well in spite of not knowing each other. The hotels were really good, a couple were not the best but certainly suitable, a couple were "OMG gorgeous" and the rest were just really nice. I would not hesitate to recommend this trip.

Sicily is a fascinating treasure trove of history and beauty. This trip allows you to experience the Sicilian way of life using food as a lure to explore its villages, towns and landscape as you move from one side of the island to the other.

The mixture of architecture which display Sicily's history through its Roman, Byzantine, Arab (etc, etc) periods, but now sit harmoniously together - is truly inspiring. Also, the endless mosaics at Piazza Armerina which taught me (both visually & by the enthusiastic local guide!), more about Roman way of life and their amazing feats, than any book or tv documentary ever did! I'm not usually enamoured by "old ruins", but the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is a sight to behold! Mount Etna - I hadn't expected it's lush rich vegetation and then the contrast of the stark black ash landscape on areas affected by historic lava flow.

Our group leader, Vincenzo was extremely knowledgeable and his passion for his home land was infectious. He hit the balance just right in telling us about wherever we were visiting that day, without feeling that you were ever getting "information overload". Always cheerful and polite ... the whole week's itinerary was run efficiently and (it would appear) effortlessly. Given we were changing hotels most nights (which had so far put me off doing this trip), we seemed to blend magically from one resort to the next in a very relaxed manner - ready for the next day's adventure! Also a "shout out" to Salvatore who drove our bus for the week - kind and courteous - who even stopped the bus en route in order to pick some fruits from the trees for our enjoyment!

This trip not only gives you a Food Adventure, it also gives you a taster of Sicily's many beautiful villages/towns. Though our visit was transient, there's a whole list of places I'd like to revisit .... Noto, Ortigia, Trapani ... where do I stop? There's art and courtyards hidden throughout the land - you need to keep a keen eye out, or you'll miss something!

A wonderful introduction to this enormous island, combining the must-see sites (Etna etc.) with wine, cheese, chocolate, gelato and other tastings. A lot of movement with 6 different hotels.

The stunning church at Monreale. Our local guide in Palermo/Monreale, Marina, was exceptional, so knowledgeable and so much fun. And the visits to the markets.

Very kind and well meaning but inexperienced and her English not good enough for such a tour. (At one point there was almost a mutiny, which was averted when a Spanish-speaking Norwegian group member intervened and conversed with her in Spanish which she was more comfortable with than English.) This was my fourth Exodus tour in Italy and I'd have to say the guide was definitely the low point/biggest disappointment of the trip.

It would be nice if Exodus could include the room taxes, after paying so much for a tour it does seem very "cheap" that we must pay a Euro or two at every hotel. Some dinner suggestions at each stop as we were sometimes "dumped" in a hotel either on the edge of town or not visibly close to any restaurants. Also a farewell dinner inclusion would be nice.

I went on the trip from the Exodus office to ensure the first departure ran smoothly and to make suggestions for future departures. There will be a few minor changes for future trips, but overall, I felt it was a good introduction to Sicily combined with great opportunities to sample the local cuisine. The balance between historical sights and food tasting was perfect, with a decent amount of free time to relax so you didn't feel rushed.

There were lots, but real highlights for me were: eating fresh seafood overlooking the harbour in Sciacca, an incredible meal in a restaurant under the church in Ragusa, amazing food tasting in the boutique hotel at Piazza Armerina after seeing the Roman mosaics, wandering through the market in Siracusa checking out all the fresh produce, and plenty of cheap but excellent local wine!

Fabio is a nice guy and obviously loves his island, although he did sometimes lack the authority needed in a tour leader, perhaps because this was the first time the trip had run and he was not so familiar with the itinerary. His knowledge of Sicily was excellent, especially the geology and geography.

If you go on this trip, be prepared to eat lots! There was so much good food on offer that you'd never go hungry, and you'll never eat the same thing twice. Try as many of the local specialities as possible, and make sure you have plenty of space on your memory card because there's so much to take pictures of, whether it's the beautiful old towns, the market stalls or the dishes that arrive in front of you at the restaurants.Also, try to relax and adjust to the Sicilian way of life - service in restaurants can be slow and seemingly disorganised, especially in the west of the island which receives less visitors, and drinks are usually served at the same time as the food, not before the meal.

This was a lovely introduction to Sicily and the itinerary was well designed and covered lots of food highlights as well as interesting historical sights

Looking at the mosaic floors of a 2000 year old Roman villa, exploring the amphitheater in Taormina and tasting home made Sicilian delicacies at a funky Art hotel in Modica

The leader was very pleasant and conscientious but he did not understand the English of the group very well and was not great at communicating. He also had a hard time asserting himself with some group members who had some issues with fellow travelers so the group dynamic was testy at times!

This was the first time this trip was run and despite minor issues it was really enjoyable. Don't hesitate to go! Sicily is a wonderful destination

Number of Passengers:

Call us today 0330 333 6706

Request Brochure - Sicily Food Adventure Please note, our partners will not send brochures outside the UK.

In proud partnership with.

Holiday provided by

Flexible booking policy

Please click here to view the Terms and Conditions of travel (this link opens in a new window).

more holiday ideas

Self-guided

Catalan Classic Walk

Catalonia is steeped in culture with its traditions and festivals dating back over...

Save £100pp

Walking in Puglia & Matera

The heel of Italy’s boot, formed of the largely undiscovered Puglia and Basilicata...

Solo travel

Classical Italy for solo travellers

Italy has it all, from world-class art and architecture to stunning scenery, not to...

Highlights of Ancient Greece

Starting in the capital city of Athens, we’ll visit some of the most significant...

Coast to Coast: St Bees to Kirkby Stephen - 9 Days

Rollup, rollup for just the first half of Wainwright’s masterpiece! This is a chance...

Pompeii, Capri and the Bay of Naples

The Sorrento peninsula and the Bay of Naples is simply one of the most beautiful...

Cycling Croatia's Dalmatian Coast

Known to have the clearest waters in the Mediterranean and undoubtedly packed with...

Signature tour

Lake Garda, Venice and Verona

The romance of Italy An astonishing blend of spectacular alpine scenery reflected in...

Porto Coastal Cycling

Your holiday starts in Porto, where shuttered townhouses tumble downhill to colourful...

Sicily Food Adventure - 8 Days

Who is this trip for?

Multi Activity
Teenage Family
Deposit From £300
100% guaranteed refunds
Free cancellation
ATOL Protected
— Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street food — Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Trapani — Sample a variety of local specialities during the included produce and wine tastings — Visit unique heritage sites and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto
— Wander through colourful markets and try the unique street food of Palermo — Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Trapani — Sample a variety of local specialities during produce and wine tastings — Visit unique heritage sites and baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto
— Wander through colourful markets and try the unique street food of Palermo — Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Erice — Sample a variety of local specialities during produce and wine tastings — Visit unique heritage sites and baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto

Talk to an expert

"Should you have any questions about schedules, transfers, or any other details, feel free to get in touch with our knowledgeable experts"

From cannoli to arancini, Sicilian food is known across the planet, but this tour shows how varied and diverse the cuisine here really is. The various civilisations that have occupied the island over millennia have not only left an unparalleled cultural heritage, but also a culinary history that sets Sicily apart from mainland Italy. Sample the street food of Palermo in vibrant markets, practise hands-on cooking with local chefs in Erice, sip wines in Marsala and Etna, and indulge in gelatos while relaxing in baroque piazzas. Let food lead the way in this captivating journey through culinary and cultural highlights.

What's Included

Food, Multi Activity

Please download the tour brochure for full details

Accommodation

— Seven nights in three- and four-star hotels — Group normally 6 to 18, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Travel by air-conditioned private minibus

Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.

Local Guide

This adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.

Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.

What's not included

International flights.

International flights to the starting point are not included.

Please ensure you are insured before you travel.

Please ensure you obtain the correct visa documentation before you travel.

Airport transfers are not included, please contact our team to provide a quote.

Start Palermo

This tour starts in Palermo, the regional capital of Sicily. This busy port city on the northwest coast encompasses fascinating and often-overlooked attractions. There is fine architecture to admire, good museums, palazzi and churches. It is the food scene, colourful markets and long-established food shops, however, that give the city an original, eccentric character worth discovering. Accommodation: B&B Hotel Quattro Canti (or similar)

Explore the markets of Palermo and indulge in fabulous street food; optional afternoon visit to Monreale and the ‘duomo’

Transfer to Erice; hands-on cookery class with a local chef; continue to Marsala and sample the local wines

Morning visit to an olive farm for olive oil and produce tasting; transfer to Agrigento for a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples

To Piazza Armerina; guided tour of the Villa Romana del Casale followed by a delicious produce tasting; afternoon visit to the town of Ragusa

Transfer to rural farm for cheese tasting; to the baroque town of Noto; time to explore and transfer to Catania

Visit the loud, fast-paced fish market; travel to Etna for an excellent wine and produce tasting and short walk; return to Catania

End Catania

This Sicilian food adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like more time to explore this fascinating island, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Prices & Availability

Flight inclusive
Save 3% Sun 1 Sep 2024 > Sun 8 Sep 2024 Guaranteed Departure Who's going? Available £2,099 £2,036 Hold Space Book Tour
Save 8% Sun 8 Sep 2024 > Sun 15 Sep 2024 Guaranteed Departure Who's going? Available £1,979 £1,823 Hold Space Book Tour
Save 3% Sun 22 Sep 2024 > Sun 29 Sep 2024 Sold out Contact The Team
Save 8% Sun 29 Sep 2024 > Sun 6 Oct 2024 Guaranteed Departure Who's going? Available £1,949 Best offer £1,794 Hold Space Book Tour

Customer reviews & ratings

A packed week of food and culture.

Sicily Food Adventure

Essential trip information

Our Important Notes and Packing List cover all essentials, from necessary equipment to inclusions, ensuring you're fully equipped and informed for this extraordinary adventure and more.

Still have questions?

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.

Why book with us

Help change the world.

We collaborate with local businesses and communities.

Best Price Guaranteed

Get the best price with our best price guarantee.

You're In Good Hands

We work with trusted tour operators around the world.

You're spoilt for choice

We have the best choice of adventures on the market.

What Our Customers Say

Trust the adventure people.

Communication was excellent both by email and over the phone, everyone I had contacted followed and actioned my request or answered my question politely and efficiently.

Would definitely recommend this company.

The staff are super helpful and friendly and always answer e-mails as soon as they can.

Trip achieved all my expectations!

The tour that I booked with The Adventure People met all my expectations. The local agent in Vietnam kept in regular contact with me during my trip. All of the connections worked perfectly. The hotels were all of a good standard and comfortable as well as being in a good location. Would definitely use them again

Similar adventures

Cycle Dolomites, Lake Garda and Venice - 8 Days

A Taste of Italy - Walking in Puglia - 8 Days

Cycling the Baltic States 2024 - 9 Days

A Taste of Italy - Walking in Emilia Romagna 2024 - 8 Days

The Adventure People has been rated excellent by its customers

Please use the search function to select tours that can then be compared in more detail.
Compare Tours

Welcome, you can login or signup here!

Sicily Food Adventure

7 nights from £1849.

Enjoy world famous Sicilian food while visiting the best heritage sites

Visit heritage sights and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Syracuse
Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Trapani
Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street food
Sample a variety of local specialities during the included produce and wine tastings
Visit heritage sights and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto
Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street food
Visit unique heritage sites and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto
Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street foodEnjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in TrapaniSample a variety of local specialities during the included produce and wine tastingsVisit unique heritage sites and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto
— Wander through colourful markets and try Palermo's unique street food — Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Trapani — Sample a variety of local specialities during the included produce and wine tastings — Visit unique heritage sites and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Noto

If you would also like:

Detailed copy of the trip itinerary

Extra discount code

Please enter your email and click continue

Review our privacy policy here.

More tours like this

Grand tour of italy.

Enjoy and explore the adventure on this Grand Tour of Italy tour.

Sicilian Escape

This Sicilian Vacation with Globus lets you spend 7 days exploring the beauty, food, and history all without the crowds of the high-season! Book a Sicilian vacation!

Cycling in Sicily

Ride through the UNESCO Val di Noto and Montalbano's filming locations

Upto £150pp off

Join us on a budget-friendly Sicily tour, the Mediterranean’s largest island, just off the toe of Italy’s “boot.” Book your Sicily vacation today.

Western Sicily, Palermo and the Aeolian Islands

8 Days - Western Sicily, Palermo and the Aeolian Islands

Family Sicily Multi-Activity Adventure

Join us on an active family holiday to Sicily. Try out sea kayaking, snorkelling, climbing and archery, with one night spent in a tree tent!

Fire & Ice – The Wonders of Sicily, Italy & Austria

Enjoy a grand adventure visiting some of Europe’s most spectacular volcanoes, glaciers and ancient wonders on our Fire & Ice holiday.

Discover Sicily

Imposing ruins, ancient history, vibrant towns and the brooding Mount Etna - discover all of this and more as you explore Italy's largest island

Upto 25% off

Northern Sicily: Islands & Volcanoes

This seven-day tour is the north coast of Sicily in one beautiful, tasty nutshell.

La Dolce Vita - 11 days

COACH TOUR: Experience the good life in Italy on this 11-day coach tour

Highlights of Sicily Including Palermo

Enjoy and explore the adventure on this Highlights of Sicily Including Palermo tour.

Classic Sicily, Etna & Taormina

ENjoy and explore the adventure on this Classic Sicily, Etna & Taormina tour.

APRIL SALE: Discover and book at up to 60% off!

Cycling in Sicily

Fully Guided

Places You’ll See

Introduction
Day 1 Start in Palazzolo Acreide, welcome briefing and bike fitting
Day 2 Ride south to the hilltop baroque town of Ragusa Ibla; cycle scenic roads to Modica (breakfast)
Day 3 Cycle to the architectural delight of Scicli, the filming location of ‘Inspector Montalbano’, then on to our ‘agriturismo’ (breakfast,dinner)
Day 4 Gentle circular route through vineyards, along the coast and back to Marzamemi (breakfast)
Day 5 Coastal ride to Vendicari Nature Reserve, continue to Noto, the capital of Sicilian baroque architecture (breakfast)
Day 6 Circular ride to Cavagrande National Reserve and the deep Cassibile Canyon (breakfast)
Day 7 Final coastal ride to Syracuse; free time to discover the historic town (breakfast)
Day 8 End in Syracuse (breakfast)

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

Accommodation
Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Operated by exodus travels.

For almost 50 years Exodus has been a pioneer of active small group adventure tourism that gives back to the communities they visit through sustainable guided and self-guided tours, ranging from Responsible Wildlife to Walking and Trekking, Cycling, Cultural, Family and Polar adventures to 90+ countries worldwide. Winner of the 2021 National Geographic Reader Awards for The Operator, 2021 Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, 2021 USA Today Awards, 2020 British Travel Awards and 2019 National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards they have a vast range of trips across seven continents. Their award-winning local guides have hosted over 250,000+ travellers on adventures across the globe. Whether it is solo travellers, couples, groups or families, Exodus offers an incredible choice of trips for all ages and activity levels. Operating in 90+ countries with 500+ tours, Exodus insists on low impact tourism and contributing to local communities through their registered non-profit The Exodus Travels Foundation. Exodus understands the importance of regenerative travel, now more than ever. Their recent Rewilding initiative guarantees that for every person who travels with them, they rewild 100 sq metres. Exodus is dedicated to creating incredible adventures that are run responsibly, so as the world reopens, travellers can continue to book and travel with confidence. Do we also care about the communities and environments we go to visit? Exodus has always been and will always be a responsible tour operator. It is in our DNA to work hard to look after what we so prize. We work closely with all our overseas partners to run our tours in the best possible ways, we train our leaders, we actively seek out specific projects so that we can make a real practical difference on the ground. But please do not just take our word for it. We have won several awards and we ask you, our clients, to check what we do on the ground so that we can make improvements where needed. Why do we do all this? Quite simply we love the places we go and we love sharing those great experiences with like minded people.

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating Good 3.5
Tour Operator Exodus Travels 4.4
A Nicholas Skiming · October 22nd, 2008 A very enjoyable trip which took in a lot of the sites and peaceful countryside of South Eastern Sicily whilst giving access to a couple of pleasant towns - Unesco town Noto and Siracuse. A number of challenging hills but nothing extraordinarily tough,... Show more Review collected by Exodus Travels
A Simon Tatton-brown · May 27th, 2008 A good relaxing holiday. Programme not too full, which allowed time to relax and chill out (literally, given the cold wet weather!).What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Coming down to Ragusa Ibla with the sun poking through the clouds,... Show more Review collected by Exodus Travels

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

Upcoming departures
September 2024
October 2024
August 2025
September 2025
October 2025
Sunday 28 Apr, 2024 Sunday 5 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin Share £1,699 See Similar Tours For These Dates
Sunday 5 May, 2024 Sunday 12 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin Share £1,949 See Similar Tours For These Dates
Sunday 19 May, 2024 Sunday 26 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin Share £1,839 See Similar Tours For These Dates
Sunday 26 May, 2024 Sunday 2 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin Share £1,949 See Similar Tours For These Dates
3 Other Unavailable Departures
-5% Sunday 2 Jun, 2024 Sunday 9 Jun, 2024 English Filling Fast Multiple Room Types £1,839 £1,749 Confirm Dates
Sunday 23 Jun, 2024 Sunday 30 Jun, 2024 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types £1,739 Confirm Dates
Sunday 1 Sep, 2024 Sunday 8 Sep, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin Share £1,989 See Similar Tours For These Dates
Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 8 Sep, 2024 Sunday 15 Sep, 2024 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types £1,999 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 72h
Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 15 Sep, 2024 Sunday 22 Sep, 2024 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types £1,889 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 72h
Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 22 Sep, 2024 Sunday 29 Sep, 2024 English Filling Fast Multiple Room Types £1,889 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 72h

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

Got a question about this tour?

Reach out to our travel experts.

Good to Know

Currency € Euro Italy

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, L.

Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
For any tour departing before July 19th, 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after July 19th, 2024, a minimum payment of 25% is required to confirm your booking with Exodus Travels. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 90 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
Some departure dates and prices may vary and Exodus Travels will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
The following cards are accepted for "Exodus Travels" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
TourRadar is an authorised Agent of Exodus Travels. Please familiarise yourself with the Exodus Travels payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
Southern Thailand y tours
Travel Africa Tours tours
National Geographic Journeys with G Adventure…
Europe Luxury tours
Southwest Adventure Tours tours
Glacier Ice Cave Explorer
How to Plan the Ultimate USA Road Trip
Western Europe Travel Guide
Exodus Travels - Your Guide to Cycling Adventures

Similar Tours

Keep Exploring Italy

Italy Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
Family Trip to Europe Itineraries (From 1 to 3 Weeks)
10 Best Cycling Tour Companies 2024/2025
10 Amazing Private Bicycle Tours 2024/2025
10 Best Cycling Tours 2024/2025
Italy from Catania
Italy Bicycle
Small group tour
8 days Italy
Operators in Europe
South Italy
Cycling in Sicily Tours in Italy
Bicycle Tours
Sicily Tours
Italy Tours
Group Tours
Fully Guided Tours
Italy tours

We just need to confirm you are human. Please check the box below to continue.

Destinations Trending Machu Picchu Angkor Wat Danube River Mt. Kilimanjaro Rivers & Seas Galapagos Mediterranean Sea Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) Mideast & N. Africa Mekong River Europe France Italy Croatia Ireland Greece Switzerland Spain Portugal Scandinavia See all > South America Peru Ecuador Brazil Argentina Chile Colombia Patagonia Amazon Rainforest Bolivia See all > Asia China India Cambodia Turkey Thailand Japan Indonesia Nepal Jordan See all > Africa Tanzania South Africa Kenya Morocco Egypt Botswana Rwanda Madagascar Ethiopia See all > North America United States Canada Mexico See all > Australia & Pacific Australia New Zealand Pacific Island See all > Antarctica & Arctic Antarctica Arctic Norway See all > Caribbean & C. America Costa Rica Belize Bahamas See all > See all destinations >
Trip Themes & Styles Top Trips Top 10 Lists Editor Picks Most Popular Trips Award Winners Collections Top Trending Activities Cycling & Biking Small Ship Cruises Safari River Cruises Climbing and Mountaineering Trekking & Camping Hiking & Walking Train & Rail River Rafting Yoga, Meditation & Wellness Styles 50+ Family Friendly 18-30 Luxury Budget Adventure Travel Solo and Single Trips Group Guided Tours Custom Tour Packages Independent Vacation Packages Private Guided Interests Cultural Wildlife History Nature Birding tours Festivals and Special Events Eco/Sustainable Travel Volunteering Learning & Educational Ruins & Archaeology Culinary & Wine Tasting Travel Companies Trafalgar Road Scholar G Adventures All companies > See all activities, themes, and interests >
Tour Company Reviews Write a Review See all reviews Tour Company Reviews Best Tour Companies Trip Reviews African Safari Reviews Cruise Reviews Amazon River Cruise Reviews Galapagos Cruise Reviews Costa Rica Tour Company Reviews Morocco Tour Company Reviews China Tour Company Reviews Italy Tour Company Reviews Iceland Tour Company Reviews Mississippi River Cruise Reviews Baltic Cruise Reviews
Fun & Helpful Member Savings Program Tour operators Rover TripFinder AI Affiliate Partners Travel Trivia Game About Us Travel Articles Contact Us
Sign in Join
What is Travelstride?
Unlock Member Savings

Compare Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus Travels vs Country Roads of Italy - Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.

Day 1 Start Palermo

Day 2 Explore the markets of Palermo and indulge in fabulous street food; optional afternoon visit to Monreale and the ‘duomo’

Day 3 Transfer to Erice; hands-on cookery class with a local chef; continue to Marsala and sample the local wines

Day 4 Morning visit to an olive farm for olive oil and produce tasting; transfer to Agrigento for a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples

Day 5 To Piazza Armerina; guided tour of the Villa Romana del Casale followed by a delicious produce tasting; afternoon visit to the town of Ragusa

Day 6 Transfer to rural farm for cheese tasting; to the baroque town of Noto; time to explore and transfer to Catania

Day 7 Visit the loud, fast-paced fish market; travel to Etna for an excellent wine and produce tasting and short walk; return to Catania

Day 8 End Catania

This Sicilian food adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like more time to explore this fascinating island, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Day 1: Welcome to the Eternal City of Rome

Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches. Transfers depart from Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport for your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director at 17:30, and get to know your fellow travellers over a delicious Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Veneto Palace Hotel, Rome.

Dinner with Wine

Day 2: Vatican and Rome with a Local

Today is devoted to The Eternal City. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Insight has arranged special priority entry to gain behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase, a marvel of renaissance architecture, normally off-limits to visitors. Visit the Sistine Chapel, where the Popes are elected, to admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. Continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, to wonder at another of his works, the emotive ‘Pietà,’ and stand beneath the dome completed after his death. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy views of ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus and the legendary Colosseum. There’s free time to do as the Romans do, or perhaps join a walking tour and toss a coin into the spectacular Trevi Fountain, see the Pantheon, the best preserved monument from the Roman period, and enjoy free time in Piazza Navona.

Day 3: Castel Gandolfo

Venture to Castel Gandolfo to explore the artistic treasure of the Villa Barberini Gardens. Ride an electric train along the pathways to marvel at the intricately designed mosaic flower beds and fountains. After our visit to the former papal gardens our journey continues on south past Naples to the resort town of Sorrento.

Majestic Palace Hotel, Sorrento.

Day 4: Capri, the Isle of Dreams

Meet your Local Expert and cross the Bay of Naples to reach the beautiful Isle of Capri, a rock rising sheer from the Mediterranean! For 2,000 years, Capri has beckoned visitors from Tiberius Caesar to Gracie Fields. Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, ascend to Capri town by one of the island's iconic open-top taxis. Explore the narrow alleyways, browse in exclusive boutiques and wonder at the views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Descend to the port by funicular railway and return to Sorrento, where you are at leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 5: The Picturesque Amalfi Coast

Travel along Italy’s finest coastline, the Amalfi Coast. Board minibuses and stop to admire a view of the terraced houses of the artist's paradise of Positano, clinging to the cliff face. Take time to be tempted by the local boutiques.

Day 6: Pompeii and Orvieto

Journey to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii and explore with your Local Expert. Travel into the heart of Italy to enjoy free time in Orvieto, located on a rock pedestal overlooking a vineyard-covered plain. Savour the distinctly medieval ambiance during your orientation and admire the richly decorated facade of the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo. Take in the flavours of the region and enjoy a Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant with a glass of Orvieto Classico wine - a magical culinary experience!

Aquila Bianca Hotel, Orvieto.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 7: Assisi and on to Perugia Relaxed Start

Cross the River Tiber to see the church of St. Mary of the Angels. Under the dome is a small medieval chapel and the spot where St. Francis died. In Assisi see St. Clare’s Church and the cathedral. Continue to walk down the Via San Francesco and visit the huge Basilica of St. Francis with a Local Expert. Journey to beautiful Perugia - the jewel of Umbria. Your guided walking exploration begins in the main street of Perugia's Old Town. See the Collegio del Cambio, the splendid Priors' Palace, the Cathedral and the finely sculptured Great Fountain in the magnificent main square. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit an artisanal workshop and meet Marta, a recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Learn how Marta and her weavers are preserving the ancient craft of loom-weaving.

Sangallo Palace Hotel, Perugia.

Day 8: Perugia, the Jewel of Umbria Relaxed Start

The entire day is at leisure for you to explore this gem of a town on your own. Perhaps visit Cortona, one of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany. On this Optional Experience, journey to a recently unearthed Etruscan Temple before a guided exploration through the town's historic centre with views of Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana. In the evening there is the option to discover the edible treasures of a traditional Umbrian kitchen, accompanied with wines of the region.

Day 9: Siena and Radda in Chianti Relaxed Start

Drive past Lake Trasimeno to Siena. Explore Siena with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the medieval Cathedral or alternatively, sample panforte, a traditional Tuscan dessert. Travel through the cypress-clad hills and vineyards of Tuscany to your elegant hotel. On arrival, enjoy a delicious exploration of Tuscany's red wines, discovering their robust flavours and absorbing history.

CDH Hotel Radda, Tuscany.

Day 10: Renaissance Florence

Journey to Renaissance Florence where on arrival you will walk with a Local Expert to see the marble-clad cathedral, bell tower and Gates of Paradise on the baptistery. Enjoy time at leisure to explore Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at the fountains and sculptures along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Wander the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods of gold and leather.

Day 11: San Gimignano and on to Lucca Relaxed Start

Visit the hilltop town of San Gimignano. Enjoy a tasting with award-winning, master gelato maker, Sergio Dondoli whose great inventions include innovative and mouth-watering flavour combinations. Continue to Lucca, to view its churches, squares and palaces that are perfectly preserved within encircling medieval ramparts. Pause a while and taste the lavish loaves of buccellato, Lucca's sweet raisin anise bread, said to be a favourite of the ancient Roman army. Later, perhaps explore Pisa?

Hotel Villa La Principessa, Lucca.

Day 12: Exploring the Cinque Terre

Get ready to explore the Cinque Terre, or five villages, which for years were only accessible by foot. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes. Join a Local Expert in one of the picturesque fishing villages, before cruising along the rugged coastline (weather permitting). There is plenty of time to explore the old medieval quarter and popular sandy beach before returning to your hotel in Lucca.

Day 13: Modena and on to Parma

Visit one of Modena's top producers of authentic, traditional, artisan balsamic vinegar and take a master class to understand what makes this vinegar as expensive as top-rated wines. Continue to the beautiful university town of Parma, world-famous for its local ham and cheese. Meet one of the locals, Paolo. Learn about the process of making Parmigiano-Reggiano as Signor Paolo shares with you his passions for Italian food, especially excellent quality Parmesan cheese. Taste samples of the famous Parmigiano-Reggiano, accompanied by a glass of wine.

Starhotels Du Parc, Parma.

Day 14: Onto Venice

Continue on through the Soave vineyards past Padua to Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. To the tune of accompanying musicians, you will be serenaded through the atmospheric canals as you glide by gondola, past water-lapped doorways and rococo palaces.

Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice.

Day 15: The Magic of La Serenissima

Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional arts centre, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Visit St. Mark’s Square where the city’s former wealth and power is evidenced by the riches of St. Mark’s Basilica and admire the Doge's Palace with its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. The waterways of Venice are renowned for gondolas that drift by. In the evening, cruise the islands of the Venetian Lagoon to arrive at Burano, famous for its candy coloured houses. Sit down to a sumptuous Celebration Dinner with wine, sampling the local specialities.

Day 16: Arrivederci Venice

Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport at 08:00 and 09:30.

Get the details on:

I want to reserve:.

First Name*
Email Address*
Number of Travelers* Select Travelers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

Rover The Travelstride Guide Dog

Member Benefits

Save favorite trips to bucket list
Personalize trip recommendations
Access member-only specials
Save up to $700 per person

We respect your privacy and take great care to protect your information. By clicking submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . An account will be created for you to track your submission and a temporary password will be emailed to you.

Click to send a new magic link to your inbox.

Welcome back!

By signing in, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Bookmark trips you like
Share with your travel companions
Track price changes
Access private discounts on trips you save

TripFinder is a member-only feature. Dont worry, its free!

With a membership you:

Save up to $700 per person!*
Access private deals and offers
See personalized trip recommendations
Save favorite trips

Just use the email address and password provided in the email we sent.

With your free membership you:

Myanmar (Burma)
Machu Picchu
Danube River

Your travel guide dog

Searching thousands of trips by hundreds of tour companies...

Fetching your trip.

Just a moment, Rover is fetching your perfect trip.

Israelis grapple with how to celebrate Passover, a holiday about freedom, while many remain captive

Shlomi Berger sitting in his 19-year-old daughter's bedroom in Holon, Israel

Show more sharing options
Copy Link URL Copied!

Every year, Alon Gat’s mother led the family’s Passover celebration of the liberation of the ancient Israelites from Egypt thousands of years ago. But this year, Gat is struggling with how to reconcile a holiday commemorating freedom after his mother was slain and other family members abducted when Hamas attacked Israel.

Gat’s sister Carmel and his wife, Yarden Roman-Gat, were taken hostage in the Oct. 7 attack. His wife was freed in November, but his sister remains captive.

“We can’t celebrate our freedom because we don’t have this freedom. Our brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers are still in captivity, and we need to release them,” Gat said.

On Monday, Jews around the world will begin celebrating the weeklong Passover holiday, recounting the biblical story of their exodus from Egypt after hundreds of years of slavery. But for many Israelis, it’s hard to fathom a celebration of freedom when friends and family are not free.

The Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, while about 250 were taken hostage. About half were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November, while the rest remain in Gaza, and more than 30 of them are believed to be dead.

From left, Danya, 21, Gabriel, 21 and Borden, 17 all refugees from Odesa, Ukraine help to deliver bags with food to needy people during preparations for the celebration of Jewish Passover at the Chabad Jewish Education Center in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Rabbis and Jewish organizations are working round the clock within Ukraine, Eastern Europe and other parts of Europe to make sure that Jews who remain in Ukraine and refugees who have fled as far away as Israel are able to celebrate Passover. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

World & Nation

For Jews fleeing Ukraine, Passover takes on new meaning

Jews in war-torn Ukraine, as well as those fleeing the country, are preparing to mark Passover on Friday. It has been a challenge, to say the least.

April 12, 2022

For many Jews, Passover is a time to reunite with family and recount the exodus from Egypt at a meal known as the Seder. Observant Jews avoid grains, known as chametz , a reminder of the unleavened bread the Israelites ate when they fled Egypt quickly, with no time for dough to rise.

But this year many families are torn about how — or if — to celebrate.

When Hamas attacked Kibbutz Be’eri, Gat and his wife, 3-year-old daughter, parents and sister hid for hours in their rocket-proof safe room. But fighters entered the house and killed or abducted everyone inside, except for Gat’s father, who hid in the bathroom. His mother was dragged into the street and shot.

Gat, his arms and legs bound, was shoved into a car with his wife and daughter. During a brief stop, they managed to flee. Knowing he could run faster, Roman-Gat handed him their daughter. Gat escaped with the child, hiding in a ditch for nearly nine hours. His wife was recaptured and held in Gaza for 54 days.

Passover this year will be more profound as freedom has taken on a new meaning, Roman-Gat said.

“To feel wind upon your face with your eyes closed. To shower. To go to the toilet without permission, and with the total privacy and privilege to take as long as I please with no one urging me, waiting for me at the other side to make sure I’m still theirs,” she said in a text message.

Still, Passover will be overshadowed by deep sorrow and worry for her sister-in-law and the other hostages, she said. The family will mark the holiday with a low-key dinner in a restaurant, without celebration.

CLAREMONT, CA - APRIL 06: Muslim students and faculty staff offer Maghreb, evening prayers, after having a specially prepared halal meal for Muslim students fasting in the month of Ramadan, at Harvey Mudd College on Thursday, April 6, 2023 in Claremont, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Ramadan is ending this week. How communities decide when to celebrate

How Muslim communities in Los Angeles County observe the lunar calendar marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of celebrating the holiday, Eid al-Fitr.

April 9, 2024

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL -- MARCH 22, 2024: Worshippers listen to a sermon about the suffering in Gaza during Dhuhr afternoon prayers in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, Israel, Friday, March 22, 2024. (MARCUS YAM / LOS ANGELES TIMES)

The war in Gaza reshapes Ramadan into a somber ritual in Jerusalem’s Old City

As Ramadan fasting ends amid the Israel-Hamas war, Palestinian Muslims in Jerusalem’s Old City are somber, skipping festivities in sympathy with Gazans’ suffering.

As hard as it is in times of pain, Jews have always sought to observe holidays during persecution, such as in concentration camps during the Holocaust, said Rabbi Martin Lockshin, professor emeritus at Canada’s York University, who lives in Jerusalem.

“They couldn’t celebrate freedom, but they could celebrate the hope of freedom,” he said.

The crisis affects more than the hostage families. The war, in which 260 soldiers have been killed, casts a shadow over a normally joyous holiday.

The government has also scaled back festivities for Independence Day in May in light of the mood and fearing public protests.

Likewise, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan , capped by the three-day Eid al-Fitr feast, was a sad, low-key affair for Palestinians. More than 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced by the fighting, and many are facing starvation . About 34,000 people have been killed in Israel’s air bombardment and ground attacks on Gaza, according to local health authorities.

The scenes of suffering, devastation and hunger in Gaza have received little attention in Israel , where much of the public and national media remain heavily focused on the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack.

Palestinians carry a wounded girl after being rescued from under the rubble of buildings that were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. In just 25 days of war, more than 3,600 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry. The advocacy group Save The Children says more children were killed in Gaza in October 2023 than in all conflict zones around the world combined in 2022. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)

Israel’s media mostly keep Gaza’s human toll out of sight

Civilian deaths in Gaza have fueled global outrage. But many Israelis, still raw from Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, have scant interest in the war’s toll on Palestinians.

Jan. 24, 2024

After several months of fits and starts, negotiations on a deal to release the remaining hostages appear at a standstill — making it unlikely they will be home for Passover.

The pain has reverberated around the world, with some in the Jewish diaspora asking rabbis to say prayers specifically for the hostages and Israel at this year’s Passover services. Some created a new Haggadah, the book read during the Seder, to reflect the current reality.

Noam Zion, the author of the new Haggadah, has donated 6,000 copies to families affected by the war.

“The Seder is supposed to help us to relive past slavery and liberation from Egypt and to learn its lessons, but in 2024, it must also ask contemporary questions about the confusing and traumatic present and, most important, generate hope for the future,” said Zion, emeritus member of the faculty of Jewish studies at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.

The revised Haggadah includes excerpts from hostage families urging people not to hate, despite their pain. It offers a guide for navigating mixed feelings during the holiday, while posing existential questions about the Jews and the state of Israel.

Some families say it’s too painful to celebrate at all.

The girlfriend of Nirit Lavie Alon’s son was abducted from the Nova music festival. Two months later, the family was informed by Israel’s military that Inbar Haiman, a 27-year-old graffiti artist, was dead, her body still in Gaza.

“It’s impossible to celebrate a freedom holiday,” said Alon. Instead of being with family this year, she’s going to spend a few days in the desert. There will be no closure until all of the hostages are back, including the remains of those who were killed, she said.

Ahead of Passover, some families are holding out hope their relatives will be freed in time.

Shlomi Berger’s 19-year-old daughter, Agam, was abducted two days after the start of her Israeli army service along the border with Gaza.

Videos of her bloodied face emerged shortly after the Hamas attack: one showing an armed man pushing her into a truck, another showing her in the vehicle with other hostages. The only proof of life Berger has had since was a call from a released hostage, wishing him happy birthday from Agam, whom she’d been with in the tunnels, he said.

Still, he refuses to give up hope.

“The Passover story says we come from slaves to free people, so this is a parallel story,” Berger said. “This is the only thing I believe that will happen. That Agam will get out from darkness to light. She and all of the other hostages.”

Mednick writes for the Associated Press.

Letters to the Editor: I am an 83-year-old Jew who celebrated Israel’s creation. Now, I am outraged

April 7, 2024

Relatives of 26-year-old Noa Argamani, held hostage in Gaza since the October 7 attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel, take part in a protest asking for the release of Israeli hostages in Tel Aviv on November 25, 2023. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP) (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images)

For families of hostages, it’s a race against time as Israel’s war reaches six-month mark

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - NOVEMBER 7, 2023 - Elena Columbo, from Hamakom Synagogue, pauses from creating a Star of David in chalk at a growing memorial fro Paul Kessler at the corner of S. Westlake Blvd. and E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks on November 7, 2023. Paul Kessler, a 69-year-old Jewish man, died a day after an altercation during dueling Israel-Hamas war protests Sunday. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office said an autopsy determined Kessler died as a result of a blunt force head injury and that the case is being investigated as a homicide. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. synagogue’s invite to Muslims for Ramadan ends in tears and resignations. Can they heal?

April 4, 2024

Start your day right

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Director Jon M. Chu is photographed at home in Calabasas on Friday, May 28, 2021

USC cancels Jon Chu, Billie Jean King commencement appearances amid valedictorian controversy

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets the journalists during a press conference at the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting on Capri Island, Italy, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italy’s foreign minister says at G7

April 19, 2024

Los Angeles, California - April 18: USC students participate in a silent march in support of Asna Tabassum, whose graduation speech has been cancelled by USC administration at University of Southern California on Thursday, April 18, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Asna Tabassum, a graduating senior at USC, was selected as valedictorian and offered a traditional slot to speak at the 2024 graduation. After on-and-off campus groups criticized the decision and the university said it received threats, it pulled her from the graduation speakers schedule.(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

USC students protest the ‘silencing’ of valedictorian with cancellation of speech

April 18, 2024

Iranian women without wearing their mandatory Islamic headscarf walk past a banner showing missiles being launched from Iranian map in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 19, 2024. Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones early Friday morning, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Israel, Iran play down apparent Israeli strike. The muted responses could calm tensions for now

IMAGES

Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure

COMMENTS

Sicily Food Adventure
Call for general departures: 02034116734. Make an enquiry. Step 1 of 2. ADY - Sicily Food Adventure. click here. Enjoy world-famous Sicilian food while visiting the best heritage sites from Cannoli to Arancini, Sicilian food is known across the planet.
Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus Travels
Travel by air-conditioned minibus Sightseeing on foot Group normally 6 to 18, plus local leader. Min age 16 yrs 7 nights in charming 3 and 4-star hotels All breakfasts, 4 lunches/food tastings, 2 wine tastings and 1 cookery class included,On this Sicily trip, we use comfortable three- and four-star hotels.
Shaelene's Sicilian Food Adventure
Exodus Adventure Specialist Shaelene Chapman recently returned from a Sicily Food Adventure and shared some of the best sights and bites with us. Her journey began in Palermo, the vibrant capital of Sicily perched on the northwestern coast of the island, before spending eight days traveling the island, ending in the shadow of Mount Etna in Catania.
Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus Travels with 3 Tour Reviews (Code: ADY
Sicily Food Adventure, a 8 days tour from Palermo to Trapani, Marsala and 6 destinations. ... For almost 50 years Exodus has been a pioneer of active small group adventure tourism that gives back to the communities they visit through sustainable guided and self-guided tours, ranging from Responsible Wildlife to Walking and Trekking, Cycling ...
Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus Travels
The "Sicily Food Adventure" trip starts in Palermo and ends in Catania. It is a food trip that takes 8 days taking you through Sicily, Agrigento, Palermo and 3 other destinations in Italy. "Sicily Food Adventure" is a guided small group trip that includes accommodation, meals and others. From cannoli to arancini, Sicilian food is known across ...
Sicily Food Adventure
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Exodus 8 Day Sicily Food Adventure. From cannoli to arancini, Sicilian food is known across the planet, but this tour shows how varied and diverse the cuisine here really is. The various civilisations that have occupied the island over millennia have not only left an unparalleled cultural heritage, but ...
Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure. Italy. Starting From. ... Save More Info. Book this tour through our partner: Exodus Travels. The original adventure and activity holiday company specializing in cultural, walking, cycling, winter and wildlife adventures. Enjoy world famous Sicilian food while visiting the best heritage sites ... travel to Etna for an ...
Sicily Tours & Trips
9 Days from USD 3,200. Self-Guided Holidays (Excl. Flights) Explore Sicily's south east, renowned for its unspoilt coastline, spectacular Baroque architecture and cuisine. Cycling. View Details. See All Trips. I was very disappointed with our Exodus Trip. The Canadian webpage says that you will be staying in Hotel la Tavernetta, which is a 4 ...
Tour
Sicily Food Adventure. We booked this trip to go in 2020 and finally made it in 2022. It was well worth the wait. It was everything we'd hoped for and more. ... Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure. Low Deposit.
Street Food & Sunshine in Sicily
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Exodus 6 Day Street Food & Sunshine in Sicily. See the best of Sicily's city life, coast and volcanic landscapes on a six-day Italian adventure. Delve into Mafia history in Palermo. Spend time on the beach in Cefalu.
Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure I went on the trip from the Exodus office to ensure the first departure ran smoothly and to make suggestions for future departures. There will be a few minor changes for future trips, but overall, I felt it was a good introduction to Sicily combined with great opportunities to sample the local cuisine.
Sicily Food Adventure
Save on the guided Sicily Food Adventure with The Adventure People. Enjoy 8 days , starting in Palermo and finishing in Catania. ... Minimum age: 16 — Travel by air-conditioned private minibus. Meals. Breakfasts: 7, Lunches: 4, Dinners: 0. Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure. Vegetarian options available ...
Treasures of Sicily
Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here. ... yet another great memorable Exodus adventure! Show more. Terri Markle Reviewed October 2023 Best Exodus Tour Yet! ... Sicily Food Adventure. 8 Days from £ 1,949. £ 1,849. Guided Group (Excl. Flights) ...
Sicily Food Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure 7 nights from £1949 7 nights. Sicily Food Adventure. Enjoy world famous Sicilian food while visiting the best heritage sites ... Titan Travel. £1795 pp including flights £180 per night View Deal Compare. What's included ... Exodus. £1699 pp excluding flights £243 per night
Sicily Food Adventure
Enjoy world-famous Sicilian food while visiting the best heritage sites From cannoli to arancini, Sicilian food is known across the planet, but this tour shows how varied and diverse the cuisine here really is. The various civilisations that have occupied the island over millennia have not only left an unparalleled cultural heritage, but also a culinary history that sets Sicily apart from ...
Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus Travels, Simply Sicily by Great Value
See comparisons of similar tour, adventure trip, and river cruise itineraries. Easily find the lowest prices and best match for your travel style. Start here and pick your perfect trip.
Food & Drink Holidays, Food & Drink Tours, Food & Drink Trips
The Sicily Food Adventure includes a cookery class with a local chef, and encourages you to be adventurous with your taste buds. "Sicily's cuisine bursts with Mediterranean flavours - it has all the classic Italian ingredients but with exotic twists coming from the various civilisations, like Arabic, which have occupied the island over ...
Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus Travels, Hidden Sicily by Esplora
See comparisons of similar tour, adventure trip, and river cruise itineraries. Easily find the lowest prices and best match for your travel style. Start here and pick your perfect trip.
Best Sicily Tours
Our small-group approach ensures an intimate and immersive experience, allowing you to connect with the heart and soul of this captivating island. Pack your spirit of exploration and a hearty appetite—Sicily awaits, promising an unforgettable fusion of history, culture, and culinary delights. Call for general departures: 1-8444210109.
5 Low Carbon Trips to Honor Earth Day From Exodus Adventure Travels
Costa Rica Family Wild Adventure: Calling all Costa Rica fans. On Exodus' Lower Carbon exploration of the country you'll spot dolphins, indulge in chocolate, fly down zip lines and explore the rainforest at night. Ancient & Modern Japan: A trip that takes travelers to the increasingly popular destination of Japan, this journey allows ...
Cycling in Sicily by Exodus Travels with 2 Tour Reviews (Code: MWY
Cycling in Sicily, a 8 days tour from Catania to Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and 7 destinations. ... For almost 50 years Exodus has been a pioneer of active small group adventure tourism that gives back to the communities they visit through sustainable guided and self-guided tours, ranging from Responsible Wildlife to Walking and Trekking ...
One of the best books on flavor is 'Flavorama' by food scientist
"In a food processor or with a mortar and pestle, combine 6 garlic cloves, ½ cup (120 ml) faux sour orange juice, ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil, 1½ teaspoons (9g) salt and ½ cup (20 g ...
Ventura city attorney fired amid an indecent exposure investigation
Body of unidentified man washes ashore on Ventura County beach. April 19, 2024. Bamieh said his client is a respected member of the community and was a highly valued city attorney that the city ...
Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus Travels, Country Roads of Italy
See comparisons of similar tour, adventure trip, and river cruise itineraries. Easily find the lowest prices and best match for your travel style. Start here and pick your perfect trip.
Explore Southern Sicily On The Perfect Cycling Holiday Adventure
Sicily Food Adventure. 8 Days from £ 1,949. Guided Group (Excl. Flights) Enjoy world famous Sicilian food while visiting heritage sites. Culture. View Details 4.5 (34 reviews ) Treasures of Sicily ... Solo Travel With Exodus Is The Best Way To Travel: An Interview with Dave Farmer.
California exodus of home insurance companies continues
A house burns near Ono, Calif., in a 2020 wildfire. Two more companies, Tokio Marine America Insurance Co. and Trans Pacific Insurance Co., have joined a growing number of home insurance providers ...
Explore Southern Sicily On The Perfect Cycling Holiday Adventure
Sicily is a true Mediterranean gem just off Italy's coastline, filled with diverse landscapes, cultural treasures, and delicious traditional cuisine. Our Cycling in Sicily trip is an excellent way to uncover the island's fascinating history, warm hospitality and interesting culinary influences that blends different cultures while keeping all of Italy's original charm.Over the past 10,000 ...
California officials exclude prisons from new workplace heat rules
Food. 101 best restaurants in L.A. Recipes; Image. ... Travel. Adventure (ETA) ... California exodus of home insurance companies continues . April 19, 2024.
After fatal Newport Beach home invasion, 24-year-old faces burglary
April 19, 2024 2:56 PM PT. A 24-year-old man accused of breaking into a Newport Beach home in a robbery that left him with a gunshot wound and a second suspect dead has been charged in connection ...
Israelis grapple with how to celebrate Passover
On Monday, Jews around the world will begin celebrating the weeklong Passover holiday, recounting the biblical story of their exodus from Egypt after hundreds of years of slavery. But for many ...