The Best Of Sicily and Sorrento & Culinary Experiences, Deluxe

Sicily is at its best when food, old stone, and daily life share the same table, and this 13-day journey gives you plenty of all three. You move from Cefalù and Palermo to Marsala, Agrigento, Taormina, and finally Sorrento, with wine tastings, a cooking class, ancient temples, and island excursions along the way.

I like the small maximum group of 28, which should make coach travel and guided walks more manageable. I also like the care given to food, from Marsala wine and homemade dishes to arancini, cannoli, and a festive dinner prepared by Sicilian chef Cristian Foti.

The main drawback is the pace. You cover a great deal of ground, and several days run about seven hours, with the Sicily-to-Sorrento transfer lasting about nine. The final airport transfer also needs careful checking, since the stated route from Sorrento to Palermo airport is a long one.

Key reasons to consider this Sicily journey

• Two countries in one itinerary: Tour Sicily from west to east, then continue to Sorrento, Capri, and Positano.
• Strong food program: Take a cooking class at Donna Franca, taste Marsala wines, make arancini, sample cannoli, and enjoy several included dinners.
• Rare accommodations: Sleep in distinctive properties, including a restored 19th-century baglio in Marsala and a seaside resort near Taormina.
• Ancient sites with context: Visit Monreale Cathedral, Segesta, the Valley of the Temples, Taormina’s Greek Roman Amphitheater, and Capri.
• A practical group size: The maximum is 28 people, with a tour leader, local guides, a luxury coach, and scheduled transfers.
• Time for your own plans: You get free time in Cefalù, Taormina, Capri, Sorrento, and Positano, although some evenings are also unscheduled.

The big picture: Sicily from Cefalù to Sorrento

This is a deluxe-style trip for someone who wants Sicily arranged from start to finish. You are not simply based in one town and sent out on day excursions. Instead, you circle the island, changing hotels as the scenery and food traditions change.

That arrangement gives you variety. Cefalù offers a resort-town start, Palermo brings grand churches and urban energy, western Sicily supplies salt flats and Marsala wine, and Agrigento delivers some of the island’s finest Greek ruins. Taormina then gives you four nights in one place, a welcome pause before the trip crosses the Strait of Messina to mainland Italy.

The tour price is $5,399 per person. That is a serious sum, but it covers nearly two weeks of lodging, many meals, transportation, excursions, and guided sightseeing. You are also paying for the organization of a complicated route, including boats, private transfers, a luxury coach, and local specialists.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise spend a great deal of time arranging hotels, drivers, ferries, and restaurant bookings. It is weaker if you prefer independent travel, long stays in one town, or the freedom to change plans each day.

Cefalù and Palermo: a gentle start with a grand cathedral

Your arrival begins at Palermo airport, followed by a scheduled private transfer to the resort town of Cefalù. After check-in, you can use the hotel pool, walk to the beach, or simply recover in your room. A welcome reception introduces local appetizers and regional wine, followed by an included dinner.

This is a sensible first night. Sicily is not a place to rush through after a flight, and Cefalù offers a softer landing than starting directly in Palermo. The exact arrival rules depend on your flight plans, so confirm them with Wherever Tours if you are arranging your own flights.

The next day focuses on Palermo, Sicily’s capital. Expect a guided look at old buildings, cathedrals, and gardens, with a visit to Monreale Cathedral. Its Norman design and more than two tons of gold mosaics make it one of the most striking church interiors in Sicily.

You return to Cefalù for free time in the afternoon. Dinner is on your own, which gives you a chance to choose between a quiet evening and further exploration. This is one of the trip’s better rhythms: a structured morning followed by room to breathe.

Erice, Trapani, and Marsala: salt, stone, and wine

Day three takes you west along the northern coast toward Trapani. The first major stop is Erice, a hilltop town with broad views. The setting is a highlight, but remember that visits to high, old towns usually mean uneven streets and some walking.

Trapani adds a different side of Sicily. It is known for salt flats and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, then the route continues to Marsala and Donna Franca, a restored 19th-century baglio. A baglio is a traditional Sicilian country estate, so this is more distinctive than a standard modern hotel.

That evening, you tour the winery and taste the area’s best-known wines with dinner at the hotel restaurant. Food and wine are not side features here. They are part of the structure of the trip, and Marsala is the first place where that becomes especially clear.

Day four stays in the Marsala area. You visit Segesta, home to one of Sicily’s best-preserved Greek temples, then return to Donna Franca for another cellar visit, appetizers, and specialty wines. The day ends with a cooking class and dinner using some of the food you prepared.

I like this combination because it links place, produce, and history. You see an ancient temple, learn about local wine, then sit down to food connected to the region. The tradeoff is that the itinerary repeats the winery setting on two consecutive days, so wine-focused guests will be pleased, while anyone seeking more town exploration may find the schedule narrow.

Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

The route turns south to Agrigento, on Sicily’s Mediterranean coast. The main event is the Valley of the Temples, an archaeological site dating to the fifth century BC and recognized by UNESCO in 1997.

A local specialist leads the visit and explains the ancient remains. This kind of guided stop matters because the site is large and its ruins can look like isolated stones without context. With help, you can better understand the scale and purpose of the temples.

The hotel provides dinner with wine afterward. This is another long touring day, so keep your footwear practical and expect time outside. The schedule gives the Valley of the Temples proper attention, but it does not leave much room for an independent look at modern Agrigento.

Caltagirone and a private Sicilian palace

Day six crosses the island toward the eastern coast and Taormina. On the way, you stop in Caltagirone, a town known for Baroque ceramics. The program then moves into a more unusual experience: a visit to the private home of the Pace Gravina family.

Giacomo Pace Gravina shows you the palace and discusses Sicilian noble life before serving a buffet lunch in the ballroom. This is the sort of appointment that can make an organized tour feel personal rather than mechanical. It also gives you a look at a side of Sicily that standard sightseeing often misses.

Later, you reach the seaside resort hotel near Taormina, where you stay for four nights. That longer stay is welcome. After several one-night moves, you can unpack properly and choose how much energy to spend on the next few days.

Taormina: Greek theater, shopping, and free time

The town of Taormina sits above the eastern Sicilian coast, with Mount Etna nearby and views toward the sea. You take the funicular up to the village, then join a guided tour that includes the Greek Roman Amphitheater.

The theater is Taormina’s signature sight, but the town itself deserves time. After the guided portion, you have the chance to browse streets and shops on your own. Dinner is at leisure, giving you control over the evening.

The hotel’s beach and pool make this section different from the earlier touring days. You can stay active, shop, or do very little. That flexibility is important on a route this full, although the hotel’s exact beach and pool arrangements are not detailed, so ask for practical information before booking if those amenities are central to your plans.

Mount Etna, Zafferana, and the taste of Sicily

Day eight takes you to Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano. The mountain is a major natural feature of the island, and the views from higher ground can be impressive. Weather can affect what you see, so keep expectations flexible even though the stop is one of the trip’s major highlights.

The food program continues in Zafferana. At a local rosticceria, you learn how to make arancini, the fried rice balls found across Sicily. You also sample cannoli, other local foods, and regional wines.

This is a good example of the tour’s style. You are not only shown a famous place. You are given a connection to everyday Sicilian cooking. The activity also breaks up the mountain visit with something hands-on and social.

Day nine is mostly your own. Use the beach or pool, shop in Taormina, or simply rest. In the evening, chef Cristian Foti prepares dinner, with wine, local singers, music, and dancing. It is designed as a festive night rather than a quiet tasting menu.

An optional full-day trip to Siracusa may also be offered by the tour leader. The city is described as one of Sicily’s most multicultural places, but the trip details, price, and included visits are not provided. Ask before committing, especially since day nine is otherwise your best rest day.

Crossing to Sorrento by ferry and coach

Day ten is the longest transfer, lasting about nine hours. You leave Sicily after breakfast, cross the Strait of Messina by ferry, stop in Calabria for lunch, and continue to Sorrento.

The ferry is more pleasant than spending the entire day inside a coach. It gives you a break, some open air, and a sense of moving from island to mainland. Still, this is a transport day, not a sightseeing day, so plan to be tired when you arrive.

Your Sorrento hotel overlooks the Gulf of Naples. Dinner includes music, dancing, and wine, which keeps the evening social but may not suit anyone hoping for an early, quiet night after the long crossing.

One property specifically praised in the feedback is Villa Giovanna in Sorrento, noted for its exceptional views. Confirm your assigned hotel, since the supplied program describes the Sorrento accommodation generally rather than guaranteeing a specific property.

Capri by boat and Positano on the Amalfi Coast

Day eleven takes you by boat to Capri. A Wherever Tours representative is available at the hotel beforehand to offer suggestions, which is useful because Capri has more to see than you can cover in a single day.

You have time to shop, explore, and enjoy views from higher ground. The island’s association with ancient emperors gives the visit historical flavor, but its main appeal here is the combination of sea views, narrow streets, and an easy change of pace from mainland touring.

After returning, you can walk around Sorrento before heading back to the hotel. This is a full day, but the boat transfer makes it feel like an outing rather than another coach ride.

The next morning brings Positano and the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You stop for views of Positano, then have free time to shop and explore the steep seaside town. The program does not specify how long you stay, so anyone hoping for a long beach visit should ask about the exact schedule.

Your final evening in Sorrento features the Ultima Cena, or Last Supper, with food, music, singing, and dancing. It is a theatrical finish to a tour that has placed food and performance at the center of many evenings.

Guides, group size, and the practical side

The maximum group size is 28. That is not an intimate walking tour, but it is small enough to keep coach loading, hotel check-ins, and guided visits reasonably organized. You will spend much of the trip with the same group, which can make the shared meals and cooking activities more enjoyable.

Riccardo is named as a tour leader, while Enzo is praised for his work as driver. Local guides are used at important historic sites, including the Valley of the Temples and Palermo. The right guide can make a real difference at places such as Monreale and Segesta, where context adds much to the view.

Pickup is offered, and a mobile ticket is available. The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Still, the schedule includes hill towns, archaeological sites, funiculars, boats, and free walking time in places such as Taormina, Capri, and Positano. Ask directly about mobility needs before booking.

The cancellation terms are strict close to departure. You receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days in advance, 50 percent if you cancel two to six full days ahead, and no refund with less than two full days remaining.

Who should book this $5,399 tour?

I would choose this trip if you want Sicily’s major sights without managing a complicated chain of hotels and transfers yourself. It suits you especially well if you value wine, cooking, included dinners, historic buildings, and scenic coastal towns.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy a social group setting. The dinners with wine, singers, and dancing are part of the character of the program, and the small group should help you get to know the people around you.

I would hesitate if you want slow travel. You change locations several times, and the Sicily-to-Sorrento transfer takes most of a day. Independent travelers may also prefer to choose their own restaurants and spend longer in Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, or Capri.

Before paying, confirm three things: the exact hotels, the arrival and departure transfer arrangements, and the details of the optional Siracusa outing. The stated final transfer to Palermo airport from Sorrento is particularly important to clarify.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a polished first look at Sicily and Sorrento, with food and wine given as much attention as cathedrals and ruins. The best parts are the restored Marsala estate, the cooking class, Mount Etna and Zafferana, the private palace visit, and the four-night base near Taormina.

Skip it if you want a slower, more independent trip. At $5,399, the value depends on using the included meals, transport, guides, and special visits. For the right traveler, it offers a lot in 13 days. For a do-it-yourself planner, its fixed pace may feel expensive and crowded.

FAQ

How long is the Best of Sicily and Sorrento tour?

The tour lasts approximately 13 days, beginning with arrival at Palermo airport and ending with departure from the hotel for your onward journey.

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at Palermo airport, where a scheduled private transfer is available to the resort hotel in Cefalù.

What group size can I expect?

The maximum group size is 28 travelers.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and scheduled airport arrival transfers are available. If you arrange your own flights, contact Wherever Tours for arrival guidelines.

Which cities and towns are included?

The route includes Cefalù, Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Trapani, Marsala, Segesta, Agrigento, Caltagirone, Taormina, Zafferana, Sorrento, Capri, and Positano.

Are meals included?

Many meals are included, including the welcome dinner, Marsala winery dinners, the Agrigento hotel dinner, a buffet lunch at the Pace Gravina home, the Cristian Foti dinner, and several meals in Sorrento. Some meals, including dinner on day two and day seven, are at your leisure.

Is the cooking class included?

Yes. The Marsala program includes a cooking class followed by dinner featuring some of the dishes you prepared.

Is the Siracusa trip included?

Siracusa is described as an optional full-day experience offered by the tour leader. Its price and exact inclusions are not provided.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund by canceling at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six full days in advance receives a 50 percent refund. Cancellations less than two full days before the start time are not refunded.