Compare Choose Your Pace: Walking the Hill Towns of Umbria by Road Scholar vs Classical Sicily by Explore!

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive Rome, Transfer to Foligno, Check-In, Orientation
Foligno D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Hotel check in is at 2:00 PM.

Dinner: Welcome Dinner at the hotel. Water is included in the program cost at all meals.

Evening: Welcome drink and orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Hikers will have the option of choosing between hikes of different levels of difficulty, organized into groups based on preference and ability. Sites visited may vary based on the hiking level you choose for that day. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Day 3
Olive Oil Walk, Bevagna, Medieval Paper Manufacturing
Foligno B,L,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: walking on city streets and cobblestones. Intermediate: 4.6 miles, 719 feet elevation change. Most challenging: 5.6 miles, 719 feet elevation change in the morning and 2 miles with minimal elevation gain in the afternoon.

Breakfast: At the hotel. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: All groups transfer by private coach to Gualdo Cattaneo and enjoy a short visit of the hamlet. The intermediate and most challenging groups begin the walk towards Torre del Colle. The easiest group will explore the Fortress of Gualdo Cattaneo and then transfer to Torre del Colle. Here, the intermediate group will join them and transfer together by private coach to the olive mill. The challenging group continues walking to the olive mill. Once at the mill, all groups will learn about olive oil.

Lunch: At the olive mill.

Afternoon: The most challenging group will walk through vineyards and olive groves to the serene and handsome medieval town of Bevagna (662 feet). This town has two of Umbria's finest Romanesque churches. The easiest and intermediate groups take a private coach to Bevagna and enjoy some free time and visit a medieval paper manufacturer to learn the techniques of this ancient art. After the most challenging group has arrived in Bevagna, everyone will transfer back to the hotel together.

Dinner: Plated meal at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Collepino to Spello along the Roman Aqueduct
Foligno B,L,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: 1.8 miles, 646 feet elevation change. Intermediate: 3.5 miles, 1237 elevation change. Most challenging 1.5 miles, 1358 feet elevation change in the early morning and 3.5 miles, 1237 feet elevation change in the late morning.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: The most challenging group will have an early morning transfer to the southern side of Mount Subasio to Madonna della Spella, an old chapel for shepherds on the mountain. The view from here covers a great part of Umbria. The walk descends down towards Collepino, a medieval gem of a hamlet, along meadows, through woods gently winding down. The intermediate and easiest groups will transfer by private coach to the tiny hamlet of Collepino. All three groups will walk from Collepino. The intermediate and most challenging groups will walk to Spello, a former Roman town that is known today for its medieval character. The easiest group will be picked up halfway and transferred to Spello. The easiest group will have some time to visit the Capella Bahlioni in Spello with the Pinturicchio frescoes.

Lunch: A special meal will be served at a local restaurant in Spello.

Afternoon: Transfer back to the hotel and enjoy some free time to see and do what interests you the most.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
St. Francis Hermitage, Assisi
Foligno B,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: walking on city streets and cobblestones. Intermediate: 2.4 miles, 1715 feet elevation change. Most challenging: 2 miles, 1064 feet elevation change in the early morning and 2.4 miles, 1715 feet elevation change in the late morning.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: The most challenging group will leave in the early morning and transfer to Mount Subasio for a morning walk to the hermitage of St. Francis. The easiest and intermediate groups will transfer directly to the hermitage. All three groups will visit the hermitage together. After the visit, the most challenging and intermediate groups walk to Assisi. The easiest group is transferred to Assisi to spend some extra time in Assisi. Assisi is visible for miles around, tucked under the ridge of Monte Subasio. The tranquil backstreets and homes with geranium-filled window boxes make you feel like you are walking back in time.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Guided visit of the Basilica of St. Francis and some free time before transfering back to the hotel.

Dinner: Plated meal at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Perugia
Foligno B,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Today's walk will be an approximate 2.5 hour city walk for all, at a slower "learning" pace to take in the history and beauty of Perugia. The intermediate and most challenging groups will have an afternoon urban trek of approximately 2 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer by train to Perugia (673 feet) where a stop will be made for a city walk. Perugia is one of the twelve Etruscan city-states, the regional capital, and home to one of the largest state universities in the country.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: The easiest group enjoys a free afternoon in Perugia before returning by train back to the hotel. Others will enjoy a guided urban trek before transferring back by train to the hotel.

Dinner: Plated meal at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Montefalco, Wine Country
Foligno B,L Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: 2.43 miles, 402 feet elevation change. Intermediate: 5.3 miles, with more than 1000 feet of elevation changes. Most challenging: 5.3 miles, with more than 1000 feet of elevation changes in the morning and 3.3 miles with 1086 feet elevation change in the afternoon.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to Montefalco. All three groups start walking towards the Colleciocco winery, north of Montefalco (1552 feet). This Umbrian valley offers wonderful views of the cities Assisi and Trevi. Walk through woods and open fields to the winery. After 1.5 hours, the easiest group will be picked up and transferred to Montefalco to explore. Once all groups are at the winery, enjoy an expert-led excursion through the winery and conclude with a wine tasting.

Lunch: Plated meal at the winery in conjunction with the wine tasting.

Afternoon: The easiest and intermediate groups will visit the Museum of St. Francis with the Benozzoli frescoes before being transferred back to the hotel. The most challenging group will walk back to the hotel.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Monte Patrico, Truffle Hunt, Monteluco
Foligno B,L,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: 1.5 miles with 510 feet of elevation change. Intermediate: 1.5 miles with 510 feet of elevation change in the morning. 1.2 miles with 1443 feet of elevation change in the afternoon. Most challenging: 2 miles with 800 feet of elevation change in the early morning. 5.3 miles with 1000 feet of elevation change in the morning. 1.2 miles with 1443 feet of elevation change in the afternoon.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: The most challenging group will begin to walk towards the truffle farm whereas the easiest and intermediate groups will visit the Sacred Wood and hermitage before they transfer by private coach to Monte Patrico (3280 feet) for an educational truffle hunt. Monte Patrico is located above the town of Spoleto, on the summit of the Calnerina Mountains known for its rugged beauty. Once all groups have arrived, the truffle farmer will give a talk and teach you how to properly hunt for truffles.

Lunch: Eat with the truffle farmer at his home.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, the easiest group will be transferred to Spoleto for a guided city walk. The intermediate and most challenging groups walk down to Spoleto, one of Umbria's loveliest hill towns. In Spoleto (1299 feet), view the Ponte delle Torri, a bridge and aqueduct of ten towering arches linking Spoleto with the slopes of Monteluco; it is one of the greatest engineering works of the Trecento. Walk to the upper part of the town center before taking the coach back to the hotel.

Dinner: Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Departures
In Flight B
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: After breakfast, transfer by private coach (approx. 2.5 hours) to the Rome airport. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.

Day 1 Join trip in Syracusa

Our tour of Sicily starts today in Syracusa. During the Greek Classical period, this east coast city was the largest in the ancient world - even bigger than Athens. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's also notable as being the birthplace of antiquity's greatest mathematician, Archimedes. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), which is about a one-hour drive away. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to walk into the historic centre of Ortygia Island, which is about 20-30 minutes from our hotel. Artemis Fountain and the Baroque cathedral are lit up beautifully at night. Tonight will be your first opportunity to sample Sicilian cuisine and wine. According to Greek legend, the god Dionysus brought wine to Sicily, however, it's more likely that wine has been produced here since ancient times due to the island being blessed with plenty of sunshine and reliably moderate rainfall, along with fertile volcanic soils. Nowadays there's a huge variety of delicious red and white wines to choose from. You might also like to try a typically Sicilian dish such as pasta with sardines and wild fennel, aubergine stew or boiled pork in salsa verde and saffron.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Discover Syracusa's historic Neapolis and Ortygia Island

We'll start today by driving the short distance to the city's Neapolis Archaeological Park, where a local guide will show us its famous Greek theatre, hewn out of the hillside, and the fine Roman amphitheatre where gladiators once fought. We'll then drive over to Ortygia Island, where we'll have free time to have lunch and explore. This small island is the historical centre of the city and home to many landmarks such as the Fonte of Aretusa, Temple of Apollo ruins, Maniace Castle, and the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter with its old baths found under the Residenza Alla Giudecca Hotel. Alternatively, you could take a short boat trip along the rocky cave-strewn coastline. Thanks to its limestone buildings and pretty harbour, Ortygia Island is also a great place to sit and watch the world go by in a local café or restaurant. You could try cannolo, a traditional Sicilian dessert, a crisp shell filled with sweet ricotta and chocolate chips topped with candied fruits. If you\ d prefer a savoury snack then arancini is just the thing - a rice ball stuffed with a range of fillings such as beef ragu and gooey cheese, it's simply delicious. Leaving Syracusa this afternoon, we'll drive for a couple of hours inland to our base for tonight, Piazza Amerina, a charming market town set amid rolling countryside. This town is off the tourist trail and tonight you'll have the opportunity to dine in one of the delightful family-run restaurants. As you stroll along through the peaceful streets and picturesque squares you can see the local men gathering to discuss the events of the day and put the world to rights - just as their families have been doing for generations.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 See the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale and the Valley of the Temples

Today we'll visit two of Sicily's most important historic sites. We'll start at the Villa Romana del Casale, which is just a short hop from our hotel. We'll aim to arrive before the crowds. A local guide will show us the ruins of this magnificent country mansion that contains some incredibly well-preserved and beautiful Roman mosaics, such as the famed bikini girls, fishing cupids and hunting scenes featuring exotic wildlife like tigers, rhinos and elephants. The mosaics are UNESCO-listed and spread over a remarkable 3,500 square metres. We'll drive on to Agrigento, which was once one of the most prosperous cities in Sicily. The ancient acropolis, now the modern city, overlooks a southern ridge, misleadingly named the Valley of the Temples. Visiting these temples with a local guide, we'll walk around the ruins of the largest Doric temple ever constructed - the Temple of Zeus. Standing next to this monumental structure, you feel tiny staring up at the gigantic pillars above you. We'll also explore the perfectly proportioned Doric columns of the Temple of Concord, as well as the oldest temple in the complex, honouring Hercules. Later this afternoon, we'll drive north along the coastline for two hours to tonight's hotel in Marsala. Our hotel this evening is a 25-minute walk from the centre of town. We'll head into the centre to the Porta Garibaldi from where our local guide will take us on a short walk through the old town. After time for dinner, we'll return to our hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Explore Erice and the Greek ruins of Segesta en route to Palermo

This morning, we'll drive up the twisty mountain roads to one of Sicily's best-kept secrets, the delightful medieval hilltop walled town of Erice. Here, we'll have the morning free to soak up the atmosphere and get lost among the maze of cobbled narrow streets. At 750 metres above sea level, on a clear day, you can see right across the valley to the sea below from here. The town is home to a number of churches that you can visit, you could also drop into the courtyard of the Norman fortress, Castello di Venere or the nearby Garden of Balio. It's also well worth noting that Erice is home to Sicily's most famous cake shop - Maria Grammatic. Early afternoon will see us travelling on to Segesta - one of the best-preserved ancient sites. Once home to the Elymians, who it's believed descended from the Trojans. The two most famous monuments found here are the Doric temple and the amphitheatre that sit on the slopes of Mount Barbaro in a stunning natural setting - no modern-day structures mar your appreciation of the site. Along the old entrance roads to the city are the Sanctuary of Contrada Mango and the Agora - the central meeting place of the city. Near to the amphitheatre, you can see the more recent remains dating from around 1442 of a castle, mosque, and church. If you visit in springtime, you can spot colourful wildflowers and giant fennel as you walk around the site. The site is large and hilly but there's a complimentary bus service that operates in the archaeological site. On leaving magnificent Segesta, we'll drive for around one hour along the north coast to our hotel in Sicily's capital, Palermo where we'll have the evening free.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Visit the Palatine Chapel and Monreale Cathedral, free time in Palermo

This morning, we'll get to experience some of Sicily's Norman history. In Palermo, we'll visit the Palatine Chapel with a local guide. This is the royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily and is packed with spectacular Byzantine mosaics. Driving into the hills just a short distance out of the capital, we'll go with our guide to visit the majestic Norman Cathedral of Monreale. Founded in 1174 by William the Good, the cathedral is also famous for its extensive mosaics, as well as its cloisters showing both Romanesque and Islamic influences. Returning to Sicily's capital, the afternoon is free to enjoy Palermo. The city stands at the foot of Monte Pellegrino, with the fertile valley of Concha d'Oro behind. It was one of the richest cities in Europe from the 9th to the 12th centuries AD when Islamic culture, Byzantine magnificence and medieval Europe were merging into a fascinating civilisation. Today, the city maintains a sense of cultural diversity and is famous for its art, music and food. You might like to visit Palermo's cathedral with its ornate facade, the grand Teatro Massimo opera house, the natural beauty of the Botanical Gardens or the extensive catacombs under the city, to name just a few of the attractions on offer. If you fancy a snack whilst exploring then you could try panelle, which is a popular street food. It's a fritter made from chickpeas eaten in a roll like a hot sandwich. If you fancy something sweet then cassata is Sicily's most famous cake, which is normally covered in marzipan and green icing over a moist fruity sponge layered with ricotta.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Drive along the coast with a stop in Cefalu en route to Giardini Naxos

Leaving Palermo this morning, we'll drive along the spectacular northern coastline to the picturesque fishing village of Cefalu. Here, we'll stop to explore the town and have the opportunity to go for a swim. You might like to visit the Norman Cathedral, with its stupendous mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. Alternatively, if you're feeling active then you can walk up the steps passed the Temple of Diana ruins to the Castle on the Rock (the ascent is 278 metres) - the incredible seaviews make the climb worthwhile. From Cefalu, we'll continue our drive along the coast to the small coastal town of Giardini Naxos, which will be our base for the next two nights. This sweet little fishing town sits in the shadow of Mount Etna and is the spot of the oldest Greek settlement in Sicily back in 735 BC. It's a great place for relaxing beside the sea and tucking into fresh fish and gelato. When in Sicily you have to sample the gelato… the region has some of the creamiest in all of Italy.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Travel to Mount Etna, afternoon in Taormina

This morning, we'll travel to the base camp of Mount Etna to explore the lunar landscape, craters and lava fields of one of the most active volcanoes in Europe. We'll head directly to the cable car base at Rifugio Sapienza, which is on the south side of Etna and 1,900 metres above sea level. Here there are several cafes and gift shops, and you can also see the old Silvestri Craters. There's the option to board the cable car up to 2,500 metres where there's another cafe and gift shop and you can have a walk around on the mountainside, please note this is an additional expense, see the optional activities section for more details. From here, you have the option of boarding a four-wheel drive coach up to 2,900 metres to take a short walk (around 45 minutes) with a mountain guide to view the craters formed in the 2002/3 eruptions and the fumaroles at around 3,000 metres, which is as close to the summit as we're currently permitted to go. You then return down the mountain the same way. This afternoon, we'll meet back up at base camp (1,900) meters and travel the short distance to Taormina, Sicily's most famous resort. Once a haven for the likes of D. H Lawrence and Oscar Wilde, Taormina is still a popular tourist destination today. A short walk around the chic town, with its pretty medieval churches and charming streets, will show you just why it's so loved. We'll join a local guide to visit the Greek Theatre. The snow-capped Mount Etna acts as a spectacular backdrop to the remarkably preserved columned stage - it's easy to see why this is possibly the most famous view in all of Sicily. We'll also visit the Roman Odeon before having the rest of the afternoon free to explore. In the early evening, we'll return to Giardini Naxos. You might choose to visit the Villa Comunale Gardens which offer a peaceful escape from Taormina's bustling main street. Here you can walk amidst magnolia, hibiscus, and bougainvillaea trees. If you'd like to enjoy a drink and a snack, then we'd recommend taking a stroll down one of Taormina's side streets where you'll find plenty of authentic bars and restaurants (which are less crowded than in the centre of town).

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 8 Trip ends in Giardini Naxos

Our trip ends after breakfast this morning at our hotel in Giardini Naxos. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Giardini Naxos at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), which is about a one-hour drive away.

Meals Provided : Breakfast