Compare Rhythm of Life: Hiking Western Sicily’s Dramatic Coastline by Road Scholar vs Culinary Delights of Sicily - Small-Group Tour by Omega Tours

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive, Transfer to Trapani, Check-in, Orientation
Trapani D Hotel Vittoria
Activity note: Hotel check in is at 2:00 PM.

Afternoon: At the Welcome 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. 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.

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

Evening: At leisure.

Day 3
Trapani & Erice
Trapani B,L,D Hotel Vittoria
Activity note: Up to 4 miles of walking for approximately 3.5 hours through towns on pavement and cobblestone.

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: This morning, enjoy a walk exploring the town. The old town extends westward to the sea. Walk the narrow streets and discover the old palazzi, ornate churches like the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, the Torre della Colombaia offshore fortress, and at the tip of the headland, explore a former defensive outpost, the Torre del Ligny. Take in a field lecture about the peoples that have invaded Sicily throughout history and their influence on local culture. The walk ends at the local fish market.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, take a cable car to Erice, one of Italy's most spectacular hill towns. Erice is a mountain town with creeping hillside alleys, stone buildings, silent charms, and powerful associations. Explore Erice's rich history on a guided excursion. Return to Trapani via cable car.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Levanzo Island
Trapani B,L Hotel Vittoria
Activity note: Up to 5 miles of walking for approximately 4.5 hours on trails and to caves. There is some steep walking.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Just a little further North of Favignana lies Levanzo, the smallest of the three Egadi Islands. Levanzo, with its white houses nestled on the harbor filled with colorful fishing boats, is the closest island to the port of Trapani. This morning transfer by hydrofoil to Levanzo (45 minutes) where you will walk outside of the village to explore this charming island. Take in a lecture about how locals make a living on Mediterranean islands.

Lunch: Plated meal at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Levanzo is a tiny piece of land that houses some of the oldest human evidence in Sicily; these figures of men and animals, painted and scratched onto the walls of Grotta del Genovese, bring us back to the Mesolithic era. These carvings are probably the oldest in Europe, next to the Lascaux caves in France. After this excursion return to Trapani. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions. Return to Trapani via hydrofoil.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Favignana Island
Trapani B,L,D Hotel Vittoria
Activity note: Up to 5 miles of easy walking for approximately 3.5 hours through towns and on trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning you will explore the other side of Favignana island. For the Greeks, the Egadi Islands were the outer limits of the known world. For the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians, they were major commercial outposts. The Romans turned them into their defensive bulwark against the armies of Hannibal and Hamilcar. The Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards also used the island, as evidenced by the surnames of the inhabitants. Travel to Favignana via hydrofoil (20 minutes) where you will spend the day walking along the paths of the island, and exploring Roman ruins and the quarries of a soft, local stone called tufa.

Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Continue your full day walk and take in a field lecture about the flora and fauna of Sicily. Return to Trapani via hydrofoil.

Dinner: Plated meal at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Marsala & Mozia
Trapani B,L,D Hotel Vittoria
Activity note: Up to 2.5 miles of walking for approximately 3.5 hours through ancient ruins and on easy trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning, transfer to Marsala. En route view the salt marshes that have been in use since antiquity. From Marsala, transfer by boat to the privately owned island of Mozia. Mozia is a rich archaeological site, home to the ruins of the Carthaginian city of Motya. The island is also a wonderful place to view many birds, including pink flamingos, curlews, and egrets. During the morning, you will also visit the Whitaker Foundation with its collection of ancient Greek art. You will also walk to the salt museum to explore salt making practices. Take in a field lecture about the Whitaker family, Marsala wine, and salt making. Transfer back to Marsala.

Lunch: Enjoy a late lunch and wine tasting, in Marsala, at a local winery.

Afternoon: Stroll through the town of Marsala (approximately 1.5 hours). Transfer back to the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Monte Cofano, Transfer to Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo B,L,D Al Madarig Hotel
Activity note: Up to 3.5 miles of easy walking for approximately 2.5 hours on trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, check out of Hotel Vittoria. Heading north from Trapani, along the coast, you will find Mt. Cofano, a promontory with many marine calcareous deposits from the Triassic period. In the morning, transfer to the Mt. Cofano Nature Reserve and explore the region during a guided walk. Enjoy a field lecture focusing on Castellammare and its famous citizens.

Lunch: Plated meal at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Transfer to Castellammare del Golfo and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Selinunte
Castellammare del Golfo B,L,D Al Madarig Hotel
Activity note: Up to 2.5 miles of walking for approximately 2.5 hours through ruins, sand dunes, and along old stones. Today is a long day.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Western Sicily wasn't immune to Greek influence. The ancient city, Selinunte, is the largest Greek ruin in all of Europe, including Greece. A half day spent wandering around Selinunte's massive archaeological park is a must on a trip to Sicily. Spend the morning exploring the Cusa Caves and ruins of Selinunte, and take in the stunning views of the Mediterranean.

Lunch: Plated meal at local olive farm.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, we visit a local farm. Afterwards, enjoy some free time at the hotel to relax.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Zingaro e Scopello
Castellammare del Golfo B,L,D Al Madarig Hotel
Activity note: Up to 6 miles of walking for approximately 3 hours on trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Six miles northwest of Castellammare del Golfo is Scopello, the town that marks the beginning of some of the best beaches and coastlines in Sicily, with hidden coves and alternating sand and pebble shores. From here, you access the southern entrance of the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro. Today you will transfer to Scopello and then walk through the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro towards San Vito Lo Capo.

Lunch: Picnic en route.

Afternoon: Continue your walk to San Vito Lo Capo. This stretch of land, extending from Scopello to San Vito Lo Capo, the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, was the first designated wildlife area in Sicily. It covers 3,954 acres and 4 miles of coastline. Within the reserve is also the precious Grotta dell'Uzzo, a cave that served as a dwelling place in Paleolithic times and now is a refuge for six different types of bats. Transfer back to the hotel.

Dinner: Plated meal at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Santa Ninfa e Gibellina
Castellammare del Golfo B,L,D Al Madarig Hotel
Activity note: 5 miles of walking for approximately 3 hours through hill country, on both bare trails and trails filled with vines; afternoon city walking.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a morning walk in the Montevago area. Inland Sicily is the granary of Italy, if not Europe! A deeply rural area, the walk winds through the hills and provides perspective on how Sicilian farmers make a living. Along the walk, partially inside the Natural Reserve of the Foce del Belice, along hillsides with wonderful views, learn about agricultural Sicily.

Lunch: Plated meal at a local farmhouse.

Afternoon: Gibellina is a small city in the mountains that was destroyed by the 1968 Belice earthquake. The earthquake devastated villages throughout the Belice Valley of western Sicily. The Italian government's incompetent response to the disaster and the corruption that absorbed much of the rescue and redevelopment funds turned Belice into a cautionary tale of Italian politics. Transfer to Santa Ninfa and explore the ruins of Gibellina. Take in a lecture about the Belice earthquake.

Dinner: Plated meal at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Monreale
Castellammare del Golfo B,L,D Al Madarig Hotel
Activity note: Up to 2 miles of walking for approximately 4 hours through towns and parks.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Monreale is a town in the province of Palermo, on the slope of Monte Caputo. The town overlooks the fertile valley of La Conca d'Oro (the Golden Shell), which is famed for its orange, olive, and almond trees. The Cathedral of Monreale is one of the greatest existing examples of Norman architecture. The severe, square-towered exterior of the Duomo houses a rich and beautiful interior. The church is a national monument of Italy and one of the most important attractions of Sicily. It hold the most impressive and extensive collections of Christian medieval mosaic work in the world. Today, experience the glory of the Monreale cathedral.

Lunch: Light lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue your full day in Monreale. In the late afternoon, transfer back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Segesta
Castellammare del Golfo B,L,D Al Madarig Hotel
Activity note: Up to 6 miles of walking for approximately 5.5 hours on trails. The morning walk is through hill country on trails, and the afternoon walk is through the archaeological area.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a morning walk around Mount Pispisa, an easy walk which leads along the ridge of the mountain overlooking the archaeological area of Segesta. Through a pine wood, climb the hill. Along the way, you will see plenty of wildflowers, and with some luck, there may be some edible fruit to pick along the way. From the pine woods, into the oak woods, along easy paths, the temple of Segesta stands watch always within view. From the top of the mountain, on a clear day, one can see gulf of Castellamare all the way to the Egadi islands. Through cultivated fields and vineyards, the walk finishes at Segesta.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Segesta, an ancient Elymian city, has the best-preserved Doric temple in the world and a stunning Greek amphitheater, which is still used for summer plays today. The main reason to visit Segesta is to see a single, amazing temple in a lonely field, the Tempio di Segesta. The rural location of this temple is pretty and the grayish stone changes hue with the light. Close by lies an amphitheater on top of Monte Barbaro. The theater was hewn out of the rock and has a view stretching toward the surrounding hills and the sea at the Gulf of Castellammare. Walk across the archaeological site of Segesta, and enjoy a field lecture focused on this beautiful temple.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Departures
In Flight B
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: Transfer to the Palermo airport (approximately 40 minutes) for departures. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL & TAORMINA LIFESTYLE, GOURMET WALKING TOUR

Upon arrival at Catania airport be greeted by your driver, who will bring you to your charming hotel in Taormina. Once it starts to cool down, take an easy walk in Taormina city center with your local guide who will meet you in the lobby.

Discover the main attractions of the town, its soul and lifestyle, the best places for traditional pastries, ice cream, coffee, food and handicraft shopping, and anything else that might be interesting for you. Pass the most important monuments and highlights of Taormina by listening to the stories of your guide. Have three foodie stops, first in a family trattoria for fish selection and white wines, second in typical Bottega for cheeses, salumi, bread, olives, and red wine tasting. And third in a small pastry bar for a tasting typical Sicilian sweets, liquors, and coffee. After the tour, enjoy a free evening in sparkling Taormina. Meals: D

Accommodation at the Hotel Ariston, Sea View Room, Taormina, or similar

DAY 2: TAORMINA COOKING CLASS IN FAMILY TRATTORIA

After breakfast start your foodie experience from the city center with the local guide/chef. Have a visit to Taormina’s Food Market, where local farmers, fishermen, and butchers sell their fresh goods. Select products for your class and with personal guidance from your chef learn culinary secrets of cooking homemade bread, pasta, fish, and vegetable dishes in a traditional Sicilian style. While eating what Your own hands made, enjoy the taste of local wines. After tour free afternoon and evening in Taormina to relax on picturesque beaches or hang out on your own. Meals: B, L

Accommodation at the Hotel Ariston, Sea View Room, Taormina, or similar

DAY 3: ETNA COUNTRYSIDE FOOD & WINE LOVERS TOUR

After breakfast, start your “out of beaten path” trip to Mt. Etna with a pick-up from your hotel by a local foodie guide. Drive through small typical Etna villages admiring authentic lava stone houses, orange, lemon, olive, and almond trees plantations, while listening to charming stories about Sicilian culture, traditions, and food. Proceed up until 1000 meters above sea level and discover the breathtaking views of volcanic land. Have the first stop in an antique family-run winery, where after a guided visit of cellars, try volcanic wines with organic etna appetizers in an astonishing lava stone open-air amphitheatre. Meals: B, L

Continue your gastronomic experience to an authentic picturesque farmhouse and enjoy the lunch with lots of seasonal antipasti, homemade pasta, and typical pastries. Drop off to Taormina and free time.

Accommodation at the Hotel Ariston, Sea View Room, Taormina, or similar

DAY 4: NOTO WALKING TOUR WITH SEAFOOD LUNCH IN MARZAMEMI, TRANSFER TO SYRACUSE

After breakfast, meet your private driver in front of Your hotel at 10.00 am and move to magnificent Noto. Enjoy an easy walk with a local guide in a town of UNESCO heritage – a jewel of baroque. While walking taste a famous Modica chocolate and Sicilian ice cream with extraordinary taste. After the tour move towards Marzamemi an astonishing typical Sicilian fisherman's village on the seaside to have Your sea lunch in a family trattoria. Be transferred to your charming hotel in Syracuse and enjoy this romantic town at night. Meals: B, L

Accommodation at the Hotel Domus Mariae Benessere, Classic Room, Syracuse, or similar

DAY 5: ORTIGIA FOOD & WINE WALKING TOUR

Meet your foodie local guide when it starts to cool down. Enjoy a walking tour of Ortigia, Syracuse old town, and taste fresh fish, typical Sicilian appetizers, homemade Sicilian pastries, fragrant wines, and liquors in three different food venues. Eat and drink as locals do. During the tour, your guide will share with you a lot about the history, culture, lifestyle, and gastronomy of the area while passing the most important monuments and little hidden gems of the town. Tour will finish in the heart of Ortigia so after you can still enjoy the town at night. Meals: B, L

Accommodation at the Hotel Domus Mariae Benessere, Classic Room, Syracuse, or similar

DAY 6: SYRACUSE WINERY TOUR WITH LUNCH & TRANSFER TO PALERMO

After breakfast, be picked by your driver to start the day with a visit to an ancient winery located in Syracuse’s countryside and wonderfully structured as a castle. Will be welcomed by the owner, have a guided visit of the cellars and the old millstone. Enjoy a light lunch with local organic products and wine tasting in the magnificent courtyard. Appreciate the taste of wines produced in this Syracuse area and discover their difference with Etna wines. After lunch continues to drive around 2.5 hours to reach colorful Palermo. Time to relax and free evening. Meals: B, L

Accommodation at the Hotel Garibaldi, Classic Room, Palermo, or similar

DAY 7: PALERMO STREET FOOD WALKING TOUR

On this day sample, the best of Sicilian street food during a 3 hours Walking tour of Palermo. This food tour, led by a local expert guide, explores the fascinating culinary world of Sicily’s capital and includes a visit to the famous and bustling Vucciria and Mercato del Capo outdoor markets, tasting of five different Sicilian treats along the way — including ‘panelle’ (chickpea fritters) and ‘arancini (deep-fried rice balls). Pass through Palermo old town and the most important highlights listening to the stories of your guide. After the tour, enjoy a free evening in Palermo. Meals: B, L

Accommodation at the Hotel Garibaldi, Classic Room, Palermo, or similar

DAY 8: TRANSFER TO PALERMO AIRPORT

After breakfast, transfer to Palermo Airport. Arrivederci! Meals: B