Sicily Escorted Tours

Escorted Tours to Sicily

The Essence of Sicily

A cultural kaleidoscope wrapped in dramatic landscapes, Sicily is studded with Baroque towns and Byzantine mosaics, sprinkled with classical ruins and Norman castles, scented with wild herbs and citrus groves, and steeped in legends and drama.

Why choose a tour in Sicily?

Set just off the toe of the boot-shaped Italian mainland, Sicily has been seducing travellers since the 17^thcentury. With beautiful beaches, archaeological treasures, Aeolian Islands, UNESCO sites, and iconic Mount Etna, tours in Sicily cover everything from cultural heritage to contrasting landscapes.

We circle the island through its ancient past, from Syracuse, the site of Archimedes’ ‘Eureka’ moment; to the Roman mosaics of Villa del Casale, Agrigento’s Greek ‘Valley of Temples’; Phoenician relics on a tiny islet, the rock tombs of Pantalica, and the ruins of Selinunte city, isolated, elevated, and enormous.

There are tours to the UNESCO listed ‘Towns of Val di Noto’, south-eastern Noto, Scicli, Ragusa and Catania; all destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and rebuilt in the florid façades of Baroque splendour.

Breathtaking Byzantine art graces churches and cathedrals with gleaming gilded mosaics, in Palermo, Monreale, and coastal Cefalú, its Middle Ages heart meeting a modern and vibrant shore; while splendid Taormina encapsulates Sicily’s past and present, with a Greek amphitheatre, medieval alleys, and a main street hemmed with chic shops.

Some places which are new to you may seem familiar, as we fuse fact with fiction in film, TV, and literary locations, from the Savoca setting for scenes of ‘The Godfather’, to Punta Secca’s sites for Inspector Montalbano, and the volcanoes of Stromboli, where Jules Verne’s adventurers emerged from their ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’.

To complete the full picture of the island, the various tour routes are punctuated with grand palazzos, picturesque fishing ports, white-washed villages, and wind-whipped cliffs.

When to go on Sicily holidays

With the warmest of Italy’s Mediterranean weather, Sicily enjoys a balmy climate between 20 and 25 degrees in April, May, September and October, a comfortable time for touring, when towns and sights are generally quieter. Temperatures rise in the summer months (June-August) to hover around 30-35°, when the seas around the island are temptingly warm, and resorts are notably busier. Jules Verne tours operate between mid-March and early November.

Who are Sicily tours suited to?

Sicily combines its unique culture with characterful medieval towns, celebrated archaeological sites, spectacular topography, speciality cuisine, and sweet Marsala wine; welcoming the literati, the glitterati, and the curious traveller, and delivering the ideals of every visitor in one way or another. Our small-group tours are enjoyed by singles, couples, and friends alike; and for those who prefer to travel solo, we offer an ‘exclusively singles’ tour of the island’s treasures.

Why book Sicily tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne visits famous landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our journeys in Sicily visit every one of the island’s UNESCO World Heritage sites from the slopes of Mount Etna to Aeolian Islands, ancient cities, Byzantine chapels, grandiose Gothic cathedrals and Taormina, a tourist magnet since the Grand Tour travellers visited, two centuries ago.

All our guided tours to Sicily are ABTA and ATOL protected, and we offer a 100% price guarantee, so you can book with complete confidence.