Sicily Luxury Tours, Italy

An extraordinary insider journey to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands

TAILOR-MADE TOURS SICILY

Your luxury tour of Sicily begins in Palermo, where you will visit the highlights of Sicily’s capital city before heading south to Agrigento. Explore the Valley of the Temples, where you will admire the well-preserved Temple of Concordia, built by the Ancient Greeks, before taking in the area’s striking coastline. Your tailor-made tour of Sicily continues with a private transfer to the Baroque Valley, home to the villages of Noto, Ragusa, and Modica. There, meander through the picturesque landscape on bike, passing through captivating fishing villages and scenic valleys before stopping for a delicious meal of freshly-caught seafood delicacies. Stop in the historic town of Siracusa, located on Ortygia Island, as you head to the next destination of your private tour: the iconic Taormina. Not only is the town home to fascinating Greek and Medieval sites, it is also the perfect place to enjoy beautiful hikes around Mt. Etna, before learning about the local viticulture. The last stop of your Sicily luxury tour is the Aeolian Islands, which you will access by private helicopter transfer. While there, take a day trip via boat to Stromboli Island, where you can take a sunset hike ascending the island’s live volcano in order to witness the spectacle of glowing lava after dark. During your remaining time in the Aeolian Islands, you may also trek up Salina Island’s Monte Fossa delle Felci for a panoramic view, or boat to secluded swimming holes for a relaxing afternoon in the cerulean blue waters of the Mediterranean.

A Taste of Blue Parallel's Insider Access

  • Exclusive after-hours tour of Monreale Cathedral
  • Private helicopter transfer to the Aeolian Islands
  • Exclusive access to the “Old Route Trail” on the Stromboli Volcano
  • Private granita tasting with world-famous Pastry Chef Corrado Asseza
  • Enjoy a private boating trip to Panarea Island, and visit secret swimming spots
  • Gourmet picnics in spectacular natural outdoor settings

The Discovery

  • Palermo
  • Valley of the Temples
  • Baroque Valley (Ragusa, Modica, Noto,  Siracusa)
  • Mount Etna Volcano
  • Taormina
  • Aeolian Islands (Salina, Panarea, and Stromboli)

The Adventure

  • Biking
  • Hiking
  • Private boating
  • Swimming

DURATION

11 days

WHEN TO GO?

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

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PRIVATE TOUR SICILY

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Note: This private Sicily tour is an example, as all of our luxury journeys are custom-made.

Note: This private Sicily tour is an example, as all of our luxury journeys are custom-made.

Palermo (1 night)

You will be greeted in Palermo by your personal guide and taken by private transfer to your hotel located near the port where you will begin your luxury Sicily tour. Later, enjoy a private tour of the city highlights. Palermo is Sicily’s capital and is most known for its distinct atmosphere. Its strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean brought a variety of invaders including the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Saracen Arabs, the Normans, the Swabians, the French, and the Spanish Bourbons just to name the most influential. The result of this quilted history is evident today in the range of architectural styles, and the intriguing fusion of ingredients used in many local dishes. In the evening, we will take you to the city’s best restaurant for a traditional Sicilian meal.

Agrigento (2 nights)

Continue your luxury Sicily tour in Agrigento. Visit the village of Monreale where you will see the famous Norman cathedral, well-known for its Norman architecture and for the vast Byzantine-style frescoes which cover the interior. Later, continue to the Regaleali Estate in the heart of the Sicilian countryside where you will have a delicious traditional lunch prepared for you. The estate is a restored 18th-century farm villa built by Sicilian aristocracy and contains almost 1,000 acres of vineyards. The area is characterized by greenery that stretches over several hundred acres through the Sicilian interior between Palermo and Caltanissetta to the Sclafani Bagni hills. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to explore the hillsides of the property and the surrounding area. Continue to Villa Athena, your hotel in Agrigento, where you can rest at leisure.

The following day, you will visit the UNESCO awarded Valley of the Temples, which is conveniently located in front of your hotel. This splendid archaeological park consists of eight Greek temples built between 510 BC and 430 BC. In the afternoon, visit the Scala dei Turchi, a dazzling white rocky cliff that meets the sea, rising 50 meters above sea level. Its gleaming color is eye-catching enough, but what makes it all the more remarkable is that it looks like a staircase carved by man, even though its shape is entirely natural. It was formed by marl, a sedimentary rock with a characteristic white color. It lies between two sandy beaches where you can swim, and is accessed through a limestone rock formation in the shape of a staircase, hence the name.

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Noto (2 nights)

In the morning, begin your journey via private transfer to the Val di Noto (the Noto Valley, also known as the Baroque Valley). Begin by visiting Ragusa, one of the most picturesque towns in Sicily, for a sightseeing tour on foot followed by a delicious lunch. Then, continue your journey through the Noto Valley and arrive in Modica where you can enjoy a private chocolate tasting in an iconic patisserie dating back to 1880. This dessert shop still uses the original Aztec technique brought to Sicily by the Spaniards in the 16th century to create its delectable chocolates. Afterwards, continue to Noto where you will check-in to your hotel located in the city’s beautiful historic district before enjoying a traditional Sicilian dinner in town.

Your luxury tour of Sicily continues the following day with a private biking tour to the fishing village of Marzamemi accompanied by your personal guide. As you bike through the Sicilian countryside, take in the beautiful seaside views and agricultural farms situated around Marzamemi, a town established by the Moors in the 10th century and once known as “Marsà al-hamam” or Turtle Dove Bay. The town is famed for its artisanal fishing, and it produces a variety of seafood delicacies. Meander through the streets that wind in-and-out of the main plaza offering glimpses of the turquoise sea to the east and north.

Following lunch in Marzamemi’s main square, return to Noto for a sightseeing tour of the old city in the afternoon. In 1693, Noto was completely destroyed by an earthquake and was later rebuilt from scratch on a new site, about 10km from the old center. Intent on creating a new town based firmly on Baroque ideals, three architects, Labisi, Sinatra and Gagliardi contrived a city with a perfectly proportioned urban center whose parallel lines provide myriad panoramas. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner in Noto before continuing to a private dessert tasting with a world-famous granita chef in the heart of the city.

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Taormina (2 nights)

Your personal host will take you via private transfer to Siracusa. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of the highlights of Ortygia Island. Learn about Siracusa and Ortygia’s deep history, known for its varying architectural styles which encompass Greek and Roman remains, medieval Norman and Baroque buildings. In Ortygia, enjoy a private cooking demonstration by Chef Fiora Piccione in her apartment – a truly authentic experience. Relax in your luxury hotel in Taormina before an evening show at the Greek Theatre, one of the oldest theatres in the world. Built in the 3rd century BC, the theatre was remodeled by the Romans and later destroyed by the Moors and is a testament to Sicilian resilience.

The next day, enjoy a highlight of any Sicily tour: a beautiful 3-hour hike to the Silvestri craters on the north side of the Mount Etna volcano. Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active and highest volcanoes in Europe. The cone of the crater rises to 11,000 ft above sea level and has been designated a “Decade Volcano” by the United Nations and added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your hike will begin near the Rifugio Sapienza on the north side of the mountain where the two extinguished Silvestri craters that appeared after an eruption in 1892 are located. Ascend to the observatory with a view of 9,000 ft high.

Later, enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby vineyard, which includes a wine tasting tour. The mineral rich soil surrounding the Etna volcano produces some of Italy’s most interesting varieties. Etna’s wine producers are experimenting with vineyard sites further and further up the volcano’s slopes, to gauge the effects of the richer, blacker soils and increased altitude. Some might say this is tempting fate, but the cachet of owning high-altitude vineyards is growing, and early results from these vines show promise. Return to your hotel to relax and later explore the city’s highlights with your expert guide, including the Villa Comunale Gardens.

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Salina Island (3 nights)

The next morning, take a private helicopter to Salina Island, one of the seven Aeolian Islands in the far south of Italy, where you will continue your luxury tour of Sicily. Here, explore the volcanic landscape through breathtaking hikes and peaceful boat excursions around the area. On your first afternoon, visit the village of Pollara, made famous by the movie Il Postino, where you can watch the sun set over the horizon. You will be captivated by Salina’s raw scenic beauty with dramatic volcanic cliffs plunging into the sea, sleepy villages amidst verdant mountains, colorful fishing boats on pebbly beaches, hills covered in wild capers, and vines heavy with grapes for sweet malvasia wine.

During your stay in Salina, you will have the opportunity to explore its natural scenery and hike to the midpoint or the top of the extinct volcano, Monte Fossa delle Felci, the highest point on Salina Island. Starting in Pizzo Capo, you will witness varying types of vegetation that develop into evergreen forests reminiscent of the Alps with ferns, poplars, chestnut trees and other typical Mediterranean flora. Witness sky-high views of the entire region and notice the color of the water change from a lighter to darker blue as it meets the sky.

During your trip, go boating to the nearby island of Panarea where you will have access to secret swimming spots on the way, and visit the volcano of Stromboli Island, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. There you will hike the rugged landscape, ascend the volcano and watch it erupt with all its elemental power at sunset. The volcano is covered in lush, green vegetation and provides some of the best views in the world as the sky blends in with the water at the horizon.

End your private Sicily tour with a private helicopter to Catania Airport in time for your flight back home.

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Map of luxury Sicily tour, with methods of transportation for transfers and destinations
DESTINATIONS TRAVEL TIME
PALERMO REGALEALE NUOVA 2 hrs
REGALEALE NUOVA AGRIGENTO 1 hr 30 min
AGRIGENTO NOTO 2 hrs 30 min
NOTO SIRACUSA 1 hr 30 min
SIRACUSA TAORMINA 1 hr 30 min
TAORMINA SALINA ISLAND 45 min
SALINA ISLAND CATANIA 1 hr

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Contact us to tell us more about your preferences and your ideal trip to Sicily.
We will create a tailor-made itinerary for your review.

START PLANNING

PRICE REFERENCE

Recommended stay 9-11 days
Price reference
(11 days, private party of 2)
Starting at $37,500 per passenger
Price reference
(11 days, private party of 4)
Starting at $27,000 per passenger
Price reference
(11 days, private party of 6)
Starting at $24,000 per passenger

Note: Prices will vary based on the specifics of your itinerary and the number of passengers in your party.

What is included on your private Sicily tour:

  • Luxury accommodations at
    • Villa Igiea (Palermo)
    • Villa Athena (Agrigento)
    • 7 Rooms Villadorata (Noto)
    • Grand Hotel Timeo or San Domenico Palace, Four Seasons Hotel (Taormina)
    • Capofaro Hotel (Salina Island)
  • Private helicopter services to and from the Aeolian Islands
  • Services of Blue Parallel hosts and private specialized guides throughout the journey
  • All special events, private guided tours, private excursions, private outdoor activities, entrance fees
  • A Blue Parallel team composed of a personal travel expert, private hosts in each destination, and a “behind the scenes” logistical expert who monitors every step of your luxury Sicily tour. The team is on call 24-hours a day during a trip
  • All internal transportation
  • Some meals
  • A Blue Parallel customized travel kit that you will receive prior to departure

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