SHORTLIST

Best of Italy and Sicily - 09 Apr 2026 to 29 Oct 2026

Ancient history and fabulous food are the cornerstones of this colourful journey through Italy and Sicily. You’ll enjoy local seafood in Sicily, follow the shadow of Mount Etna and admire the Leaning Tower in Pisa’s Square of Miracles.
Sightseeing highlights
  • Explore Palermo, Agrigento, Capri, Pompeii, Rome, Assisi, Cinque Terre and Florence
  • Discover Taormina, Sorrento and Venice
  • Visit the Norman Cathedral at Monreale, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Isle of Capri, the excavations at Pompeii, the Colosseum in Rome and a glassblowing factory in Venice
  • View Palermo Cathedral and the ancient sites of Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Santa Croce Basilica and the Duomo in Florence and the Byzantine St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
  • Scenic Cruise to the Isle of Capri and by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice
Iconic Experience
  • Palermo: Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for an introductory orientation of Palermo's highlights.
  • Palermo: Discover the Sicilian capital with your Local Specialist. See Pretoria Square and the 16th-century fountain. View the composite architectural styles of the Palermo Cathedral and visit the Cathedral of Monreale.
  • Agrigento: A Local Specialist will lead you through the magnificent remains of the Greek colony in the Valley in the Temples. See the massive Temple of Concord and clifftop Temple of Juno.
  • Capri: Join a Local Specialist for a guided walk through Capri’s elegant lanes and vibrant squares. Hear how this island has long attracted artists, writers and Hollywood icons. Visit historic landmarks and local boutiques, and discover how generations of islanders have lived alongside the glamour, from Roman emperors to the jet-set names of the 1950s and beyond.
  • Pompeii: Walk with a Local Specialist through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century.
  • Rome: Experience Rome through the eyes of a local, as a passionate Roman guides you past the city's most iconic sites.
  • Rome: Discover ancient treasures of Rome with a Local Specialist. See Circus Maximus and visit the mighty Colosseum, which bears witness to the limitless courage of the gladiators.
  • Assisi: With a Local Specialist, find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered to be one of the crowning artistic achievements of 13th-century Europe.
  • Pisa: In the Piazza dei Miracoli, see the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
  • Cinque Terre: Led by your Local Specialist, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Admire the charming fishing villages and perhaps snap some memorable pictures.
  • Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
Tour details
Tour Provider Trafalgar
Price From
$7,246
Number of Days
15
Start Location
Palermo, Italy
End Location
Venice, Italy
Age Range
Avg. 45+
Group Size
20 to 45
Tour Style
Comfort
Tour Themes
No specific theme
Physical Rating
Easy to Moderate
Itinerary Open all
Welcome to Palermo
The multicultural capital of Palermo is the launchpad for your journey across Sicily and Italy. You’ll have some free time before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner and orientation of the city’s attractions, so why not head straight out to explore its fascinating streets on your own?
Enjoy the Views in Monreale
Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour, which includes the Teatro Massimo and the old 'La Cala' harbour. Later, travel to Monreale on the slopes of Monte Caputo, overlooking the almond, olive and orange groves of La Conca d'Oro. Here you’ll visit the 12th-century Norman Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Journey to Ancient Agrigento
Take it easy this morning or explore further on the Optional Experience taking in different views of the city. Later, journey onwards to Agrigento to tour the impressive Greek Valley of the Temples, dating back to the 6th century BC, with a Local Specialist. This evening, dinner is served at your hotel.
Onwards to Scenic Taormina
Travel through the vineyards of the southern hills towards the seaside resort of Taormina, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy spectacular vistas and a taste of la dolce vita in this hillside town, with some free time on arrival.
Taormina Your Way Connect with Locals
Spend the day relaxing at your chic Sicilian resort. Dive into the warm Mediterranean waters, shop for exquisite hand-painted ceramics on Corso Umberto or indulge in a mulberry granita. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Savoca, the village made famous by ‘The Godfather', and Europe's most active volcano - Mount Etna. This evening, join a Be My Guest experience hosted at a beautiful family owned Sicilian lemon farm overlooking Mount Etna.
Travel to Sorrento
Today we cross the Strait of Messina to mainland Italy by ferry, driving north through rustic Calabria and past Salerno to your hotel in Sorrento where you’ll spend the next two nights. Tonight perhaps consider an Optional Experience to explore the famous culinary culture of Southern Italy.
Visit the Isle of Capri
Cruise to the Isle of Capri where you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Capri town with a Local Specialist. Window-shop along Via Camerelle and watch the beautiful people in the Piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. This afternoon perhaps consider a drive along the famed Amalfi Coast to Positano, a true Mediterranean gem. You will have the evening at leisure to indulge in a little limoncello in one of Sorrento's many cafes.
Explore Pompeii’s Ruins and Rome
This morning, explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of Pompeii, where a Local Specialist will guide you on an immersive walking tour. Once lost to the world, the city's rediscovery in the 18th century uncovered a time capsule of remarkably well-preserved ruins, offering a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of a Roman city centuries ago. Afterward, journey north along the stunning coastline, heading toward the iconic 'Eternal City' of Rome. In the evening, indulge in the rich flavours of Rome as you savour a selection of signature Roman dishes, each offering a taste of the city's culinary heritage.
Explore Ancient Rome
Rome was once the capital of the world and is a city with an irrepressible spirit. Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour, admire the grand exterior of Saint Peter's Basilica. From the Vatican City cross the Tiber river and in Ancient Rome see the Circus Maximus and enjoy a visit to the mighty Colosseum. View the Trevi Fountain on an optional experience discovering piazzas and fountains of Rome with a Local Specialist this afternoon. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city your way.
Off to Historic Assisi and Pisa
Today, drive north to the mystical medieval hilltop town of Assisi, most famous for being the birthplace of St. Francis. Join a Local Specialist  for a tour of the Basilica of St. Francis to view its magnificent frescs and carvings. Later, venture to Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles and view the Leaning Tower that bears this city's name.
Enjoy Colourful Cinque Terre and Florence
A short drive north takes us to La Spezia, known as the 'Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea'. Join a Local Specialist to visit Cinque Terre, a series of centuries-old seaside villages clinging impossibly to rugged cliffs that plunge into the Ligurian Sea. Continue later to Florence, once a vibrant republic under the rule of the dynamic Medici family, whose love for art and antiquities created one of the world's most cultural cities.
Experience Renaissance Florence
The magnificent marble Duomo, Santa Croce Basilica, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria feature on your walking tour with a Local Specialist through Florence's historic streets. Explore at your own pace this afternoon, enjoy a shopping spree, a cappuccino in a local cafe or perhaps delve further into the art of the Renaissance on an Optional Experience to the Accademia and see Michelangelo’s ‘David’. Tonight perhaps consider dinner in the famed Tuscan countryside.
Journey to Venice
Journey north through Emilia-Romagna to Venice, the 'Queen of the Adriatic'. Embrace the Italian lifestyle in your free time, perhaps take a passegiata (stroll), sip a cocktail or embark on an Optional Experience to the island of Burano with dinner included.
Cruise the Canals of Venice Make Travel Matter
Embark on an orientation cruise by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square, which Napoleon once called the 'drawing room of Europe'. See the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners would have one last look at their beloved city before facing imprisonment. Next, witness the centuries-old craft of glassblowing. Your unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps keep alive this delicate tradition for which Venice is justifiably famous, and you’ll watch in awe as masters of their craft shape molten glass into the exquisite pieces that adorn homes all over the world. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore more of the sights or consider an Optional Experience, navigating the city's elegant canals aboard a traditional gondola. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for dinner and toast to shared memories that will linger long after the evening ends.
Farewell Venice
For now, it's a fond ciao Venezia as you say goodbye to new friends and prepare to depart for your journey home.
Inclusions
  • 6 Dinner (D)
  • 14 Breakfast (B)
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Must-see sightseeing
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Ferry across the Straits of Messina to mainland Italy
  • Return cruise to the Isle of Capri
  • Optional Experiences and free time
  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised
Departure dates
All pp pricing is based on twin share occupancy. Single supplements will apply
Start End Availability Price NZD
09 Apr 2026 23 Apr 2026 Available $8,450
16 Apr 2026 30 Apr 2026 onRequest $9,125
30 Apr 2026 14 May 2026 Available $7,353
07 May 2026 21 May 2026 Available $8,203
14 May 2026 28 May 2026 Available $7,884
21 May 2026 04 Jun 2026 Available $7,884
28 May 2026 11 Jun 2026 Available $7,884
04 Jun 2026 18 Jun 2026 Available $7,331
11 Jun 2026 25 Jun 2026 Available $7,561
18 Jun 2026 02 Jul 2026 Available $7,331
25 Jun 2026 09 Jul 2026 Available $7,246
06 Aug 2026 20 Aug 2026 Available $7,306
20 Aug 2026 03 Sep 2026 Available $7,306
27 Aug 2026 10 Sep 2026 Available $7,459
03 Sep 2026 17 Sep 2026 Available $8,071
10 Sep 2026 24 Sep 2026 Available $7,884
17 Sep 2026 01 Oct 2026 Available $7,884
24 Sep 2026 08 Oct 2026 Available $7,884
01 Oct 2026 15 Oct 2026 Available $7,799
08 Oct 2026 22 Oct 2026 Available $7,799
15 Oct 2026 29 Oct 2026 Available $7,799
22 Oct 2026 05 Nov 2026 Available $7,799
29 Oct 2026 12 Nov 2026 Available $7,268