Exploring The Sorrento Peninsula
Combine leisurely walks on the Sorrento Peninsula and in the Lattari Mountains and enjoy visits to the myriad of local world class sites.
The world is more beautiful on foot...
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Open a door to the ancient world of Sicily and step out onto a sun drenched island rich in history and awe-inspiring natural wonders.
From£1,579
Sicily
Sightseeing
Apr
Oct
What does this mean?
Tour codes: 18600
Mixes active sightseeing with short city or countryside walks.
The National Parks, beaches and rainforest of Sri Lanka are typical examples of places you will enjoy visiting in one holiday.
Any walks will take up to 2 hours and any ascents or descents will be taken at a leisurely pace.
Overview
Open a door to the ancient world and step out onto a sun drenched island rich in history and natural wonders. Sicily is a cornucopia of cultural riches set amidst beautiful surroundings. Experience this journey with Ramblers Walking Holidays.
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has been of strategic importance for centuries. Walk in the footsteps of the ancients; Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans, French and Spanish have all left their mark. As Goethe said, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is to not have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”
Your journey begins in a remote corner of coastal south west Sicily where we visit the most impressive classical site on the island, Selinunte. It’s a quiet, peaceful place, where spring flowers grow and sheep graze amidst the ruins. We soon gather pace to uncover many of the country’s highlights including the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the Greek and Roman sites of Syracuse, which once rivalled Athens in the Greek world. Our last stop is the exciting capital city of Palermo. There is so much to see, including a visit to Monreale Cathedral, one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture.
Click the button below for a detailed Holiday Information Sheet containing all the particulars about this trip.
NOTE: Itineraries and Holiday Information Sheets can vary by a specific date chosen
Itinerary & Travel
Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice.
Accommodation
Below is the accommodation featured on this holiday across all departure dates. Please refer to the Itinerary for more detail about each nights' accommodation for each departure date.
Selinunte is a quiet and peaceful town located on a high plain overlooking the sea. It is the site of the Greek city of Selinus. It has all of the facilities you will require including shops, banks, restaurants, bars, cafés, a post office and medical centre.
We stay in The Grande Hotel Selinunte, situated in a suburb of Selinunte and a 30-minute walk from the archaeological sites and city centre. The hotel is fairly isolated but makes up for this with its wonderful views! It’s located close to the seat and surrounded by beautiful olive groves. This modern hotel has a restaurant, swimming pool (open during high season), tennis courts, laundry facilities and room service.
We stay in twin and single bedded rooms with private ensuite facilities. Room facilities include a balcony, free Wifi, tv, hair dryer, air conditioning, direct dial telephone, minibar and safety deposit box.
Agrigento is a modern built up town with some old historic characteristics such as its narrow alleyways, historic churches and archaeological sites. It is a perfect location for our walks itinerary and has a variety of services in walking distance such as restaurants, cafes, bar, supermarkets and shops.
The four star Hotel Della Valle is situated in the main town of Agrigento, near to the Temple sites. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, spa and an outdoor swimming pool surrounded by a lush Mediterranean garden (open during high season). Room facilities include air conditioning, minibar, satellite TV, safe, hairdryer, Wifi and direct dial telephone.
Syracuse is a large city originally founded by a Greek colony. It is perfect base for our walks itinerary and has shops, banks, restaurants, supermarkets, post office and medical facilities.
We stay in the elegant four-star Grand Albergo Alfeo in the heart of Syracuse. The hotel has recently been renovated and is now modern and luxurious. It has a stylish restaurant, a bar, a reading room and an interior courtyard. En suite rooms include a hairdyer, satellite TV, mini bar, air conditioning, heating, desk, safe, telephone and free WIFI.
Palermo is a lively and busy city decorated with modern and historic buildings. There are markets, shops, banks, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, a post office and medical facilities.
We stay in the four star modern Hotel Palazzo Sitano, built in the 18th century but inside has a contemporary feel. It is centrally located in downtown Palermo, close to the station and within walking distance of all the major city sights. The hotel has a lounge, terrace area and wellness centre. The spa offers health and beauty treatments, plus a sauna and a Turkish bath. The restaurant is one of the most pleasant surprises for guests. The spa offers health and beauty treatments, plus a sauna and a Turkish bath. There's also an upscale cocktail bar. It is characterised by the loggia with lofty ceilings. Glass-topped arcades define interior corridors while the windows of the Franciscan Library can be seen from below.
Room facilities include air conditioning, safety deposit box, hairdryer, direct dial telephone, radio and TV. Wi-Fi is available throughout and is free for one hour and chargeable thereafter.
Trip Information
This is a Grade 2 leisurely holiday which mixes active sightseeing with short countryside walks. As we are visiting some of the finest archaeological sites in Europe our walking will mostly be covering these sites. The pace will be slow with plenty of stops but some of the sites, notably at Agrigento are built on hill sides so paths are not level. In various sites we have local guides so we will stop to take in all that we are told. This is something we would not want to rush.
The walking on this holiday will mostly be in conjunction with the sightseeing programme. Sightseeing will be on foot in the towns, cities or immediate surroundings including archaeological sites and will be taken at a leisurely pace.
Local Transport Costs
All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary.
Optional Excursions
A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.
Holiday Budgeting
When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees are not included and you will need to pay these locally.
An example of some of the approximate entrance fee costs (based on Spring 2018) are as follows:
Currency in Italy
The currency in Italy is the Euro.
Holiday Currency
There are banks with ATM machines in all four centres. All hotels accept most major credit cards.
Tipping
Although entirely at your own discretion, tipping is an important aspect of tourism and hospitality life and expectations are fairly high. In order to simplify tipping, we strongly recommend that you allow your leader to take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff and to local guides and drivers. This will be done using some funds provided by us together with, if you wish, a contribution from you, which he/she will collect during the holiday.
Tour Leaders
Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible.
Leader's Evening Briefing
Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know.
Local Guides
To enhance your experience, as well as your tour leader, each holiday will be accompanied in some centres by a well qualified and knowledgeable English-speaking local guide.
We fly London Heathrow to Palermo and return including an en-route stop both ways, with Alitalia or a direct flight on some departures from London Heathrow with British Airways or Easyjet– please check which flights apply at the time of booking.
Travel in Sicily will be by road. Transfer time from airport to hotel is approximately 2 hours by road.
Booking Your Own Travel Arrangements?
If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details.
Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance.
If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel.
Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details.
Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.
Luggage Allowance & Travel Documents
For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.
Personal Details Check
To ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.
General Passport Advice
It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country.
Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements.
General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware.
Brexit Passport Advice
You should have at least 6 months validity left on your passport from your date of arrival.
If you renewed a 10 year passport before it expired, extra months may have been added to your passport’s expiry date. These extra months will not count, so you should ensure that your passport is not older than 9 years and 6 months from the date of issue at the time of travel.
You may wish to renew your passport sooner rather than later, in order to make sure you have it in time for your holiday or travel plans.
Please ensure to regularly check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for updates on passport requirements leading up to and after Brexit or contact us for more assistance.
UK Government Brexit Information for Passports can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/passport-rules-for-travel-to-europe-after-Brexit.
The UK Government has published a website tool to check the validity of your passport under these rules which can be found at www.passport.service.gov.uk/check-a-passport.
In the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK citizens will be able to visit the EU for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. The UK Government also has information for travellers available at gov.uk/EUexit
Non British Passport holders should consult the host country’s embassy for applicable passport and visa entry requirements.
Breakfasts and dinners are included. Breakfasts are taken at our hotels and are usually continental buffet style with a hot and cold selection. We will dine in the hotel throughout our stay in Selinunte due to the hotels isolated location. Dinners here will usually be buffet style serving both traditional and international cuisine. During the rest of the holiday, we will have a mixture of dinners in hotels and restaurants. Usually we can expect a variety of international and local delicacies such as pasta, risotto, meat and fish! We can fully immerse ourselves in the culture and enjoy the delicious Italian cuisine! Lunches are not included and are usually taken as picnics or in local cafés. Note: Depending on flight arrival times, dinner at the hotel on day 1 may be a light meal consisting of a cold platter selection.
Footwear
Good quality waterproof walking shoes or trail shoes with a thick, moulded sole with a good tread and a low heel are likely to be all that is required for these holidays. If you are a frequent walker and are comfortable in good quality hiking sandals, these may be adequate for some walks. You can wear lightweight walking boots if you prefer.
Footwear As Hand Luggage
We recommend that you either wear your walking boots or shoes or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the holiday programme.
General Kit List
Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.
If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:
This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference.
Traveling Light
You should be able to lift and carry and handle your own luggage. At some hotels, the coach may have to stop some distance short of the hotel entrance. Also, within some of the hotels themselves, there may be some long walks between the rooms and entrance area which could include some steps.
Travel Documents Checklist
Documents and Information to take with you:
Electricity in Italy
Electricity in Italy is supplied at 220 Volts. If you wish to use electrical equipment you will need a European two pin adaptor with round pins. More information can be found at https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/
Water To Go
An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.
We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.
The Map Shop
Maps and guidebooks relating to your the areas you will be walking in may be brought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk
Weather
Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:
Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.
Health Advice for Italy
No compulsory immunisations are required for visits to Italy.
You should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended in the UK.
You may wish to consider immunisations against Tetanus and Tick-borne Encephalitis.
Further Travel Advice
For further advice please visit:
You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.
You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. We do not insist that you insure with us but we require that you are adequately insured for the nature of your holiday. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance.
Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for travel to your holiday destinations (country and geographical region) and for medical expenses, mountain rescue (including helicopter rescue) and emergency repatriation to your home country in the event of illness or injury. Your policy should also provide adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday.
See our brochure or website for further advice regarding holiday insurance.
Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers.
Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started.
EHIC Cards
Please take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you; it will help you in the event of you needing medical assistance during your holiday. Please note that the EHIC has an expiry date, so please check that your card is valid for the duration of your holiday. Please note however the EHIC should not be considered a substitute for medical or travel insurance.
For more information please visit ehic.org.uk.
The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination.
Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.
Italian Laws & Customs
In some Italian towns and cities you may be fined for dropping litter and in some towns or cities it’s an offence to sit on monument steps or to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity of main churches, historic monuments and public buildings. It’s also an offence to enter or bathe in public fountains.
In May 2019, the Municipality of Capri introduced a law forbidding the use of any disposable plastic objects such as bags, cutlery, plates, cups, food packaging, trays, straws on the island of Capri. Violations can incur a fine of up to 500 euros.
Illegal traders operate on the streets of all major Italian cities, particularly tourist cities like Florence, Venice and Rome. Don’t buy from illegal street traders. You could be stopped by the local police and fined.
It is illegal to remove sand, shells or pebbles from coastal areas in Italy. Doing so may result in heavy fines. It’s also forbidden to collect various species of flowers, plants and herbs from mountain and wooded areas. For more information, check with the regional authorities of the area you’re visiting.
Responsible Travel
We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.
The Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust
Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.
Heart and Sole
We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support.
Litter in Sicily
It is important to stress that Sicily is still in many ways a developing society and standards can vary throughout the island. Refuse bags and litter are a common sight in most towns and cities and some areas are visibly poorer than others. This does not, however, detract from the beauty of the island, its fascinating history or the warm hospitality of the Sicilians.
Mobile Phones
Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements.
Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.
As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.
Reviews
Useful Information
Capital
Currency
Language
Time Difference
Flight duration
No Visa Required
January
Avg. Rain: 67mm
February
Avg. Rain: 62mm
March
Avg. Rain: 63mm
April
Avg. Rain: 61mm
May
Avg. Rain: 56mm
June
Avg. Rain: 47mm
July
Avg. Rain: 35mm
August
Avg. Rain: 48mm
September
Avg. Rain: 64mm
October
Avg. Rain: 89mm
November
Avg. Rain: 96mm
December
Avg. Rain: 82mm
View Dates & Book
Can't find what you're looking for?
Call for help or regional flights on 01707 331133