Insight > Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily

Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily
14 Days starting from $2,925

Countries Visited:
Italy, Sicily

 

Length: 14 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: Country Roads Tours
Operator: Insight
Tour Code: E725
   
 
About This Tour


An evenly paced tour with two-night stays in Alberobello, Giardini Naxos, Palermo and the Bay of Naples. Also enjoy a relaxed evening in the Calabrian holiday resort of Crotone, favourite holiday destination of Italian families.

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing
  • SPECIALS

Insight's First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  • Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 2 and departure transfer on Day 14

Quality Dining

  • Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome (HD)
  • 12 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 6 three-course table d’hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

14 Days ~ Italy ~ Sicily

Tour Pace
An evenly paced tour with two-night stays in Alberobello, Giardini Naxos, Palermo and the Bay of Naples. Also enjoy a relaxed evening in the Calabrian holiday resort of Crotone, favorite holiday destination of Italian families.

DAY 1 – FRI – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Rome.

DAY 2 – SAT – ROME AT LEISURE
Welcome to Rome! On arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel, scenically located in beautiful gardens. Settle in, relax or start exploring this glorious city. Later, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza St Peters.

DAY 3 – SUN – ROME – ALBEROBELLO. Head southwards passing by the brooding hilltop monastery of Cassino to Caserta, and take the scenic route across the Apennines to the Adriatic coast. Your destination is the small town of Alberobello, in the heart of the unique Trulli region. The region of Puglia is a food and wine lovers’ paradise, so set some time aside in the evening to dine out. Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 4 – MON – ALBEROBELLO AT LEISURE
Take time to explore Alberobello, with its strange white Trulli buildings spread out over the hillside. Trulli are circular structures with conical roofs and domed within, built with local limestone and stacked without using mortar. Relax in the afternoon or perhaps visit the stark white-washed town of Ostuni, reminiscent of a North African Arab medina. (BB,D)

DAY 5 – TUE – ALBEROBELLO – CROTONE
Take the small local roads to Matera to see the extraordinary ‘Sassi’, or cave-dwellings, that were once home to more than 15,000 people. Walk along the time worn stone streets to the simple white houses and churches dug out of the rock. Now follow the shores of the Gulf of Taranto to the gorgeous mountainous region of Calabria - favorite holiday destination for the Italians. Spend the night in the resort of Crotone.
Hotel: Costa Tiziana Resort. (BB,D)

DAY 6 – WED – CROTONE – GIARDINI NAXOS
The country roads continue around the Gulf of Squillace before turning inland through the town of Catanzaro, perched on its hilltop. On the western side, continue along the Purple Coast, which takes its name from the color of its rocky mountain slopes. At the very toe of Italy make the short ferry crossing over to Sicily. Spend the night in the beautiful seaside resort of Giardini Naxos.
Hotel: Sant Alphio. (BB)

DAY 7 – THU – TAORMINA EXCURSION
Visit Taormina, founded in 400BC, and beautifully located overlooking the sea and the peak of Mount Etna. Visit the Greek Theatre (3rd century BC) and the glorious sub-tropical terraced gardens before strolling along elegant Corso Umberto to Piazza 9 Aprile for splendid panoramic views across the bay to the Ionian Sea. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy at your own pace. (BB,D)

DAY 8 – FRI – GIARDINI NAXOS – PALERMO
Drive to the attractive hillside town of Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily. Explore the Valley of the Temples, the finest Greek sanctuary in Sicily. Especially impressive is the massive Temple of Concord and the clifftop Temple of Juno which overlooks the sea. Later, continue to the historic capital of Sicily, Palermo.
Hotel: Excelsior Palace. (BB,D)

DAY 9 – SAT – PALERMO
Sightseeing with a local guide includes Quattro Canti Square, the Cathedral and the mosaics in the Palatine Chapel of the Palace of the Normans. Also visit Monreale with its finely decorated cathedral. In the afternoon there is free time to explore or shop in Palermo or to take one of the local excursions offered by your Tour Director. (BB)

DAY 10 – SUN – PALERMO – OVERNIGHT FERRY
Drive eastwards along the coast to the charming fishing town of Cefalu. Visit the cathedral, erected to fulfil a vow made by the Norman King Roger II and spend some time at leisure. Later, return to Palermo, taking time to relax before meeting the overnight ferry to Naples in the early evening. (BB)

DAY 11 – MON – FERRY – BAY OF NAPLES
Arrive in Naples in time for breakfast and an orientation tour of the city. Afterwards, continue to Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Walk with a local guide through the cobbled streets to the Forum and inspect some of the shops and villas before continuing to your hotel.
Hotel: La Medusa. (BB,D)

DAY 12 – TUE – CAPRI EXCURSION
Take the cliff-top road to Sorrento to witness a demonstration of inlaid ‘intarsio’ woodwork before continuing across the Bay of Naples to the delightful Isle of Capri. Take a funicular train up to Capri Town to spend some time wandering the narrow alleyways and exploring the exclusive boutiques before returning to your hotel. (BB,D)

DAY 13 – WED – BAY OF NAPLES – ROME
Travel north to return to Rome. On arrival, visit the Colosseum and see the Forum – once the religious, political and commercial heart of the Roman Empire. Tour St Peter’s Basilica, housing works of art by Michelangelo and Bernini, before joining your fellow passengers for a last night celebration Dinner.
Hotel: Oly. (BB,HD)

DAY 14 – THU – RETURN TO USA
The tour ends with transfers to the airport. (BB)


To speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
9/12/2008 - 9/25/2008
$2,935
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9/19/2008 - 10/2/2008
$2,935
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9/26/2008 - 10/9/2008
$2,935
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10/3/2008 - 10/16/2008
$2,935
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4/17/2009 - 4/30/2009
$3,399
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4/24/2009 - 5/7/2009
$3,399
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5/1/2009 - 5/14/2009
$3,399
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5/8/2009 - 5/21/2009
$3,399
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5/15/2009 - 5/28/2009
$3,399
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5/22/2009 - 6/4/2009
$3,399
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5/29/2009 - 6/11/2009
$3,399
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6/5/2009 - 6/18/2009
$3,399
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6/12/2009 - 6/25/2009
$3,399
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6/19/2009 - 7/2/2009
$3,375
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6/26/2009 - 7/9/2009
$3,399
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7/3/2009 - 7/16/2009
$3,399
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7/10/2009 - 7/23/2009
$3,425
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7/17/2009 - 7/30/2009
$3,425
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7/24/2009 - 8/6/2009
$3,425
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7/31/2009 - 8/13/2009
$3,525
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8/7/2009 - 8/20/2009
$3,525
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8/14/2009 - 8/27/2009
$3,425
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8/21/2009 - 9/3/2009
$3,490
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8/28/2009 - 9/10/2009
$3,425
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9/4/2009 - 9/17/2009
$3,450
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9/11/2009 - 9/24/2009
$3,450
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9/18/2009 - 10/1/2009
$3,450
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9/25/2009 - 10/8/2009
$3,450
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10/2/2009 - 10/15/2009
$3,450
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Hotels
This tour has a varied selection of hotels ranging from the beautifully restored villa style La Medusa to the modern Sant Alphio Garden hotel, which has a wonderful, scenic location overlooking the Bay of Naxos.

Fellow Passengers
This tour attracts passengers with southern Italian or Sicilian family ancestry, as well as those who wish to extend their knowledge of Italian history and culture by exploring the lesser known southern regions.

Highlights
This tour explores the unique ‘trulli’ houses of Alberobello and the region of Calabria. There is also the stunning scenery of Sicily and its rich historic Greek and Roman heritage, plus the beauty of the ‘island of dreams’, Capri.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights plus these extra tour features

Excursions & Sights

  • Visit Crotone, the only Calabrian port on the Ionic coast.
  • Visit Taormina’s Greek theatre, dating back to the 3rd century BC
  • Visit the sub-tropical terraced gardens in Taormina
  • Stroll along Corso Umberto to Piazza 9 Aprile in Taormina for panoramic views
  • Guided tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to see the Temple of Concord
  • See the beautifully decorated Cathedral of Monreale
  • See the Cathedral and visit the Palatine Chapel in Palermo
  • ‘Intarsio’ inlay woodworking demonstration in Sorrento
  • Tour St Peter’s Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith
  • Scenic drives – Apennines, Calabria mountains, Sorrento cliff top road

Guided City Tours

  • In-depth sightseeing tours with audio headsets where appropriate in Rome, Palermo & Pompeii
  • Orientation tours in Alberobello, Taormina, Naples & Sorrento

Insight's First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  • Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 2 and departure transfer on Day 14

Quality Dining

  • Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome (HD)
  • 12 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 6 three-course table d’hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Great Savings and Discounts

EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNTS

SAVE UP TO 10%: Insight sells its tours in many countries worldwide so the most popular tours fill very quickly. Don’t be disappointed, book early! You’ll be assured of the tours you want, andthe earlier you pay, the more you SAVE!

Here’s how...

Pay 4 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 2.5%

Pay 7 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 5%

Pay 10 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 7.5%

Pay 12 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 10%

Tours must be paid in full for this discount to apply. Discounts apply to the land-only portion of your tour. Tour prices may change in future brochures. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.

FAMILY SAVINGS

YOUNG TRAVELLERS SAVE 10% AGED 5-17 YEARS :Travel broadens the mind and enhances those special relationships. Insight offers you the opportunity of

sharing your happy holiday memories with your children or grandchildren. This discount applies to the Land Only portion of your tour. Young Travellers must be under the age of 18 years old on the tour departure date, and MUST be accompanied by an adult (limit of one Young Traveller Discount per room). On all escorted tours, children under 5 years old are NOT accepted. The Young Traveller must be the specified age at the time of travel to be eligible for this discount. This discount cannot be combined with our Groups Discount. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension,

and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.

GROUP DISCOUNTS

5 OR MORE – SAVE 5%: If a group of 5 to 8 people travel together a discount of 5% per person applies to the Land Only portion of your tour. So it pays to get together with your family and friends!

SAVE $$$ FOR 9 OR MORE : If you have a group of 9 or more people travelling together on the same scheduled tour, then you automatically qualify for big savings! Your savings will be determined by the number of people travelling so ask call for details. You may also reserve a tour departure exclusively for your group! Some restrictions apply. Please contact our Groups Department 1-866-475-7023.

These discounts cannot be combined with Frequent Traveller, Family Savings or Triple Room Discounts. To qualify, names of all passengers travelling must be advised to Insight at the time of booking. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension,

and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.  

SINGLE TRAVELLER SAVING

SAVE UP TO $2850 PER PERSON with Insight’s Room Mate Matching service Insight believes travelling solo should not cost you more! That’s why for people travelling alone on an Insight coach tour, we'll match you with someone of the same gender, so you don't have to pay the single room supplement. If we fail to match you, we'll provide a single room at no extra cost. Please note there is a no-smoking policy in all shared rooms. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises. 3. Does not apply to Irish Elegance.

TRIPLE ROOM DISCOUNTS: When three people travel together and share one room,

each of the three enjoys a discount off the tour price. See the Triple Room Reductions on the itinerary of your choice. This discount only applies to tours featuring the “Share a Triple Room” reduction on the itinerary pages. Note the third bed will, on occasions, be a foldaway.

FREQUENT TRAVELLER SAVING

SAVE 5% OFF YOUR NEXT TOUR: Most first-time travellers go on vacation with Insight again and again. In recognition of our loyal customers, Insight now extends to all clients automatic membership into our Premier Plus Club, as well as a 5% Discount off the Land portion of their next Insight trip. Insight’s Premier Plus Club & 5% Discount is not available retroactively. Only one voucher is available per person, per tour, per year and only one voucher can be redeemed against each further tour

booking. This discount cannot be combined with our Groups Discount.  Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise.

EXTRA TOUR DISCOUNTS

SAVE $$$ON YOUR 2ND TOUR: Book two Insight vacations, each 7 days or longer and you will receive a reduction of 5%off the cheaper of the two tours. Both tours must be booked at the same time. This discount is per person.

COMPLIMENTARY TRANSFERS: Save up to $135 per couple on LONDON taxi fares

FREE LONDON RETURN : Passengers taking the 'Land only' option on our Discovery

tours may return to London by Insight motorcoach at NO EXTRA CHARGE, instead of departing from Paris. Offer applies to the final day of the following Discovery tours:  E920, E910, E933, E914, E912, E913, E916 & G916. Accommodations will be

required, as arrival in London is late afternoon/early evening.

SMALL GROUPS ADVANTAGE : Many tour operators fill their tours with up to 53 passengers. This means more congestion and less leg room on the coach as seats are configured more closely. At Insight we have a

maximum of only 40 guests per tour.

INSIGHT'S GUARANTEES

PRICE GUARANTEE: With Insight, you don’t need to worry about currency fluctuations. Once we receive your full deposit, your land tour price is guaranteed and protected against any increases. (Excludes pre-registration for tours in future brochures and any imposed fuel surcharges or Government Taxes.

TOUR GUARANTEE FOR LAND TRAVEL: To assist you when booking our airline offers and taking our great early payment savings, Insight has designated a large number of tours which we guarantee will operate on the scheduled date, unless circumstances occur beyond our control. Look for Tour Guarantee (TG symbol) on the itinerary of your choice indicating applicable dates. All other featured departures are planned to operate however, for operational reasons, may be subject to re- scheduling with at least 50 days notice (between May 1st & September 30th).


   
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