Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome
You'll arrive in Rome and meet up with your Contiki group to get settled in the city. The evening kicks off with an included dinner, so you'll have a chance to meet everyone and start your Italian journey on a good note.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Marc'Aurelio (or similar)), Hotel (BV Oly Hotel Roma (or similar))
Included Activities
- Included dinner with Contiki crew
- Day 2
Naples
You're heading to Naples this morning, but first you'll stop in Pompeii. There's an optional guided walking tour through the ancient Roman town if you want to see how the volcanic ash preserved everything. After that, you'll check into your hotel near Naples' historic centre and have time to walk around and try some local food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Vergilius Billia (or similar)), Hotel (Campus X (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Pompeii
- Tour of Naples including city history and food culture
Landmarks Pompeii 
- Day 3
Amalfi Coast
Today takes you to the Amalfi Coast, starting with a stop at Capri. You can join an optional cruise if swimming in turquoise coves sounds good. Then you'll travel through colorful towns with pastel buildings before arriving on the Amalfi Coast proper, where you'll settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Hotel Salerno (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Cruise around Capri with swim stops in turquoise coves
Landmarks Capri 
- Day 4
Amalfi Coast
This is your free day on the Amalfi Coast. You can wander Positano with its cliffside views and nice architecture, or head to the town of Amalfi itself. There's an optional visit to a local family's lemon farm if that interests you. By evening, you'll explore the streets, try some wine, and just soak in the Italian lifestyle.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Hotel Salerno (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Visit to local lemon farm run by family whose ancestors introduced the crop
Landmarks Positano Amalfi - Day 5
Rome
You're heading back to Rome for the day. There's plenty of history to see, food to try, and photos to take. In the evening, you can join an optional cooking class with a local chef to make fresh pasta and then eat what you've made.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Archimede (or similar)), Hotel (BV Oly Hotel Roma (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Cooking class with local chef to prepare and eat pasta
- Day 6
Rome to Catania
You'll fly to Sicily and land in Catania, which has baroque squares and ancient ruins scattered throughout. You'll spend time exploring Catania's UNESCO-listed historic core, then settle into your hotel. An included dinner at a local restaurant wraps up your first day in Sicily.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Villa Del Bosco (or similar)), Hotel (Katane Palace Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Explore Catania's UNESCO-listed historic core
- Included dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Catania Historic Core 
- Day 7
Catania to Taormina
From Catania, you're heading to Taormina, a town built into the mountainside. You can take a cable car down from the historic centre to reach beautiful beaches. Later, there's an optional cooking class with local chefs if you want to learn how to make Sicilian dishes like arancini and cannoli.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Isabella (or similar)), Hotel (Villa Esperia (or similar))
Included Activities
- Cable car ride from historic centre to beaches
Optional Activities
- Cooking class with local professionals to learn arancini and cannoli preparation
Landmarks Taormina - Day 8
Taormina
You've got the day to yourself in Taormina. You could take an optional trip up Mt Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, passing through vineyards and orchards on the way. Or you can stick around town, relax on the beach, check out the ancient Roman theatre, or just sit with a spritz and watch the world go by.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Isabella (or similar)), Hotel (Villa Esperia (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Ride up Mt Etna (Europe's highest active volcano) passing vineyards and orchards
- Beach relaxation
- Visit to ancient Roman theatre
- Spritz and people-watching
Landmarks Mount Etna - Day 9
Syracuse - Noto
You're traveling from Taormina to Syracuse, a UNESCO site with Greek and Roman history including old amphitheatres. After that, you'll continue to Noto, which is known for its baroque buildings and architecture. Dinner is at an organic farm before you head back to your hotel after a full day of exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farm-fresh Sicilian delicacies at organic farm)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Panorama Palace Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Syracuse UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Explore Noto and its baroque architecture
- Tastes of Sicily experience at organic farm with farm-fresh dinner
Landmarks Syracuse Noto Corso Vittoria Emanuele 
- Day 10
Valley of the Temples - Cefalù
Today you'll go to the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO archaeological site with ancient temples and sanctuaries. From there, you'll head to Cefalu for the night. An included dinner features Sicilian food, so you'll get a real taste of regional specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Sicilian delicacies)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel La Giara (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Valley of the Temples with ancient temples, sanctuaries and necropolis
- Included dinner of Sicilian delicacies
Landmarks Valley of the Temples 
- Day 11
Cefalù
You're staying in Cefalu, a coastal town with some of Sicily's best beaches and Arab architecture mixed throughout. You can relax by the sea, try water sports, or join an optional coastal cruise. Later on, walk through the winding cobbled streets, watch the fishermen work, and check out the local food and nightlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel La Giara (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Water sports activities
- Optional coastal cruise
Landmarks Cefalù - Day 12
Cefalù to Palermo
You'll travel to Palermo, Sicily's capital, which has an incredible food scene and complicated history. A walking tour takes you through the historic centre to learn about Palermo's story with organized crime and the anti-Mafia movement. You'll wrap up with a farewell dinner outside at a restaurant called the 'bistro of second chances'.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner al fresco at the 'bistro of second chances')
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles President (or similar))
Included Activities
- Walking tour through historic centre covering Mafia history and anti-Mafia movement
- Farewell dinner al fresco at the 'bistro of second chances'
Landmarks Palermo Historic Centre 
- Day 13
Palermo to Departure
You'll have breakfast one last time with your tour group. After exchanging contact details and saying goodbye, you'll head home and hopefully stay in touch with the people you've met.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final breakfast with tour group
