Archaeological Wonders of Southern Italy and Sicily

10 days
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3.5/5 Great
30 reviews  
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Group Tour
Delve into the vibrant legacy of the Greeks and Romans in southern Italy and Sicily on a journey to ancient cities in spectacular settings. From our base in charming Sorrento, explore the haunting city of Pompeii, the gleaming temples of Paestum, and the splendid Amalfi Coast. Then travel to Sicily, Italy's largest island, edged with dramatic coastlines, scat...
From$6,195
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Gain special access to the excavations of Pompeii with a local expert and peer into the crater of Mount Vesuvius alongside a volcanologist.
    • Gaze at the spectacular mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale and descend into fascinating catacombs in Palermo.
    • Visit eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, from the dramatic Amalfi Coast and ancient Syracuse to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.
    • Hike through a landscape transformed by lava on Mount Etna and enjoy breathtaking views of Taormina and the coast.

What's this trip about?

    Delve into the vibrant legacy of the Greeks and Romans in southern Italy and Sicily on a journey to ancient cities in spectacular settings. From our base in charming Sorrento, explore the haunting city of Pompeii, the gleaming temples of Paestum, and the splendid Amalfi Coast. Then travel to Sicily, Italy's largest island, edged with dramatic coastlines, scattered with vestiges of Greek and Roman glory, and lorded over by a slumbering volcano. From the historic cities of Palermo and Syracuse to picturesque villages tucked into the hills, discover a legacy of great empires and a flourishing contemporary culture.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityNaples
End CityTaormina

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • History
  • Ruins & Archaeology

Trip includes

    • Accommodations
    • Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
    • Pre-departure information
    • Entrance fees, excursions, and sightseeing noted as included in the itinerary
    • Ground transportation during the expedition
    • Transfers to and from group flights where applicable
    • Services of an adventure consultant, guides and any other staff, and on designated “Photography” departures, a National Geographic Photographer
    • Taxes, port charges, baggage handling, and service charges
    • For itineraries that include camping, camp and cook staffs, tents, kitchen and dining tents and necessary Trip equipment (e.g., sea kayaks, rafts, personal floatation devices, etc.) Are provided
    • Internal airfare is included on some international expeditions as indicated in the itinerary

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Days 1 & 2: U.S./Naples, Italy/Sorrento

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Imperial Hotel Tramontano

Depart on an overnight flight to Naples. Upon arrival, take a scenic drive to Sorrento, a picturesque seaside town that will be our home for the next three days. After free time this afternoon, meet for a welcome reception and dinner.

Day 3: Pompeii/Mount Vesuvius

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Imperial Hotel Tramontano

Spend the morning in Pompeii, a city frozen in time when Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, blanketing the area in a thick layer of ash and debris. The site was only discovered many centuri...

Day 4: Paestum/Amalfi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Imperial Hotel Tramontano

Journey south through the province of Salerno to the Greco-Roman city of Paestum, a World Heritage site. Wander among its three magnificent Doric temples, and see impressive frescoe...

Day 5: Naples/Palermo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Grand Hotel et Des Palmes

Spend the morning at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, home to a grand collection of Roman artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as an extensive collection of Greek antiquities. We fly to Palermo, Sicily, this afternoon and check into our hotel in the old city.

Day 6: Monreale/Palermo

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Grand Hotel et Des Palmes

After a panoramic tour of Palermo, travel to nearby Monreale for a visit to its Norman cathedral. Wander through Moorish-style arcades and cloisters and examine its exquisite gold mosaics ...

Day 7: Segesta/Selinunte/Agrigento

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Baglio della Luna

Head west to Segesta, where a beautifully preserved hilltop temple was begun in the fifth century by the indigenous Elymian people and never completed. Continue south to Selinunte, home of th...

Day 8: Piazza Armerina/Syracuse/Taormina

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay

Journey into Sicily's mountainous interior to the World Heritage site of the Villa Romana del Casale, near the town of Piazza Armerina. The villa's exquisite mosaics—some of the best preserved in t...

Day 9: Mount Etna/Taormina

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay

Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna dominates eastern Sicily. Ascend to 10,000 feet above sea level by cable car and 4x4 to the very rim of this legendary volcano and behold a fasci...

Day 10: Taormina/Catania/U.S.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to the Catania airport for your return flight.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,195
Price per day$620
Last Updated: 11/19/2018

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with National Geographic Expeditions.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

National Geographic Expeditions Reviews & Ratings

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Disappointed

Nov 2018

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Great sites, poorly managed

I grew up with National Geographic so when I signed up for a NG trip I was quite excited. I spent a lot of time on a crowded bus. Some of the accommodations were tw...

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare
    • Optional gratuities
    • Personal items

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
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Meals Included

7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 5 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities
  • Taormina and Rome - Post-Trip Extension, 4 Days
Additional Information
Trip ID
nation-arcwonnat

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