Mimar

Having decided not to drive in Sicily, we are now looking for a land tour there -- for the fall of 2009. Preferably starting in Palermo and ending in Catania.

So, any suggestions, recommendations? Excluding OAT, which has canceled all its European tours next year.

adrienne

OAT hasn't canceled all their European trips - they are still running river and small ship tours.

thursdaysd

I went with a Rick Steves tour this spring - TR at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35133064 - however, you could also look at using public transport - trains and buses.

PatrickSch

I responded to your other post but just in case- check out my report Sicily with Go Ahead Tours- we took it this past July- it is on this forum.

latedaytraveler

Mimar, I would suggest looking into Visit Italy Tours on the web. I have not gone on one, but they do look interesting.

I live near Boston and we have a local tour company that specializes in Sicily for lower prices on the off season including the fall.

durgantravel.com

I took a seven day tour with Durgan in February years back. The weather was great for exploring. I hope to return some day.

Also Insight tours has a trip to Sicily and Malta that looks great. I would highly recommend Insight.

You will love Sicily!

Mimar

Thanks to all who replied.

beethova

I had the same dilemna. i wanted to drive; however, my mother (who the trip is for her 70th B-day) did not. The compromise is a Visit Italy tour that starts in Palermo and ends in Taormina.I started with the basic tour (6 nights hotels w. breakfast: a day tour to Agrigento & Piazza Armenia w/ lunch in a winery; and a full day Jeep tour of Etna w/ lunch in a country farnhouse- all included) and chose 3* hotels (the Joli in Palermo & the Isabella in Taormins). Then, I added in a tour (Erice, Olive Oil Factory, Salt roads, Marsala winery, Lunch). If you'd like specifics, please let me know.

Mark71

May I be so impolite and ask you why you decided not to drive in Sicily? I think a lot of people have the wrong idea about how people are driving there. In our experience, the only places to avoid by car are Palermo and Catania. Driving on the rest of the island was no problem whatsoever!

The advantage of having a car I think is that you can visit the most lovely towns and see the most beautiful things you otherwise would have missed. Public transportation is not all that in Sicily and I myself am not so fond of traveling in a group. But that's my humble opinion of course.

Mimar

Well, we drove in northern Italy, and my husband was very stressed out by it. So, having inquired in another thread about driving in Sicily, we decided maybe not to drive there. (We have driven in Britain, France, Germany and Austria with no problems.)

I do think it would be highly desireable to have a guide to all the ancient sights/sites in Sicily. But we're not really tour people. Don't like getting up early (me), driving past important sights, and stopping at souvenir shops instead. And a private driver/tour is beyond our budget.

My third thought is stay a few nights in Palermo, a few nights in Siracusa/Ortigia, and a few nights in Taormina, taking day tours from those bases. Is there a big choice of such tours? Are any better than the others?

Sue878

ttt

nametaken

I replied to your other post. You might find my post of interest to your trip to Sicily.

GaryCA

I just took a tour of Sicily with Explore, a British company. It was terrific. It was mostly composed of British people with some Canadians, who were all very fascinating to be with. We had a very good tour guide and stayed in nice hotels.

http://www.adventurecenter.com/Explo.../cs&var=cs

cheekyrn

we also decided not to drive because of the stress involved we are going oct 2009 we have hired a private driver through ecoitalia tours we are a group of 6 adults sharing the cost of a driver and guide for 5 days and it is very affordable we now have the option of sightseeing where we want, stopping when we want without the stress of driving or getting lost which is what happened to us the last time we were there i made my own itinerary and chose my own hotels this was definitely the best option for us

ulisse966

Try to contact a local company that runs tours. They might be able to fit you with some other clients or else to organize a tour only for you.
www.sicilytravel.net
www.regalis.com/sicilyguides.htm
www.sicilydriverandguide.com

You still have plenty of time to find out.
Enjoy it

ulisse966

Cheekym has had a good idea, you then go where you prefer.
In Sicily they have driverguides that have a licence (not always...) to enter all museums and archeological areas with clients, or else driverescorts that guide passengers BUT NOT in the museums and arch areas. Dipends what you are looking for and ... the price.
Driverguide on a mercedes will cost min 300,oo per day but shared between 6 is not to bad. A driverescort will cost about 260,ooeuros min. a day

Raliboma

Following up from ulisse's comment, another local company you could try is www.trapanitours.com A friend of mine used them and gave good reviews and they have a licence!!