
Sicily Food Adventure
Enjoy world famous Sicilian food while visiting the best heritage sites
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Reviews 22 Reviews5/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Cultural
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Food & Drink
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Activity Level Leisurely
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Group Size Small Group
From cannoli to arancini, Sicilian food is world famous, but on this tour prepare to be overwhelmed at how varied and diverse Sicily’s cuisine really is! The various civilizations that have occupied the island over millennia have not only left an unparalleled cultural heritage, but a culinary history that sets Sicily aside from mainland Italy. Sample Palermo’s fragrant street food in its vibrant markets, practice hands-on cooking with local chefs in Trapani, sip the finest wines in Marsala and Etna and indulge in mouth-watering gelatos while relaxing in sun-kissed Baroque piazzas. Let food lead the way in this captivating journey through culinary and cultural highlights!
* 7 nights accommodation in *** and **** hotels
* All breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cooking class and 5 food
tastings/lunches included.
* Tour leader throughout
* Airport transfers (at designated times)
* Transport by private air-conditioned minibus throughout the trip
* Special guided tours in main UNESCO sights and cities
- Flights
- Single Accommodation (available on request, inquire for supplement)
- City taxes (approx. €10-15)
Highlights
- Wander through colorful markets and try Palermo’s unique street food
- Enjoy a hands-on cookery class with a local chef in Trapani
- Sample a variety of local specialties during the included produce and wine tastings
- Visit unique heritage sights and Baroque cities, including Agrigento and Syracuse
- 7 nights 3 and 4-star hotels with en suite facilities
- Group normally 6‐18, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
- Travel by air-conditioned private minibus
- Day 1 Start Palermo.
- Day 2 Explore Palermo, the famous markets and indulge in the city's fabulous street food; afternoon visit Monreale and its Duomo.
- Day 3 Transfer to Trapani; hands on cookery class with a local chef; continue to Marsala and sample the town's world famous wines.
- Day 4 Morning visit to olive farm for olive oil and produce tasting; transfer to Agrigento for a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples.
- Day 5 To Piazza Armerina; guided tour of the famous Villa Romana del Casale followed by a delicious produce tasting; afternoon visit the charming town of Ragusa Ibla.
- Day 6 Transfer to rural farm for cheese tasting; stop in the UNESCO Baroque town of Noto before reaching Syracuse; free time.
- Day 7 Drive to the Etna region for an excellent wine and produce tasting; free afternoon in Taormina.
- Day 8 End Taormina.

3 and 4-star hotels
On this trip we use 6 different comfortable 3 and 4-star hotels. Some of them have been chosen for their warm hospitality and typically Sicilian character and others for their convenient location. They are often located in proximity of the historic centres we visit so that we can easily explore the towns in the evenings or during our free time. All rooms have en suite facilities and some hotels have a pool and WiFi.
List of hotels normally used:
Palermo: Hotel Posta
Marsala: Hotel Carmine
Agrigento: Hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace
Ragusa: San Giorgio Palace
Siracusa: Hotel Mastrarua
Catania: Hotel Katane Palace & Hotel Nettuno
All breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 1 cooking class and 5 food tastings/lunches included.
Sicilian cuisine is a melting pot of all the different cultures that have occupied the island, from the Arabs to the Normans. The island itself is incredibly fertile, enjoying a perfect climate which is ideal for the cultivation of fresh produce such as olives, oranges, lemons, eggplants, tomatoes, pistachios, almonds, grapes, and more—not to mention all of the seafood, tuna and swordfish fished right off the coast. The result? A cuisine that’s fresh, varied, and absolutely delicious! Sicilian wines are also superb and known to be strong and syrupy, like Marsala and Moscato. These are some of the regional specialities we recommend to try during this trip:
Caponata: a tasty salad made with eggplant (aubergines), olives, capers and celery, makes a great appetizer.
Sfincione: a local form of pizza made with tomatoes, onions and (sometimes) anchovies. Prepared on a thick bread and more likely found in a bakery than in a pizzeria.
Pane e pannelle: A favorite street food of Palermo, panelle—or chickpea fritters—are served between bread, like a sandwich.
Arancine: fried rice balls stuffed with meat or cheese.
Pani ca meusa: The name of this street food means, literally bread with spleen! But don’t let that scare you. It is delicious speciality of Palermo!
Cannoli: tubular crusts with creamy ricotta (made from sheep’s milk) and sugar filling. A must!
Cassata: a rich, sugary cake filled with the same delicious filling.
Pasta alla Norma: it’s made with fried eggplant, tomatoes, basil, and salted ricotta.
Pasta with pistacchios pesto.
Pasta con le sarde: Sardines are popular in Sicily, so it’s common to see them as a topping for pasta. One common variety is bucatini with sardines, fennel, saffron, pine nuts, and raisins.
Frutta martorana: Other places call this ‘marzipan’ but here in Sicily, the almond paste is molded into little (incredibly realistic) fruits—hence fruits of Martora, or frutta martorana.
Cassata siciliana: A sponge cake is soaked in liqueur, its slices layered with sweetened ricotta, and the whole thing covered in almond paste, then icing. It is also studded with candied fruits and other goodies.
Granita: The perfect summer refreshment, granita, originally from Sicily, can now be found all over Italy. It’s just ground ice with sugar and fresh fruit, simple but truly delicious.
Involtini di Pesce Spada: Little rolls of thinly sliced swordfish are stuffed with pine nuts, raisins, bread crumbs, anchovy filets, orange juice and lemon juice, eggs and grated pecorino.
Tonno e Spada Affumicata: Smoked tuna and swordfish shaved paper thin, and layered on a plate. These can be accented with shaved fennel and oranges, or olives and sun-dried tomatoes, or can be served with just a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and some good crusty bread.
Grade: 1 (Leisurely) This is a very relaxing week where you can enjoy excellent regional gastronomy while visiting the most beautiful and important heritage sights and towns of Sicily. All the transfers will be by private air conditioned vehicle. Due to the distance covered during the week some of the drives are quite long but should never exceed 4 hrs (including stops). Please note that due to traffic restrictions in place in a lot of the historic centres visited you may have to carry your suitcase over cobbled pavements, although the bus will be leaving you as close as possible to your hotel. When this is not possible, portarage service will be provided and it has been included in the cost of the trip. Please also be aware that sometimes hotels don’t have a lift. Sicily can also be very hot, possibly high 30s in the summer months from June to September. The excursion on Mt Etna is on foot and we walk for up to 1 hour on hilly terrain of old dried lava, rocky ash and sand. The walking isn’t too strenuous and will be done at a leisurely pace. The overall Activity Level for this trip is 1 (Leisurely) meaning that it is suitable for all people who are in good health and fitness.
Package Confirmed Dates | Trip Status Trip Status | Price (PP) Excluding Flights | Price (PP) Including Flights | |
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April 11, 2021
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Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
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April 25, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
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May 9, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
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May 16, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
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June 20, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
|
September 5, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
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September 12, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
|
September 26, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
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October 3, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
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October 17, 2021
|
Available |
$2,449.00 |
N/A |
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November 7, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
April 10, 2022
|
Available |
$2,349.00 |
N/A |
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April 24, 2022
|
Available |
$2,349.00 |
N/A |
|
May 8, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
|
May 15, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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June 5, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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June 19, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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September 4, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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September 11, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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September 25, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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October 2, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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October 16, 2022
|
Available |
$2,479.00 |
N/A |
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November 6, 2022
|
Available |
$2,349.00 |
N/A |
Sicily Food Adventure
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were lots, but real highlights for me were: eating fresh seafood overlooking the harbour in Sciacca, an incredible meal in a restaurant under the church in Ragusa, amazing food tasting in the boutique hotel at Piazza Armerina after seeing the Roman mosaics, wandering through the market in Siracusa checking out all the fresh produce, and plenty of cheap but excellent local wine!What did you think of your group leader?
Fabio is a nice guy and obviously loves his island, although he did sometimes lack the authority needed in a tour leader, perhaps because this was the first time the trip had run and he was not so familiar with the itinerary. His knowledge of Sicily was excellent, especially the geology and geography.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you go on this trip, be prepared to eat lots! There was so much good food on offer that you'd never go hungry, and you'll never eat the same thing twice. Try as many of the local specialities as possible, and make sure you have plenty of space on your memory card because there's so much to take pictures of, whether it's the beautiful old towns, the market stalls or the dishes that arrive in front of you at the restaurants.Also, try to relax and adjust to the Sicilian way of life - service in restaurants can be slow and seemingly disorganised, especially in the west of the island which receives less visitors, and drinks are usually served at the same time as the food, not before the meal.Sicily Food Tour
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The stunning church at Monreale. Our local guide in Palermo/Monreale, Marina, was exceptional, so knowledgeable and so much fun. And the visits to the markets.What did you think of your group leader?
Very kind and well meaning but inexperienced and her English not good enough for such a tour. (At one point there was almost a mutiny, which was averted when a Spanish-speaking Norwegian group member intervened and conversed with her in Spanish which she was more comfortable with than English.) This was my fourth Exodus tour in Italy and I'd have to say the guide was definitely the low point/biggest disappointment of the trip.Is there anything else you would like to add?
It would be nice if Exodus could include the room taxes, after paying so much for a tour it does seem very "cheap" that we must pay a Euro or two at every hotel. Some dinner suggestions at each stop as we were sometimes "dumped" in a hotel either on the edge of town or not visibly close to any restaurants. Also a farewell dinner inclusion would be nice.Sicily food adventure
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Looking at the mosaic floors of a 2000 year old Roman villa, exploring the amphitheater in Taormina and tasting home made Sicilian delicacies at a funky Art hotel in ModicaWhat did you think of your group leader?
The leader was very pleasant and conscientious but he did not understand the English of the group very well and was not great at communicating. He also had a hard time asserting himself with some group members who had some issues with fellow travelers so the group dynamic was testy at times!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This was the first time this trip was run and despite minor issues it was really enjoyable. Don't hesitate to go! Sicily is a wonderful destinationImmerse yourself in Sicily!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The mixture of architecture which display Sicily's history through its Roman, Byzantine, Arab (etc, etc) periods, but now sit harmoniously together - is truly inspiring. Also, the endless mosaics at Piazza Armerina which taught me (both visually & by the enthusiastic local guide!), more about Roman way of life and their amazing feats, than any book or tv documentary ever did! I'm not usually enamoured by "old ruins", but the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is a sight to behold! Mount Etna - I hadn't expected it's lush rich vegetation and then the contrast of the stark black ash landscape on areas affected by historic lava flow.What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, Vincenzo was extremely knowledgeable and his passion for his home land was infectious. He hit the balance just right in telling us about wherever we were visiting that day, without feeling that you were ever getting "information overload". Always cheerful and polite ... the whole week's itinerary was run efficiently and (it would appear) effortlessly. Given we were changing hotels most nights (which had so far put me off doing this trip), we seemed to blend magically from one resort to the next in a very relaxed manner - ready for the next day's adventure! Also a "shout out" to Salvatore who drove our bus for the week - kind and courteous - who even stopped the bus en route in order to pick some fruits from the trees for our enjoyment!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip not only gives you a Food Adventure, it also gives you a taster of Sicily's many beautiful villages/towns. Though our visit was transient, there's a whole list of places I'd like to revisit .... Noto, Ortigia, Trapani ... where do I stop? There's art and courtyards hidden throughout the land - you need to keep a keen eye out, or you'll miss something!Trip of a lifetime
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I was brought to tears several times, it is hard to say what was the most inspirational. The whole thing was outstanding. Generally the best thing about the trip was the schedule. It was just so well planned with the right amount of adventure but also enough rest time. Really well done!What did you think of your group leader?
I loved Vincenzo!!! He was like a brother to all of us, he put up with our silly questions and helped us in every way he could. He was very professional and knowledgeable. I would go on a tour again with Vincenzo as the guide any time.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Make sure to have electrolyte tablets with you at all times. It is very hot and it is easy to get dehydrated. Those tablets saved our bacon a few times.Is there anything else you would like to add?
You cant go wrong booking the Italy Food Adventure. It was so well planned, the daily excursions were just right - we were tired some days but not too much and every day was a new and wonderful adventure. We were all ladies in our 50's and 60's and we got along really well in spite of not knowing each other. The hotels were really good, a couple were not the best but certainly suitable, a couple were "OMG gorgeous" and the rest were just really nice. I would not hesitate to recommend this trip.