We were lucky with the weather and countryside. Apparently the green will go very shortly so this was an excellent time to choose. The route up Etna proved easier than expected. Our guide was very knowledgeable and put much time and effort into giving us information about the island.Well organised !
This is our first private tour and I must say it met all our expectations. Our driver/guide Carlo took very good care of us, told us informative and amusing stories along the way and took us to wonderful restaurants. He made sure all our needs our taken cared of. In Sicily especially I think the private tour is a big advantage as there are many places where only small vehicles can go through. We made the right decision in choosing this tour.
Walking in Sicily was an excellent week with a varied itinerary concentrating on attractions on the east coast . Hilights included a boat trip to the Aeolian Islands, walking on the slopes of Mt Etna, exploring remote hilltowns and ancient burial sites and visiting the attractive tourist town of Taormina, plus the ancient sites of Syracuse. Our guide, Lara, was wonderful - her knowledge of the history and geography of the area was incredible and she was very competent in dealing with the different levels of fitness amongst the group. My only disappointment was the usual second grade room which I find is allocated to solo female travellers. The hotel was well located, the breakfast buffet was generous and the staff were friendly, but when you spend 8 days in the same hotel there is an expectation of a nice view or some other redeeming factor for a small plain room. I was the first of the group to arrive at the hotel ; the last person to arrive more than a day later was a man who was allocated a suite with a sea view.
Taormina is a synonym of sea and sun, ancient history, and atavistic cultures. It's one of the most evocative cities of Sicily, with its gaze turned to the Ionian Sea and its soul enraptured by Isola Bella. Climb the magnificent Mt Etna volcano and cruise along the Sicilian coast during this short four-day tour.