Wonders of Sunny Southern Italy & Sicily Itinerary

The southern sun will warm your back as you step out of Naples International Airport and into the chauffeured car that waits for you at the curb. Your private driver will whisk you away from the bustling airport and head to your luxurious accommodation in Sorrento. Sorrento sits proudly on steep cliffs that overlook the calm Tyrrhenian Sea. Olive vineyards and lemon groves blanket the rolling hillsides while cobblestone streets braid through the Centro Storico, which is the center of town. Moreover, markets tend to display fresh produce on tables while dried red and orange chili peppers hang above on hooks. You will slip effortlessly into la dolce vita, which is the sweet life, as you stroll through the streets, sampling many of Southern Italy’s finest delicacies.

Following breakfast, your guide will meet you outside your hotel and lead you to Sorrento’s harbor to embark on a private boat trip to Capri. An open-air car will be waiting for you and your guide at the dock, and, together, you will embark on a fascinating tour of the island. You will even be able to walk in the footsteps of the ancient Phoenicians by ascending the 921 steps that coil up the cliffs to the neighboring town of Anacapri. Descending back to the main harbor, you and your guide will set off on a boat to tour the iridescent waters of the Blue Grotto.

Your exhilarating day will begin when your personal guide meets you at your hotel to escort you to the local helicopter pad. From high above the landscape, the helicopter will circle over Mt. Vesuvius, which has erupted more than 30 times, and you will learn about the history of the infamous eruption that swallowed the city of Pompeii. Undoubtedly, your excitement from the helicopter ride will still be pulsating as you tour the ghostly ruins of Pompeii on foot. You will navigate through the ancient streets that were buried by burning fragments of pumice stone that rained down on the thriving city on August 24, 79 AD.

Your Italian fantasies will meet reality today as you discover the quintessential Amalfi Coast on the Southern point of the Sorrentine Peninsula. First, your private driver will chauffeur you to the infamous Positano, which has routinely been the setting of many movies. Here, brightly hued homes are stacked on each other as the town sprawls up the cliffs. After a few hours of delighting in the charm of Positano, your driver will introduce you to a few other towns that dot the coast, and you can indulge in sun-drenched piazzas and an aperitif. You will then venture to the mountains, where you will discover the small but exquisite town of Ravello that is known for its ravishing gardens and phenomenal views.

This morning, your driver will lead you to your luxurious accommodation that will be located in the heart of the city. Once you have settled in, you will visit the 15th-century cathedral that sits in the center of the town, boasting a unique Gothic-Romanesque. The Puglia region is known for producing delectable olive oil that is cherished throughout the world. After you amble through the streets of Ostuni, you will partake in a private tour of a traditional olive oil farm. You can even discover the secrets of growing the trees, pruning the branches, and picking the olives at just the right time.

The southern sun will shine brilliantly over the cobalt Adriatic Sea. Your first morning in Ostuni will begin with a custom-made breakfast and piping hot espresso. Church bells will ring in the distance and echo through the twisting streets. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello is one of the most recognized towns in the Puglia region, and it is one that will leave an indelible mark on your trip. Your tour guide will lead you to this extraordinary town after breakfast, and, together, you will tour the legendary trullis, which are bee-hive shaped buildings that look like habitations for gnomes. After strolling through the ancient streets, you will make the short drive to Locorotondo, which is a town that is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful towns in Italy.

This morning, your driver will escort you to the coast, and you will embark on a walking tour of the Medieval village of Polignano a Mare, which originated in the 4th century BC. You can explore the town in its entirety, learning about its history and local customs that are regrettably missed by many visitors. Your guide will lead you to a beach that is flanked by steep cliffs from which daring adventurers cliff dive into the sea. Afterward, you will meet your private captain and set off on a boat tour to witness the landscape from a different perspective. During your boat tour, you will explore seven and a half miles of coastline and caves, including the infamous Grotta Palazzese, which was dug by thousands of years’ worth of crashing waves.

You will travel in style and comfort across the Southern boot of Italy to the region of Basilicata. After you settle in at your deluxe accommodation, you will be provided with the opportunity to ride through Matera’s ancient streets on a private tuk-tuk with an English speaking guide. Your tuk-tuk will pass a multitude of serpentine footpaths and steep staircases in Central Matera, and your expert guide will show you the frescoed chiese rupestri or ancient cave churches that were created between the 8th and 13th centuries. You can also stop in the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario museum to take a tour of a typical cave dwelling that was typical until 1957.

Today, you will journey through the fascinating southern region of Italy. Your driver will escort you to your luxury accommodation that will be located in the heart of Tropea and within walking distance to world-class beaches and premier dining. Your guide will then meet you at your hotel to lead you on a walking tour of the spectacular sights. After you have walked through the city and seen the iconic sites, you can dig your feet into the warm sand and enjoy the pristine beaches. The sea will splash against the rocks where cliff divers show off their bravado and plunge into the water.

You will leave mainland Italy in a private car, but you will board a ferry and venture on to the exciting island of Cefalu. Your guide will be waiting for you after check-in, and, together, you will depart for a delightful afternoon of pedestrianized exploration. As the sun dips closer to the horizon, you will hike up La Rocca, which is the commanding rocky bluff that dominates the Cefalu skyline. From first glance, it will appear just to be a huge cliff, but as you move closer, you will see signs of ancient human life begin to appear on the ridge. Your guide will lead you up the steep staircase that was built into the bluff and past the ancient castle ruins to witness glistening views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the charming town of Cefalu.

Your morning will be extremely relaxing as you appreciate the sights and sounds of Cefalu. You will enjoy a chartered boat that gracefully glides to the main island of Lipari. Your guide will provide you with suggestions, but the island will be yours to explore on your own time table, which means that lunch will be entirely your choice. Back at the harbor, you will board another chartered boat to the island of Salina. Once you arrive, you will venture off the beaten path with your guide to explore a local vineyard, where you will enjoy a private wine tasting to sample the honey-sweet Malvasia wine for which the island is known.

This morning, your personal driver will escort you to your superior accommodation that will be located in the city center of Taormina. You can indulge in a personalized walking tour through town that will regale you with its fascinating history that dates back over two millennia. A funicular ascends the mountainside from the beaches below, giving its fortunate riders spectacular views of the coastline and looming Mt. Etna. If you desire, you can ride the funicular for these amazing views. In the evening, the 2,300-year-old Teatro Greco will come to life with delightful bellows of classical opera.

Today, you will lace up your hiking shoes after a filling breakfast and meet your expert guide outside your hotel. Together with your guide, you will scale the slopes of Mt. Etna, trekking through dense woods and lava-filled landscapes that will make you think that you are walking on the moon. As you continue your ascent, the views will become increasingly more spectacular with each change in altitude. After your hiking excursion, you will be returned to your luxurious accommodation, where you will have the remainder of the evening to spend at your leisure.

As your trip concludes, you can enjoy a leisurely morning with a hot Sicilian breakfast and robust espresso. You can leave your bags at the hotel concierge and stroll once more through your favorite corner of this delightful city. You will then meet your private transfer at the hotel lobby who will drive you to Catania Fontanarossa Airport for your international flight home.