Transport

Bus, Boat

Accommodation

6 nights standard hotel (2 nights San Paolo Palace Hotel (or similar), 4 nights Hotel Mareneve Resort (or similar)) 1 nights simple tree-house (Adventure Park Madonie (or similar)) One of the many attractions of this holiday is staying in tree tents within the Madonie Adventure Park. There are five tree tents within the trees set around 6 meters off the ground and surrounded by the forest. The tents can accommodate three people per tent with another five tents on the ground which are positioned on platforms for those wanting to sleep nearer the forest floor! The area is illuminated at night and there are toilets close by. The forest is also rich in biodiversity and has a wide variety of plants and trees including Chestnut, Pine, Poplar and Beech. The hotel that we stay at for the second half of the trip is located in the traditional Sicilian town of Linguaglossa on the northern side of Mount Etna. Enjoy the hotel swimming pools and enjoy dips in the sea including a snorkelling trip Triple rooms : This trip allows the option for triple rooms to be included within the booking on all night stops within the holiday, with the exception of the tree tents which are suitable for two people in each tent. If you would like this option please ask our Sales team for further information.

Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.

Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader’s ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.

Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options 7 Breakfasts 7 Dinners

Not included:

Others

Any visa costs, spending money and tips are not included in the trip price. You can also book extra nights’ accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip and the cost of this accommodation along with any transfers would be quoted separately.

Flights

International flights not included in the tour cost

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Optional

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for direct with the supplier and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract. A selection of optional activities are listed below to help you budget for your Family adventure. Whilst the basic tour price you pay before you travel includes a great selection of highlights, we have also built in free time to allow you the flexibility to choose from a carefully selected range of additional excursions and activities or take time to relax, the choice is yours. At certain destinations along the way there may be several options to choose from and it may not be possible to fit all the activities in; your Explore Leader will be able to give advice on which are the most suitable for your family. Madonia Adventure Park Day 3: Mountain biking. There are a maximum of 10 bikes to hire, this activity is not guided. No charge.

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Day 1 Day 1: Join Trip In Palermo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Join Trip In Palermo

Our trip starts today in Palermo, Sicily’s capital with a rich tapestry of Greek, Roman, Islamic and Byzantine culture all merging into a fascinating mix of architecture and customs. Due to a number of flights arriving late today, our tour leader will meet you tomorrow morning (Day 2) at 8am for the welcome meeting. There are no other activities planned today, so you’re free to arrive in Palermo at any time. If you’d like an airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino International Airport (PMO), which is around a 45-minute drive from the airport. Please note that a full dinner is served up until 9pm. If you’re arriving later than this, we can arrange for a cold platter to be provided. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to visit the Gothic Cathedral with its extensive mosaics and beautiful cloisters. To get away from the summer heat the Botanical gardens are also well worth a visit. The city centre is compact with a network of narrow streets and expansive piazzas with a great choice of places to eat. Palermo is well known for its colourful and bustling open-air markets with a wide range of food on offer from pane e panelle (a Sicilian sandwich stuffed with chickpeas) or a wholesome bowl of homemade, fresh spaghetti with sundried tomatoes, olives, capers and topped with breadcrumbs. Most restaurants also offer kids’ menus.
Day 2 Day 2: Full Day Exploring Palermo. Cookery Lesson Preparing Pasta And Gnocchi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Full Day Exploring Palermo. Cookery Lesson Preparing Pasta And Gnocchi

Overlooking the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Palermo is one of Sicily’s cultural and historic highlights, combining influences from the Greeks, Byzantines, and Romans. We’ll spend the day exploring some of its treasures today, stopping off at the Piazza Marina to visit Villa Garibaldi - a small garden set amidst some of Palermo’s best-known historic buildings. This afternoon, we’ll enjoy a cookery lesson, putting our culinary skills to the test to make pasta and gnocchi. At the end of the class, we’ll eat what we’ve cooked - it’s a great opportunity for the whole family to get involved!
Day 3 Day 3: Madonie Adventure Park Including Zip Lines And Archery. Stay Overnight In Tree Tents
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Madonie Adventure Park Including Zip Lines And Archery. Stay Overnight In Tree Tents

After breakfast this morning, we’ll drive for two hours to the Madonie Adventure Park for a full day amongst the wooded landscapes near Petralia Sottana. It’ll be an action-packed day testing out all the park has to offer. You can choose to brave the assault course through the trees, with zip-lines, rope ladders and ’Tibetan bridges’ or try your hand at archery, tree climbing and ’Power fan’ (which involves free-falling from high platforms whilst attached to a safety harness). Please note that throughout the trip you’ll need to be well prepared for activities and wearing appropriate footwear. For today, we also recommend cycling gloves for the high-wire course. Refer to the equipment and clothing section for full details. Tonight, we’ll stay in the forest. There are five tree tents within the trees set about six meters off the ground. The tents can accommodate three people each and there are another five tents positioned on platforms at ground level for those wanting to sleep nearer the forest floor. The area is illuminated at night and there are toilets close by.
Day 4 Day 4: Full Day In Etna Land Water Theme Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Full Day In Etna Land Water Theme Park

Pack your swimsuits, water shoes, sunscreen, and goggles today as we head to the island’s largest water theme park. The award-winning water park boasts over 14 slides including; The Black Hole (guests are seated on a two-person dinghy that slides through a dark and twisting tunnel), Jungle Splash (using a 20-seater boat with a drop of 30 meters towards the splash zone below), Hydro and Dark Kamikaze slides (both with drops so steep your back doesn’t touch the slide), Twin Twister (four slides linked together over 120 meters) and Rafting River with (a four-person dinghy that slides right into the pool). The Wave Pool, the largest in Europe, comes to life every hour for splashing fun. You can take a break from the excitement by enjoying a relaxing float around the Lazy River or at the Blue Lagoon, an oasis of rocks and waterfalls, too. Plus there’s a Hydro Pool where you can enjoy a hydro massage after the full-on fun of the past few days. Please note that some attractions have height restrictions up to 1.4 metres high.
Day 5 Day 5: Ascend The Slopes Of Mount Etna
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Ascend The Slopes Of Mount Etna

One of the highlights of our week is our visit to the slopes of Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe (3,330 meters) and one of the largest in the world. We’ll drive up the mountain this morning, passing through citrus groves and beech woods to Linguaglossa Rovittello where we’ll taste a selection of dairy products and salami. We’ll continue to Curva Sparita which is where the lava flow of 2002/2003 engulfed a part of the old road to Mareneve before arriving in Piano Provenzana (1,800 metres) where there is the opportunity to view photographs of previous eruptions that have been taken by a local well-known photographer. We’ll continue by foot along a path that goes up to the crater of the Northeast side of the volcano to an altitude of about 2,300 metres, stopping off at an old Bottoniera (numerous craters formed in 1923 including the longest one on the volcano) where we’ll also stop for lunch. We’ll continue the walk for around 90 minutes returning to Piano Provenzana where we’ll meet our transport and visit a volcanic cave which is one of more than 200 caves in the area (1,750 metres). Afterwards, we’ll return to our hotel by bus.
Day 6 Day 6: Explore Alcantara Gorge. Afternoon Sea Kayak In Isole Ciclopi Marine Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Explore Alcantara Gorge. Afternoon Sea Kayak In Isole Ciclopi Marine Park

We’ll spend today exploring the landscapes that lie along the Alcantara River. Carved from basalt rock, the gorge drops down over 50 meters, following the course of the river and providing us with some stunning but short walking trails. We’ll hike up to the Terrace of Venus this morning, before continuing along the Gorge Trail to view the surreal monoliths of lava that lie strewn across the valley floor. Our walk will cover 2 kilometres/1.2 miles and take around one hour. After lunch, we’ll travel to Aci Castello where we’ll sea kayak along a guided course exploring the protected marine park of Isole Ciclopi for a few hours, including a circumnavigation of the towering sea rocks of the Faraglioni di Actirezza. Life jackets, tuition and auto-draining two or three-seater kayaks are provided.
Day 7 Day 7: Visit The Ancient Theatre At Taormina With Fine Views Of Mt Etna. Rib Boat To Isola Bella Marine Park For Snorkelling
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Visit The Ancient Theatre At Taormina With Fine Views Of Mt Etna. Rib Boat To Isola Bella Marine Park For Snorkelling

This morning, we’ll travel the short distance to Taormina, Sicily’s most famous resort. Once a haven for the likes of D. H Lawrence and Oscar Wilde, Taormina is still a popular tourist destination. After a walk around the beautiful town, with its pretty medieval churches and charming streets, it’s easy to understand why. We’ll visit the Greek Theatre with a local guide. The snow-capped Mount Etna acts as a spectacular backdrop to the remarkably preserved columned stage and it’s easy to see why this is possibly the most famous view in all of Sicily - it makes for a superb photograph. After our tour, there’s free time to walk amidst magnolia, hibiscus, and bougainvillea trees. We recommend taking a stroll down one of Taormina’s side streets where you’ll find quaint, local bars and restaurants for lunch that are less busy than in the centre. This afternoon, we’ll drive to Naxos to pick up snorkelling gear. Heading out into the Mediterranean on a rib boat, we’ll visit the Isola Bella Marine Park and snorkel in two spots, the Blue Cave Bay and Isola Bella South Side. Snorkelling equipment is provided including fins, mask, snorkel, wet suit and life jacket.
Day 8 Day 8: Trip Ends In Linguaglossa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Trip Ends In Linguaglossa

Our trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in the village of Linguaglossa. There are no activities planned today, so you’re free to depart from Linguaglossa at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you’d like an airport transfer today, you’ll need to depart from Catania Airport (CTA), which is around a 1 hour and 15-minute drive from our hotel.

8 days tour

Family Sicily Multi-Activity Adventure

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Family Sicily Multi-Activity Adventure

Day 1: Join Trip In Palermo

Day 2: Full Day Exploring Palermo. Cookery Lesson Preparing Pasta And Gnocchi

Day 3: Madonie Adventure Park Including Zip Lines And Archery. Stay Overnight In Tree Tents

Day 4: Full Day In Etna Land Water Theme Park

Day 5: Ascend The Slopes Of Mount Etna

Day 6: Explore Alcantara Gorge. Afternoon Sea Kayak In Isole Ciclopi Marine Park

Day 7: Visit The Ancient Theatre At Taormina With Fine Views Of Mt Etna. Rib Boat To Isola Bella Marine Park For Snorkelling

Day 8: Trip Ends In Linguaglossa

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