White Lotus Tour of Sicily

(11 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Palermo & Cefalu, Agrigento, Noto & Syracuse, Taormina & Mount Etna

This private luxury tour of Sicily features the cultural, culinary and scenic highlights of the island, plus notable filming locations from the second season of the television series The White Lotus.

Begin in Palermo, the vibrant capital of Sicily. During private touring, explore the city’s cultural and culinary highlights, including lively food markets, favorite Sicilian specialty shops, private museums, and UNESCO sites such as the Norman Palace and Cappella Palatina. Enjoy a private excursion to two locations featured in the second season of the HBO Max show The White Lotus: Cefalu, a picturesque seaside town with a renowned beach and a UNESCO-listed cathedral with Byzantine mosaics, and Villa Tasca, a 16th-century villa with ornate frescoes set in acres of verdant gardens. Also take a private excursion to the UNESCO-listed Monreale Cathedral, a masterpiece of Arab, Norman, and Byzantine art and architecture.

Next, you will be transferred to Agrigento to tour the Valley of the Temples, an outstanding archaeological site of well-preserved ancient Greek ruins that has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Spend a night at a luxury hotel with incredible views of the ruins.

En route to Noto, see the exquisite mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit Caltagirone, a town famous for ceramics.

Next, visit the UNESCO-inscribed Baroque towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa. During private touring, explore important architectural highlights, atmospheric backstreets, sites related to The White Lotus, renowned gelato and pastry shops, and a chocolate shop that uses Aztec recipes brought from Mexico by the Spanish conquistadors.

Next, enjoy a private tour of Syracuse, one of the largest and most powerful cities in antiquity and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the historic city center on the island of Ortygia, including the fascinating cathedral and charming neighborhoods filled with elegant architecture. Also see highlights such as the Greek theater, the Roman amphitheater and the cave known as the Ear of Dionysius.

Continue to spectacular Taormina, an ancient clifftop town overlooking the sea that has a Greek theater, beautiful gardens, bougainvillea-lined backstreets and upscale boutiques. Enjoy a luxurious stay at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace, which served as the filming location for the fictional White Lotus hotel during Season 2 of The White Lotus. One day, enjoy a private excursion to Mount Etna, an active volcano with fertile slopes that support vineyards, orchards and farms. Tour some of the most interesting volcanic sites on the mountain, visit the winery featured in The White Lotus, and enjoy a lunch that incorporates fresh local produce and wine. Also enjoy a private cooking class to learn to prepare Sicilian pasta and relax on a private yacht while cruising along the beautiful Sicilian coast.

There will also be free time to enjoy Taormina and its wonderful shops, restaurants, gardens, views, and leisure facilities at your luxurious resort overlooking the Bay of Naxos.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Palermo Private arrival transfer to luxury hotel for 3 nights. Afternoon private city tour Day 2 Palermo & Monreale Private culinary tour at Capo Market and excursion to Monreale Cathedral Day 3 Palermo & environs Private excursion to Cefalu and Villa Tasca Day 4 Palermo – Agrigento Private transfer to hotel for 1 night, with tour of Valley of the Temples and picnic lunch en route Day 5 Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Noto Private transfer to hotel for 2 nights, with tour of Villa Romana del Casale and Caltagirone en route Day 6 Noto, Ragusa & Modica Full-day private tour of Baroque cities, including chocolate tasting in Modica Day 7 Noto – Syracuse – Taormina Private transfer to luxury hotel for 4 nights, with touring en route Day 8 Taormina & Mount Etna Private excursion, including wine tasting and lunch at local winery Day 9 Taormina Day at leisure. Evening private Sicilian pasta-making class Day 10 Taormina Half-day private yacht charter Day 11 Taormina – Depart Catania Private airport transfer

Hotels

Palermo: Villa Igiea Agrigento: Villa Athena Noto: Seven Rooms Villadorata Taormina: Four Seasons San Domenico Palace

Cost

$32,735 Per Person (double occupancy)