ULYSSES WAY – 12 Days/11 Nights

Itinerary

Rome – Naples – Pompeii – Sorrento – Capri – Palermo – Monreale -Segesta – Erice – Marsala – Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Catania – Siracusa – Ragusa – Etna -Taormina

Day 1 Tuesday: Rome
Arrive in Rome on your own. Day at leisure. Check in at hotel, overnight.

Day 2 Wednesday: Rome – Naples – Pompeii – Sorrento
Breakfast at hotel. Depart Rome. Drive through the regions of Lazio and Campania, with a view of the Abbey of Montecassino. Upon arrival in Naples, a short panoramic city tour: Mergellina, Castel dell'Ovo Plebiscito Square, the Royal Palace, the Maschio Angioino and the port. Lunch in a restaurant. Depart for Pompeii and visit the excavations of the famous Roman city, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Depart Pompeii and drive along the Sorrentine coastal, arrival in Sorrento. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Day 3 Thursday: Sorrento – Capri – Sorrento
After breakfast we board the boat for the Island of Capri, where, weather and sea conditions permitting, we will visit the Blue Grotta in small rowing boats. Lunch in a restaurant and free time for personal activities. Return to Sorrento. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Day 4 Friday: Sorrento – Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel and morning at leisure. In the afternoon depart for Naples harbour to board the Tirrenia ferry to Palermo. Overnight on boat.

Day 5 Saturday: Palermo
Arrival in Palermo. Transfer to the hotel (independent arrival). Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Sunday: Palermo – Monreale – Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning a visit of the town of Palermo that includes: the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo. Continue to Monreale to visit the Cathedral and its Cloister. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, free time to enjoy the afternoon in the Sicilian capital or participate in an optional excursion, (payable locally) to Cefalù, a beautiful village on the Madonie mountains which will give you an insight into the Sicilian way of life, and visit the famous Cathedral and Castelbuono. Return to Palermo. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 7 Monday: Palermo – Segesta – Erice – Marsala
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Segesta to visit the Doric Temple situated on a hill surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Visit the medieval village of Erice, with its tiny, stony medieval streets. Time at leisure for lunch. Depart to Trapani to view the salt windmills and then to Marsala, where you will have the opportunity to taste the famous well known wine Marsala. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 Tuesday: Marsala – Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Catania
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Agrigento where we will visit the amazing Valley of the Temples. These Temples are better preserved than the Temples in Greece. Continue to Piazza Armerina. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon visit the Roman Villa del Casale, famous for its more than 3500 sqm of well preserved mosaics. After the visit continue to Catania. Dinner and overnight.

Day 9 Wednesday: Catania – Siracusa – Ragusa
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. In the morning a panoramic visit of Catania. Depart for Syracusa to visit the archaeological area, including the Greek Theatre, the Dyonisios Ear, the Latomie of the Paradise. The visit continues with the historical and baroque center situated on the Island of Ortigia. Enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of this small island. Time at leisure for lunch and depart for Ragusa to visit the historical center in Ragusa Ibla. After this amazing visit enjoy your dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight.

Day 10 Thursday: Ragusa – Etna – Taormina
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe (conditions permitting). We will reach 1800 mts and visit some of the Sylvester craters. After this unforgettable experience, enjoy a special farmhouse lunch and an Etna wine tasting. Continue to Taormina, called the Mediterranean pearl. Dinner and overnight.

Day 11 Friday : Taormina
Buffet breakfast the hotel. Free time to visit the Greek Theatere viewing the beautiful bay of Naxos. Lunch. In the afternoon you have the option of an excursion to visit in the village of Savoca the famous catacombs of the Cappuccini convent and Bar Vitelli – used in the shooting of the “Godfather” in 1971. Then a scenic drive to Forza D’agro’. Includes a walking tour trough the peaceful streets, churches and cathedrals (payable locally). Return to Taormina. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 12 Saturday: Taormina
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour.

Tour Details

The tour includes
* Transportation by Deluxe motorcoach
* Multilingual Tour-Escort
* Accommodation in 4 star or 3 star Hotels
* Meals as per itinerary
* Panoramic visits as per itinerary

The tour does not include
* Drinks, entrance fees to monuments or museums, porterage, tips, extras
* Anything not specified in the ''the tour includes''

Our Hotels
Hotels may be substituted with similar category
Rome: Diana OR Prime Hotel St Johns OR Oxford OR Beverly Hills OR Milton
Sorrento: Ambasciatori OR Veusvio
Palermo: Grande Albergo Sole OR Hotel Ai Cavalieri
Marsala: Hotel Baglio Oneto OR similar
Taormina: Hotel Monte Tauro OR similar

Price per person
4 star or 3 star superior hotel – Single: $4054 Double: $3176 Triple: $3135

Departure Dates 2008:
February 26th. March 4th, 11th, 18th*, 25th
April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th. May 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
June 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th. July 1st. August 19th, 26th
September 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th. October 7th, 14th, 21st
* Departure on 18th March requires a supplement of $329 per person.