Calabria & Sicily
Southern Italy Small Group Tour
A tour led by Australians Holly and Angelo.
We’ll start in Angelo’s hometown in Calabria then onto Sicily for 14 days in a small group to see the real Italy.
Limited places left for 2027
Limited places left for 2027
A tour in Italy that takes you where we go on holidays with our family
That’s right, two Australians with family in Italy will personally escort you on this tour.
This isn’t an ordinary route, we have created the itinerary from our personal experiences. This is is a group tour that visits Calabria and Sicily in Italy for those who have been before and already seen all the popular spots like Rome, Venice, or the Amalfi Coast.
Our small group tour has a slow pace and explores the far South of Italy where there are no queues, no influencers, and you get a real taste of local life which embraces the art of savouring each moment.
Tour Details
2026 - SOLD OUT
2027 - 3 to 16 June 2027. Limited places left.
2028 - Expressions of interest taken now.
When
A slow paced tour that is 14 days long including 2- or 3-night stays and plenty of free time to relax.
Duration
Only 25 people maximum, fully escorted in a small group. Intimate, fun and at a leisurely pace.
Type
Transfers, ground transport, all gratuities, accommodation and many unique experiences.
Inclusions
22 meals total (13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners), cooking class experiences, wine tastings and more… break bread with friends, not strangers!
Meals
Hand picked boutique 4-star accommodation with multi night-stays at most stops. Ocean view rooms in Bagnara and Giardini Naxos
Stay
Transport
Luxury private air conditioned coach.
2027 Early bird pricing: $8,499 - Save $500 from original price of $8,999
Solo travellers welcome, single supplement $1,575
Cost
Start / Finish
Lamezia airport and finish in Catania airport with transfers included.
Flights
Not included but can be arranged to and from Italy or other destinations.
Tour experiences
This isn’t Italy as tourists know it, it’s like travelling with family. This tour includes a wide variety of local experiences that you will enjoy along the way.
Pizza and pasta making class
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Tropea
Walking tour of Tropea with a local expert
Visit to Santuario di Santa Maria dell'Isola
Boat trip to Capo Vaticano from Tropea
Tour of Bagnara Calabra
Dinner at a local seafood restaurant with traditional entertainment
Cave excursion by boat from Bagnara (with swimming)
Walking tour of Reggio Calabria with a local expert
Visit to Taormina's Greek theatre with a local expert
Visit to Savoca (the Sicilian setting for The Godfather)
Visit to Bar Vitelli (featured in The Godfather)
Guided tour of Mount Etna with a local expert
Vineyard tour and wine tasting near Mount Etna
Lunch at a local restaurant near Mount Etna
Guided tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
Sightseeing in Syracuse with a local expert
Visit to Syracuse's Paradise Quarry and the Ear of Dionysius
Exploration of Syracuse's Greek theatre
Farewell dinner
Watch Holly & Angelo
explain more about this tour
We will help you explore our local community and reveal some of the most authentic locations, traditions, food and history the region has to offer.
What our clients had to say about our 2026 tour
See some of our travel agent reviews
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"We had a stress free holiday and we ill definitely use Holly for our text trip"
—Kate Freebairn
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"Holly is professional, friendly and knowledgeable and I wouldn't hesitate recommending her to family and friends."
—Bec Morse
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"I will always use Holly for all things travel. She blew us away with what she came up with."
—Chelsea Pitman
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"Holly and her team were amazing with organising my tour of a lifetime."
—Belinda Noack
Solo, couple, or group travellers welcome
If you are travelling on your own, with a loved one, friends, or extended family, this tour is perfectly suited for everyone.
Yes — there are 22 meals included on this tour so you get to taste and experience food from Southern Italy that is fresh, packed with flavour, and handcrafted daily.
The itinerary for a 14-day tour to Calabria and Sicily
Bagnara is Angelo’s hometown, and has visited many times, spent many summers, and played with his cousins in the piazzas of their neighbourhood.
Together, we have taken our family there as well to explore the region. We created the itinerary of this tour to provide you with richer experiences so you can feel what it is like living like a local.
We have carefully curated the boutique accommodation with timing that helps you indulge and explore at your leisure.
Beautifully immersive
Suits seasoned travellers
Small intimate group size
Solo travellers welcome
All inclusive experiences
Authentic, hand crafted
Skip the typical tourist traps
Optional pre and post tours
All tipping included
Day 1
Tropea
Breakfast / Dinner
One group transfer is included from Lamezia Terme International Airport to your hotel in Tropea. Arrive in this clifftop paradise and enjoy your evening at leisure.
Day 2
Tropea
Breakfast
Tropea Sightseeing - This morning, proceed on a walking tour of Tropea with a local specialist. Enjoy the architecture, take in breathtaking sea views and discover historic monuments in the old town. You will then visit Santuario di Santa Maria dell'Isola. This humble sanctuary, dedicated to Santa Maria dell'Isola, sits on a sandstone rock facing the town of Tropea built on the rocky cliffs.
The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure—take time to explore the town at your own pace.
This evening, join your Hosts, Travel Director and fellow travellers for drinks and a warm and friendly welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3
Tropea
Breakfast / Dinner
Morning tour and onto Bagnara Calabra - This morning travel to Pizzo , a charming Calabrian cliffside town. Enjoy a walking orientation of Pizzo and some free time here followed by an aperitvo lunch and tartufo tasting.
Later drive to Bagnara Calabra, check into your hotel and spend time at leisure.
Day 4
Bagnara
Breakfast
Bagnara sightseeing and boat trip to the caves - This morning, depart from Bagnara on a scenic boat excursion to explore the coastline's remarkable caves. Take in the natural
beauty as you admire the sea's vibrant colours and distinctive character, visiting highlights such as Grotta del Monaco, Cala Janculla, Grotta delle Rondini, Cala Leone, and Chiesa del Monaco, with time for a refreshing swim.
Visit Scilla, a charming coastal village on Calabria's western shore. Enjoy a local lunch before some free time to wander around and explore this picturesque seaside town.
Return to Bagnara Calabra and spend the evening at leisure.
Day 5
Bagnara
Breakfast
Bagnara sightseeing - This morning visit the Ceramic factory in Bagnara. Torrone tasting & visit to the Velardo family church.
Spend the afternoon at leisure. This evening enjoy a special dinner at Angelo’s cousin’s restaurant organised by HollyDay Travel.
Day 6
Calabria
Breakfast
At leisure in Bagnara Calabra - The day is yours - spend time in the local markets or relaxing on the beautiful beaches.
Day 7
Reggio Calabria and onto Sicily
Breakfast / Dinner
Travel to Reggio Calabria and visit Bergamot museum and the National Archaeological museum to marvel at the Riace Bronzes.
Later this afternoon, board your ferry across the Straight of Messina to beautiful Sicily.
On arrival at Sicily, check into your hotel.
Day 8
Taormina
Breakfast / Lunch
Taormina sightseeing - This morning we visit the old town of Taormina. With your local expert, visit the Greek theatre set on a cliff and open to the sky. Stroll through the old town and admire Taormina's grandest building and along the elegant Corso Umberto.
Later, join a pizza and pasta making class followed by lunch.
Spend the evening at leisure.
Day 9
Savoca and Mt. Etna
Breakfast / lunch
This morning drive up to Mt. Etna, Europe's largest active volcano. Admire astonishing panoramic views over the eastern Sicilian coast and Ionian Sea whilst discovering the history of Sicily's most popular attraction and its eruptions.
Next discover rustic village life with your Local Specialist as we visit Savoca, the Sicilian setting
for 'The Godfather'. Enjoy the stunning views before a visit to Vitelli's bar, featured in the film and famous for 'granita di limone'. followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
Day 10
Agrigento
Breakfast / Dinner
Day 11
Agrigento
Breakfast
Local experiences at Agrigento - Marvel at Scala dei Turchi, a monumental natural staircase carved from radiant white limestone drops directly into a bright blue sea.
You will visit a local farm and enjoy a delicious farm-to-table lunch using family recipes.
Spend the evening at leisure.
Join your local expert to explore Syracuse's Paradise Quarry, home to the famous Ear of Dionysius, an ear-shaped grotto renowned for its remarkable acoustics.
You'll also visit the impressive Greek Theatre, carved into solid rock and one of the largest in the ancient world. Later, wander the charming Old City on the island of Ortigia, where narrow streets, elegant palaces and lively piazzas await. This is also where the great mathematician Archimedes is said to have run through the streets shouting "Eureka!"
Syracuse
Breakfast / Dinner
Day 12
Day 13
Noto
Breakfast / farewell dinner
Discover the beautiful baroque town of Noto with a Local Specialist on a guided walking tour. Enjoy free time to explore before returning to Syracuse. This evening, celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner alongside your fellow travellers and Travel Director.
Day 14
Sicily
Breakfast
Farewell Sicily. Today our journey draws to an end. One group transfer to Catania airport to board your onward flight.
As a full service travel agency in Adelaide we can help you plan pre or post tour activities such as;
Visit your family or relatives in any of the towns in Calabria
Visit Cefalu Club Med for an all inclusive relaxation post tour and before coming home
Try a Malta extension which is a quick flight from Catania (end point) to Valetta or ferry from Pozzallo to Valetta 1 hour 45 minutes hours (we have a few people already booked to do this)
Extend stay in Sicily in smaller towns like Pizzo, Diamante etc.
Getting to Lamezia airport (tour starting point) is easy by connecting via Rome or Milan (can also connect from other European citites)
The finishing point is Catania which is an international airport and Emirates flys direct from there to Dubai, otherwise you can fly via Rome or Milan to return to Australia or other destinations.
Before and after the tour
Ask us any questions you like
Frequently asked questions
Are flights included in the price of this tour?
Flights are not included in the price of this tour because people will be joining us from all parts of the world therefore it is impossible to budget for every type of airline, location or standard of flight ticket.
We are a full service travel agency so we can help you book flights from anywhere in the world as well as domestic transfers as required.
Can a stay be extended either before or after the tour?
Absolutely this tour can have additional days added before or after it. Our travel agency in Adelaide can help you plan the perfect itinerary to compliment our tour.
What’s the group’s typical age range and pace
Most people are from the age of 35 and older, typically couples and the day to day pace is relaxed and slow paced. It is a tour that suits people who have been to Italy before
What is unique or different about this tour to Calabria and Sicily?
The majority of tours in Italy will focus on the typical tourist attractions located around Rome, Tuscany, Milan or Venice. We have hand crafted this tour to take people to the home town of our family as well as visiting some of the less visited southern areas of Italy in Calabria and Sicily. It is a tour where you get to feel more like a family member experiencing the ‘real’ Italy
Is this a fast paced tour with lots of stops?
No, we have created the itinerary so that it has a slow pace with stops that are 2-3 nights in most locations so we can enjoy each location.
Are there cooking lessons or other immersive experiences?
Yes we will learn how to make arancino (Italian stuffed rice balls) and also experience dinner in one of Angelo’s cousin’s restaurants, where we will have seafood caught that morning, try traditional salamis and local delicacies.
Which airline is ideal to fly with?
Emirates or Qatar as they offer code share flight with ITA Airways to Lamezia Airport
Is this tour with Trafalgar coaches and does it have the same cancellation terms?
The tour is in luxury full-sized coaches that are not branded as Trafalgar, the same terms and conditions apply as all Trafalgar tours.
If having pre- and post-nights, will the transfers be included?
No these will need to be organised separately at an additional cost.
How can I visit local towns or villages pre or post tour?
HollyDay travel can help you organise and it will be dependent on where you would like to visit.
Will there be back up plans should it be raining or if we encounter rough seas regarding the boat excursions?
We will keep a close eye on weather conditions and our your director will make alternate plans if necessary
What bed configuration do single travellers get?
Double beds
What is the deposit for this tour and when is final payment required?
The deposit is $500 per person and final payment is due in late January
How many meals are included?
22 meals total: 13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners
What is the single supplement cost and single supplement bedding?
Double bed and $1,575
How physical is the tour?
This tour is a relaxed pace
How much free time is allocated?
Most days will allow you to have some free time(Angelo and I be there to assist you during your free time)
Are gratuities included?
Yes Gratuities to Travel Director, Coach Drivers and Local Specialists. Hotel tips, restaurant tips for included meals, and local taxes.
Are all experiences listed included or are there options expenses?
They are all included
What sort of food will we eat?
Mainly Italian food such as pizza, pasta, seafood, meat, rolls, rice balls and a mix of Mediterranean food.
Can dietary requirements be catered for?
Yes
What are the start and finish dates?
3 June - 16 June 2027 - 14 days, 13 nights total
What is the total cost?
The current published early bird rate ($8,499) is actually at $500 off and single supplement is $1,575
Are flights included?
No, but we are a full-service travel agency and we can arrange flights for clients too.
Are solo travellers welcome to join?
Yes. The current published early bird rate ($8,499) is actually at $500 off and single supplement is $1,575.
Is there an age limit?
Any adult or child over the age of 12 is welcome
I’m interested but not available on those dates, do you have other dates for this tour?
These are the only dates for our personally escorted group tour in Italy for now, but we can arrange personalised itineraries for you in Southern Italy or anywhere else in the world.