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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily

Escorted 12-day journey through southern Italy and Sicily by rail and coach

Illustration of Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily

Vacations By Rail operates this 12-day escorted tour through southern Italy and Sicily, beginning in Sorrento and concluding at the Valley of the Temples. The journey combines rail, coach, and boat travel to connect eight UNESCO World Heritage sites and distinctive towns across the region. A professional Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, guiding visits to Pompeii's Roman ruins, the Amalfi Coast, the cave dwellings of Matera, the trulli houses of Alberobello, and Sicily's Greek temples and medieval churches. Days mix guided tours with free time for independent exploration. The itinerary includes stays in four four-star hotels, daily breakfasts, three lunches, and five dinners featuring regional cuisine and a winery tasting. The tour suits history enthusiasts, food-and-wine travelers, and those seeking the comfort of an escorted group with rail-based movement between destinations. This is a paced itinerary; Vacations By Rail rates it as Mobility Rating 3, with walking tours through hilly terrain and ancient sites.

What to know before you look closer

  • Vacations By Rail classifies this tour as Mobility Rating 3; the itinerary involves guided walking tours and some climbing, particularly at Pompeii and in Taormina, plus an optional ascent to the Silvestri Craters.
  • The from-price of USD 4,899 does not include flights to Naples or travel insurance.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Sorrento

    Welcome to Sorrento

    A private transfer from Naples airport to Sorrento, perched above the Bay of Naples. Settle in at the centrally located hotel before meeting the Tour Manager and fellow travelers for dinner.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Sorrento

    A trip back in time to Roman Pompeii

    A short train journey to Pompeii for a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site, passing villas, temples, bathhouses, markets and the amphitheater. Free time in Sorrento in the afternoon and evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Sorrento

    Full-day cruise along the Amalfi Coast

    A short coach transfer to Sorrento harbor, then a boat cruise to Amalfi with free time to explore the Duomo di Sant'Andrea and piazza, continuing to Positano to explore its cascading pastel houses and lanes.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Matera

    To Matera, the 'jewel of Basilicata'

    Train from Salerno station to Matera, then transfer to the hotel. Explore the historic center and its famous Sassi cave dwellings by coach, followed by dinner at a traditional local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Matera

    Discovering charming Alberobello

    Coach to Alberobello for lunch at a local restaurant, then a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed trulli houses. Free time to wander before returning to Matera for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Giardini Naxos

    Southern Italian landscapes to Sicily

    Coach to Paola on the Calabrian coast, then train to Taormina-Giardini station on Sicily. Arrive at Giardini Naxos, a resort town with ancient Greek heritage, and check in to the hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Giardini Naxos

    A day at leisure in Giardini Naxos

    Free day to relax at the hotel, take an optional boat trip to Isola Bella marine park, or visit the archaeological park of ancient Naxos.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8railovernight: Giardini Naxos

    Mount Etna and the Circumetnea Railway

    Coach to Rifugio di Sapienza with the option to walk to the Silvestri Craters, then on to Adrano to board the Circumetnea Railway along the base of Mount Etna toward Randazzo. Visit the Gambino winery for a tasting and two-course lunch.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  9. Day 9overnight: Palermo

    Sicilian charm in Taormina and Palermo

    Guided tour of Taormina including the Greek theatre and a café stop for cannolo, then free time before traveling by coach to Palermo.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10overnight: Palermo

    The sights and flavors of Palermo and Monreale

    Guided tour of the Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace and Palermo's Cap Market for a street-food tasting, then an afternoon visit to Monreale's 11th-century UNESCO-listed cathedral.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11overnight: Palermo

    Into the Valley of the Temples

    Full-day excursion to the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site with eight preserved Greek temples, followed by a farm-to-table lunch at a nearby agriturismo. Farewell dinner in Palermo this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  12. Day 12

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast at the hotel, the tour comes to an end and travelers are free to start their journey home.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A short train journey from Sorrento to Pompeii for a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site, passing villas, temples, bathhouses, and the amphitheater.
  • Day 3A full-day boat cruise along the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento harbor to Amalfi and Positano, with free time to explore the Duomo di Sant'Andrea and cascading pastel houses.
  • Day 8Day at Mount Etna includes a coach visit to Rifugio di Sapienza with an optional walk to the Silvestri Craters, followed by the Circumetnea Railway from Adrano to Randazzo and a winery tasting with lunch.
  • Day 10A guided tour of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo's Norman Palace and a street-food tasting at Cap Market, followed by a visit to Monreale's 11th-century UNESCO-listed cathedral.
  • Day 11A full-day excursion to the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site with eight preserved Greek temples, culminating in a farm-to-table lunch at a nearby agriturismo.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 11 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 3 lunches, 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Standard-class rail travel is included. The itinerary includes a short train journey to Pompeii from Sorrento, a train from Salerno to Matera, a train to Taormina-Giardini in Sicily, and the Circumetnea Railway around Mount Etna. Coach transfers are also included throughout.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A professional Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish and leads all guided tours and excursions.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day. The package also includes 3 lunches and 5 dinners at local restaurants and at an agriturismo. Other meals are at your own cost.
Which hotels will I stay in?
The itinerary uses four four-star hotels: Hilton Sorrento Palace in Sorrento (3 nights), UNA Hotel MH Matera in Matera (2 nights), Hellenia Yachting Hotel in Giardini Naxos (3 nights), and Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa in Palermo (3 nights). Group luggage transfers between hotels are included.
What is the activity level?
Vacations By Rail rates this tour as Mobility Rating 3. The itinerary includes guided walking tours through ancient sites, climbs through hilly terrain in towns like Taormina and Positano, and an optional walk to the Silvestri Craters at Mount Etna.
What is not included?
Flights to and from Naples, travel insurance, meals other than those listed, and optional activities such as the boat trip to Isola Bella marine park.

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