How much does it cost?

From £1,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,890 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is rail travel included?

Yes. Standard-class rail travel is included in the package price. On Day 4, you ride the Circumetnea Railway, a scenic narrow-gauge train, around the base of Mount Etna past lava fields to Randazzo.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London Gatwick throughout the eight days.

What is the hotel, and where is it?

The UNAhotel Naxos Beach is a four-star resort in Giardini Naxos on Sicily's east coast. It sits on the seafront with large grounds, a private beach, outdoor pools, tennis courts, and four restaurants.

What meals are included?

Breakfast and dinner are included each day, for a total of 14 meals over the eight days.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. The cable car to the summit of Mount Etna is optional.

Are there any free days?

Yes. Days 5 and 7 are full free days at the hotel and in Giardini Naxos. Day 2 and Day 3 include free afternoons after guided tours.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Explore Sicily

Eight-day escorted tour of eastern Sicily, Mount Etna, and the Aeolian Islands

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted tour of Sicily based in the coastal town of Giardini Naxos. You will spend seven nights at the four-star beachfront UNAhotel Naxos Beach, with guided excursions to nearby historic sites and natural attractions, two full free days to relax or explore independently, and several free afternoons. On Day 2, a guided tour takes you to Taormina to see the Greek theatre overlooking the Ionian Sea and taste a traditional cannolo. Day 3 is devoted to ancient Ortigia island in Syracuse, where you will walk past the Baroque cathedral built on the Temple of Athena site and view the Arethusa Spring. On Day 4, you travel by coach up Mount Etna to view the Silvestri craters and volcanic landscape, then ride the Circumetnea Railway, a narrow-gauge train, around the base of the volcano past lava fields. Day 6 includes a boat cruise across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the volcanic Aeolian Islands, with stops at Lipari and Vulcano. The tour suits travellers seeking guided comfort, history enthusiasts, and couples wanting a blend of cultural exploration and beach relaxation.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £1,399 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

All seven nights are at a single hotel in Giardini Naxos; the tour does not move between different accommodations
Standard-class rail travel only; the Circumetnea Railway segment is brief (one afternoon) on a tour otherwise based on coach and ferry travel
Maximum group size is 40 people

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Giardini Naxos
Flying into Sicily and on to Giardini Naxos
Meet the Tour Manager at London Gatwick and fly to Catania, then transfer by coach to the four-star resort hotel in Giardini Naxos. Dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2overnight: Giardini Naxos
A trip to Taormina and the Greek theatre
Guided tour of Taormina, including the 3rd-century BC Greek theatre, followed by a cannolo tasting at a local pasticceria. Free afternoon to explore independently; dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Giardini Naxos
Uncovering ancient myths in Syracuse and Ortigia
Coach to Syracuse to explore Ortigia, including the Baroque cathedral built on the site of the Temple of Athena, Piazza Duomo, and the Arethusa Spring. Free afternoon; return to the hotel for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Giardini Naxos
Exploring Mount Etna: Europe's most active volcano
Coach to Rifugio di Sapienza to view the Silvestri craters, with an optional cable car to the summit crater. Afternoon ride on the Circumetnea Railway around the base of the volcano to Randazzo, viewing the lava fields. Note: on the 14th May departure, Days 4 & 7 are swapped.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Giardini Naxos
Free day in Giardini Naxos
Full day at leisure, relax at the hotel's private beach and pools, or visit the archaeological park of ancient Naxos. Note: on the 14th May departure, Days 5 & 6 are swapped.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Giardini Naxos
Cruising to the volcanic Aeolian Islands
Coach to Milazzo for a boat cruise to the Aeolian Islands, with a local guide. Mooring at Lipari with free time, then on to Vulcano to see its hot springs and volcanic peak. Return by coach to the hotel for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7railovernight: Giardini Naxos
Time at leisure in Giardini Naxos
Free day, relax on the hotel's private beach, take a boat tour to Isola Bella, or catch the train to Catania to visit Castello Ursino, the Greco-Roman amphitheatre, and Catania Cathedral. Final dinner together at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8
Homeward bound
Coach transfer to Catania airport for the flight back to London Gatwick.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of the Greek theatre in Taormina, built in the 3rd century BC and overlooking the Ionian Sea, followed by a taste of cannolo in a local pasticceria
Day 3Walking tour of Ortigia island in Syracuse, viewing the Baroque cathedral built on the site of the Temple of Athena and the Arethusa Spring
Day 4Coach ascent to Rifugio di Sapienza on Mount Etna to view the Silvestri craters, then afternoon ride on the narrow-gauge Circumetnea Railway past lava fields to Randazzo
Day 6Boat cruise across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Aeolian Islands, stopping at Lipari and Vulcano, known for hot springs and black beaches

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
7 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class rail travel
All rail, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
Return flights from London Gatwick to Catania
Breakfast and dinner each day
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,890 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is rail travel included?: Yes. Standard-class rail travel is included in the package price. On Day 4, you ride the Circumetnea Railway, a scenic narrow-gauge train, around the base of Mount Etna past lava fields to Randazzo.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London Gatwick throughout the eight days.
What is the hotel, and where is it?: The UNAhotel Naxos Beach is a four-star resort in Giardini Naxos on Sicily's east coast. It sits on the seafront with large grounds, a private beach, outdoor pools, tennis courts, and four restaurants.
What meals are included?: Breakfast and dinner are included each day, for a total of 14 meals over the eight days.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. The cable car to the summit of Mount Etna is optional.
Are there any free days?: Yes. Days 5 and 7 are full free days at the hotel and in Giardini Naxos. Day 2 and Day 3 include free afternoons after guided tours.