10 days · Italy
Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily
From AED 7,107per person, twin share
Discover the wonders of sun-soaked southern Italy on this 10-day tour. Explore Rome the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Alberobello, and Sicily.
- Duration
- 10 Days / 9 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Rome
- Country
- Italy
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A new place most nights across 10 days, with a long coach day either side of the Sicily ferry crossing and guided walking tours
- Accommodation
- 3- and 4-star hotels for 8 nights, plus a night in a twin cabin on the overnight ferry to Naples
- Meals
- 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 51
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus local guides in several cities
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach & ferry
- Best time to go
- Runs March to October, skipping August: mild spring, warm summer and a pleasant early autumn, with the most heat in Sicily
Tour overview
This Southern Italy tour has it all! Discover ancient Rome’s wonders and explore the ruins of Pompeii. Enjoy free days to explore the Amalfi Coast, Taormina and Palermo. See the Trulli houses of Alberobello and the ancient cave city of Matera. Discover Southern Italy & Sicily, and return home forever changed!
Highlights
- Embark on an orientation tour of Rome
- Enjoy a welcome dinner in Rome
- See Mount Vesuvius; an active volcano
- Explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii
- Visit Matera; an ancient cave city
- Explore Alberobello; famous for its conical houses
- Catch a ferry from mainland Italy to Sicily
- Discover Taormina; a hilltop town in Sicily
Show all 13 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- Enjoy dinner in Taormina
- Visit Syracuse; a historic Sicilian city
- Explore the Valley of the Temples
- Visit Cefalù; home to Italy’s finest beaches
- Enjoy a walking tour of Palermo
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Rome
1 night · Day 1
BV Oly Hotel
Pompeii
Day 2 · on the way
Amalfi Coast
Day 2 · on the way
Salerno
2 nights · Days 2–3
Grand Hotel Salerno
Amalfi Coast
Day 4 · on the way
Matera
Day 4 · on the way
Alberobello
1 night · Day 4
Hotel Ara Solis
Taormina
2 nights · Days 5–6
Hotel Kennedy
Show all 14 stopsShow fewer stops
Syracuse
Day 7 · on the way
Agrigento
1 night · Day 7
Hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace
Cefalù
Day 8 · on the way
Palermo
1 night · Day 8
Hotel Villa D'Amato en Palermo
Overnight ferry, Palermo to Naples
1 night · Day 9
Grandi Navi Veloci S.p.A
Rome
Day 10 · end
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Rome
Meals included: Dinner
In Rome, you meet your fellow travellers while your tour leader runs through the itinerary ahead. An orientation tour of the city follows, with some free time afterwards. Alternatively, the optional excursion is the Vatican Museums Guided Tour, which lets you see the masterpieces held in the Vatican. In the evening, the whole group meets for a welcome dinner together at a local restaurant.
Included
- Orientation tour of Rome: the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Spanish Steps.
- Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Optional extras
- Vatican Museums Guided Tour · AED 365 per person
- Overnight
- Rome
- Hotel
- BV Oly Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Rome – Pompeii – Amalfi Coast
Meals included: BreakfastLunch
On the way to the Amalfi Coast, you stop at Pompeii, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, for a guided tour of this UNESCO-listed archaeological site, followed by an included lunch. The coach then continues to tonight’s hotel in Salerno, where you can join the optional excursion to the Salerno Cathedral and the Old Town before an authentic Italian dinner.
Included
- Guided tour of the ruins of Pompeii in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.
- Lunch included en route.
Optional extras
- An Evening in Salerno · AED 255 per person
- Travel
- Rome → Salerno by coach, stopping at Pompeii.
- Overnight
- Salerno
- Hotel
- Grand Hotel Salerno
- Meals
- Breakfast and lunch
Day 3
Amalfi Coast: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastSalerno is a good base for the Amalfi Coast and its coastal scenery. The optional excursion visits the towns of Positano and Amalfi, where you can take in the views, walk along their lively streets, sit down for lunch, before visiting a limoncello factory and a paper museum.
Included
- Free day to explore the Amalfi Coast at your own pace.
Optional extras
- Highlights of the Amalfi Coast · AED 470 per person
- Overnight
- Salerno
- Hotel
- Grand Hotel Salerno
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 4
Amalfi Coast – Matera – Alberobello
Meals included: BreakfastThe tour explores Apulia, the southern Italian region, stopping first in Matera, an ancient cave city known as la Città Sotterranea, the Subterranean City. Matera is known for its cave neighbourhoods, the Sassi. From there, the coach continues to Alberobello to see its trulli houses. There is time to find somewhere for dinner this evening, then it is back to the hotel.
Included
- Visit Matera, the cave-dwelling city known as the Sassi.
- See Alberobello’s whitewashed trulli houses.
- Travel
- Salerno → Alberobello by coach, stopping in Matera.
- Overnight
- Alberobello
- Hotel
- Hotel Ara Solis
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 5
Alberobello – Taormina
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The coach follows the coast along the Ionian Sea this morning, then takes a ferry across to Sicily, home to Mount Etna. From the port, it continues towards Taormina, where there is free time in this hilltop town. In the evening, an included dinner in Taormina completes the Sicilian leg of the tour.
Included
- Ferry crossing from the mainland to Sicily.
- Dinner in Taormina.
- Travel
- Alberobello → Taormina by coach and ferry, crossing to Sicily.
- Overnight
- Taormina
- Hotel
- Hotel Kennedy
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 6
Taormina: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastYou have a free day in Taormina, with the optional day trip to Mount Etna among the choices. You can walk on the volcanic ash and learn about the volcano from local guides, then have a meal of local produce at a wine bar. Alternatively, you might spend the day on the beach, swimming in Taormina’s clear waters.
Included
- Free day in Taormina.
Optional extras
- Mount Etna Day Trip · AED 595 per person
- Overnight
- Taormina
- Hotel
- Hotel Kennedy
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 7
Taormina – Syracuse – Agrigento
Meals included: Breakfast
The coach crosses Sicily today and stops in Syracuse, an ancient Greek town with a good food market, making it a fitting spot for lunch. Later, it continues to Agrigento, known for the Valle dei Templi, the Valley of the Temples, where Magna Grecia’s art and architecture can be seen on a sunset tour led by an expert local guide.
Included
- Visit Syracuse: Greek remains, cobbled lanes and a lively food market.
- Guided tour of the Valley of the Temples at sunset.
- Travel
- Taormina → Agrigento by coach, stopping in Syracuse.
- Overnight
- Agrigento
- Hotel
- Hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 8
Agrigento – Cefalù – Palermo
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
This morning, the coach drives to Cefalù, a historic town with some of Italy’s best beaches, where you have free time, or you can join an optional tour with a local guide that comes with lunch at a local restaurant. Next stop is Palermo, where a walking tour takes in highlights such as the Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Nuova and the Cathedral of Palermo. Dinner is included this evening.
Included
- Free time in Cefalù, known for its beaches.
- Guided walking tour of Palermo: the Cathedral and Piazza Indipendenza.
- Dinner in Palermo.
Optional extras
- Scenic Cefalù: Guided tour & lunch · AED 255 per person
- Travel
- Agrigento → Palermo by coach, stopping in Cefalù.
- Overnight
- Palermo
- Hotel
- Hotel Villa D'Amato en Palermo
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 9
Palermo: Free Day
Meals included: Breakfast
Sicily’s capital is yours to explore on this free day. To discover the city’s many hidden sides, join the Hidden Palermo optional excursion, taking in its churches, varied architecture and art. Palermo is known for its cuisine and sweet treats, worth trying during your free day. In the evening, you board an overnight ferry heading back to the Italian mainland.
Included
- Free time in Palermo before the evening ferry to Naples.
Optional extras
- Hidden Palermo · AED 170 per person
- Travel
- Palermo → Naples by overnight ferry.
- Overnight
- Palermo-Naples Ferry
- Hotel
- Grandi Navi Veloci S.p.A
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 10
End of tour in Rome
Meals included: BreakfastYou arrive in Naples this morning, then continue on the coach back to Rome, where the tour comes to an end. Note that ferry times can differ through the year, so take this into account when you book your outbound flight. You might instead stay an extra night in Rome before heading home from Italy.
- Travel
- Naples → Rome by coach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
14 dates
FromSat 10 Oct 2026ToMon 19 Oct 2026
Sold out
AED 7,621
Single room supplement +AED 3,544 single
Full
FromSat 17 Oct 2026ToMon 26 Oct 2026
Sold out
AED 7,621
Single room supplement +AED 3,544 single
Full
FromSat 13 Mar 2027ToMon 22 Mar 2027
AvailableBest price
AED 7,107
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 10 Apr 2027ToMon 19 Apr 2027
Available
AED 7,694
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 8 May 2027ToMon 17 May 2027
Available
AED 8,025
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 22 May 2027ToMon 31 May 2027
Available
AED 8,025
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 5 Jun 2027ToMon 14 Jun 2027
Available
AED 8,025
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 19 Jun 2027ToMon 28 Jun 2027
Available
AED 7,107
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 3 Jul 2027ToMon 12 Jul 2027
Available
AED 7,107
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 17 Jul 2027ToMon 26 Jul 2027
Available
AED 7,107
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
Show all 14 datesShow fewer dates
FromSat 31 Jul 2027ToMon 9 Aug 2027
Sold out
AED 6,519
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
Full
FromSat 4 Sept 2027ToMon 13 Sept 2027
Available
AED 7,878
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 18 Sept 2027ToMon 27 Sept 2027
Available
AED 7,878
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
FromSat 2 Oct 2027ToMon 11 Oct 2027
Available
AED 7,694
Single room supplement +AED 5,050 single
What’s included
Included
- 8 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
- 1 night's accommodation in twin share ferry cabin with private bathrooms
- 9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners *Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
- Overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples
- Any public transport used as part of the tour days (excludes free days)
- Fully-guided tour
Not included
- Flights: Arrange your own flights for the start and end of the tour
- Travel insurance: Purchase a suitable policy that meets your needs
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Vatican Museums Guided Tour
A guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, with skip-the-line entry and a local guide. Book at least 35 days before the tour starts: tickets are in high demand and this booking cannot be refunded. The Catholic Jubilee may affect opening hours. €85. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 365 per person
An Evening in Salerno
A visit to Salerno Cathedral, dedicated to the city’s patron saint San Matteo, followed by a walk through the historic centre, including the Fontana dei Pesci in Piazza Sedile del Campo. The evening ends with dinner along the waterfront, looking out over the Amalfi Coast at sunset. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 255 per person
Highlights of the Amalfi Coast
A ferry trip from Salerno to Positano, with a guided walk through its narrow streets and free time to look around, then on to Amalfi for lunch at a local restaurant, a walk through the town and a limoncello tasting. €110, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 470 per person
Mount Etna Day Trip
A day trip to Mount Etna, an active volcano and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travel by funicular and then 4x4 to the upper slopes with local guides, who cover the volcano’s geology and history, before an included Sicilian lunch with wine and olive oil tasting. €140, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 595 per person
Scenic Cefalù: Guided tour & lunch
A guided walking tour of Cefalù starting at the Capo Cefalù Lighthouse, taking in the Cathedral of Cefalù and its Byzantine mosaics, followed by a three-course Sicilian lunch. Vegetarian options are available. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 255 per person
Hidden Palermo
A walk through some of Palermo’s lesser-known sights, including the Steri Palace in Piazza Marina, the Oratory of San Lorenzo, the Church of San Francesco and the Martorana Church, ending with a tasting of traditional Sicilian sweets. €40, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 170 per person
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Italy is in the Schengen area, so one Schengen visa covers the whole tour. If you join the optional Vatican Museums tour on day 1, no extra visa is needed either: Vatican City has open borders with Schengen.
UAE passport holders don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but will need the EU’s new ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa. You can apply up to six months before you travel, and appointments in Dubai fill up quickly before the summer, so start early.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area, and have been issued within the last ten years. Our visa team handles Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from Rome aren’t included. Check-in at the tour hotel is from 10am on day 1.
A domestic overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples is included near the end of the tour, and the coach then returns to Rome on day 10. Ferry times vary by season, so check with us before you book your flight home.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners are included, mostly on travel days. Free time on the other days is yours to choose your own restaurant.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
Italy uses the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and cafes, so a card without foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to pay. Keep a little cash for markets and tips.
Optional experiences booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This tour runs March to October, skipping the peak heat of August: mild Mediterranean spring, warm summer and a pleasant early autumn, with the most heat and humidity in Sicily. Pack light clothing, sun protection, comfortable shoes for cobbled streets and hill towns, and something to cover your shoulders and knees for churches.
The overnight ferry to Naples
On day 9, the tour boards an overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples. Your cabin is a twin room with a private bathroom, included in the price.
Keep a change of clothes and anything you need for the evening in a small bag, since the coach continues straight on to Rome the next morning.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Rome and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book online in a few minutes. Your seats are held as soon as you book, and you pay once we have confirmed them.
- Choose your date, travellers and roomsPrices are per person, and the total updates as you choose.
- Name each traveller as in their passportYour seats are held and your booking reference is emailed straight away.
- Pay by secure link once confirmedOur Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails your payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 58 582 4488.
Questions about this tour
What will my days actually look like?
Full days, zero filler. Most mornings start with breakfast before heading out to the main sights with your Tour Leader or a local guide. Afternoons often include free time to wander, find a coffee or join an Optional Experience. Expect a good amount of walking too. On some days, you could spend two to three hours on your feet. Comfortable shoes are your best friend.
Who will I be travelling with?
People from all over the world. Different ages, different backgrounds, same instinct to see more. Groups have on average between 35-45 travellers. By day three, you’ll already know everyone's name.
What are the hotels like?
Clean, comfortable and well located. Mostly 3 to 4 star, with private en-suite bathrooms. They're chosen so you can sleep well and feel ready for the next day. They're not the centrepiece. The destinations are. But they're never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
All travellers carry their own bags, including up hotel stairs where needed. Walking tours can last up to three hours, and some sites involve a fair number of steps. Read through the itinerary to decide if the pace is right for you.
How do Optional Experiences work?
Optional Experiences happen during your tour's free-time slots, and your Tour Leader will tell you about what's on offer during the tour. Most can be booked on the day, but some are pre-sold and must be purchased before your tour begins, so it's worth checking the tour page beforehand to see what's available and get in touch with our team to book anything in advance.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. Free time is built into the itinerary, giving you space to wander and explore at your own pace. Your Tour Leader can point you towards the places worth your time, so you're never left completely to figure it out yourself.
What support do I have while I'm on tour?
Your Tour Leader is there to look after you during your tour. They know the places most people walk straight past, they'll have a restaurant recommendation ready before you've asked, and they'll sort anything that comes up along the way. All transport and accommodation are arranged for you.
You'll also have a 24-hour emergency contact number and the Holidayys team in Dubai.
How do I book Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily?
Press Book now, choose a date and your rooms, and enter each traveller as their passport shows. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Pay over time, at 0% interest
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Pay later with a credit card instalment plan or a buy-now-pay-later account; some banks charge a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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