Sicily Escape — Self-Launched (Catania to Palermo)
8 days · Sicily
Contiki charges £1,310
No-markup version: ~£692 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched version of Contiki's "Sicily Escape (Classic)": the same east-to-west route — Catania, Taormina and Mt Etna, baroque Noto, Syracuse, the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, Cefalù and Palermo — but done independently using Sicily's excellent (and cheap) intercity buses and trains, hostel and budget guesthouse beds, and self-bookable food tours, cooking classes and volcano hikes. All costs are approximate per person in GBP and assume solo travel with shared dorm or budget private rooms in shoulder season.
Day-by-day
Arrive Catania — baroque core and street food
Catania
Fly into Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA). The Alibus shuttle runs to the city centre every 20 mins for about €4 (~£3.50) — far cheaper than a taxi. Check into a hostel near Piazza Stesicoro or Via Etnea. Spend the afternoon walking the UNESCO-listed historic core: Piazza del Duomo with its lava-black elephant obelisk, the fish market (La Pescheria, best before 13:00), Via dei Crociferi's baroque churches, and the Roman theatre tucked behind the shops. Dinner: arancini, a 'cipollina' pastry and a granita at a stand-up street-food counter, then a pasta alla Norma somewhere local.
🚌Alibus airport shuttle to Catania centre ~£3.50; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Catania, dorm or simple private (~£22–30)
- →Alibus airport transfer
- →Piazza del Duomo and the lava elephant fountain
- →La Pescheria fish market
- →Via dei Crociferi baroque walk
- →Street food dinner (arancini, cipollina, granita)
Catania to Taormina — hilltop town and cable car
Taormina
Take the regional train or Interbus from Catania to Taormina (about €5–6 / £4–5, 45–60 mins). From Taormina-Giardini station, the local bus or shuttle climbs up to the town (€1.50). Check into a guesthouse or hostel near Porta Messina. Afternoon: walk Corso Umberto, sit in Piazza IX Aprile with its famous view of Etna, and pop into Villa Comunale gardens. Ride the Funivia cable car down to Mazzarò/Isola Bella beach for a swim (return ~€6 / £5). Evening: join a small-group Sicilian cooking class (arancini and cannoli) — bookable via GetYourGuide or directly with a local cookery school from about £45–60.
🚌Train Catania–Taormina ~£4.50; local bus up to town ~£1.30; cable car return ~£5
🛏Hostel or small guesthouse in Taormina (~£25–35 dorm/budget double)
- →Corso Umberto walk
- →Piazza IX Aprile viewpoint over Etna
- →Cable car to Isola Bella beach
- →Sicilian cooking class (arancini and cannoli)
Mt Etna day trip or古希腊 theatre and beach
Taormina / Mt Etna
Pick your big day. Option A: self-book a Mt Etna excursion — the easiest independent route is a local bus/tour operator from Taormina or Catania that takes you to Rifugio Sapienza (~1,900 m) with the option of the cable car + 4x4 up to 2,900 m (cable car + jeep roughly €65–70 / £58–62, or hike the lower craters free). Option B: stay local — visit the Ancient Theatre of Taormina (€10 / £9), then spend the afternoon on the beach. Either way, keep the evening light: sunset from Castelmola or a simple dinner in town.
🚌Local bus/tour transfer to Etna Rifugio Sapienza ~£10–15 each way; or on foot in Taormina
🛏Hostel or small guesthouse in Taormina (~£25–35)
- →Mt Etna excursion to Rifugio Sapienza
- →Etna cable car and 4x4 to 2,900 m (optional)
- →Ancient Theatre of Taormina
- →Beach afternoon or Castelmola sunset
Taormina to Noto, then Syracuse
Noto & Syracuse
Take the train Taormina → Syracuse (change at Catania or Messina, about €10–13 / £9–11, 2.5–3 hrs) and drop bags at a hostel in Ortygia. Then catch the local AST bus or a train to Noto (€2–4, ~40 mins) to wander the honey-coloured baroque streets — Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the cathedral steps, Palazzo Nicolaci — then back to Syracuse for the evening. For the 'tastes of Sicily' element, book a small-group farm or market tasting (many local agriturismi and Syracuse food tours offer this via GetYourGuide, ~£30–45). Late evening: aperitivo on Piazza Duomo in Ortygia.
🚌Train Taormina–Syracuse ~£10; day return bus/train to Noto ~£4
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse on Ortygia, Syracuse (~£22–30)
- →Noto baroque walk (Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Palazzo Nicolaci)
- →Sicilian farm/market tasting experience
- →Evening in Ortygia
Syracuse sites, then the Valley of the Temples and on to Cefalù
Syracuse, Agrigento, Cefalù
Early start: explore Ortygia's Duomo, the Fountain of Arethusa and the Neapolis Archaeological Park (Greek theatre, Roman amphitheatre, Ear of Dionysius; ~€17 / £15). Then take a bus down the coast to Agrigento (SAIS/Flixbus-type services, 3–3.5 hrs, ~€12–16 / £10–14) — or pre-book a shared transfer — and visit the Valley of the Temples (€12 entry / £10) in the late afternoon light, when it's cooler and quieter. From Agrigento take an evening bus or train up to Cefalù (via Palermo, ~3–3.5 hrs, ~€15 / £13). It's a long day — alternatively split it by sleeping in Agrigento and taking the early bus to Cefalù on Day 6.
🚌Bus Syracuse–Agrigento ~£12; bus/train Agrigento–Cefalù ~£13
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Cefalù (~£25–32)
- →Ortygia and Neapolis Archaeological Park
- →Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
- →Coastal bus journey across southern Sicily
Cefalù — beach, cathedral and coastal cruise
Cefalù
A slower day. Morning: the Norman cathedral (UNESCO-listed, free), the Lavatoio medievale, and the climb up La Rocca for the best view on the north coast (€5). Afternoon: swim off Cefalù's long sandy beach, rent a kayak or paddleboard (~£12), or join a short boat trip along the coast to see the cliffs and grottoes (~£20–25, bookable at the harbour). Dinner of fresh sardines, pane cunzato and local white wine.
🚌On foot in town, optional local bus ~£2
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Cefalù (~£25–32)
- →Cefalù Cathedral and medieval washhouse
- →La Rocca climb
- →Beach and kayak/paddleboard hire
- →Coastal boat trip
Cefalù to Palermo — anti-Mafia walk and farewell dinner
Palermo
Regional train Cefalù → Palermo (about €6 / £5, 45–60 mins), arriving at Palermo Centrale. Check into a hostel near the Quattro Canti or Ballarò. Book a small-group anti-Mafia walking tour of the historic centre (GetYourGuide/Addiopizzo-style local operators, ~£20–30) covering the Falcone–Borsellino story and the city's anti-Mafia movement, plus the markets of Ballarò and Vucciria. For the farewell dinner, dine at a Palermo social-eatery — several restaurants employ people from disadvantaged backgrounds and are easily booked directly. Finish with a cassata or a cannolo.
🚌Train Cefalù–Palermo ~£5; walking + local bus in Palermo ~£2
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Palermo (~£25–35)
- →Anti-Mafia walking tour
- →Ballarò and Vucciria markets
- →Farewell dinner at a social-eatery
- →Quattro Canti and Cathedral
Palermo — markets, Monreale and departure
Palermo
Last morning: either the Palazzo dei Normanni and Cappella Palatina (€19 combined / £16) or the short bus ride up to Monreale's golden mosaics (bus ~€2, cathedral free). Grab a sfincione and a coffee at a market stall before heading to Palermo Falcone-Borsellino airport. The Prestia & Comandè bus runs from the city centre to the airport in ~50 mins for about €6.50 (~£5.50).
🚌City bus to Monreale ~£2; Prestia & Comandè airport bus ~£5.50
🛏None (departure day) — or one more night if your flight is late (~£25–35)
- →Cappella Palatina or Monreale mosaics
- →Market breakfast
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Contiki
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Contiki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£692 | £1,310 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £618 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Contiki-style trips? Check them out here.~£692
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Sicily Escape — Self-Launched (Catania to Palermo) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £692 per person for 8 days in Sicily. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Contiki?+
Yes — Contiki charges around £1,310 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £692 — a saving of roughly £618 (47%) per person.
How long is the Sicily trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Sicily.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, beaches trip through Sicily, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.