The Islands of Italy: Sardinia and Sicily
Sardinia, D.H. Lawrence's "savage, dark-brushed, sky-exposed land," inspires an enthusiastic, almost secretive word of mouth.
Our exploration is active (though comfy in the careful GeoEx style). We'll ramble about on foot and take a couple of kayaking jaunts (perfectly reasonable for beginners) along the spectacular Emerald Coast. We'll walk some of the Mediterranean's finest beaches, and tuck into a memorable farmhouse dinner. We'll wander through ruins that remind us, as Peter Nichols wrote, that "the Phoenicians were here and the Romans and the Byzantines, and the Genoese and the Spaniards and the Piedmontese and now the Italians." (And "they have all been rejected," he added, by the sturdy, independent Sardinians, as fascinating a folk as exists on earth.) We'll peer into the deep, mysterious gorges near Nuoro, and glory in the majestic highlands of the Gennargentu Range, walk the winsome Codula Illune trail, visit the gorgeous Grotta de Bue Marino, and, as a matter of course, look forward to another experience with Italo-Sardinian cuisine, just one of many of the island's booming, subtle, and almost secret charms.
Days 1 & 2: USA to Cagliari
Day 3: Cagliari and Roman ruins at Nora
Day 4: Su Nuraxi and Nuoro
Day 5: Golfo di Orosei, walk Codula Illune Trail, Grotta de Bue Marino
Day 6: Gennargentu and Tiscali
Day 7: La Gallura and Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) regions, afternoon
paddle in Golfo Arzachena
Day 8: kayak to Isola Caprera, hike on Monte Limbara
Day 9: kayak to Maddalena
Day 10: return to USA
Sicily:
Crescendoing, across the Tyrrhenian Sea to Sicily, "with every Italian
quality and defect magnified and brightly colored," Luigi Barzini wrote
in his great book The Italians. This trip showcases Sicily's
Italian
hospitality and rich history, its captivating scenery, and staggeringly
toothsome
cuisine (Plato, a great lover of the island, said that the Sicilians,
"built
as if they'd never die, and eat as if they had not an hour to live.")
We wander in Palermo, visit Erice and Segesta, and spend a day in the glorious ruins of Agrigento. Syracuse is a masterpiece of classical influence. Then, to the jewel of the isle, Taormina, to hike on Milton's "thundering Etna," where fire was conceived before returning, surely with some reluctance, home.
Crescendoing, across the Tyrrhenian Sea to Sicily, "with every Italian quality and defect magnified and brightly colored," Luigi Barzini wrote in his great book The Italians. This trip showcases Sicily's Italian hospitality and rich history, its captivating scenery, and staggeringly toothsome cuisine (Plato, a great lover of the island, said that the Sicilians, "built as if they'd never die, and eat as if they had not an hour to live.")
We wander in Palermo, visit Erice and Segesta, and spend a day in the glorious ruins of Agrigento. Syracuse is a masterpiece of classical influence. Then, to the jewel of the isle, Taormina, to hike on Milton's "thundering Etna," where fire was conceived before returning, surely with some reluctance, home.
Days 1 & 2: Sardinia to Palermo
Day 3: Palermo & Monreale
Day 4: Excursion to Erice, Marsala, and Segesta
Day 5: Drive to Agrigento via The Valley of the Temples
Day 6: Piazza Armerina en route to Syracuse
Day 7: Syracuse / Taormina
Day 8: Full day exploration Taormina
Day 9: Hike Mt. Etna / Taormina
Day 10: Depart Sicily for USA
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
ppdo = per person/double occupancy
Sardinia, Italy or Sicily, Italy
Sardinia $ 3,090/ppdo Sicily $3290/ppdo
Fall Departures
10 Days
Touring Grade II
Inns and Hotels
Land arrangements include:
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Accommodations as indicated.
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Meals as indicated, including bottled water and soft drinks
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Arrival and departure transfers
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Handling of 2 bags per person
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All gratuities, except to escort, driver-guide and camp staff
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Medical Evacuation Service.
All inclusive with the exception of any meals in enroute.
This program is sponsored by Geographic Expeditions
Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, the day-by-day activities on this itinerary are subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including group acclimatization and pace, weather, road, river, and trail conditions or train and plane schedules. Hiking distances and travel times are approximate and times indicated do not include lunch breaks, rest stops, time to explore the area, etc. This program is suitable for physically fit participants accustomed to outdoor activities, minimum fifteen years old.
Personal expenses such as travellers' insurance; laundry (except in private camps); beverages; communication charges; excess baggage fees; cost of passport or visa; international airport departure taxes and airfares; meals or sightseeing other than those noted in the itinerary; optional activities.
Walking, Kayaking, Hiking
Upon receipt of your deposit, you will be sent an acknowledgement letter, receipt and an application for optional Traveler's insurance. You will also receive a pre-departure packet including detailed packing list, medical and personal information forms, suggested reading, background material, a manual covering subjects such as travel documents, health matters and inoculations, money exchange, security, training tips, weather considerations, cross-cultural advice, and more! Participants are invited to call us anytime prior to their departure for personal advice and assistance.
Valid Passport required. Insurance recommended. You will receive Final Trip Documents 1-2 weeks before departure and typically includes: group roster, itinerary/vouchers, emergency contact numbers, hotel addresses and telephone numbers, airline tickets if issued through the trip operator via Fed Ex (or similar).
We will gladly arrange extra hotel accommodations, add-on
tours or other servvices. Please submit your request via email to
reservations@outahere.com
and you will be invoiced accordingly. If you must cancel any part
or all of your extra services or trip extension once it has been
reserved, cancellation fees will be assessed according to our Cancellation Policies.
