We came together, all females from Canada and America except for one lucky male person (me) from Australia. Michela had provided beforehand, full information on what to expect on the trip. Then on the weeks leading up to the trip a few tour blogs. So, by the time we were sitting down for our first “get to know each other” dinner, we were well on the way for making new friendships.  Michela had also provided last-minute tips, for example, an overview of Catania, recommended hotels to stay at and the best way into town from the airport. If possible, do a small tour group like the Rocky Travel Tours of Sicily. That way, you have better customer service, and the little bus provides greater mobility, while the unavoidable toilet stops are not as long. 

The Rocky Travel Tour of Sicily touts for the active and adventurous type which suited me and most of the others on tour, so I was with like-minded people! The Best of Sicily Tour had a right balance of organised activities and free time. In Palermo there were too many activities for one day, so, a bit rushed.  I also found the location and standard of the hotels on tour excellent.

The Rocky Travel Best of Sicily Tour, this spring, more than lived up to the promise of its name. Our small group visited major cities and towns such as Palermo, Syracusa, and Taormina. Unusual and beautiful places in nature were important destinations as well, including treks on Sicily’s iconic Mt Etna and through other dramatic landscapes. World-famous and less well-known, but fascinating, archaeological ruins and other sites also were part of our wonderful trip, including the Greek temples in Agrigento and the fascinating Ispica Cave with its ancient necropolis and dwellings carved into the hillside.  And, one thing I liked was that Rocky Travel made sure we had authentic experiences. Two that stand out are the Palermo “street food” tour, led by a local guide, Raffaella. We tasted delicious and authentic Sicilian tidbits, got to relax around a special set-up table, and we even met the gracious cooks who made those treats.  The second was the lunch prepared by a family in a lovely, very un-touristy hilltop village, Sant’Angelo Muxaro. Among my most favourite memories are those from the beautifully situated seaside city of Syracusa, with its rich Greek and Roman history, culture and archaeological sites and its numerous medieval and baroque architectural treasures.  Amazingly, you can see all these different cultures on one place: the baroque Cathedral in Syracusa’s historic center, which incorporates Doric columns from a 5thc BC Greek temple. The Cathedral and the other stunning architecture in the surrounding square are especially magical when lit up at night. I’ll always remember this scene and many more from the tour.
I’d recommend Rocky Travel to anyone who likes active travel with small groups and who is interested in really getting to know Sicily and all its cultural, historic and natural aspects. Michela, our organizer, Alessandro, our Sicily expert guide and our wonderful driver, Sergio were incredibly helpful and informative throughout the trip planning and during the journey.