GuardTrailsItaly · May
The classic
The Classic Highlights of Sicily
The stops adventure tour operators put in their flagship trips here — even if it strays a little from your request.
A journey connecting the most iconic natural wonders and historical treasures of Sicily, from the wild cliffs of Zingaro to the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna.
- days10
- bases7
- stages7
- nights9
- transfer days5
- stage to stage828 km
- at the wheel, day by day11 h 25
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in May, getting around by car, sleeping in hotels, a museum or cultural visit, a village stroll, days of walking, kayak or canoe, a town walk (2 h), easy cycling, via ferrata, wildlife watching and a park or garden.
The area
The classic highlights of Western and Eastern Sicily from Zingaro to Etna.
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Palermo | ArrivalPalermo, arrival | Road 49 min | |
| Day2 | Evening base : Castellammare del Golfo | TransferZingaro Reserve & Castellammare Coast | Road 1 h 15 | |
| Day3 | Evening base : Castellammare del Golfo | Day on siteZingaro Reserve & Castellammare Coast | — | |
| Day4 | Evening base : Agrigento | TransferValley of the Temples & Agrigento | Road 2 h 52 | |
| Day5 | Evening base : Ragusa | TransferBaroque Heritage of Ragusa Ibla | Road 2 h 31 | |
| Day6 | Evening base : Ragusa | Day on siteBaroque Heritage of Ragusa Ibla | — | |
| Day7 | Evening base : Avola | TransferCavagrande Canyon & Avola | Road 1 h 10 | |
| Day8 | Evening base : Nicolosi | TransferMount Etna South Slopes | Road 1 h 45 | |
| Day9 | Evening base : Catania | TransferCatania, departure | Road 51 min | |
| Day10 | — | DepartureCatania, departure | Road 12 min |
- programme
- road
- free time
12.0 h usable every day
Good to know
What it leaves aside
This route focuses on world-famous sites, which means higher tourist crowds at major attractions like the Valley of the Temples.
Places it did not keep
Aeolian Islands · Madonie Mountains
Getting there
Fly to Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO), 49 min by road from the start.
Fly home from Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), 12 min by road from the end.
Train home from Catania Centrale, 3 min by road from the end.
The rental car is returned at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, not where you pick it up: allow for a one-way drop-off fee.
Where you sleep
You can find a variety of accommodations ranging from boutique hotels and guesthouses in the city to rural farm stays and mountain huts in the surrounding areas, though booking well in advance is essential during the peak summer season.
Safety
Italy: no warning from the UK authorities (FCDO). Advice of 2026-11-03 · Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
10 days: what you ask for, the minimum the area needs and the length kept all coincide.
Travelling in May.
The climate — May
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 24 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 25 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 11%
- Windy day
- 4%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 55 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 12 h of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
7 stages over 10 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
Every day of this trip has 12 h of usable time. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1ARRIVALPalermo, arrival · night in Palermo2 h 30 planned · 49 min on the roadSee the day →
Stage 2 · Castellammare del Golfo
Zingaro Reserve & Castellammare Coast
We sleep at Villa delle Anfore, 3.1 km away
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 2Zingaro Reserve & Castellammare Coast · night in Castellammare del Golfo6 h planned · 1 h 15 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 3AT BASEZingaro Reserve & Castellammare Coast · night in Castellammare del Golfo6 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 3 · Agrigento
Valley of the Temples & Agrigento
We sleep at Villa Athena, 200 m away
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 4TRANSFERValley of the Temples & Agrigento · night in Agrigento4 h 30 planned · 2 h 52 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 5TRANSFERBaroque Heritage of Ragusa Ibla · night in Ragusa4 h 30 planned · 2 h 31 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 6AT BASEBaroque Heritage of Ragusa Ibla · night in Ragusa4 h 30 plannedSee the day →
Stage 5 · Avola
Cavagrande Canyon & Avola
We sleep in Avola, 6.3 km from the place visited
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 7Cavagrande Canyon & Avola · night in Avola7 h planned · 1 h 10 on the roadSee the day →
Stage 6 · Nicolosi
Mount Etna South Slopes
We sleep at Rifugio Giovannino Sapienza, 5.6 km away
1 night · climate cold
- Day 8Mount Etna South Slopes · night in Nicolosi6 h 30 planned · 1 h 45 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 9TRANSFERCatania, departure · night in Catania2 h planned · 51 min on the roadSee the day →
- Day 10DEPARTURECatania, departure · end of the trip2 h 30 planned · 12 min on the roadSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€1,210 to €1,878 per person
€121 to €188 per day
Based on: 2 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 30 October 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
2 points to look at before booking.
D2Quota-limited access: book in advance — Zingaro Reserve & Castellammare Coast
quota to apply for ~1 days ahead — to arrange before you leave
D8Check opening times and crowds for this season — Mount Etna South Slopes
Volcanic activity or high-altitude snow can restrict access to the summit craters of Mount Etna.
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →