Sicily Food & Wine: Self-Launched Culinary Adventure
8 days · Sicily, Italy
Exodus charges £2,620
No-markup version: ~£775 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
From cannoli to arancini, this self-launched version of Exodus's classic Sicily Food & Wine tour lets you explore the same culinary and cultural highlights — Palermo's street markets, a cookery class in Erice, Marsala wine tastings, the Valley of the Temples, baroque Ragusa and Noto, and a wine tasting on Mount Etna — at a fraction of the guided group price. You'll travel by local buses and shared transfers, stay in well-rated budget hotels and B&Bs, and book food experiences directly or via GetYourGuide. All estimates are approximate and per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Palermo
Palermo
Fly into Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO) — Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air serve it from many UK and European cities. From the airport, take the Prestia e Comande express bus to the city centre (~€6.30, 45 mins). Check into your hostel or B&B in the historic centre and spend the evening wandering the atmospheric streets. Head to the Ballarò or Vucciria market area for a self-guided street food welcome dinner — try arancini, panelle and sfincione from vendors for just a few euros each.
🚌Prestia e Comande airport express bus (~£5)
🛏Ostello Magione Caracciolo or Al Giardino dell'Alloro B&B (~£30-40/night)
- →Airport bus to city centre (~£5)
- →Self-guided evening stroll through Ballarò and Vucciria markets
- →Street food dinner — arancini, panelle, sfincione (budget ~£8-12)
Palermo Street Food & Market Tour
Palermo
Book a guided street food and market tour of Palermo's historic centre via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£35-50pp) — these tours cover Ballarò, Vucciria and Capo markets, with tastings of arancini, sfincione, fresh fish and pastries included. Alternatively, self-guide using a free walking route and budget for individual tastings. In the afternoon, catch a local bus (line 389, ~€1.40) to Monreale to visit the stunning Norman cathedral and its golden Byzantine mosaics — entrance is free or ~£3 for the treasury.
🚌Local city buses (~£2/day)
🛏Ostello Magione Caracciolo or Al Giardino dell'Alloro B&B (~£30-40/night)
- →Street food & market walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£40pp, tastings included)
- →Optional: bus to Monreale and visit the Norman Duomo (~£5 total)
- →Free afternoon exploring Quattro Canti and Piazza San Domenico
Erice Cookery Class & Marsala Wine Tasting
Erice & Marsala
Take the early Autoservizi Salemi bus from Palermo to Trapani (€10, ~2hrs), then a cable car up to the hilltop town of Erice (€9 return). Book a hands-on Sicilian cookery class in Erice directly through local operators such as Cooking with the Duchess or similar local chefs found on Airbnb Experiences (~£55-75pp, includes lunch). In the afternoon, take a local bus or shared taxi from Trapani to Marsala (~30 mins, €3-5). Visit a Marsala winery — Cantine Florio and Pellegrino both offer self-bookable tours and tastings for ~£10-15pp. Check into your guesthouse near Marsala.
🚌Autoservizi Salemi bus + local bus/shared taxi to Marsala (~£12 total)
🛏B&B or agriturismo near Marsala (~£35-45/night, e.g. La Finestra sul Sale)
- →Bus Palermo → Trapani (~£9) + cable car to Erice (~£8 return)
- →Hands-on Sicilian cookery class with local chef, lunch included (~£65pp)
- →Marsala winery tour and tasting at Cantine Florio or Pellegrino (~£12pp)
Olive Farm Visit & Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
Marsala to Agrigento
In the morning, arrange a visit to a local organic olive farm near Marsala or Castelvetrano — try Titone or Ravida estates, which offer tours and tastings bookable direct (~£15-20pp, includes olive oil tasting with bread and local produce). Then take the Autoservizi Lumia bus south to Agrigento (~2.5hrs, €12). Check into your accommodation and head straight to the Valley of the Temples — the archaeological park is open until late and entry costs ~£12pp. Walk among the eight ancient Greek temples at golden hour for an unforgettable experience.
🚌Autoservizi Lumia bus (~£11)
🛏Hotel della Valle or similar 3-star in Agrigento (~£40-55/night)
- →Organic olive farm tour and tasting near Marsala (~£18pp)
- →Bus Marsala → Agrigento via Autoservizi Lumia (~£11)
- →Valley of the Temples entry and self-guided exploration (~£12pp)
Villa Romana del Casale & Baroque Ragusa
Piazza Armerina & Ragusa
Take an early bus from Agrigento to Enna or Piazza Armerina (change at Caltanissetta, total ~2.5hrs, ~£8). Entry to the Villa Romana del Casale UNESCO site is ~£10pp — the extraordinary Roman floor mosaics spread over 3,500sqm are truly unmissable. Audio guides are available for ~£5. After lunch, pick up a local produce tasting from the farm shop or nearby trattoria. Then bus south to Ragusa (~1.5hrs, ~£5). Explore Ragusa Ibla, the baroque lower town, on foot. Settle into a piazza for a well-earned aperitivo with local olives and snacks.
🚌Local buses (~£13 total)
🛏B&B Il Barocco or similar in Ragusa Ibla (~£40-55/night)
- →Bus Agrigento → Piazza Armerina (~£8)
- →Villa Romana del Casale entry + audio guide (~£15pp)
- →Local produce tasting lunch (~£12pp)
- →Bus to Ragusa and self-guided walk through Ragusa Ibla (~£5)
- →Aperitivo in a baroque piazza (~£5)
Cheese Farm Visit, Noto & Onward to Catania
Ragusa, Noto & Catania
In the morning, arrange a visit to a family-run pecorino cheese farm in the Ragusa province — try Azienda Agricola Floridia or similar, bookable via local tourist offices or direct (~£15-20pp for tour and tasting including fresh ricotta). Then take a bus to Noto (~1hr, €5), one of Sicily's most celebrated baroque towns and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll the main Corso Vittorio Emanuele, admire the Cathedral, and stop at Caffè Sicilia for the island's finest granita and brioche (~£5). In the afternoon, take the bus to Catania (~1.5hrs, €7) and check in for your final two nights.
🚌Local buses (~£12 total)
🛏B&B Hotel Catania City Center or similar (~£40-55/night)
- →Cheese farm tour and tasting near Ragusa (~£18pp)
- →Bus to Noto (~£5)
- →Self-guided walk through Noto's baroque historic centre (free)
- →Granita and brioche at a historic café (~£5)
- →Bus Noto → Catania (~£7)
Catania Fish Market & Mount Etna Wine Tasting
Catania & Mount Etna
Rise early to visit La Pescheria, Catania's legendary fish market, which runs every morning except Sunday — it's free to wander and a full sensory experience. Browse the nearby fruit and vegetable stalls too. Mid-morning, join a shared minibus tour to Mount Etna via GetYourGuide or directly with local operators like Etna Experience or Nicolosi excursions (~£30-45pp including transport). Visit a renowned Etna DOC winery such as Benanti or Cornelissen for a wine and produce tasting (~£15-20pp). Then take a guided or self-guided walk on Etna's lava fields (~1hr, 5km). For the cable car and 4x4 summit ascent, budget an extra ~£40-50pp. Return to Catania by early evening and enjoy a farewell dinner at a local trattoria.
🚌Shared minibus tour to Etna (~£35)
🛏B&B Hotel Catania City Center or similar (~£40-55/night)
- →La Pescheria fish market visit (free)
- →Shared minibus to Mount Etna (~£35pp)
- →Etna DOC winery tour and tasting (~£18pp)
- →Walk on Etna lava fields (~1hr, free with guide)
- →Optional: cable car + 4x4 summit ascent (~£45pp extra)
- →Farewell dinner at local trattoria (~£20pp)
Depart Catania
Catania
Enjoy a final Sicilian breakfast — head to a local bar for a cappuccino and cornetto or fresh pastry (~£3). Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is just 5km from the city centre; take the Alibus express (~£4) or a taxi (~£10-15). Alternatively, extend your stay and explore more of eastern Sicily — Taormina is just 45 mins by train and well worth a visit.
🚌Alibus to airport (~£4)
- →Final Sicilian breakfast at a local bar (~£3)
- →Alibus to Catania Airport (~£4)
- →Optional day trip to Taormina by Trenitalia train (~£6 return)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£775 | £2,620 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,845 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£775
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Sicily Food & Wine: Self-Launched Culinary Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £775 per person for 8 days in Sicily, Italy. 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,620 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £775 — a saving of roughly £1,845 (70%) per person.
How long is the Sicily, Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Sicily, Italy.
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, city-breaks trip through Sicily, Italy, 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?
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