Sipping a glass of crisp, refreshing wine as you savor the scrumptious delights of market food. Gazing at the majestic Etna views from a winery while indulging in a silky red, followed by creamy cheese and freshly baked bread. Unraveling the mysteries of ancient temples and exploring centuries-old archaeological sites, pausing for a fragrant coffee along the way. If these experiences make your eyes widen and your taste buds tingle with excitement, then this tour is tailor-made for you.

Prepare to delve into the secrets of meticulous wine production, encounter the delights of smooth olive oils, and taste chocolate crafted using centuries-old techniques. Discover the captivating history and vibrant present of this astonishing corner of Italy. Led by an expert sommelier, an experienced tour leader, and local guides, this tour is a perfect immersion in the fascinating world of Sicilian wine, food, culture and history. It’s time to embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery and delight.

Duration:

9 days

Start/Finish City:

Catania to Palermo

Physical Challenge: 

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels, ensuring everyone can join in the adventures with ease.

Small Group:

max 8 travellers, one sommelier and one tour leader (total max people 10)

Step into the delightful realm of WineTime, a charming shop helmed by the experienced sommelier, Jeff, whose 18-year dedication has infused him with an unparalleled love and passion for exquisite wines, delighting connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts alike.

Meet the globetrotting tour leader, Irmante, who has been wanderlusting for over 15 years, guiding adventurers on captivating journeys across 35 countries, as she shares the wonders of the world with fellow travellers.

Get ready to embark on an exciting adventure with Jeff and Irmante, the dynamic wine-loving duo who will lead you through a captivating journey into the world of wines. Their passion and expertise will make this experience truly unforgettable.

BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE TOURS

By booking or participating in a tour and any related products or services (a “tour”) with WineTime WineTours  (“us”), you (“you”) agree to these Terms & Conditions (the “terms”).

CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE

By booking a tour you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to be bound by these terms. If you make a booking on behalf of other participants, you guarantee that you have the authority to accept and do accept these terms on behalf of the other participants in your party.

VALIDITY

All dates, itineraries and prices of the tours are subject to change at any time and the current price will be quoted and confirmed at the time of booking, subject to any surcharges that may be levied in accordance with these terms. Any extra fees that occur during the booking, deposit or full instalment according to the method or platform of paying must be payed by you.

You acknowledge that you are responsible for keeping up to date on the specific details of your tour and any other products or services, including, but not limited to checking the Tour Operator’s website at least 72 hours prior to departure as minor changes may have been made after the time of booking.

AIRFARE

Tour prices do not include international or other airfare unless expressly mentioned in the tour’s descriptions.

The Tour Operator is not responsible for changes in air itineraries or flight times and does not provide advice or alerts regarding air travel tickets, flight status or delays.

A booking is only effective and confirmed once a deposit has been paid by the customer/traveler. Once we collect your deposit or initial payment, we will proceed to confirm all offered services with our local partners and suppliers. 

We will only make room blocks and proceed to reserving hotels once we collect a deposit or full installment payment guaranteeing booking. All hotels mentioned in trip proposals are subject to dates and availability. If by any chance we are in the need to change hotels, we will notify you in advance and will choose an accommodation option that is the same category and pricing. 

Be advised we do not operate overnight transfers or do long transfers during nighttime. 

High risk activities such as active volcano hikes, paragliding, and other active adventures may require you to sign a liability waiver. If this is not signed we cannot be responsible for your participation in such activities and it will be your responsibility to book them.

Once we confirm your booking with the deposit or full  payment, we proceed to securing all offered services. All payment installments must be completed 25 days prior to the start of the tour. 14 days prior to the start of the tour we will offer a tour briefing online. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Each traveler / customer is responsible for acquiring a valid travel insurance that will provide coverage during their time traveling. We are not responsible for international travel delays, missing luggage or cancellations. YOU MUST HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH A MINIMUM MEDICAL, EVACUATION AND REPATRIATION COVERAGE OF US$200,000 

ENTRY TO EUROPE AND YOUR TOUR DESTINATION COUNTRY

Check the validity of your personal travel documents and if you require a visa for visiting your tour destination country. If this is the case, each traveler/customer is responsible for acquiring a valid travel visa before booking a trip and payment. We do not provide invitation letters or any documentation for such procedures. 

European  authorities may require upon entry:

-a copy of your itinerary (printed or digital)

-the trip payment receipt (itinerary or digital). 

It is your responsibility to obtain information and to have in your possession all the required documentation and identification required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region. This includes a valid passport and all travel documents required by the relevant governmental authorities including all visas, permits and certificates (including but not limited to vaccination or medical certificates) and insurance policies. You must have a passport that is valid 6 months after the last date of travel with us as set out on your itinerary. You accept full responsibility for obtaining all such documents, visas and permits prior to the start of the tour, and you are solely responsible for the full amount of costs incurred as a result of missing or defective documentation. You agree that you are responsible for the full amount of any loss or expense that is a direct result of your failure to secure or be in possession of proper travel documentation. We do not provide advice on travel documents and makes no representations or warrantees as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, or special equipment and you agree that we are not responsible for any errors or omissions in this information.

CANCELLATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS

In order to cancel a package for which you have made a booking, please contact us via our website contact form on https://winetimewinetours.com/questionsbook/ stating your order name and “Cancellation” in the body of the Message. You may telephone us to discuss your desire to cancel the package but cancellation will only be effective when we have received from the person who purchased the package a written confirmation of their decision to cancel the package. A message through our website to us stating that you desire to cancel a package is an irrevocable notice and you cannot subsequently change your mind even if we have not yet acknowledged the cancellation in writing.

If you cancel your tour:

We cannot be responsible for any expenses you had to pay related to this tour. 

For cancellation of ground-only arrangements:

Less than 25 days prior to start of the tour, we will retain 100% of the price paid by you for the package.

If you leave a tour for any reason after it has started, we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services.

We may cancel a package at any time prior to departure by giving you notice by email, letter or (if very close to departure) by telephoning you, if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events it is not viable or safe for our local partner to operate the planned itinerary. If we cancel a package prior to departure, in your sole and absolute discretion you may choose between (i) us applying the amounts paid towards an alternative trip, or (ii) receiving a full refund. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking such as visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights.

AMENDMENTS TO BOOKED PACKAGES

If you wish to change the name of one or several travelers of the trip, there is a fee of $100 per passenger if done at least 220 days prior to the scheduled date of the tour start. No name changes. are permitted within 15 days prior to the scheduled date of departure. No amendments are permitted to your booking within 15 days of departure. 

If changes are necessary while you are traveling they will be assessed by us and our suppliers beforehand and communicated to the customer. 

FLEXIBILITY & UNUSED SERVICES

You acknowledge that the nature of adventure travel requires flexibility and acknowledge that you will permit reasonable alterations to products, services or itineraries by us. The route, schedules, accommodations, activities, amenities and mode of transportation are subject to change without notice due to unforeseeable circumstances or events outside of our control (including but not limited to Force Majeure, illness, mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, strikes, political events and entry or border difficulties). No reimbursements, discounts or refunds will be issued for services that are missed or unused after the start date of the tour due to no fault of us, including your removal from a Tour because of your negligence or breach of these terms.

ACCEPTANCE OF RISK

You acknowledge that adventures travel and the products and services offered by us may involve a significant amount of risk to your health and safety. By traveling with us you acknowledge that you have considered any potential risks to health and safety. You hereby assume responsibility for all such risks and release us from all claims and causes of action arising from any losses, damages or injuries or death resulting from risks in travel, including adventure travel specifically, visiting foreign destinations, and participating in adventurous activities such as those included in tour itinerary or otherwise offered by us. We require that you confirm your assumption of this responsibility by completing the participation waiver at least 15 days prior to departing on your tour. 

You acknowledge that the degree and nature of personal risk involved depends on the products or services booked and the location(s) in which a product or service operates, and that there may be a significant degree of personal risk involved in participating, particularly participating in physical activities, travel to remote locations, carriage by watercraft, participation in “extreme sports” or other high-risk activities, or travel to countries with developing infrastructure. Standards of hygiene, accommodation and transport in certain countries where tours take place are often lower than the standards you may reasonably expect in your home country or region. You agree that we are not responsible for providing information or guidance with respect to local customs, weather conditions, specific safety concerns, physical challenges or laws in effect in any locations where a tour, product or service is operated. You acknowledge you have considered the potential risks, dangers and challenges and your own personal capabilities and needs, and you expressly assume the risks associated with travel under such conditions.

You must at all times strictly comply with all applicable laws and regulations of all countries and regions. Should you fail to comply with the above or commit any illegal act when on tour or, if in the opinion of us (acting reasonably), your behaviour is causing or is likely to cause danger, distress or material annoyance to others, the Tour Operator may terminate your travel arrangements on any product or service immediately at your expense and without any liability on our part. You will not be entitled to any refund for unused or missed services or costs incurred as a result of termination of your travel arrangements, including, without limitation, return travel, accommodations, meals, and incidentals.

You are responsible for any costs (including repair, replacement and cleaning fees) incurred by us or our suppliers for property damage, destruction or theft caused by you while on a tour. You agree to immediately report any pre-existing damage to us and staff of the accommodation, transportation service, or facility as soon as possible upon discovery.

You agree to take all prudent measures in relation to your own safety while on tour including, but not limited to, the proper use of safety devices (including seatbelts, harnesses, flotation devices and helmets) and obeying all posted signs and oral or written warnings regarding health and safety. Neither the us nor our third party suppliers are liable for loss or damages caused by your failure to comply with safety instructions or warnings.

You agree to bring any complaints to us as soon as possible in order to provide us with the opportunity to properly address such complaint. You agree to inform your tour leader or another representative of our tour. We assume no liability for complaints that are not properly brought to our attention and cannot resolve or attempt to resolve complaints until proper notice is provided. Any complaint made after the completion of a tour must be received in writing by us within 30 days of the last day of travel of the booking in question.

LIABILITY

WineTime WineTour and its parents, subsidiaries and their respective employees, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, representatives, and assigns shall not be held liable for (A) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such other provider; and (B) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, pandemics, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. You waive any claim against the Tour Operator for any such loss, damage, injury, or death.

In the event that any loss, death, injury or illness is caused by the negligent acts or omissions by us or any of our suppliers of any services which form part of the booking contract then we limit our liability, where applicable by all applicable international conventions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in these terms, we will not in any circumstances be liable to you for any loss or anticipated loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, loss of revenue, loss of use, loss of contract or other opportunity nor for any other consequential or indirect loss or damage of a similar nature.

FORCE MAJEURE

We will not be liable in any way for death, bodily injury, illness, damage, delay or other loss or detriment to person or property, or financial costs both direct and indirect incurred, or for our failure to commence, perform or complete any duty owed to you if such death, delay, bodily injury (including emotional distress or injury), illness, damage or other loss or detriment to person or property is caused by Act of God, war or war like operations, mechanical breakdowns, terrorist activities or threat thereof, civil commotions, labor difficulties, interference by authorities, political disturbance, howsoever and where so ever any of the same may arise or be caused, riot, insurrection and government restraint, fire, extreme weather or any other cause whatsoever beyond the reasonable control of tus; or an event which the or any of our supplier of services, even with all due care, could not foresee any and all of which, individually and collectively, constitute “Force Majeure”.

IMAGES AND MARKETING

You agree that, while participating in any tour, images, photos or videos may be taken by other participants, by us or our representatives that may contain or feature you. You consent to any such pictures being taken and grants a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to the us, our contractors, sub-contractors and assigns, to reproduce for any purpose whatsoever (including marketing, promotions and the creation of promotional materials by or with sub-licensees), in any medium whatsoever, whether currently known or hereinafter devised, without any further obligation or compensation payable to you.

AMENDMENTS

We reserve the right to update or alter these terms at any time, and will post the amended terms on our website. Any amendment will take effect 2 days after being posted on our website. An up to date copy of these terms, as amended, may be accessed at any time on the our website and will be sent to you upon written request to us. You are deemed to have accepted any amendments to these terms on the date that is 2 days after their posting on our website. We recommend that you refer to the terms prior to travel to familiarise yourself with the most up-to-date version available.

ALL CUSTOMERS ARE REQUIRED TO AGREE WITH THESE TERMS UPON BOOKING.

Meet your fellow travelers at the hotel lobby at 6 PM. We’ll review the itinerary and address any questions you have. Later, we’ll share an unforgettable Sicilian dinner, accompanied by local wine. It’s the perfect opportunity to bond and start savoring the delights of Sicily together.

If you’re an early and curious riser, venture out at your leisure to explore the lively local fish market that springs to life from early morning. After breakfast, we’ll leave as a group on a tour of the captivating Etna Nord region, where we’ll have the pleasure of visiting three charming wineries. If you’ve seen the darkly hilarious series “The White Lotus,” you’ll be delighted to sip wine in one of the wineries that the characters visit during their adventures in Sicily.

The evening is yours to wander through Catania, soaking in the city’s charm and dining at one of its delightful restaurants. For the best recommendations, feel free to consult your knowledgeable tour leader.

After breakfast, we will embark on a half-day trip to a nearby small town. There, we’ll visit a lemon farm, indulge in an included local lunch, and hear captivating family stories about the significance of Sicilian lemons. Upon returning to Catania, you’ll have free time to explore the “black city,” ascend the cupola of Chiesa della Badia di Sant’Agata for breathtaking 360-degree views of the area, or treat yourself to Catania’s famed Minne di Sant’Agata – St. Agatha’s Breasts (a delightful ricotta cheese and marzipan dessert).

Next stop, the captivating city of Syracuse! Join your tour leader for an orientation walk and take in the sights of Ortigia, Syracuse’s most charming and picturesque neighborhood. Today is your well-deserved free day to explore the wonders of this city. History buffs will be enthralled by the must-visit archeological site of Neapolis, home to the awe-inspiring Teatro Greco, which has captivated spectators since the 5th century BC. Immerse yourself in the ambiance of the baroque piazzas and indulge in the challenge of eating as many cannolis as you can in a day. Let your curiosity guide you through this delightful city, creating unforgettable memories at every turn. Enjoy your day of discovery and delight!

Today is all about delicious delights and culinary wonders! Join a chef-led tour through the vibrant local market and gather fresh ingredients for our hands-on cooking class at the family’s home. Discover the secrets of crafting mouthwatering Italian dishes that will impress your loved ones back home. And of course, save room for the grand finale – the king of Sicilian desserts, the irresistible cannoli. Get ready for a taste bud-tantalizing adventure that will leave you smiling from ear to ear! Free afternoon and evening.

Get ready to embark on a chocolatey escapade as we journey to the town of Modica – famous for its irresistible chocolate! Prepare to be amazed as we visit one of the region’s most renowned chocolatiers, where the secrets of crafting these scrumptious treats will be revealed. From the history to the aging process, and, of course, the heavenly taste-testing – it’s a chocolate lover’s dream come true!

Afterwards, we’ll take a leisurely stroll through the captivating town of Ragusa, taking free time for lunch. But that’s not all – keep an eye out for the unique sweet onion (or wine) flavored gelato that’s a hit in the area.

To top it off, we’ll savor the rich flavors of Sicilian wines in a small, family-run winery, setting the perfect mood for our evening stop. 

Embark on a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples, Sicily’s most famous archaeological attraction.  Unearth the brilliance of ancient Hellenic architecture dating back to the 5th century, as it showcases the oldest structures of its kind. Wander amidst the enchanting ruins of the Temple of Concordia, with its splendid columns, and let a knowledgeable local guide regale you with captivating tales of its rich history. It’s a journey back in time you won’t want to miss!

After breakfast we will step into a world of another Italian culinary delight as we embark on an exciting journey to discover the magic of olive oil!  We will visit an olive oil refinery, where skilled artisans work their magic and unveil the secrets behind this liquid gold. After that – UNESCO-listed Monreale Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece showcasing breathtaking Norman design with enchanting Moorish and Byzantine influences. Finally, our journey culminates in the captivating city of Palermo. Accompanied by our seasoned tour leader and sommelier we will set off for an orientation walk. And for our final dinner we will raise our glasses to toast the unforgettable memories made during this journey. So pack your bags and join us on this extraordinary adventure that promises to be a feast for the senses!

As our incredible journey draws to a close, you have the freedom to depart at your leisure. Embrace the allure of Palermo and indulge in additional days to savor all it has to offer, or reach out to us for more exciting ideas to continue your exploration of the mesmerizing wonders that Sicily holds in store. The possibilities for further adventure are endless!