Sicily – September 18-27, 2025

We had a magical trip to Sicily at the end of September. A trip to Sicily had always been on my bucket list and my 65th birthday seemed to be the right time. Thanks to Laura, our trip wildly exceeded our expectations. Laura worked with us to design an itinerary which focused on the important archaeological sites, culture, and Sicilian cuisine.

After a couple days in Taormina, Laura arranged for a driver to take us to Mt. Etna for a hike with a volcanologist, followed by a visit to a family winery. Touring the small winery and having lunch with Gloria and her family was an unexpected highlight of our journey. We learned about the challenges facing small, female-led businesses in Sicily while having a wonderful meal prepared by her mother and brother. Much to our surprise, the wine tasting was secondary to the pleasure of spending time chatting with this local family.
We spent two memorable days in Syracuse at the fabulous Grand Hotel des Etrangers on the harbor, where we enjoyed the mesmerizing sunsets from the rooftop. Highlights included an exceptional guided tour of the Archaeological Park of Syracuse, the old district of Neapolis, and the colorful local food market, where our guide arranged for a special lunch. Laura had arranged our dinners at superb local restaurants with wonderful ambiance.

On our way to Agrigento, we had lunch with Pietro, an olive farmer, who prepared an olive oil tasting for us and shared his plans for expanding his olive oil and prickly pear business over lunch. A WOW highlight for us was jumping in his jeep and touring his olive grove and prickly pear orchard, where he insisted we sample his deliciously ripe prickly pears on the spot!

Our visit to Villa Romana del Casale with its exquisitely preserved mosaics was led by a superb archaeologist who had worked on the site and with the Getty Museum. She was a font of knowledge and brought the villa and its history to life for us.

In Agrigento, another extraordinary archaeologist walked us through the Valley of the Temples, where he had worked on site for many years. Laura had also arranged our stay at Villa Athena, which provided us with a breathtaking view of the Temple of Concordia from our room as well as from the terrace, where we dined under the stars.

We topped off our trip with a couple days in Palermo. We enjoyed a guided tour of the fantastic Monreale Cathedral, a tuk-tuk tour of the old city, and a walking tour of the architectural highlights. As a finale, Laura invited us to a delightful evening aperitivo on her rooftop terrace.

We are grateful to Laura for creating a unique itinerary and providing very special opportunities for us to meet locals and understand the Sicilian culture. We appreciate her attention to detail and thoughtfulness. Her team checked in with us daily to ensure the day had gone well and to review the next day’s activities. We were impressed by the consistent quality of the guides/archaeologists, as well as the drivers transferring us from place to place. We highly recommend this team for an unforgettable trip!

We had a lovely trip to Sicily and were very pleased with our activities, guides and drivers. It took some time to plan; one area for improvement is that some of the time estimates for activities and their travel times were not very accurate in the documents we were sent for review. That said, once the planning was done, we had a great time.
We especially loved seeing small towns and villages, such as Scicli and Sant’Angelo Muxaro, and our visit with Farmer Mario in the Madonie Park was special. The wineries Helen chose for us were a great mix and we loved getting to know more about Sicilian wines. We loved the the opportunities to talk with the owners or winemakers about their philosophy and the history of their land. Laura took time to meet with us in Palermo, which was so thoughtful. We would love to make a return trip!

Wendy Perrin connected us with Laura for a 10-day self-drive trip to Sicily, and it was flawless. We asked for boutique hotels and the freedom to explore on our own—Laura delivered exactly that.

Every hotel was small, charming, and perfectly located. The itinerary mixed must-see sights with authentic local experiences: private farmhouse lunches, quiet hill towns, coastal drives most tourists never find. We tasted real Sicilian life, not just the tourist spots.

Alessandra handled every detail on the ground with quick, friendly responses. They truly crafted a perfect experience that left us in love with Sicily and its people.

Highly recommend Wendy Perrin and Laura. Already planning for the next one!

Our family just returned from a magical 10-day trip to Sicily, and I can’t say enough about how exceptional the experience was. From start to finish, every detail was thoughtfully curated, and we were made to feel so well taken care of throughout our journey.

First and foremost, I have to give credit to Laura, the owner of the trip planning company, who lives in Palermo. From our very first conversation it was clear that she is an incredible listener, genuinely dedicated to creating a personalized experience. Traveling with tween boys can be a challenge, but Laura understood exactly how to craft an itinerary that would captivate their imaginations while immersing us in the rich culture of Sicily. Her connections on the island run deep, and it truly showed in the unique and meaningful experiences we enjoyed.

Our guide for the majority of the trip, Maria, was an absolute gem. She was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly kind and caring. Despite facing terrible rainy weather for three days in a row, Maria remained flexible, always adjusting our plans with grace and ensuring our boys stayed engaged and happy. Her warmth and dedication to making our trip special truly made a difference.

One of the highlights was our time in a small Sicilian village, where we cooked alongside an extended family and their children. Sharing stories and recipes in such an intimate setting made us feel like part of the community. Another remarkable experience was visiting a Sicilian cart maker’s workshop and participating in a painting tutorial led by a master artisan who also creates textiles for Dolce & Gabbana. It was fascinating, and my sons were particularly enthralled by the Archimedes studio outside of Siracusa. There, they learned about the scholar’s inventions with real-life replicas, bringing ancient ingenuity to life in a way that still has them talking about it.

In Palermo, we had the privilege of meeting one of the last remaining puppet makers (pupari) on the island. Not only was the art of puppet making more captivating than we ever imagined, but the experience was also deeply moving. The generosity and passion shared during that visit left a lasting impression on all of us.

This trip to Sicily was not just about sightseeing; it was about forming connections and understanding the heart of the island. Laura and Maria made sure we experienced Sicily from a local’s perspective, which made every moment feel so much more profound. Thank you for an unforgettable adventure. We will always remember our time in this extraordinary place!