Italian Islands Tours

Sardinia is one of Italy's most beautiful and mysterious islands — a rugged, ancient island of crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, ancient olive groves, prehistoric nuragic monuments, and charming towns shaped by Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, and Spanish conquerors over thousands of years. Our Sardinia escorted tours begin in Castelsardo — a dramatic medieval town perched above the sea in northern Sardinia — and include the Neptune Caves (Grotte di Nettuno) near Alghero, one of Sardinia's most spectacular natural wonders. The sightseeing tour of Bosa is another unforgettable Sardinia experience — a beautifully preserved medieval town capturing the authentic Sardinian way of life. A visit to the Governor's Palace in Cagliari is a highlight of any Sardinia tour — Cagliari is Sardinia's capital city, a vibrant Mediterranean city of baroque palaces, Roman amphitheatres, and excellent regional cuisine including fresh seafood and the island's famous Cannonau wines. The Nuraghe of Barumini — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the finest nuragic monument in Sardinia — brings 3,500 years of ancient ruins to life in an extraordinary way.

Sicily is Italy's largest island and one of the most historically rich and culturally fascinating destinations in the entire Mediterranean — home to Mount Etna (Europe's highest active volcano), extraordinary Greek temples, vibrant cities, excellent wines, and delicious food. The Palermo City Tour is the unmissable highlight of any Sicily tour — Palermo is one of the world's great street food cities, with extraordinary baroque architecture, Arab-Norman churches, and the legendary Ballarò, Vucciria, and Capo markets. A visit to the Valley of Temples near Agrigento is one of the most extraordinary ancient ruins experiences in all of Italy — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of remarkable Greek temples dating to the 5th century BC, the finest example of Greek architecture outside Greece itself. Taormina — Sicily's most beautiful and visited hill town, perched above the Mediterranean with views of Mount Etna and the sea — is another unmissable Sicily destination with its ancient Greek theatre and breathtaking scenery. Mount Etna tours offer extraordinary hiking and wine tasting in the Mount Etna wine region, and Sicily's regional cuisine — arancini, cannoli, pasta alla Norma, and fresh pasta — is among the best food in all of Italy.

The island of Capri — with its Blue Grotto, Faraglioni rocks, and extraordinary beauty — is a wonderful addition to any southern Italy and Italian islands itinerary, easily combined with the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Pompeii, and a Sicily or Sardinia escorted tour. Ischia — the volcanic island in the Bay of Naples — is famous for its thermal spas, natural beauty, sandy beaches, excellent regional cuisine, and relaxing la dolce vita atmosphere. The Amalfi Coast — Positano, Sorrento, the Amalfi Cathedral, and the dramatic southern Italy coastline — combines naturally with Sicily and Sardinia tours. Our Italy tours also combine seamlessly with northern Italy's greatest destinations — Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Cinque Terre, and Venice — creating one tour itinerary that includes the very best of both the Italian islands and the Italian coastline. A ferry to Rome with a dinner onboard is one of the most romantic ways to end any Sardinia or Sicily escorted tour — sailing overnight from Cagliari or Palermo to the Italian mainland, arriving in Rome ready to explore the Eternal City, Vatican City, and the Vatican Museums.