The right number of like-minded travellers to make new friends.
Your dates. Your group. Our expertly-designed itinerary.
Tailored to your interests, a bespoke travel experience.
Combines the hallmarks of any B&R itinerary (excellent hotels and beautiful routes) with the freedom of pacing each day exactly the way you like.
Throughout the day, a knowledgeable local guide provides insider access and expert tips. At night, you can explore and dine on your own.
Our B&R guides are with you throughout, anticipating needs, translating languages, providing advice and—above all—facilitating fun.
We use premium hotels that are unique expressions of the region. Often they’ve had a previous life as a monastery or a castle, but in every case they offer an exceptionally comfortable stay.
These are stylish 4-star properties that offer a casual and comfortable stay. Often without a 24-hour concierge or room service, they tend to be smaller family-run hotels that are perfect for the region.
“I can’t say I really ‘work out,’ but I’m in good shape and am relatively active.”
“I enjoy a good walk or ride, and feel comfortable while on the move.”
“I get moving at least once a week, and don’t mind a little sweat.”
“I get moving a few times per week and enjoy some exertion.”
“I want to feel invigorated each day and going hard is how I like to do that.”
From the rumbling giant that is Mount Etna (and the earthy vintages the spring from its namesake volcanic appellation), legends loom large here – and so will you, as we take over the charming Villadorata to Noto, the “Ingenious City.”
Trip designed by Travel Expert Dana Quinn
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This departure is either sold out or almost fully booked but with deposit we will request additional rooms from our hotels where possible.
At B&R we make it incredibly easy for you to journey with your friends, family, colleagues or on your own. Create your own private trip by taking over one of our dates—or we can request a fresh one. Prices are sliding scale to suit the number of travellers. Interested in tweaking the itinerary? We can do that too. Ask us for details!
| Travellers | PRICING FROM (USD) † |
|---|---|
| 2-5 | *Call for details |
| 6-8 | $6,195 |
| 9-11 | $5,695 |
| 12+ | $5,295 |
| † Double occupancy |
* Trip elements may be adjusted on smaller group sizes.
Have a custom trip designed exactly to your interests. Like a tailor making a bespoke suit, it will fit you perfectly.
Our Bespoke trip designers are a talented bunch who can craft unforgettable experiences for your specific group—and working within your needs and budget.
Get in touch with a Trip Designer to begin planning your perfect vacation.
REQUEST A QUOTEAfter our rendezvous in Syracuse, head south to enjoy a walk through the coastal Vendicari Nature Reserve and end the night with drinks and dinner in town at Il Crocifisso.
Visit Concetto’s farm where Concetto himself will take you around his almond orchards where he cultivates the exceptional Romana almond. Return by foot to explore Noto and its Old Town on a private walking tour.
Discover the Anapo Valley and the Necropolis of Pantalica with an archaeologist. Reconvene this evening for dinner at the hotel's fabulous restaurant.
Journey through the vineyards that make up the Etna D.O.C. appellation and have lunch with a local winemaking family in their palmenti. Later, enjoy a spa treatment before dinner at the Michelin-starred Shalai, accompanied by local vintages.
Make your way up Mount Etna, Sicily's behemoth volcano, as you take in the lunar landscapes of craters and black lava. Tonight, it's dinner in the hotel’s excellent Twelve Fountains restaurant.
After breakfast together, your guide will arrange a drop off at either the historic centre of Taormina or at Catania airport.
Indulge your senses.
In the heart of historic Noto, Seven Rooms Villadorata is an exclusive Sicilian guesthouse, occupying part of a 17thC palazzo. Decorated with precious textiles and exquisite items of furniture by Italian and French designers Villadorata's bedrooms offer a charming combination of old world luxury and contemporary comfort. View hotel website »
Nestled in a large plant nursery between the sea and the foot of Mount Etna, between Catania and Taormina, Donna Carmela is an elegant resort. Generous hospitality, creative décor and quality materials make the 18-room boutique hotel come alive. Its imminently tasteful contemporary aesthetic with many elegant touches (fresh roses here, bold art there, beautiful breezy views throughout) make it a one-of-a-kind experience in Sicilian hospitality. View hotel website »
Villa Neri is a stunning five-star hotel tucked into the lower slopes of Etna, amid pristine natural surroundings. The décor is sleek and modern, while the spa offers excellent wellness options to unwind after a volcanic hike. View hotel website »
We never wanted to be the biggest travel company in the world, just the best.
— George Butterfield
I don’t know how B&R does it – the quality of their trips is so consistently high! Just when we think they couldn’t do anything as good as our last trip, they do! Another fantastic experience with B&R.
— Carolyn Zaslaw
Our walking is somewhat hilly with a few steep sections, and a few flat ones. For the most part, we stay on the dirt paths that run through the vineyards, countryside and along the coast, but we occasionally take quiet asphalt roads. The walking on Etna is exposed with some loose gravel. The daily distances range from 7 to 13.5 km (4.3 to 8.3 mi.) with van support or shorter options for when you’re ready to relax back at the hotel.
“I go on a long walk once a week, and I don’t mind a little sweat.”
Rolling terrain on a variety of surfaces. Most days, one or two steeper climbs to spectacular viewpoints or places of interest.
Read more on our Activity LevelsIn a word: everything. In ninety words? Signature B&R guides; local experts; unique, unforgettable biking and walking routes; private tours; authentic local cuisine; lessons and demonstrations; local artisanal wines; wine tastings; all victuals and libations; all the endorphins you can handle; new insight; interesting, fun and like-minded travel companions; a feeling of total freedom. In short: an extraordinary, hassle-free journey of discovery.
Included with all walking trips are Leki telescoping walking sticks and custom-made padded hip holsters, which comfortably carry one full half-litre water bottle. And while the walking sticks get “recycled” for use by another B&R traveller, the holsters are yours to keep at trip’s end.
Walking Sticks
Sometimes your B&R trip simply isn’t long enough! Extend your stay for the best vacation possible. If you wish to spend a few days in region either before or after your official B&R trip, and need assistance making those plans, your B&R Travel Advisor can help.
Call us to create an independent travel experience that fits your needs—we can also arrange for a local guide.
Enrich your vacation with an extra day or two in Taormina, the famous ancient town overlooking the Ionian Sea. Farther afield, western Sicily (Palermo, Agrigento, and Cefalú) are cultural destinations, while the marvelous Aeolian archipelago offers stunning landscapes and gorgeous waters for the nature-oriented.
We craft extraordinary experiences, tailor made to meet
your every need, with every stitch of every day crafted
just the way you want it. Learn more about Bespoke
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