Geography tour to Sicily by air: 5 days, 4 nights

From magnificent Mount Etna to the impressive rock formations of the Alcantara Gorges, Sicily has plenty to offer young geographers. This tour will certainly enthuse your students along with providing them with lasting learning experiences. We will tailor-make your tour to suit your curriculum needs – contact our specialist Travel Advisors to discuss the possibilities!

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Suggested itinerary

Day one

  • Travel to Sicily
  • Evening at leisure

Day two

  • Mount Etna full day excursion
  • Evening at leisure

Day three

  • Tindari Lake & Strait of Messina
  • OR
  • Lipari & Vulcano
  • Evening at leisure

Day four

  • Alcantara Gorges & Cyclops Riviera
  • Evening at leisure

Day five

  • Return to UK

Excursion locator map

Excursion Ideas

  • Cyclops Riviera

    Subject range: Geography

    What you’ll experience: The Cyclops Riviera is a stretch of coastline north of Catania leading from Aci Castello to Acireale. This beautiful part of Sicily is surrounded by myth and legends about the huge rocks protruding from the sea. According to one myth, Polyphemus, the giant son of Poseidon and one of the Cyclopes, threw these boulders in the sea to express his rage against Ulysses.
    Select says: Some of the rocks are up to 70 metres high.

  • Lipari

    Subject range: Geography

    What you’ll experience: Geologists agree that Lipari was created by a succession of four volcanic movements. The last recorded eruptions occurred in the fifth century CE when airborne pumice, together with volcanic ash, covered the Roman villages of the island. The volcanoes are considered active with steaming fumaroles and hydrothermal activity which can still be seen.
    Select says: As a result of its volcanic origin, the island is covered with pumice and obsidian. Pumice mining is a large industry on the island with pumice from Lipari shipped worldwide.

  • Vulcano

    Subject range: Geography

    What you’ll experience: Vulcano is a small volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, about 25km north of Sicily and the southernmost of the eight Aeolian Islands.
    Select says: The volcanic activity in the region is largely the result of the northward-moving African Plate meeting the Eurasian Plate. There are three volcanic centres on the island.

  • Strait of Messina

    Subject range: Geography

    What you’ll experience: The Strait of Messina is a narrow passage between the eastern tip of Sicily and the southern tip of Italy. The currents and chemistry have created a unique ecosystem to explore.
    Select says: This is a one off chance to explore an ecosystem affected by the physical and human geography of the area.

  • Tindari

    Subject range: Geography

    What you’ll experience: Tindari is a small coastal town situated on a rocky hill (Capo Tindari). Its strategic location has ancient sites and the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna. You will have the opportunity to examine the impact of tourism on such a small location and other issues related to human geography.
    Select says: This is an interesting Italian village with much to offer groups to learn from.

  • Alcantara Gorges

    Subject range: Geography

    What you’ll experience: Alcantara River Park, including the Alcantara River and the Alcantara gorges, was created when the river was blocked by a lava flow. The lava formed huge basalt columns and over time the river eroded them to form the gorges.
    Select says: This is a picturesque and fascinating place in which to explore with much to study. It is interesting for students to imagine the forces and time needed to create the gorges.

  • Mount Etna

    Subject range: Geography

    What you’ll experience: A visit to Mount Etna gives a rare opportunity to get close to an active volcano. A local expert guide will discuss volcanic processes and landforms with examples on site. You will walk to 2000m above sea level – a walk of moderate difficulty – to view craters. You also have the opportunity to explore lava–flow caverns that formed during past eruptions.
    Select says: How often do you get to stand so close the heart of the Earth? Molten lava, new land, tremendous views and the chance to learn at the site of the topic being studied.

Geography trip to Sicily by air: 5 days, 4 nights Accommodation

Hotel Baia degli Dei

Our rating:

Location: Giardini Naxos

Capacity:

Located by the sea in the beautiful Bay of Recanati, Giardini Naxos, just a few kilometres from Taormina. You can see Mount Etna from the hotel (the highest volcano in Europe) and the Mediterranean Sea.

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Rooms: En-suite facilities. Rooms have a balcony or terrace.

Facilities: Restaurant, air conditioning, restaurant, hall equipped with spacious lounge bar, TV room.

Hotel Athenaeum

Our rating:

Location: Palermo

Capacity: 79

Albergo Athenaeum is a modern hotel located opposite the University of Palermo campus, a few minutes from the old town and the famous Ballarò market.

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Rooms: Single, double or triple rooms located on six floors, all with en-suite facilities.

Facilities: Restaurant, Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Hotel Tre Torri

Our rating:

Location: Agrigento

Capacity: 118

Located a 5 minutes’ walk from Villaggio Mosè centre, the Tre Torri Hotel offers classic rooms with air conditioning and modern Italian furniture. The Valley of the Temples is just 1.9 miles away.

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Rooms: All with en-suite facilities.

Facilities: Free WiFi, restaurant serving traditional Sicilian cuisine, air-conditioned dining room overlooking the sun terrace and swimming pool, free gym, ping pong table and a TV room.