Reservations & Information 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/bya2020

PHOTOGRAPHY WEST presents ...

Overseas Adventure Travel®

PLEASE MENTION THIS CODE WHEN BOOKING G1-27733

DAYS DESTINATION

1 Fly to Palermo, Sicily

2-4 Palermo

5-7 Mazara del Vallo

8 Piazza Armerina

9-11 Ragusa

12-14 Catania

15 Taormina • Catania

16 Return to U.S.

Itinerary Summary

DEPARTURE DATE: October 4, 2021

It’s Included

16 days from $5195Includes international airfare from Phoenix 15 days from $3895Without international airfare

Single Supplement: FREE

PalermoMonreale

Mazaradel Vallo

Agrigento

Piazza Armerina

Ragusa Modica

Syracuse

Catania

Taormina

Villa Romanadel Casale

Cefalù

Castelbuono

S I C I L Y

T y r r h e n i a n S e a

M e d i t e r r a n e a nS e a

I o n i a n S e a

(Optional tour)

MountEtna

Segesta

0 20Miles

To/From U.S.Internal flightLand routeFerry route

I T A L Y

POST-TRIP EXTENSION

TyrrhenianSea

IonianSea

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION

TyrrhenianSea

IonianSea

Catania

Reggio diCalabria

Villa SanGiovanni

Monterosso

Mount PollinoAgropoli

Naples

BariMatera

LecceBrindisi

Alberobello

Palermo

Otranto

I T A L Y

Gallipoli

SICILY

SICILY

(Optional tour)

Palinuro

Salerno

Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions Small Group AdventureSicily: Palermo, Mazara del Vallo, Piazza Armerina, Ragusa, Catania

• International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements

• All land transportation

• Accommodations for 14 nights

• 30 meals—14 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 9 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)

• 24 small group activities

• Explore in a small group of 8-16 travelers (average group size of 14)

• Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader

• Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

• 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure—an average of $309

Maximize Your Discoveries & Value

Optional extensions:Puglia 5 nights pre-trip from $1695 Travel from only $319 per night

Calabria 5 nights post-trip from $1545 Travel from only $299 per night

Reservations & Information 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/bya2020

EUROPE

Itineraryknown as La Cosa Nostra) with a local who has ties to the organization.

B— Hotel Porta Felice or similar

DAY 5 • Overland to Monreale • Segesta • Overland to Mazara del Vallo

VERY ACTIVE DAY (2.5-mile walk and 2-hour bus ride)We’ll drive to Monreale today, where we will enjoy a guided visit. We’ll view the town’s twelfth-century Norman Cathedral, which sits in the hills overlooking Palermo. Then, we’ll head to Segesta for an included lunch with the owners of our agriturismo (Italian farmstead). After a walk in the countryside, we’ll continue to Mazara.

B,L,D— Berlingeri Resort or similar

DAY 6 • Explore Mazara • Tunisian Kasbah • Home-Hosted LunchFollowing breakfast, we’ll embark on a walking tour of Mazara. In Mazara’s historic Kasbah quarter, we’ll visit a museum built to house the famous “Dancing Satyr,” a mysterious Greek bronze statue brought up by local fishermen in 1998 after resting on the seabed for 2,000 years, followed by a Home-Hosted Lunch. This evening we’ll learn how to prepare authentic Sicilian fare during a cooking class at a local restaurant led by a former chef.

B,L,D— Berlingeri Resort or similar

DAY 7 • Museo del Sale visit • Boat ride to Mothya IslandThis morning, we visit Museo del Sale, a semi-working salt museum where we’ll learn about the age-old Trapani tradition of salt production and refinement. Then, we take a boat ride (weather permitting) to the small island of Mothya. We’ll visit the ancient island fortress and enjoy a light picnic lunch amid the peaceful surroundings before returning to Mazara. Later, we’ll gather for dinner at a local restaurant.

B,L,D— Berlingeri Resort or similar

DAY 8 • Valley of Temples • Explore Agrigento • Overland to Piazza ArmerinaAfter breakfast, we depart for Piazza Armerina. En route, we stop at the Valley of Temples, situated just outside the city of

DAY 1 • Depart U.S.Fly overnight from the U.S. to Palermo, Sicily.

DAY 2 • Arrive in Palermo, ItalyToday, arrive in Sicily. After you are transferred to your hotel, you’ll meet your fellow travelers and Trip Experience Leader. You’ll also meet those who traveled on our optional Italy: Matera, Lecce extension. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Hotel Porta Felice or similar

DAY 3 • Explore PalermoAfter a Welcome Briefing at our hotel, we’ll set off on a walking tour of Palermo followed by a visit to a traditional market. Then, after lunch on your own, you’ll have some free time to make your own discoveries. We’ll regroup later in the afternoon for a tour along the streets of Palermo by Moto-Ape, a three-wheeled vehicle, where we will have

the opportunity to interact with locals before a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

B,D— Hotel Porta Felice or similar

DAY 4 • Palermo • Optional Castelbuono & Cefalù tour • Sicilian Mafia conversationAfter breakfast, you may wish to explore Palermo on your own, or join a full-day optional tour to Castelbuono and Cefalù on Sicily’s northern coast. You’ll explore Castelbuono, a medieval town in the Madonie Mountains, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then visit the historic coastal city of Cefalù before returning to Palermo in the late afternoon. Travelers choosing not to join our optional tour will enjoy a day at leisure in Palermo. Later this afternoon, we’ll gather for an enlightening conversation about the Sicilian Mafia (also

Activity Level: Pacing: 5 locations in 15 days with one 1-night stay. Physical requirements: Travel on some rugged paths and many cobblestoned streets on foot, as well as over bumpy, narrow rural roads by bus. The ability to climb steep stairs and walk up and downhill is also required in several locations in Sicilian cities and the countryside. Flight Time: Travel time will be 12-20 hours and will most likely have one to two connections.View all physical requirements at www.oattravel.com/bya2020

Reservations & Information 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/bya2020

EUROPE

Agrigento. In the Valley of Temples, we’ll view the stunning archaeological remains of several Greek temples. Upon arrival at our agriturismo (an Italian farmstead), we’ll enjoy dinner at the farm’s restaurant featuring locally grown cuisine.

B,L,D— Vecchia Masseria or similar

DAY 9 • Villa Romana del Casale • Overland to RagusaWe depart for Villa Romana del Casale, home to the ruins of a Roman villa with some of the finest examples of Roman mosaics in all of Europe. The villa is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, we’ll enjoy a walking tour in the town of Caltagirone, whose ceramic tradition dates back millennia. Upon arrival in Ragusa, we’ll first explore a bit of the town noted for the extravagant Sicilian Baroque architecture of its churches and palazzi. This evening includes dinner at a local restaurant.

B,D— Hotel Il Barocco or similar

DAY 10 • Explore Old Town Ragusa • Fiat ride through Modica

VERY ACTIVE DAY (4-hour uphill walk with 350 steps down)This morning, we explore Ragusa Ibla, one of Sicily’s best-preserved old towns, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch on your own in Ibla, you have leisure time to explore its picturesque alleys and stairways. Then, we journey to neighboring Modica, where we’ll board vintage Fiat 500 cars to explore the city, part of the Val di Noto UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Please note: This day includes a 4-hour uphill walk along with 350 downhill steps in Ragusa. Travelers do not have to participate in this walk if they feel it may be too difficult.

B,D— Hotel Il Barocco or similar

DAY 11 • A Day in the Life of a Sicilian farmAfter breakfast, we’ll journey into the countryside to experience A Day in the Life of a Sicilian farm. We’ll visit a farm owned by a local family, who will show us some of the culinary traditions that have made Sicily famous around the world—perhaps bread-making. This afternoon, we’ll enjoy a freshly prepared lunch with our hosts before

returning to our hotel in Ragusa. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore on your own.

B,L— Hotel Il Barocco or similar

DAY 12 • Overland to Syracuse • Explore Ortigia • Overland to CataniaThis morning, we depart for Syracuse, known as the birthplace of Archimedes and as one of the most powerful ports of the ancient Mediterranean world. In Syracuse, we’ll take a walking tour of Ortigia. Highlights include the fountain of Arethusa, the Temple of Apollo, and the Piazza del Duomo. After lunch on your own, we continue to Catania.

B,D— Hotel Una Palace or similar

DAY 13 • Explore CataniaAfter breakfast, we explore Catania, a vibrant city perched on the edge of the Ionian Sea. Then, we’ll visit Casa di Maria,

a volunteer organization supported by Grand Circle Foundation. Here,

we’ll learn how a family in the Sicilian countryside has helped to support many Nigerian refugees. Then, we’ll sit down to lunch with the family before returning to Catania.

B,L— Hotel Una Palace or similar

DAY 14 • Catania • 4-wheel-drive jour-ney to Mount Etna

VERY ACTIVE DAY (2.5-mile hike at 6,000 feet, plus 2-hour Jeep ride)After breakfast, we journey to Mount Etna,

Europe’s tallest active volcano, where we’ll enjoy a 4-wheel-drive experience to explore traces of Etna’s lava flows before enjoying lunch. Then we’ll transfer back to Catania.

B,L— Hotel Una Palace or similar

DAY 15 • Catania • World War II Museum • Overland to TaorminaAfter breakfast, we’ll visit the local World War II Museum, dedicated to the Allied landing on the southern coast of Sicily. Then, we’ll journey outside the city to hillside Taormina, home to a Greco-Roman theater that is one of the most highly regarded ancient sites in Sicily. We’ll visit this impressive amphitheater and explore the charming town, admiring its sweeping views of Mt. Etna and the Ionian Sea. We’ll enjoy some time for independent exploring in Taormina with lunch on your own before returning to Catania. Later, we’ll enjoy a Farewell Drink at the hotel, followed by a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

B,D— Hotel Una Palace or similar

DAY 16 • Return to U.S.Transfer to the airport for our flight home. Or, begin our Italy: Pizzo, Civita, Salerno extension.

B

CST 2041626-40

RESERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

1-800-955-1925

GOVERNMENT TAXES AND FEES The following government taxes and fees are now included in your airfare price. Government and other authority taxes and fees: September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 USD applies per passenger, per flight segment (maximum charge per trip—$5.00 USD one-way, $10.00 USD round trip). A flight segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) of up to $18 per passenger. Federal Domestic Flight Segment Fee of up to $3.70 USD applies per passenger, per flight segment (defined as a takeoff and a landing). U.S. or International Departure and Arrival Charges of up to $200 USD may apply depending on itinerary. On select itineraries that include the purchase of a pre- and/or post-trip extension, U.S. or international departure and arrival charges of up to $300 USD may apply. Call for details. Standard Terms & Conditions can be found on the web at www.gct.com/tc.

2021 Departure Dates & PricesAdditional departure cities are available

AIR ADD-ON

Phoenix $1300

Additional departure cities are available. Call for details.

Overseas Adventure Travel®

PLEASE MENTION THIS CODE WHEN BOOKING G1-27733

Deposit: $350 per person. Single Supplement: FREE. Single accommodations are limited. If single rooms are full, ask about our Roommate Matching Service.

October 4, 2021

Small Group Adventure only $3895

Months That You Pay in Full Prior to Your Final Payment Due Date (90 days prior to your departure date)

Guarantee Your Price

and Receive:

Good Buy Plan Savings

Per Person:

Good Buy Savings Per

Couple:

12 months or more 10% off $650 $1300

11 months 9% off $585 $1170

10 months 8% off $520 $1040

9 months 7.5% off $488 $975

8 months 6% off $390 $780

7 months 5% off $325 $650

6 months 4% off $260 $520

5 months 3% off $195 $390

Make your final payment by check within 120 days $50 off $50 $50

Good Buy Plan savings are calculated based on total reservation cost.

Here's how you'll save with our exclusive Good Buy Plan:

based on a trip price of $6500 per person

For more information, visit www.oattravel.com/gbd

Ragusa Ragusa’s history is truly a tale of two cities—one old, one new. After an earthquake decimated the region in 1693, a new town, Ragusa Superiore, was built on a high plateau, while the original medieval town, Ragusa Ilba, was restored on its low ridge. Ilba is home to the majority of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ragusa, making it one of the most memorable spots you will visit in Sicily. And after exploring Ragusa, our small group will take to the road like true Sicilians aboard vintage Fiat 500 cars to visit neighboring Modica.

Palermo Sicily’s capital is a city steeped in a lengthy multicultural past. Over its more than 2,700-year history, Palermo has inherited a fusion of traditions from a succession of rulers of Byzantine, Arab, and Norman descent—from maze-like streets and souk-style markets to countless castles and cathedrals whose architectural styles coexist. A visit to Monreale reveals Norman and Byzantine edifices while a walk through the historic quarter of Kalsa evokes a period of Arab rule. During our time in Palermo, we’ll also learn about the controversial history of the Sicilian Mafia—and how it gained strength and influence on the island during the 19th-century unification of Italy.

Catania Catania sits on Sicily’s mid-eastern coast in the shadow of Mount Etna. The volcano’s looming presence has shaped Catania’s history and has tested the resilience of its people. Over the centuries, several eruptions flattened the city, the most severe of which occurred in the 17th century. When the city was restored, however, the building material used was the very lava that caused its destruction—giving the Baroque-period architecture here a characteristic grey tint. Our discoveries in Catania include a 4-wheel-drive vehicle experience on the slope of Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano.

Discover the charms of Sicily while immersing yourself in 3,000 years of history ...