Segesta, Erice, Marsala Salt Pans and Mozia Island from Palermo, Private Tour
Description
Experience an unforgettable day discovering the archaeological and landscape treasures of western Sicily. The tour begins with the legendary Segesta, where you can admire the majestic Doric temple, one of the best preserved in the world, immersed in a timeless landscape. Continue towards Erice, a charming village suspended between history and tradition, capable of conquering with its authentic charm. Then let yourself be surprised by the spectacular Salt Pans of Marsala, with their white reflections and suggestive windmills. In the heart of the salt pans is the small island of Mothia (San Pantaleo), accessible by boat : a magical place where history and nature blend. Here time seems to stand still, giving a unique and authentic experience. A journey through culture, breathtaking landscapes and timeless atmospheres, to experience the truest Sicily.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Halfway between present-day Palermo and Trapani is one of the oldest cities you can visit in Sicily. The first monument to visit is the Doric temple, one of the best preserved Greek temples in the Western world. The Doric temple of Segesta stands outside the city walls, on a hill west of the city. Wolfgang von Goethe, in his Journey to Italy, described the temple in these words:"The location of the temple is amazing: at the top of a wide and long valley, on top of an isolated hill and yet surrounded by cliffs, it dominates a vast prospect of lands."
The Ancient Theatre of Segesta, built on the north side of the acropolis, stands on the highest peak of Monte Barbaro, close to the Gulf of Castellammare. The theater has a very wide panoramic view that turns into a spectacular setting if necessary. It is one of the most successful examples of theatrical architecture placed in the passage and is still used, during the summer, for performances and concerts. To reach it you have to follow some paths in the middle of the fields or a wide paved road. But if you don’t feel like tackling this long hike, especially in summer or in the evening, you can use the convenient shuttle bus service that leaves from the ticket office and leads to the entrance of the theater.
Perched on top of a mountain and overlooking the Gulf of Trapani, Erice is a small and characteristic medieval village, with narrow and paved streets, courtyards, churches and plenty of clean and fresh air, even in the height of summer. Thanks to its altitude you can enjoy a splendid 360° panoramic view. Starting right from the narrow streets behind the cathedral you can start the tour in the center of the village, among picturesque corners, souvenir shops and historic pastry shops. In Via Vittorio Emanuele, 14 is the historic pastry shop of Maria Grammatico, here you can admire and taste typical sweets of Erice. The symbol of the town is obviously the Castle of Venus, from Norman times, which stands right on the sheer fortress and offers a spectacular view. Next to the castle you can admire the Pepoli Towers and the beautiful Balio Municipal Villa. During the summer the cable car connecting Trapani with the summit of Erice is in operation!
The Salt Pans of Marsala are located in the Stagnone Reserve and are one of the most visited tourist attractions in the province of Trapani. A unique territory in front of the island of Mothia, along the famous “salt route”, gateway to the Stagnone Islands Nature Reserve. The Stagnone Nature Reserve and the island of Mozia is a place of extraordinary beauty, where alongside the exceptional natural landscapes you can appreciate the windmills typical of the Trapani coast, an original example of industrial archaeology still fully functional today. The Lagoon Salt Pans are located right inside the Reserve. The lagoon, the largest in Sicily (2000 ha) is characterized by very salty shallow waters.
The island of Mozia belongs to the Stagnone di Marsala archipelago and is one of the most popular tourist routes for visitors. Mozia is a true open-air treasure, with its numerous archaeological finds, some of which are submerged by the sea due to rising tides: its archaeological value is still considered priceless. Mozia is home to one of the most important museums in the province of Trapani. The young man of Mozia is the most prestigious and representative of the island: it is a marble statue. Mozia is an ancient Phoenician colony founded in the eighth century BC.C. on one of the four islands of the Stagnone lagoon. The name of Motya, probably given by the Phoenicians themselves, would mean spinning mill and would be connected to the presence of wool processing plants, implanted here. The island, like most other Phoenician colonies, was a trading post and was intended to serve as a docking point for Phoenician ships en route in the Mediterranean. With the Greek colonization, which begins in the eighth century, Motya increases its importance by becoming a citizen. In the 6th century, the contrasts between the Greeks and Carthaginians increased for the dominance over Sicily and Mozia was involved; it was then surrounded by walls that allowed a better defense. In 397 Dionysius the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse, besieges the city and ends its existence. The inhabitants take refuge on the mainland in the colony of Lilibeo, present-day Marsala. The rediscovery of Motya is linked to the name of Giuseppe Whitaker, an English nobleman of the late nineteenth century whose family had settled in Sicily and had started a flourishing export trade of Marsala wine. On the island stands the Whitaker house, now converted into a museum. TIMETABLES AND PRICES ISLAND OF MOZIA : 1 NOVEMBER - 31 MARCH every day from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm 1 APRIL - 31 OCTOBER every day 9.30 am - 6.30 pm PRICES : ADULTS € 9 STUDENTS AND CHILDREN € 5
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer pick up from any hotel or address in Palermo. You will have a car with driver just for you and your company. Once your purchase is complete, we will send you the complete information (phone number, email address and so on).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(19)
Shared location with the driver multiple times; however, he never picked us up. Contacted the operator and they only provided us with a partial refund. I would not encourage anyone to book this tour.
Thank you for your review. We are sorry that you were disappointed with your experience. However, we believe it is important to clarify the circumstances. The tour you booked clearly states, both in the title and in the pickup information, that it starts from the Port of Palermo. The booking confirmation also specifies that pickup is available only in Palermo. On the day of the tour, our driver arrived at the agreed meeting point at the Port of Palermo and waited as scheduled. Only after being unable to locate you did we discover, through the live location you shared, that you were actually at the Port of Messina, approximately 240 km (150 miles) away from Palermo. Unfortunately, it is not possible to operate this tour from Messina, as the distance and travel time would make the itinerary unfeasible. Although the booking error was not caused by our company, we still chose to offer a 50% refund as a gesture of goodwill and customer care. We always strive to provide excellent service and encourage future guests to carefully check the departure location shown in the tour title and pickup details before booking. We wish you all the best in your future travels.
A preserved site that bears witness to the multiple cultural layers that have shaped Sicily. A pleasant surprise this Sunday in May, free admission. Only the bus (crowded) to reach the heights to visit the theater was paid. Large and sufficient parking despite the crowd. I recommend a hat, the bus, and a bottle of water. A nice introduction to the beginning of our journey...
Our driver, Guiseppe, was on time, pleasant, enthusiastic, considerate and informative. A good trip for those with limited time, but who want to "see it all". Communication with the tour operator and Guiseppe was excellent.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great experience and that Giuseppe made your day so enjoyable. He will be very happy to know that you appreciated his punctuality, enthusiasm and the information he shared during the trip. We’re also pleased that the itinerary worked well for your limited time and allowed you to “see it all” comfortably. Providing smooth communication and reliable service is very important to us, so your feedback truly means a lot. We hope to welcome you again in Sicily soon! 🌞
Our tour guide/driver Fabrizio was excellent and a wealth of knowledge. The Renault van was very comfortable but we were not offered WiFi access as advertised. Unfortunately, the tour itself was less than advertised and quite pricey. Being off season, there were very few shops or restaurants open in Erice where we had intended to enjoy lunch. The salt pans museum was not open and the boat ride to Mozia was not possible. Marsala was not available to us either. The temple of Segesta was what we expected but we were charged an additional 27 USD to tour the site with audio assist. If traveling off season, confirm what is actually available before booking.
Dear Customer, thank you for sharing your experience. We are pleased to hear that you appreciated the professionalism and knowledge of your guide/driver Fabrizio, as well as the comfort of the vehicle. We apologize if the Wi-Fi was not offered as advertised; we will look into what happened to ensure it does not occur again. We are truly sorry that some services and visits were not available on the day of your tour. During the low season, unfortunately, several sites and activities reduce their hours or remain closed without prior notice. For example, the official website of the salt pans indicates opening hours from Monday to Sunday, 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, while Google shows updated hours with only a short lunch break. However, in reality, during autumn and winter they do not open every day and the posted schedules are not always respected. Additionally, in this period Mozia can only be visited during the first part of the day, and we understand how this may have affected your experience. Regarding the Temple of Segesta, the cost of the entrance tickets and audio guides is managed directly by the Archaeological Park and for this reason is not included in the tour. We appreciate your suggestion: checking seasonal openings before booking is always useful, and our team is fully available to assist customers with this. We hope to welcome you again during a more favorable period, so that we can offer you the complete experience you deserve. Kind regards, Alexandra
Our private tour of Segesta, Erice, the Stagnone Salt Pans, and Marsala with Mimmo was absolutely wonderful! From start to finish, he was kind, thoughtful, and completely accommodating to our needs. He shared great facts and stories about each location, bringing the history and beauty of Sicily to life. We never felt rushed — Mimmo always made sure we had time to enjoy each stop, take photos, and soak it all in. He even went out of his way to offer restaurant recommendations and local tips, which made the experience feel personal and special. The car was immaculate and incredibly comfortable, and the timing of every activity was perfect, allowing us to see so much without ever feeling tired. If you want a relaxing, informative, and beautifully curated Sicilian adventure, book this tour and ask for Mimmo — you won’t regret it!
Dear, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour of Segesta, Erice, the Salt Pans, and Marsala with Mimmo. He will be so happy to know that his kindness, knowledge, and attention to detail made your Sicilian experience memorable. It’s always our goal to provide comfortable, personalized, and stress-free experiences — we’re thrilled that you felt that throughout your day. We sincerely hope to welcome you again soon for another unforgettable adventure in Sicily! Warm regards, Alexandra Panormus Autoservizi
The driver , Mimo, was great and the car was a late model and very clean . Punctual pick up, cold water on demand and well laid out itinerary so that the walking parts were downhill with the car dropping us off near the top and then waiting at the bottom.
Dear Andrei, Thank you so much for your kind feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with Mimmo and appreciated the comfort and organization of the service. Your satisfaction is our greatest reward, and we hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Sicily! Warm regards, Alexandra Panormus Autoservizi
Stress free way to enjoy some of the sights surrounding Palermo. Comfortable car provided with an excellent and extremely knowledgeable driver. With thanks to our driver Mimmo, who made our journey very memorable.
Dear Guest, thank you so much for your kind words. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed a stress-free experience discovering the sights around Palermo. We are especially pleased that our driver Mimmo helped make your journey so memorable – we will be sure to share your feedback with him. We truly appreciate your review and hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Sicily. Best regards, Alexandra
This tour from Palermo was an incredible way to experience Sicily. Our driver Mimmo made this an even more elevated day. His incredible knowledge of the areas we were going to visit made for a truly immersive experience. The history you get to experience on this tour was awesome and we made incredible memories. As busy as some of these areas get it was well worth it to have door to door service with this tour.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your tour from Palermo was such a special experience. It’s great to know that Mimmo helped make your day even more memorable with his knowledge and passion. We’re glad you appreciated the door-to-door service and the rich history of the places you visited. We truly hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable moments in Sicily! Warm regards from all of us!
It was an amazing adventure of the northwest portions of Sicily leaving from Palermo. Our guide Fabrizio was amazing. He was like hanging out with a friend that you met to travel with that knew everything about the local area. We felt very well taken care of and had plenty of time to explore each of the destinations that we stopped at plus a little added extra. It was great to learn about the local history from him.
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear that you loved our tour and that it met your expectations. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon. Alexandra
Fabrizio was a fantastic guide! He is incredibly knowledgeable of all the sights we visited Segesta, Erice, Trapani, Salt pans, etc. He is very interesting talking about the history of Sicily. Mainly he is an exceptionally nice person we enjoyed spending the day with! Request him if you want an unforgettable experience!
Dear Julia, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with us. Your feedback means the world to our team, and it encourages us to continue providing the best service possible. We hope to welcome you again soon! Best regards, Alexandra
