Best Of Sicily Shore Excursion: Etna, Taormina, Castelmola - 10 Persons Max

Our guide was great but lots of driving great views. Lots of yourest areas with mostly shopping. Guide was a great driver. Just be aware of the tour. But the views were unbelievable

We had an absolutely perfect tour Experience. Simon was a knowledgeable personable guide who expertly navigated us through all parts of our Experience.

We decided to take this tour as it included many of the places we wanted to visit but in a small group. Communication with Mario was excellent, informative and prompt. Our guide was Simone and there were only 8 people on the tour. Simone was wonderful. He was a great driver and guide, giving us history and information about the areas we toured and Sicily in general. We were all excited to get to see Mount Etna, but none of us could believe our great fortune as the volcano had one of its most active days in a very long while (according to Simone). Everywhere we went, we could see the volcano. Utterly amazing. If you are looking for a great tour in Sicily, book this one, you won’t be disappointed! Grazie mille Mario and Simone!

Simone was a wonderful guide. Communication before the tour was good and pick up went smoothly as arranged. Car was clean, comfortable, and well maintained. Our tour went to Mt Edna which was erupting. Our ship had cancelled all excursions. Simone was able to take us to the base camp where we found many other tours had also gone. Simone showed us where to take the cable cars up farther. This was not included ( 50€@). This option often has a hike but it was closed. The cable car ride had a great view and when we reached the end—WOW!! We could hear the eruptions as well as see them. What a thrill. Simone gave great information about the area. Highly recommend

We were a group of 10 and all had a wonderful time. Sergio (unsure of spelling) was a fantastic guide and was very knowledgeable about the island and the places we went to. Mt. Etna was simply extraordinary and Taormina was beautiful (we didn’t go to Castelmola since we wanted to maximize our time in the other two areas). Great views, great tour guide, wonderful experience altogether

My family and I took a Mediterranean cruise stopping at several different countries. Sicily was most important to me as this is where my family is from. Of all the excursions/tours we did on this cruise, Sicily was hands down the best! Our guide, Sergio, gave us the experience of a lifetime, Knowledgeable, friendly, and very helpful, I can honestly say he made this tour so special for us. I promised Sergio a picture of the sentimental souvenir I purchased (with his help to negotiate a good price), so I am posting it here hanging proudly in my kitchen. Please make sure he sees this; I don't know how else to get these to him :)

My husband, mother, and I booked this tour while our cruise ship was docked in Messina because all other excursions through the ship were sold out. We’re so glad that we did! Sergio was our guide. He picked us up directly from the port along with another couple and drove us first to Mt. Etna, then Castelmola, then Taormina, before dropping us back off at our ship. He was a phenomenal guide. As a local, he was extremely knowledgeable about the history and current events of the region and brought us to cafes, restaurants, and shops off the beaten path where he haggled great discounts for us. He was extremely friendly and inviting, and you could tell he truly loves what he does. After hearing about our intent to grab cannolis in Taormina, he instead brought us to his favorite local bakery in Messina and treated us to some incredible, fresh cannolis. By the end of the tour, he felt like a family friend. Hands down the best shore excursion experience I had for the entire trip.

The tour was fantastic and the sites we visited stunning. The driver was punctual and professional, the vehicle, comfortble and clean. 100% recommended

While the sites and tour guide were nice, the management overbooked this tour and we left 40 minutes late. We got an email a few days before the excursion stating that there were going to be 14-16 people on the tour and if we weren’t happy, we could cancel. They advertise 10 people max! What were we going to do since we were already on the ship and had booked this well in advance? Then on the day of the excursion, 14 people were on the bus and the guide said 3 were missing (now it’s 17?, not great), but that if the people didn’t show up within 15 minutes of scheduled time we’d leave. 20 minutes past scheduled time she arrives with 2 new people who just joined. We were not happy as these people probably got a great deal last minute, less than what we paid through Viator. So we finally left with 16 people on board. Once we were out of the port the manager called our guide and told her the 3 missing people were now there waiting. He literally forced the guide and driver to go back to get them. With now a packed full mini-bus of 19 people, and bad traffic, we left the port 40 minutes late! Ugh! While we were at Castelmola we were only given 20 minutes, far less than needed to see the town. What a waste of a stop. Then at Taormina, the guide insisted on walking us all the way though town to show us the meeting place on the other side. A much more effective way then walking the entire group there and wasting what free time we had was to give us a map and point out key landmarks to find it. Once we finally got our free time we were at the end of the town and had to go back to begin. I would NOT recommend this tour. Very poor management and they did not stick to what was promised when we booked! Just horrible! We should get a partial refund for all the problems!

Nina was an excellent guide..her knowledge and love of her native city was infectious.. when we return we will surely request her again