Italy, the Deep South & Sicily Tour

We had an amazing time and would thoroughly recommend the tour to those of you contemplating going on the 17 day journey. We had an extraordinary tour manager and a fantastic coach driver. Our Tour Manager had a wonderful and caring personality. She displayed an excellent knowledge of the deep south and Sicily, possessed good humour and subtlety depending on the given situation and, like our previous tour manager she was ‘a real gem’.

Our coach driver greeted our group everyday with a wonderful smile. He was ‘simply the best’ at handling the coach on Italian roads and in unpredictable traffic. You are in very safe hands with him at the ‘wheel’.
Highlights of the trip were many and varied. They included the people and the trulli cottages of Alberobello, the sassi caves of Matera, the Greek amphitheatre and ‘retail therapy’ of Taormina, climbing part of Mt Etna, the Greek and Roman ruins of Syracuse, Piazza del Duomo in Ortigia, the ‘bikini girls’ at the Villa Romana del Casale, the Valley of Temples, Sciacca, Erice, a scenic cruise to San Vito and Monreale in Palermo. The food was delicious and overwhelming as you will find out for yourself.

We were very fortunate that we had a mostly good natured, humorous and an easy going group that blended well. There would be some things that we would change but we suggest that you give Italy, the Deep South and Sicily a go and see what you think... you will be pleasantly surprised and also discover the Albatross difference.
 

Jo & Rob

We had 27 on our tour and never felt crowded on the bus. The quality of the accommodation was excellent overall. I loved the experience of staying in the cave in Matera and had the added thrill of waking up to see "Roman soldiers" donkeys ,camels and a bullock drawn cart just outside .There was a film crew shooting a movie about the life of Christ. The pace of the tour was just right and the Sicilian countryside is stunning and rugged. The food was of a very high standard and there was so much of it.The wine flowed freely too!

I have previously done 5 Trafalgar tours and Albatross Tours is far superior

Lona

I am gluten free and the food which was provided for me was excellent. The tour was absolutely brilliant and I will definitely travel with Albatross Tours again.

Pauline

Judy & Andy

Patricia

Russell

Jean

Kevin

I have just returned from Italy doing "The Deep South and Sicily” and would like you to know how much I enjoyed it. This is my second tour with Albatross Tours and I was not disappointed, again having a wonderful time, especially the longer stays, small group sizes and a very knowledgeable tour manager and a lovely driver. I have met really lovely people who I feel will become life long friends,

Staying in the Trulli’s in Alberobello was very unique, and one of the highlights for me was staying in the caves in Matera. They were just amazing, we all met on one of the terraces to have drinks looking out to the magnificent views across from us. It was a great night.

Another highlight was walking around one of the craters of Mt Etna…magnificent.

The south is so different to the north, and I am so glad I’ve experienced both. The food and the wines were delicious and I especially loved all the seafood we were treated to, and a special mention to Vittorio at his fabulous ristorante on the beach…Belissimo!! The countryside is so very scenic and I never tired of looking out the window.

I would like to say that our Tour Manager was tested on this tour with three people falling and two being taken to hospital…this was handled wonderfully, even organising a wheelchair for one of our fellow travellers.

I am now looking forward to going through the brochures again to decide what my next tour will be and you can be guaranteed that it will most certainly be with Albatross.

Helen

We loved the multi night stays, we were fortunate to travel with Gilberto as our Tour Manager for a second time, he has such a passion for his country and truely cares about all of his guests. There are so many memories I will cherish, such a divine experience to stay in the Sassi caves, the fact that it was raining only added to the experience, or was it staying in a Trulli in Alberobello, or meeting the "Wild Boar" himself, Vittorio. Perhaps it was the fact that my wife caught her first fish in the Mediterranean with the help of our Captain, or to stand on Mt Etna amongst the ash and snow, rugged up against the 3 degree's temperature and to bend down and fell the warmth beneath our feet.
Thank you Albatross.

- Paul, travelled May 2016

The tour was very relaxed not rushed in any way, I had been to many of the places before but this tour was outstanding, the Albatross guides were much better and had more information.

Our guide was very understanding, as a few people were ill he made sure that they were looked after by Doctor or chemist.

I will most certainly travel with Albatross again.

Mary

Tour was well paced and extremley well organised. Accomodation was varied and unique. Gilberto our Tour Manager made the difference from a well organised tour to a great and memorable experience. I enjoyed the tour and will travel with Albatross again without hesistation.

Heather

This was my first overseas organised tour and it exceeded my expectations. It was well organised, very informative and enjoyable. I had a wonderful time.

Thank you to everyone involved.

Cheryl

I have finally arrived home after another incredibly amazing Albatross Tour! We are totally sold on Albatross and so thrilled we found you in 2014.I recall you telling the afternoon tea crowd at Moore Park, Sydney, earlier this year how different and special the South of Italy and Sicily are.You hit the nail right on the head! Mind blowing actually.

We loved the magnificence of the landscapes of the northern tour we did in 2014 and could not see how that could be surpassed. However this tour has touched us, more emotionally I think, in ways we never imagined and it is hard to express how. But the south is simply special, raw perhaps and less sophisticated possibly but so very genuine.

Gilberto, our wonderful tour director, ensured the party of 20 travellers simply had the best time, the best opportunities for absolutely everything one could wish for!
As you already know he is a true gentleman, and one who can balance professionalism with just the right amount of personal interaction. We totally understand why you value his personal friendship so much too. Gilberto is an absolute treasure and he certainly made us feel special.  Hopefully we will be fortunate enough to meet him on our travels in the future.

Just couldn’t resist snapping these pics in Erice but no doubt many Albatross devotees have done the same thing many times over and sent them to you too!

Thank you  Euan, and your amazing team for creating these amazing tours and exciting us with your great passion of travel.

The tours allow those who take up your opportunities, to share the history and often uniqueness of so many places many of us would either miss or never dare to visit.

Keep creating please.

Jill

The way Albatross arranging the tour, from the sights, scenes and hotels, was memorable. What stood out for me the most were:

• The sequence of the places we visited were like a well scripted movie. A spectacular opening (Alberobello and Matera), followed by journey through sometimes start and other time beautiful country sides to places incredible and different, finishing with a spectacular dinner (evening) in a luxurious hotel (as we watch the sun setting on our journey) over a picturesque marina and bay.
• Each place we visited had its own special charm and beauty.
• The Tour Manager made everything easy for all the group and managed to fulfil every persons individual request without any seeming effort.
• The Tour Driver negotiated street and hills not made for big busses with impossible and ensured the bus was always parked in the best possible position for us passengers.
• The tastes of the places visited were enjoyed immensely.
• The quality of the fellow travellers was outstanding. Every person was friendly, cooperative and very interesting.
   

Norman