Elements of Sicily
A women-only journey through Sicily’s Fire, Earth, Sea & Sun
October 5–13 2026
The idea
Sicily isn’t just somewhere you visit — it’s somewhere you feel.
After living in Sicily for seven years, this trip has been built from first-hand experience: places I returned to again and again, experiences I shared with my own family and friends, and routes that make sense both geographically and culturally.
Elements of Sicily is a small-group, women-only trip, with private rooms as standard.
Expect full days that combine exploration with time to wander. The journey is shaped around Sicily’s elements — fire, earth, sea and sun — as we travel along the east coast.
This isn’t a retreat. It’s a considered travel experience. Designed by someone who likes to properly experience a place when travelling — and for women who feel the same. To see things, do things, tick off parts of the bucket list, and experience Sicily beyond the obvious.
Days are full and well planned, balanced with time to stop, sit, take in the view and enjoy a drink.
Many women arrive on their own. We all leave with friendships.
The pace is thoughtful, the logistics are taken care of, and the experiences are chosen because they add context — not because they look good on Instagram.
Expect well-chosen locations, locally sourced food, time to absorb where you are, and the confidence that comes from travelling with someone who knows Sicily from the inside out.
At a glance
Dates: October 5th to 13th 2026
Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
Group size: Minimum 6, maximum 12
Style: Full but thoughtful, relaxed, quietly adventurous — fun, but not rowdy
Who it’s for: Women travelling solo or with friends
Room philosophy: Single private rooms first — no forced sharing
The journey
Fire — Mount Etna & Taormina (3 nights)
We begin beneath Europe’s most active volcano — one of Sicily’s defining forces.
Our first stop is Taormina, a place many will recognise from the TV show White Lotus. We’ll have time to explore its elegant streets, ancient theatre and sweeping coastal views.
A guided hike on Mount Etna brings you face to face with Sicily’s raw power: Europes most active volcano, a unique landscape, lava tunnels, volcanic soil and lunch in the forest.
Evenings are unhurried — long dinners, good wine, and that first deep exhale of being somewhere new.
Sea & sun — Ortigia & Siracusa (3 nights)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place close to my heart, Ortigia was my home for seven years. What still fascinates me is how it exists in the shadow of its own history, surrounded by the sea, welcoming travellers while local life carries on largely unchanged.
It’s a place of contrasts: beautiful and messy, old and new, bohemian and traditional — all existing comfortably side by side. I love this tiny island, and I’m confident you will too.
Highlights include:
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A guided walking tour of Ortigia, led by me (we will be getting off the tourist track)
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A visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park, including the Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre and the Ear of Dionysius
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The atmospheric Catacombs of San Giovanni, offering rare insight into early Sicilian history
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A boat trip around the island and out to the sea caves
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Sunset aperitivo overlooking the sea — think Aperol spritz in one hand, bruschetta in the other
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Time to explore markets, cathedrals, piazzas, side streets and the marina at your own pace
This part of the journey blends history, daily life and the sea — the Ortigia I know and a glimpse into local Sicilian life.
Earth — Noto countryside & olives (2 nights)
The final days take us inland, to the quieter south-eastern countryside. Travelling in October allows us to experience the olive harvest — a short, once-a-year period that is an integral part of the calendar.
Here, the focus shifts to the land: agriculture, the zero-kilometre food movement, and the olives that produce some of the world’s finest olive oil.
Highlights include:
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Time among olive groves near Noto
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A guided olive oil tasting, learning how to recognise quality and what makes Sicilian oil distinctive
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Long lunches built around local ingredients and seasonal cooking
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Time to slow the pace before departure, without switching off completely
This is Sicily at its most grounded — agricultural, tradition-led, and deeply tied to the land
What’s included
Accommodation & meals
8 nights’ accommodation in carefully chosen hotels
Private rooms as standard (no single supplement)
Daily breakfast
Welcome dinner
Farewell dinner
Aperitivo in Ortigia
Experiences
Guided Mount Etna experience, including lunch
Boat trip from Ortigia
Olive oil tasting experience
Guided walking tour of Ortigia
Entrance fees to all historical sites listed
Local, licensed guides where required
Transport
All in-country transport between locations (Taormina → Ortigia → Noto)
Hosting & support
Me — accompanying the group throughout, handling logistics, translating where needed, and hosting from start to finish
Pre-trip WhatsApp group
Pre-trip group Zoom call
A welcome pack with practical information and tips
All local taxes and booking fees
What’s not included
Flights to and from Sicily
Travel insurance
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
Lunches and dinners not listed above
Personal expenses (souvenirs, additional drinks, etc.)
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Full guidance on flights, insurance and arrival logistics will be provided in advance.
Is this trip for you? You’ll enjoy it if you:
Like seeing and doing things, not just skimming highlights
Appreciate good organisation and thoughtful pacing
Enjoy learning about a place through its landscape, history, food and daily life
Want the confidence of travelling with someone who knows Sicily from the inside out
It may not suit you if you:
Are looking for a slow, wellness-focused retreat
Prefer lots of unstructured free time
Are travelling mainly for luxury or downtime
Elements of Sicily is designed for women who are curious, capable, have a sense of adventure and enjoy experiencing a place fully.
Pricing & booking
Price: £3,100 per person
An early booking rate of £2,800 is available for early bookings.
Early rate places are limited and confirmed on receipt of deposit.
Payment structure
A £700 deposit is required to secure your place.
The remaining balance is payable in two equal installments.
First payment: week commencing 16 June
Final payment: week commencing 24 August
Alternatively, guests may choose to pay in full at the time of booking and receive a 3% reduction on the total price. This option must be selected at the time of booking and cannot be applied retrospectively. Places are limited and confirmed on receipt of deposit.
Payment methods
Card payment via Stripe
UK bank transfer available on request
International transfers handled securely via Wise
Once you’re ready to proceed, get in touch and we’ll arrange the most convenient payment for you. An invoice and booking confirmation will be issued on receipt of payment.
Cancellation policy
Due to the small-group nature of this trip and advance commitments with local suppliers:
The £700 deposit is non-refundable. Cancellations more than 16 weeks before departure: refund of payments made minus deposit and transaction fees. Cancellations between 16 and 6 weeks before departure: 50% refund of total trip price minus deposit and transaction fees. Cancellations within 6 weeks of departure: non-refundable. You may transfer your place to another suitable guest, subject to approval and any costs incurred. All changes and ammendments need to be communicated by email. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended at the time of booking.
Hosted by me, Chloe.
I left the UK sixteen years ago on a solo group trip to China — and never really went home again. An extreme reaction to travel, yes, but a decision that changed the direction of my life. Since then, I’ve spent almost sixteen years travelling, living and working overseas. Travel isn’t a hobby for me; it’s an intrinsic part of who I am and how I live.
I’m a small business owner, married to a fellow travel-lover, and together we homeschool and world school our two young children. Home has taken many forms over the years — and Sicily was one of the most formative. I lived in Ortigia Island for seven years, and it’s a place I know and love. I’m not an all-inclusive resort traveller. I like to see things, do things, and really experience a place. That said, I’m also very happy with a massage and an Aperol spritz — ideally after a full day of exploring.
Elements of Sicily reflects exactly how I like to travel: explorative, carefully adventurous, full but not overwhelming, and rooted in real experiences rather than surface-level highlights. This trip is for women who want to make the most of their time, feel confident travelling solo, enjoy sharing experiences with like-minded women, and value good planning, thoughtful pacing and the ease that comes from being in capable hands.
I’d love to share Sicily with you — the version I know and love, beyond the postcards and clichés.
