I'm thinking about booking the tour this fall but am a little concerned about its rating as maximum physical difficulty. We are seniors in good health who walk a mile or two regularly. The tour description says be ready for 2-8 miles a day. I'm not sure I would enjoy back-to-back 8 mile days. We previously traveled on our own other than RS Venice, Florence and Rome about five years ago.
Can anyone give me first hand information?
Myself, SIL and Brother (74 yrs) did this tour in Sept/2024. Was a great tour and by no means was it at all hard. If you can walk and keep up with a decent pace you will be just fine. There is some up hill and down hill but nothing is of a distance that isn’t manageable. You may have to go up a few flights of stairs but really, nobody is pushing you and the days or evenings you are free to do your own thing, you can choose to walk as much or little as you want, to shop or eat etc. We loved Sicily, so different from Italy in some ways, yet same in others. Beautiful scenery, great food and your dollar goes a bit further as prices are much better. Some really standout places to see there. Highly recommend.
We did this tour in 2022 so we were early/ mid 70s. It wasn’t particularly strenuous and I think the 8 miles description includes what you might end up with adding your free time walking. There was downhill walking at Segesta, but you could take the shuttle back down in you wanted. At Agrigento, the guide started us at the top so we were walking downhill. Walking the crater at Mt. Etna was personal choice. There was some uphill walking at Erice and the Taormina amphitheater,but we stopped along the way. We had a wonderful time.
Thanks both of you. Sounds like a great tour. My grandmother was born and lived in Saragusa until she was about 13 and I've never been.
we did this tour a few years ago and are seniors as well. we did not find the walking strenious at all, and I dont remember any 8 mile days, the only thing I would stress is that it was extremely hot, pack accordingly. pack a brimmed hat, baseball hats dont shade the back of your neck so a Tilly style would work better, my husband loves his. I really felt the heat and did skip the temple walk at Agrigento, the museum talk was facinating and enjoyable, but I felt that the hilltop walk from temple to temple might be too hot for me and I didnt want to spoil it for the rest of the group by going along, which was a good decision on our part, everyone happy, I stayed cool and we carried on with the tour. so in a nutshell I would say if you pace yourself for the heat you will be fine, maybe pack a couple of hand fans to keep in your bag, they work better than flapping a guidebook back and forth. Happy Travels
Hi georgepwhite,
We took this trip in October 2019 back-to-back after the Best of South Italy.
I went back to my journal for details. With a little extra walking exercise around the neighborhood or at a gym, this trip is very doable. We were in our early 60's.
RS Sicily tour's step count - your mileage will vary:
Day 1 - 16,020 (most steps before the meet and greet)
Day 2 - 12,859
Day 3 - 13,018
Day 4 - 8,826
Day 5 - 12,388
Day 6 - 11,896
Day 7 - 15,387
Day 8 - 10,522
Day 9 - 10,685
Day 10 - 7,854
Day 11 - Tour over (no step count), flew back home after breakfast.
We loved this tour and hope you will too.
I'm 80 and I recently returned from the RS Best of London tour - a different animal, but it also mentioned 2-8 miles most days and 2-6 miles the other days. My mileages were
4.5
5.6
6.1
5.5
6.7
4.7
At home, I walk a mile or two regularly. But the difference is that I walk fast at home, trying to keep my heartbeat up. On the tour, we mostly strolled when we were with the guide. It makes a big difference whether you're on a "forced march," which I wouldn't expect you to be in Sicily, or a sightseeing stroll. When I have a day where I can spend some time on a bench, some time at lunch, some time in museums and some time walking, it's not a big deal to go 6 or 8 miles. I love Sicily - have fun!
