Info of Best of Sicily Tour

You will have a fun time in Sicily and will enjoy your fellow RS travelers. I have taken 11 RS tours, including Sicily. I would rate Sicily as somewhat more strenuous than the average RS tour, but well worth the effort. And you can always opt out of any activity that is too tiring. RS travelers dress for comfort and pack light. There is no “dress up” night. Athletic or outdoor clothing is very common during the day and most people do not change clothing for dinner. My “buddy” on my last tour wore only Columbia brand clothing the entire time. Every hotel I can remember provided shampoo and hair dryer, so I never bring either. Hope this is helpful.

I was on this tour last spring and yes, the hotels all had shampoo and hair dryers. In terms of "strenuous", I would say it was more a matter of the number of stairs and hilly streets. I was 70 when I took this tour and had no trouble with "keeping up". In terms of what people wore, there were all types, but a number of people were wearing more athletic attire during the day, and maybe just a different shirt and shoes at night. Take what you will feel comfortable in and that doesn't take up a ton of space in your suitcase. You will have some free nights to get dinner on your own but definitely nothing dressy. Be comfortable and enjoy the trip!!!

We took this tour in late October. It was awesome. Everyone's clothes were casual and comfortable. It was still warm with highs in upper 70s to low 80s. For sun protection, bring a hat!

There are lots of stairs. And at Segesta you'll walk downhill along a path from the Greek theater to the Greek temple. And the temples at Valley of Temples are quite a distance from each other. If you can work your way up to walking at home 2 to 3 miles several times a week and can do some squats, you'll be able to do this trip easily. Wear comfy shoes. Husband wore Nike running shoes. Wife wore Asics with max cushion sole.

We packed clothes made of technical fabrics (polyester & spandex or light merino wool blends) that could be hand washed and hung up to dry. Typical brands included Columbia, REI, Kuhl, Eddie Bauer, Under Armor, SmartWool, etc. (Lots of things bought at TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Sierra Trading Post, REI, Kohl's.)

Including what we wore on the plane, we had:

HIM - 4 pairs technical fabric "hiking" type pants.

HIM - 4 long-sleeve lightweight pullover shirts. 1 long-sleeve light merino wool shirt for Mt. Etna (cooler temps at higher elevation). 4 short-sleeve "t-shirts". 2 Columbia long-sleeved button-up shirts for sun protection.

HER - 3 pairs technical fabric "hiking" type pants.

HER - 2 long-sleeved lightweight pullover shirts. 1 long-sleeved light merino wool shirt for Mt. Etna. 4 short-sleeve "t-shirts". 3 Columbia long-sleeve button-up shirts for sun protection. 1 long-sleeve light polyester "dressy" blouse (worn only twice).

We also had lightweight windbreakers, light gloves, and knit hats for Mt. Etna (also hilltop town of Erice was cool, windy and misty). Mini travel umbrellas came in handy on last day when it rained hard (with thunder).

Some people also brought shorts and bathing suits for going swimming in the sea (on your own, not part of tour).

We hand-washed a few things in the hotel sinks twice during the trip. All tour members wore outfits multiple times. No big deal!

All hotels had shampoo and hair dryer, but not conditioner. (And they don't have washcloths. Just use your hands.) Also, shower floors were very slippery. Next trip we're bringing flip-flops as shower shoes. We really enjoyed this trip and hope you will too!

Hi jennyinec,

My husband and I took RS Sicily as the second RS tour (back-to-back) after the Best of South Italy. We had a couple of free days between the tours. The RS Sicily tour was in October of 2019.

Step count:
Pre-tour in Palermo - 11,093 steps
Pre-tour in Palermo - 12,676 steps
Day 1 - 16,020 (most we incurred prior to the group meeting)
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, flight home

We really enjoyed both tours. Just do the usual things to get ready such as walking (flat and hills) or treadmill and StepMaster. You will have a wonderful time.

I’m going on this tour in June and can’t wait! Thank you GTJackets for sharing your step counts!

In terms of what to wear, groups are mixed: You’ll see plenty in classic travel clothes day and night, but others freshen up for dinner with a simple change—like a nicer blouse, pretty scarf/accessory, or fresh shirt (especially handy if you sweat during the day). It’s rarely fancy, just a little more elevated and put-together than daytime wear.

My advice after two tours: Do what makes you feel good and confident. If elevating your look a little at night boosts your enjoyment, pack one or two versatile “nicer” pieces—they add almost no weight. If same outfit all day feels right for you, that’s perfectly fine too—no one’s judging, and you’ll fit right in either way.

We are the same age and did not find it too strenuous. The most difficult day was in Agrigento in my opinion because it was quite warm and the guide took a long time explaining things. Do make sure to bring an hat! Also comfortable shoes with grippy soles. Some archeological sites are pretty worn down and can be slippery. Others have addressed the clothing issue. Pack and then remove at least two items! We travel in hiking clothes and do sink washes of underwear and socks( laundry sheets are quite helpful). Remember you have to be able to haul your own suitcase.

Be aware that RS has started a “ green” deal with the hotels so that they will not be cleaned during your stay. Many hotels now have large containers of soap and shampoo in the bathrooms, but if you hit one hotel that still does the little amenities you won’t get a refill unless you go ask.

Every single one of your replies has been helpful! I appreciate it very much. Looking forward go making our first RS tour!

Most hotels on this route provide basic shampoo and hair dryers, though conditioner is rare. For the "strenuous" parts, it's mostly about stairs and uneven cobbles rather than long hikes. Athletic wear is fine during the day, but a scarf or nicer top works for dinner.

Hi Jenny. My husband and I will also be taking the Sicily tour that begins 5/1. Looking forward to meeting you. Sally

Maybe worth noting that the activity levels assume an older participant, not a twenty year old.

You should be fine

I went in June. I loved this tour and would do it again. Lots of stairs. Heat. I'd never had swollen ankles before! Drink lots of fluid all day long. Get some Nuun tablets to put in your water bottle. Relaxed attire, I'd say. I flew home out of Palermo. Took a bus from Catania to Palermo. Spent the night. The tour goes all along the coast. The interior of the country appeared to be farmland and sparsely populated.

We were there in March/April 2025 and it was FANTASTIC!!! It was our first time taking a RS Tour and it was WOW.

Dress in layers and dress for comfort (bring laundry sheets if you want to do a sink laundry mid-tour) - merino wool clothing is wonderful for travelling. Sturdy shoes are a must. Each hotel provided hair dryers, shampoo and soap - the only thing that I needed was "hair conditioner" - I couldn't even find it in the shops ...so I will pack a small squishy bottle for my tours this year.

Just as a fyi, we used packing cubes to keep our suitcases organized and I did the 5-4-3-2-1 method for my main packing:
5 tops, 4 layers (which included my windbreaker jacket), 3 pants, 2 shoes (+flip flops for hotel room), 1 nice top for special. We stayed in Rome for an extra week after the tour - still living out of our carry on suitcase.

If I can give one advice, go to Palermo a day or two to explore before the tour starts & stay in Catania to explore 1 more day after the tour - in case there is anything you didn't get to see.

Because this was our first time travelling for 3 weeks with just a carryon, I limited souvenirs to tea towels, small magnets and a silk scarf (everything fit into a spare compression cube).

Have a wonderful time!!!