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.