This version of the tour returns by ferry from Palermo to Genoa. If you prefer to travel entirely by rail, choose the "11 Days – Return by Train" option.

Day 1

Travel by Eurostar from London to Paris, then continue by TGV Lyria through Switzerland to Milan. Arrive in the evening and stay overnight in a 3-star hotel near Milano Centrale, for example Hotel Madison.

Day 2

Travel by high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milan to Naples in around 4½ hours. Overnight in Naples in a 3-star hotel near the central station, for example Ibis Styles Hotel Garibaldi.

Day 3

Board the InterCity train to Sicily. At Villa San Giovanni, the train is loaded onto the ferry for the crossing to Messina – the last remaining rail ferry crossing in Europe where passengers stay on the train. Arrive in Catania in the late afternoon. Overnight at, for example, Hotel Villa Romeo or Romano House, both close to the railway station.

Day 4 (Monday to Saturday only, not on Sundays or public holidays)

Enjoy a unique journey around Mount Etna on the narrow-gauge Circumetnea Railway, which circles the volcano through lava fields created by recent eruptions and climbs to around 1,000 metres above sea level before reaching Giarre. The railway is still used daily by local commuters and schoolchildren, giving you a glimpse of authentic Sicilian life in towns such as Bronte and Randazzo. From Giarre, continue by regional train to Syracuse. Overnight at, for example, Hotel Alfeo.

Day 5

Free day in the medieval city of Syracuse. Stroll along the waterfront, wander through the narrow streets of Ortigia, admire churches and historic monuments including the cathedral, built on the remains of an ancient Greek temple, or visit the Archaeological Museum.

Day 6

Travel by train to Agrigento on one of Sicily's most scenic regional railway lines through the island's interior. A faster alternative is the InterCity from Syracuse to Catania followed by an express bus to Agrigento (optional, bus ticket available locally).

Agrigento, on Sicily's southern coast, is famous for the Valley of the Temples, one of the finest collections of ancient Greek temples in the world. Stay overnight at, for example, Hotel La Passeggiata di Girgenti, centrally located close to the railway station.

Day 7

Free day in Agrigento. Visit the Valley of the Temples or spend time at one of the nearby beaches.

Day 8

Travel by train to Palermo, a beautiful journey of around two hours across Sicily from coast to coast. Stay at, for example, Hotel Ambasciatori in the heart of Palermo's historic centre. Already a flourishing city during the Arab period in the 9th century, Palermo later enjoyed another golden age under the Norman kings, reflected in its many medieval churches and monuments.

Day 9 (not on Sundays, except during summer)

Spend the day exploring Palermo on foot or with the convenient hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. Alternatively, take a local bus to Monreale to visit its famous cathedral and monastery. In the evening, board the GNV ferry to Genoa, departing between 21:30 and 23:59 depending on the season and day of the week. Outside the summer season, the ferry generally does not operate on Sundays (see "Prices and booking").

Day 10

Relax on board as you sail across the Mediterranean. Arrive in Genoa in the early evening and stay overnight at, for example, Hotel Continental near Genova Piazza Principe station.

Day 11

Return by train via Milan, Switzerland, Paris and London.

13-day tour

Compared with the 11-day tour, this itinerary includes:

• 1 extra night in Catania (allowing you to travel on the Circumetnea Railway on your free day if preferred)
• 1 extra night in Basel to break the return journey

15-day tour

Compared with the 11-day tour, this itinerary includes:

• 1 extra night in Naples
• 1 extra night in Catania
• 1 extra night in Palermo
• 1 extra night in Basel to break the return journey