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Now Journey small-group tour

Sardinia, Sicily & Santorini: Treasures of the Mediterranean

A richly paced 12-day Journey from Sardinia's rugged coast to Taormina's ancient soul and Santorini's volcanic Aegean finale.

Sardinia → Sicily / Taormina → Santorini

  • 8 to 12 guests
  • Max 16
  • Tour Captain hosted
  • 4- and 5-star hotels
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No obligation. No pressure.

12 Days / 11 NightsIsland pace
Sardinia + Sicily + SantoriniComplete Journey
8–12 GuestsMax 16
4- & 5-Star HotelsCurated collection
Tour CaptainHosted throughout

Choose your Journey

Two Mediterranean editions. One island rhythm.

The 9-day Journey focuses on Sardinia and Sicily. This 12-day Journey carries the story onward to Santorini as a fully included Greek island finale.

Choose the complete 12-day arc to Santorini, or compare the 9-day Sardinia and Sicily edition.

Current edition

12-Day Journey

12 Days

Sardinia → Sicily → Santorini

The complete Mediterranean arc, with Santorini fully included as Chapter 3.

Current Journey
Sister edition

9-Day Journey

9 Days

Sardinia → Sicily

Choose this edition for the core island Journey ending in Taormina, with Santorini available separately.

The Mediterranean, without the rush

Three islands. One complete Mediterranean arc.

Sardinia opens with rugged coastlines and room to exhale. Sicily follows with Taormina's ancient streets and Mt. Etna's volcanic wine country. Santorini completes the story in caldera light.

The scale stays small, the logistics stay hosted, and unscheduled time remains part of all three chapters.

Hosted travel should make the details feel lighter—and the destination feel more vivid.Now Journey design philosophy

Your Journey at a Glance

Three island chapters. One complete Mediterranean arc.

Move through the route as Sardinia flows to Sicily and onward to Santorini, fully included as the Greek finale.

Scroll through islandsSwipe through islands

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Why Now Journey

Hosted, not herded.

A dedicated Tour Captain, local English-speaking guides and nimble transportation keep the Journey personal without filling every hour.

True small group

Average groups of 8 to 12 guests, with a maximum of 16, preserve flexibility and personal attention.

Thoughtful pacing

Guided discoveries and hosted transitions are balanced with leisure time in Sardinia, Taormina and Santorini.

Tour Captain Service

Your Tour Captain handles the practical details while local guides deepen the sense of place.

Journey Story

From rugged coast to caldera light.

The Journey unfolds as three distinct island chapters: Sardinia creates space, Sicily adds ancient and volcanic layers, and Santorini becomes the natural Greek finale.

Sardinian coastline and Mediterranean village
Chapter 01 · Sardinia

The islands begin with room to breathe.

Arrival care, a Discovery Walk and a welcome dinner ease you into Sardinia before guided exploring and two intentionally open afternoons.

Taormina on Sicily's Ionian coast
Chapter 02 · Sicily

Then the landscape turns volcanic.

Taormina's ancient theater, Mt. Etna's wine country, Savoca and generous coastal time bring greater texture without losing the Journey's measured pace.

Santorini caldera and whitewashed villages
Chapter 03 · Santorini

The Greek light completes the story.

Three included nights bring a Discovery Walk through Thera, volcanic wine country, Oia and Fira, time at leisure and a final dinner in Greece.

Now, follow the island story day by day.

The Complete Itinerary

The functional heart of the Journey

The Complete Itinerary

Open one day at a time, or expand the complete 12-day sequence. Optional experiences are labeled clearly.

Chapter 1 · 4 nights

Sardinia

Turquoise water, rugged coastline, ancient island traditions and unscheduled time create the opening rhythm.

Mediterranean coastline in Sardinia
Day 1

Arrival, Discovery Walk & welcome dinner

A Now Journey representative greets you at Cagliari Airport (CAG) or, for select arrangements, Olbia Airport (OLB), then transfers you privately to your hotel. Settle in before a Discovery Walk and welcome dinner featuring Sardinian cuisine and local wines.

Arrival transfer · Welcome dinner
Day 2

Sardinia's villages, coast & island culture

Explore with local context through Sardinia's villages, coastline, ancient stories and living island traditions.

Guided exploring · Breakfast
Day 3

A Sardinian day at your pace

Enjoy resort leisure, the beach, pool or spa on an intentionally open day.

Optional: Sardinian cooking class, $165 per person. This experience is not included in the land price.

Breakfast · Leisure time
Day 4

Leisure & a Now Journey apericena

Spend another unhurried day in Sardinia, then gather for a hosted apericena with a toast and light bites.

Breakfast · Apericena

Chapter 2 · 4 nights

Sicily / Taormina

The hilltop town above the Ionian Sea brings Mt. Etna, ancient streets and Sicilian cuisine before the Journey turns toward Greece.

Taormina, Sicily above the Ionian Sea
Day 5

Fly to Sicily & arrive in Taormina

Fly from Sardinia to Sicily, continue to Taormina, then begin with a Discovery Walk and included dinner with premium beverages.

Breakfast · Discovery Walk · Dinner
Day 6

Taormina & its Ancient Theater

Discover Taormina with a local guide, including its elegant streets, piazzas and Ancient Theater.

Guided sightseeing · Breakfast
Day 7

Mt. Etna wine country & Savoca

Explore volcanic wine country and Savoca with local flavors, Etna wines and context connected to the village's film history.

Wine-country experience · Breakfast
Day 8

Taormina at leisure

Enjoy Taormina and the coast at your own pace.

Optional: Mt. Etna discovery or a Sicilian culinary experience, $270 per person. These experiences are not included in the land price.

Breakfast · Leisure time

Chapter 3 · 3 nights

Santorini

Caldera views, volcanic wine country, Oia and Fira bring the complete Mediterranean arc to its Greek island finale.

Santorini caldera and whitewashed villages
Day 9

Fly onward to Santorini

Travel from Sicily to Santorini, typically connecting through Athens. Settle into the hotel, then join your Tour Captain for a Discovery Walk through Thera.

Breakfast · Hosted transition · Discovery Walk
Day 10

Sensational Santorini

Explore with a local guide, taste volcanic wines near Pyrgos and take in the caldera, Oia and Fira.

Guided island experience · Wine tasting · Breakfast
Day 11

Island leisure & farewell dinner

Enjoy a final full day at your own pace before gathering for a special Journey farewell dinner.

Breakfast · Leisure time · Farewell dinner
Day 12

Depart Santorini

Breakfast is included if your schedule allows. Guests may request an optional private transfer to Santorini Airport (JTR) for $79 per person, based on two guests.

Breakfast, schedule permitting
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What's Included

The details are handled. The islands still feel yours.

Verified inclusions are organized by the part of the Journey they support. Separately priced airfare and optional experiences remain clearly identified.

Tour Captain / Hosting

Hosted throughout

  • Dedicated Now Journey Tour Captain
  • Local English-speaking guides
  • Discovery Walks in major chapters
Accommodations

11 hotel nights

  • 4 nights in Sardinia
  • 4 nights in Taormina
  • 3 nights in Santorini
  • Daily breakfast, subject to departure timing
Dining / Experiences

Island flavor

  • Welcome dinner in Sardinia
  • Hosted Sardinian apericena
  • Included Taormina dinner
  • Mt. Etna wine-country experience
  • Santorini wine tasting and farewell dinner
Transportation

Nimble logistics

  • Included Sardinia arrival transfer
  • Planned tour transfers
  • Luggage handling
  • Two on-tour flight segments arranged and priced separately

Dates & Prices

Choose your island season.

Prices are per person in US dollars, based on two guests sharing a room. International airfare is not included. Solo supplement: $5,379. A non-refundable $700 per person deposit is required at booking and is transferable for up to two years from the trip start date. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is recommended.

2026 departures Future departures
2027 departures 12-Day Journey
August 30–September 10
$11,579
Per person, double occupancy
Hosted by Managing Director Mark StoryRequest this departure

On-tour airfare, clarified

Required on-tour airfare for the 12-day edition is listed separately from the land tour price at $740 per person for Sardinia to Catania and Catania to Santorini. With the $700 per person deposit, the booking-due total is $1,440 per person.

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Your Home in the Islands

Stay close to the Journey.

The listed hotels are collection examples and may be replaced with similar hand-selected 4- and 5-star properties. The photography below presents each destination setting and is not a guarantee of a specific property.

Sardinian coastal setting
Regional setting

Sardinia

Forte Village Resort Hotel il Castello, Borgo Smeraldo Resort & Villas, Conrad Chia Resort Sardinia, Gabbiano Azzurro, La Villa del Re, 7Pines Resort or similar.

Taormina destination setting
Regional setting

Taormina

Hotel Metropole, NH Taormina, Excelsior Palace or similar, with four nights and daily breakfast in Sicily.

Santorini destination setting
Included Greek finale

Santorini

Katikies Santorini, Atrina Canava 1984 or similar, with three nights in this 12-day edition.

Room upgrades and view categories may be requested with a Trip Specialist where available. Hotel room assignments are typically made around 60 days before the Journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few things travelers ask first.

Santorini is fully included in this edition, while arranged on-tour airfare and optional experiences remain clearly identified.

Where does the Journey begin?

The Journey begins in Sardinia. Cagliari Airport (CAG) is the primary airport noted in the itinerary; Olbia (OLB) may also be used for select arrival arrangements.

Is Santorini included?

On the 9-day edition, Santorini is optional. On the 12-day edition, Santorini is included as Chapter 3.

Are the on-tour flights included?

The Sardinia-to-Sicily and Sicily-to-Santorini flights are part of the arranged on-tour logistics, but the combined airfare amount is listed separately from the land tour price.

How active is this Journey?

Expect relaxed but real walking through towns, historic streets, uneven surfaces and coastal settings. Most sightseeing is paced with time to pause.

What airport should I use at the end?

The 9-day edition ends in Taormina, with optional transfer to Catania Airport (CTA). The 12-day edition ends in Santorini, with optional transfer to Santorini Airport (JTR).

How many guests are on tour?

Average group size is 8 to 12 guests, with a maximum of 16.

Ready to begin?

Ready to let the islands set the pace?

Ask a Journey Designer to compare editions, talk through the included Santorini finale, or help you choose the departure that best fits.

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No obligation. Just a conversation about your Journey.