True small group
Average 8 to 12 guests, with a maximum of 16. The scale stays personal and flexible.
9 Days | Sardinia + Sicily | Optional Santorini Finale
Sardinia & Sicily: Treasures of the Mediterranean
A richly paced small-group Journey through rugged Sardinian coastlines, Sicily's ancient soul, volcanic wines, seaside villages, and the option to continue to Santorini.
- 8 to 12 guests
- Max 16
- Tour Captain hosted
- 4- and 5-star hotels
- No big buses
01
Explore this Journey
Start with the feeling of Sardinia and Sicily: rugged coast, volcanic wine, seaside villages and slow island afternoons.
02View the Journey Guide
See the route as clean chapters so the 9-day and 12-day choices are easy to understand.
03Download Printable PDF
Take a concise Journey Guide with the chapter flow, pacing notes, hotels and booking details offline.
Choose your Journey
Two Mediterranean editions. One island rhythm.
The Treasures of the Mediterranean Journey is offered in two clean editions. The 9-day Journey focuses on Sardinia and Sicily. The 12-day Journey carries the story onward to Santorini as a fully included Greek island finale.
Current edition
9-Day Journey
9 Days
Sardinia + Sicily
The core island Journey, ending in Taormina with Santorini available as an optional extension.
Current page
Sister edition
12-Day Journey
Compare options
Sardinia + Sicily + Santorini
Choose this edition when you want Santorini fully included as Chapter 3.
9 DaysIsland pace
Sardinia + SicilyRoute
8-12 GuestsMax 16
4-5 Star HotelsHotel collection
Tour CaptainHosted throughout
$8,979Per person
What makes this Journey different?
Mediterranean islands, carefully paced.
This is not a checklist race through ports and viewpoints. It is a warm, hosted Journey through island cultures, ancient landscapes, volcanic wine, seaside villages, generous dinners and enough unscheduled time to feel where you are.
Handpicked hotels
4- and 5-star hotel collections, with room-upgrade options available by request.
Tour Captain hosted
A dedicated Now Journey Tour Captain works with local English-speaking guides throughout.
No big buses
Comfortable micro-vehicles and thoughtful transfers keep the experience nimble.
Arrival transfer
Meet-and-greet transfer from the Sardinia airport is included.
On-tour flights
Island-to-island airfare is arranged separately from the land price and shown transparently.
Discovery Walks
Orientation walks, local guides, dinners, wine, cuisine and island experiences are woven in.
No surprise upsells
A clear, hosted Journey with luggage handling and transparent pricing.
Journey at a glance
Two included chapters, with Santorini optional.
The Journey is organized as chapters so the difference between the 9-day and 12-day editions stays clear from the first screen.
Chapter 1
Sardinia
4 nights with breakfast. Arrival transfer, Discovery Walk, welcome dinner, guided island exploring, optional cooking, leisure and apericena.
Chapter 2
Sicily / Taormina
4 nights with breakfast. On-tour flight from Sardinia, Taormina Discovery Walk, Mt. Etna wine country, Savoca and relaxed coastal time.
Optional Chapter 3
Santorini
Santorini is not part of the 9-day core itinerary. Add it when you want a Greek island finale with three more nights, a Discovery Walk, wine country, leisure time, and a farewell dinner.
Chapter-based itinerary
The island story, day by day.
The itinerary is organized into a more scannable structure, with Santorini clearly marked according to this edition.
Chapter 1 | 4 nights
Sardinia
Arrive in Sardinia, where turquoise water, rugged coastline, ancient nuraghi and island traditions set the opening mood. Your Now Journey representative greets you at Cagliari (CAG) or Olbia (OLB) and transfers you privately to your hotel.
- Day 1: Arrival, Discovery Walk and welcome dinner with Sardinian cuisine and local wines.
- Day 2: Guided exploring through Sardinia's villages, coast, ancient stories and island culture.
- Day 3: Resort leisure, beach, pool or spa time, with an optional Sardinian cooking class at $165 per person.
- Day 4: Leisure on Sardinia, followed by a Now Journey apericena with a toast and light bites.
Chapter 2 | 4 nights
Sicily / Taormina
Fly from Sardinia to Sicily and continue to Taormina, the hilltop town above the Ionian Sea where Mt. Etna, ancient streets and Sicilian cuisine shape the second chapter.
- Day 5: On-tour flight to Sicily, transfer to Taormina, Discovery Walk and included dinner with premium beverages.
- Day 6: Guided immersion in Taormina, including its elegant streets, piazzas and Ancient Theater.
- Day 7: Mt. Etna wine country and Savoca, including volcanic wines, local flavors and Godfather film history.
- Day 8: Leisure in Taormina, with optional Mt. Etna discovery or Sicilian culinary experience at $270 per person.
- Day 9: Departure from Taormina: Breakfast is included this morning if your schedule allows. Guests ending in Taormina may request an optional transfer to Catania Airport (CTA) for $79 per person, minimum two guests.
Optional Chapter 3 | 3 nights
Santorini
Santorini is not part of the 9-day core itinerary. Add it when you want a Greek island finale with three more nights, a Discovery Walk, wine country, leisure time, and a farewell dinner.
- Day 9 or 10: Fly onward through Athens to Santorini, settle into the hotel, then walk through Thera with your Tour Captain.
- Next day: Sensational Santorini with a local guide, wine tasting near Pyrgos, caldera views and time in Oia and Fira.
- Final full day: Leisure on Santorini, followed by a special Journey farewell dinner.
- Departure: Optional private transfer to Santorini Airport (JTR), $79 per person based on two guests.
Santorini is not part of the 9-day core itinerary. Add it when you want a Greek island finale with three more nights, a Discovery Walk, wine country, leisure time, and a farewell dinner.
Printable Journey Guide
Take the island story with you.
Download a printable guide with the Sardinia and Sicily chapters, Santorini notes, hotel collection examples, pricing reminders and booking details.
What's included
Hosted care, island logistics, and room to breathe.
Included arrival transfer, Tour Captain hosting, local guides, discovery walks, daily breakfast, select dinners, premium beverages at select meals, luggage handling, hotels, transfers and the arranged on-tour flights shown separately in pricing.
Discovery Walks
Begin each major chapter with orientation, local context and a human sense of place.
Wine & cuisine
Sardinian flavors, Mt. Etna wines, Sicilian cuisine and Santorini's volcanic terroir.
Local guides
Taormina, villages, ancient stories, wine estates and island culture with expert context.
Relaxed pacing
Leisure time is intentionally built in, especially in Sardinia, Taormina and Santorini.
Hotel collections
Island stays with character and comfort.
Hotel names are examples and may be substituted with similar hand-selected 4- and 5-star properties. Room upgrades and view categories may be requested with a Trip Specialist where available.
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
Hotel Metropole, NH Taormina, Excelsior Palace or similar, with four nights and daily breakfast in Sicily.
Santorini
Katikies Santorini, Atrina Canava 1984 or similar for the 12-day edition or optional Santorini extension.
Enjoy hand-selected 4- and 5-star hotels: upgraded rooms at 4-star properties and refined entry-level rooms at 5-star stays. Hotel room assignments are typically made around 60 days before the adventure.
Dates & prices
9 Days departures.
Prices are per person in US dollars, based on two guests in a room. International airfare is not included. Solo supplement: $3,689. 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 9 Days | True small group touring
May 31-June 8
$8,979
w/Mark Story | Sold OutRequest waitlistSep 26-Oct 4
$8,979
w/Mark StoryRequest bookingOct 4-11
$8,979
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fr. $8,979
AvailableRequest booking2027 departures 9 Days | True small group touring
April 27-May 8
$8,979
AvailableRequest bookingMay 18-26
$8,979
AvailableRequest bookingSep 21-29
$8,979
AvailableRequest bookingOct 5-13
$8,979
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fr. $8,979
AvailableRequest bookingOn-tour airfare, clarified
Required on-tour airfare for the 9-day edition is listed separately from the land tour price at $520 per person for the Sardinia-to-Sicily flight. With the $700 per person deposit, the booking-due total is $1,220 per person.
Is this Journey right for you?
Best for island-minded travelers.
This Journey has culture and comfort, but it is not a one-hotel resort stay or a maximal checklist tour. The fit notes below help travelers choose with confidence.
Right for you if...
- You want islands, culture, cuisine, coastlines and ancient history.
- You like a hosted experience with real leisure time.
- You prefer small groups, handpicked hotels and no big buses.
- You enjoy wine, local food, seaside towns and volcanic landscapes.
Not ideal if...
- You want to unpack once and stay in one hotel only.
- You do not want any internal or on-tour flights.
- You prefer a highly packed checklist itinerary with very little unscheduled time.
- You want Santorini included but are viewing the 9-day edition; choose the 12-day edition instead.
Frequently asked questions
A few clarifying details.
These FAQs are tuned specifically for Treasures of the Mediterranean, with the 9-day and 12-day distinction made plain.
Where does the Journey begin?
The Journey begins in Sardinia. Use Cagliari Airport (CAG) as 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.
Is the Sardinia-to-Sicily flight included?
The flight is part of the arranged on-tour logistics, but the 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?
Start with a proposal or chat with a Now Journey Designer. We can compare the 9- and 12-day editions, talk through Santorini, or help you decide whether this island-forward Mediterranean Journey is the right fit.
No obligation. Just a conversation about your Journey.