Sicily, 2026
We are booked for the Sicilian Odyssey trip next October. We just returned from Tauck/Croatia and found the pace, steps and stairs pretty exhausting. Both Sicily and Croatia are level 3s. What's been the experience of recent travelers to Sicily?
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If it’s a 3, then it’s going to be the same. I don’t think comparing with other people is very helpful as everyone has a different idea of their fitness level. I’ve taken tours of Croatia and Sicily with different companies. There was a lot of walking over cobbled and uneven streets and hills. I didn’t find it a problem but then I generally walk a great deal and do exercise class and weights and stretch bands. I’m 72.
Tours are exhausting, but for me, it’s coping with jet lag at the beginning of the tours, not the actual physical demands of the tour. In addition, it depends on the time of year when you go because it is very hot in the summer. Example, we went to Sicily in an April and it was very warm, which I find more difficult. Some people find the early starts difficult too.
I’m sure others will have had different experiences.
I notice you have asked questions before but never acknowledge when a lot of people have ‘ helped ‘ you. Is ir a waste of time?
If you are talking about the Adriatic Treasures trip, I went on that in 2019 and Sicilian Odyssey in 2023, and I would say Sicily is at least as or more rugged than the Croatia trip. It is, after all, a volcanic island. In Sicily, we had 3 individuals with canes and a 4th who should have used hiking poles (he fell twice). Tauck tried to make it work for them as well as possible, but please do look at pictures or Youtube videos before you go, especially the town of Ragusa Ibla, which is an afternoon stop on the tour. Not to say that you shouldn't go, because it is a fantastic trip. But I would say the rating is accurate.
In addition to looking at pictures and videos, many places have been covered by Google Maps street view. I virtually "walked" my hikes to the Monastery and the High Place of Sacrifice in Petra several times before our trip from the comfort of my recliner, using my laptop. As you "walk" you can stop and rotate to get a 360° view of your surroundings.
The light blue lines show the streets you can "walk" in Ragusa Ibla, Sicily using Google Maps Street View!!! (just zoom in a bit and drag the yellow walking man in the lower right, to where you want to start your stroll. Try it with your neighborhood and house.
Interesting Alan, I never thought of doing that.
Yes, that's a good idea. Thanks, Alan, for posting that.
Alan, I have actually done that in the past, but it is not always helpful Anything "off road" or private property, or even parks are not mapped. Has that been your experience? I just tried it for Ragusa Ibla and I think the city center is a pedestrian zone, and I couldn't get it to move up the hill. Maybe I'm not doing it correctly.
Thank you for your comments; this is very helpful. We took the Adriatic Treasures trip of Croatia. Some members of our tour had a difficult time keeping pace and navigating very crowded towns and cobblestones. It's important to pay attention to Tauck's activity ratings.
Wan - some countries reswtrict what google can use from satellite pics, both in locations and limited resolution.
Not all "roads" (and trails) have been "mapped," but it is surprising how many have. I was amazed at what was mapped in Petra- most were just unimproved dirt trails, some went up steep inclines and cut rock stairs. It really helped me prepare for my trek.
If you Google "Google Street view mapping equipment" or words to that effect, you will not only see photos of the GPS/3-D camera mapping equipment that Google mounts on cars, but you'll also see Google's Trekker backpack they use for mapping places like Petra and many, many sites around the world! I wouldn't want to climb the trails to the Monastery or High Place of Sacrifice wearing that gear!
You just need to Google the location, select (Google) maps, then click on the walking man to see the active routes. To navigate you need to face in the desired direction (along a path) and click on the faint arrows, which can sometimes be hard to see, to move forward. You can rotate 360° and zoom to some degree.
Street view trails in Petra:
Street view of a fallen and broken tomb pediment near the entrance to Wadi al Farasa (I trekked it in 2022 right after I got back down from making the ascent to the Monastery- I took almost the same shot with my camera!:
Roman Soldier's Tomb, one of many structures, like the Garden Temple, in Wadi al Farasa:
Hiker wearing Google trekker gear at Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon. They now have a new, smaller unit. You too can volunteer to be a Google Trekker.
Quick quiz- This is a Google Street View of what building?"
Must be Tauck Headquarters?
Alan - I think I recall seeing that same picture back in the Covid days when the forum had a 'Name the location' thread going from a posted picture. 😆 It allowed a virtual travel when actual travel wasn't allowed.
I actually saw this building when I went to a family wedding in CT in September. My cousin lives in Wilton.