Did you know that Sicily is the Mediterranean’s largest and most diverse island? The best time to visit this beautiful destination is from May to June or September to October, which makes it a perfect off-season travel getaway. These late spring and early fall months offer hospitable temperatures, incredible beaches, and many exciting experiences to try. Ylenia from SiciLife Tours joined is in our latest #ExperienceOfTheWeek series and revealed some of the best tips on what to do in Sicily during your travels, why you should book professional guided tours, and what are some of her secret Sicilian gems to visit. Let’s dig in.
Q1: Hi Ylenia, how are you doing?
Hi there! I’m doing well, thanks! I’m a travel agency technical and sales manager, so ….I’m always busy hunting.
Q2: Tell us more about SiciLife. Where did the idea come from?
The idea comes from the desire and passion of our CEO Antonino Cirnigliaro to let the whole world know how rich Sicily is in experiences, history, adventure, relaxation. The perfect destination for all the 4 seasons for any type of holiday. But also to live it for long periods, benefiting from the sun, services, sea, mountains, adventure, and much more to discover by following our projects.
The idea is not that of a single experience in Sicily but to promote Sicily as a destination not only for a beach or mountain holiday but also to re-evaluate small historic centers to discover ancient and typical lifestyles and the possibility of living there while also working for others. companies in smart working.
Q3: Sicily is a very popular destination and I bet there are dozens of things to show to fellow travelers. How many guides do you have in your team? Are you all locals?
SiciLife is part of a group of other larger companies. We promote the destination and in our team, we are about 7 people excluding the managers.
We are all locals although most of us have studied or worked abroad. We came back to Sicily because no destination in the world is so unique. We care a lot about our Sicilian identity and in fact, our collaborators and partners are real local experts. Another project in progress, which you will hear about very soon 😉
Q4: Your selection of experiences is literally endless – you offer everything from classic day trips to food and wine tours to adrenaline experiences. What are the most popular activities that travelers book with you?
It depends on the season. In the summer people prefer to book boat experiences and all adrenaline experiences on the water. Certainly, wine tasting and cooking classes are always the most popular. Obviously, trekking in the fabulous mountain of Etna always gives our travelers unique emotions.
Q5: Today many people travel and plan their itineraries on their own, especially in well-known destinations such as Sicily. Why would you recommend booking one of your experiences to our travelers?
I think the difference between a local expert (like us) and a non-professional is that while both can manage to organize the same thing, the local expert does it better with less time. We provide more certainty about the activities selected, know the territory, and the suppliers.
Q6: Travel industry is in uncharted waters right now but we all hope travel will rebound soon. What does the situation in Sicily look like right now?
Thanks to the limited spread of the virus, Sicily has been and continues to be a popular destination for our travelers. This moment was very important and stimulating because it gave all of us in SiciLife the opportunity to discover and work with new customer segments, such as the Sicilian and Italian tourists.
There has been an increase in reservations for private homes, such as villas by the sea or in the countryside and, finally, reservations seem to have grown in autumn and winter. It, therefore, provides opportunities to develop off-season tourism, particularly in regions such as Sicily where this sector is highly seasonal. It also encourages the creation of more permanent-type jobs in this economic sector.
Q7: Last but not least, what is your favorite spot around Sicily that you’d take your friends to see or experience? Tips from a true local are always worth it 🙂
See: A sunrise in Acitrezza and a sunset in the Aeolian Islands
Try: Snorkeling in the protected marine area of Plemmirio, body rafting in the Alcantara Gorges, jeep tour on Nebrodi, and trekking with wine tasting on the Etna mountain
Book some of the most popular experiences by Kayak Tours Croatia here:
Cooking with a local chef in Syracuse
Barocco Wine Tour
Syracuse by Sailboat
Neapolis Walking Tour
Etna Tour from Syracuse