Etna&Taormina from Catania and Siracusa Full Day Private Tour

Best Company I’ve Booked In Sicily

The driver was extremely Knowledgeable and incredibly helpful. I have had many drivers in Sicily- Daniel is the best!

via Viator

Terrible Communication When It Really Mattered

The initial communication with this company started off well, but was awful the week leading up to the tour. I provided the necessary information regarding our cruise ship for them to create a customized itinerary for us, and for 5 days they never responded. I ended up having to go off platform 12 hours before the tour to get ahold of someone. Unfortunately, that was of little use. I never got a customized itinerary as promised, and my request for an itinerary to help contend with the heat never materialized. While the guide was well intentioned, he kept pushing through. I kept expressing the need to manage the heat with my kids, and he kept perceiving it as I being concerned I wouldn't make it back to my ship in time. When he asked if we were interested in churches, I said no, and yet we were shown three churches. He had a plan and wasn't paying attention or understanding what was saying. He clearly doesn't know how to work with families with children. We ended up arriving back in Catania with an hour left of the tour. He then offered to show us around Catania since we were early, but if this company would've paid attention to my requests before the tour began, that extra time could've afforded us a slower pace, quick lunch or shopping in Taormina. Instead we got none of that there. Very frustrating experience.

Response from the operator: Dear John, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are genuinely sorry to hear that your experience did not fully meet your expectations. We would, however, like to clarify a few points for future readers. The tour you booked was a private experience, specifically designed to offer flexibility while respecting your cruise schedule. Throughout the planning process, we exchanged several emails regarding your preferences, including the optional Mount Etna cable car experience, the time to spend in Taormina, and how best to organize the day. As reflected in our correspondence, your preferences evolved several times in the days leading up to the tour, and we always did our best to adapt the itinerary accordingly. We also acknowledge that one of your final emails, sent late in the evening before the tour, did not receive a reply before your departure, and we sincerely apologize for that. Regarding the day itself, our driver aimed to balance your requests with the available time and even included a visit to Catania, which was not part of the original itinerary, as there was sufficient time before your return to the ship. We are sorry that the final experience did not match your expectations, but we respectfully feel that the review does not fully reflect the efforts made by both our office and our guide to accommodate your requests throughout the planning process and during the tour. We wish you and your family all the best in your future travels.

via Viator

Simone

This was our favourite stop on our recent cruise due to this tour. Simone our driver/guide was very professional with the right balance of knowledge and humour. Our Mercedes mini van was comfortable and air conditioned with bottled water provided. Simone was great at catering to our group asking us what we wanted to see and how often we wanted to stop for toilet breaks etc. He also double checked our ships departure time and made sure we were back at least one hour before departure. He took some photos on our tour which he shared with us on WhatsApp. We visited Mount Etna where Simone walked us around a crater and shared his knowledge of the volcano with us. We also stopped on the way up to see a house buried in lava and at a cave afterwards and then spent approximately 3 hours exploring Taormina ourselves. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Catania on land or by ship and will hopefully be back myself in the future.

Response from the operator: Dear Client, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are truly honored to hear that your experience with Sicily Shore Tours was the highlight of your recent cruise and that your day with us left such a positive impression. We’re delighted that Simone’s professionalism, local knowledge, and sense of humor helped make your experience both enjoyable and memorable. Creating flexible and personalized tours is at the heart of what we do at Sicily Shore Tours, so it’s fantastic to know that the itinerary, comfort of the Mercedes minivan, and attention to your group’s needs contributed to a relaxing and rewarding day. It’s especially gratifying to hear that you enjoyed discovering Mount Etna, the lava-covered house, the volcanic cave, and the beautiful town of Taormina. We’re also pleased that the photos shared after the tour helped preserve some special memories of your visit. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Sicily Shore Tours during your visit to Sicily. We would be delighted to welcome you back in the future for another unforgettable experience. Warm regards, Sicily Shore Tours Manager

via Tripadvisor

Best Chauffeur service in Sicily

I did 3 tours with this company and all were excellent. The service met all my needs of having a nice van/car, air conditioning, knowledgeable drivers, and the ability to personalize the tour. I was able to arrange exactly what I wanted to see and do, pick up/drop off times, and stops. Along with the knowledgable drivers I really got to experience Sicily. I highly recommend this company and will only use them when im in Italy. Great company and service!

Response from the operator: Dear Client, Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a wonderful review. We’re truly delighted to hear that Mount Etna and Taormina from Catania City Centre Full day Tour with us exceeded your expectations. Providing comfortable vehicles, knowledgeable drivers, and fully personalized experiences is exactly what we aim for, so it’s great to know you were able to tailor each tour to your preferences and truly experience Sicily at its best. Your kind words about our team mean a lot to us. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and your trust in our services. It will be a pleasure to welcome you again whenever you return to Italy. Warm regards,

via Tripadvisor

Very disappointing.

For weeks I have been driving our group of four all around Sicily, so driving itself was not an issue. But driving up to Etna affords spectacular views, which I wanted to see too, so I didn't want to drive. Combining it with a tour to Taormina made sense due to proximity, but I learned the biggest reason not to drive to Taormina is lack of parking! However, there were immediate problems with our pick-up (30 min late), which the tour operator blamed on our remote location and traffic (both predictable variables). Also, I expected the guide to be more engaged with our tour, but he was mostly just a driver. He shared some facts and stories, but when we arrived at sights, he sent us off on our own with scant directions. After a delightful lunch in lower Taormina at Diego's recommended restaurant, he took us to upper Taormina to visit the Greek amphitheater. Again, he did not accompany us, and after a longer-than-expected hike among throngs of tourists, we found a long line to purchase tickets to visit the amphitheater. We were very disappointed and did not visit the amphitheater. All private tours we've had before handle tickets ahead and provide them as part of the tour. This time, not only are the tickets not provided, we weren't even advised about tickets (not even in the tour description). This tour is poorly conceived and executed. Keep looking for a tour which provides a driver AND a guide at the sights.

via Tripadvisor