COX & KINGS

Sicily: Normans in the South (Specialist-led Tour)

Prices checked 26 October 2026 · Cox & Kings · Supplier snapshot; confirmation required.

Choose your departure & see monthly prices →

Sicily has been a crossroads of civilisations since ancient times, and no period saw

such a rich cultural exchange as the first centuries of Norman rule. Situating you

in the heart of Palermo – capital for both Norman kings and Islamic emirs – this

tour reveals the island’s unique history, including the Romanesque architecture of

the Normans, the legacy of Byzantine artisans, and the enduring Arabic influence

on Sicilian cuisine.

Plan this tour with Kat & Simon Morgan — Personal Travel Consultants at Hays Travel. Call 0800 0662 694 for help comparing dates, departure points and room options.

Tour highlights

Stay in the historic heart of Palermo throughout your tour, the island’s capital for both the Norman and Islamic rulers of Sicily
Visit the Arab thermal baths at Cefalà Diana, the only example in Sicily
Taste traditional pastries at a renowned bakery, some of which trace their origins back to Arabian and Norman times
Sample Sicilian liqueurs at a local producer

Further highlights

Tour gallery

abercrombie kent Sicily: Normans in the South (Specialist-led Tour)-1

abercrombie kent Sicily: Normans in the South (Specialist-led Tour)-2

abercrombie kent Sicily: Normans in the South (Specialist-led Tour)-3

abercrombie kent Sicily: Normans in the South (Specialist-led Tour)-4

abercrombie kent Sicily: Normans in the South (Specialist-led Tour)-5

Your itinerary

In supplier order. Some entries may cover multiple days; optional experiences are described by the supplier.

Sample itinerary. Choose a departure for its exact itinerary and hotel plan.

Day 1 — Fly to Palermo, Sicily

Fly from London and transfer to your hotel for five nights. This evening, enjoy a welcome lecture and dinner.

Meals: dinner

Day 1.1 — Transfer: Palermo to Cefalà Diana

Day 2 — Palermo

Tour the historic heart of Palermo, including the Norman Palace, and the cathedral with its treasury. Enjoy a light street-food lunch, where you will be offered the chance to sample authentic local dishes such as arancini – deep-fried rice balls inspired by the Arabic dish kibbeh and said to have been created for Emperor Frederick II. Proceed to St John of the Hermits Church, a 12th-century hybrid of Norman and Arab design. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 2.1 — Transfer: Cefalà Diana to Palermo

Day 3 — Cefalà Diana

Visit the thermal baths of Cefalà Diana, a rare example of a surviving Arabic hammam in Sicily, still filled with geothermically warmed spring water. Proceed to a local bakery where you have the opportunity to sample traditional Sicilian pastries, several of which have medieval origins. Conclude with a tasting of local liqueurs. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Meals: breakfast

Day 3.1 — Transfer: Palermo to Monreale

Day 4 — Monreale

Visit the imposing Cathedral of Monreale with its Byzantine-style glass mosaics and its Benedictine cloister, a high point of Norman architecture in Sicily. Return to Palermo, visit Zisa Palace and Cuba Palace, both of which display impressive Arab craftsmanship.

Meals: breakfast

Day 4.1 — Transfer: Monreale to Cefalu

Day 5 — Palermo - Cefalù

This morning, visit Palermo’s 12th-century Church of St Mary of the Admiral, which features impressive Byzantine mosaics, as well as some notable Christian inscriptions in Arabic in the building’s interior. Proceed to Cefalù and its cathedral, commissioned by Roger II who brought artisans from Constantinople to complete the lavish interior. This evening, enjoy a farewell drink with the group.

Meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 5.1 — Transfer: Cefalu to Palermo

Day 6 — Fly home

Transfer to the airport for your return flight, or begin your tailor-made extension.

Meals: breakfast

Your accommodation

Planned hotels or ships as published by Cox & Kings. Alternatives of a similar standard may be used. Hotel options are grouped as supplied and are not necessarily all included in one departure.

NH Hotel Collection Palazzo Sitano

What’s included

UK departure and overseas airport taxes
International flights (and domestic flights if applicable)
Welcome and farewell dinners with your specialist and fellow guests
5 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 dinners
Porterage at hotels
The support of an English-speaking local tour manager as well as an experienced Specialist lecturer
Local Transfers in a private chauffeur-driven vehicle
4-star accommodation, itinerary & meal basis as described
Small group size - average 10 people (max 18)

Dates & prices

Indicative supplier snapshot. Confirm price, room basis and availability before booking. Monthly estimates deduct a £250 deposit per person for Europe or £395 elsewhere, then divide by whole monthly payments ending no later than 42 days before departure. Rounded to the nearest pound; final payment adjusted.

London and Manchester departures available. Published tour fares are indicative and not airport-specific; confirm your selected airport and quote with Kat & Simon.

20 published departure and room-basis records. Standard prices are per person sharing; solo fares are labelled separately. Sold-out records are shown for reference.

Departure	Departure point	Duration	Room basis	Price per person	Status
12 May 2027	London	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,145~~ £3,070 Save £75 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
12 May 2027	Manchester	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,145~~ £3,070 Save £75 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
9 June 2027	London	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,245~~ £3,170 Save £75 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
9 June 2027	Manchester	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,245~~ £3,170 Save £75 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
6 October 2027	London	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,295~~ £3,220 Save £75 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
6 October 2027	London	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,090~~ £3,990 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
6 October 2027	Manchester	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,295~~ £3,220 Save £75 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
6 October 2027	Manchester	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,090~~ £3,990 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
10 May 2028	London	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,595~~ £3,495 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
10 May 2028	London	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,490~~ £4,365 Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
10 May 2028	Manchester	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,595~~ £3,495 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
10 May 2028	Manchester	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,490~~ £4,365 Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
7 June 2028	London	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,695~~ £3,595 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
7 June 2028	London	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,590~~ £4,465 Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
7 June 2028	Manchester	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,695~~ £3,595 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
7 June 2028	Manchester	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,590~~ £4,465 Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
4 October 2028	London	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,595~~ £3,495 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
4 October 2028	London	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,490~~ £4,365 Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
4 October 2028	Manchester	6 days	Two sharing	~~Supplier price £3,595~~ £3,495 Save £100 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability
4 October 2028	Manchester	6 days	Solo	~~Supplier price £4,490~~ £4,365 Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026	Snapshot — confirm availability

Supplier source ↗

Share with a friend

Booking this tour with Kat & Simon

How do I book?

Call 0800 0662 694 with your preferred dates, departure point and party details. We’ll confirm the current fare and availability before booking. This page does not reserve a place.

Can I spread the cost?

The date selector shows monthly estimates where eligible. Deposit and balance dates are shown alongside each option; ask us to confirm the payment arrangement for your booking.

Will my itinerary vary?

Check the itinerary for your selected departure. Hotels, order of visits and included experiences can vary; optional activities may cost extra.

Meet Kat & Simon and find out how we help