Three Shepherds Cheese - Celebrating 28 years of teaching cheesemaking!
Three Shepherds' Springtime in Sicily Culinary Trip!
Spring 2025 (exact dates to be determined)
Join us for a trip of a lifetime as we explore the incredible food, traditions, scenery and wonderful people of Sicily! The largest island in the Mediterranean comes alive in the springtime with an abundance of citrus fruits, artichokes, fava beans, wild herbs and stunning flowers, including many edible ones.
From April 26 to May 2, 2024, you will tour Northern Sicily and visit farms, watch and learn centuries-old cheesemaking techniques, witness the ancient practice of transhumance (the annual migration of the milking herds from their coastal winter homes to the abundant summer mountain pastures high in the Nebrodi Peaks), make pasta with a real Italian nonna, and harvest and cook some meals with the abundance of Italy’s breadbasket. To make this trip more personalized, we will limit the group size to 8 people.
The food traditions of Sicily are exceptional and completely tied to the complex nature of this beautiful island. Despite its rocky terrain, varied landscapes, and impossibly steep slopes (and even one of Europe’s most active volcanoes); the abundant sunshine, timely rains (and snow), and committed work ethic of the friendly people from this ancient land leads to the production of some of the most delicious foods we have ever encountered.
This trip is all about experiencing authentic Sicilian culinary traditions with the incredibly friendly and warm Sicilians. It is not a bus tour with your days being spent being herded on large crowded buses from one tourist site to another. We want you to learn from the locals (our friends) and have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the camaraderie (and of course to eat and drink incredible food & wine!).
Santo Stefano di Camastra will be our home base. A beautiful seaside town nestled below the foothills of the Nebrodi Mountains, Santo Stefano is the perfect base: small enough to be easily walk able, incredibly friendly and inviting, yet large enough to have an array of wonderful restaurants and cafés. This lovely location will enable you to immerse yourself in authentic Sicilian experiences over the week, without spending most of your days traveling.
Our accommodations are in a boutique hotel at the site of a centuries-old palace in the heart of Santo Stefano. The entire B&B has been reserved just for our group and will provide warm and comfortable stays with a nice breakfast. All the rooms have ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, and small balconies with a table and chairs to enjoy your morning coffee/cappuccino while savoring the springtime sunshine!
Some of the activities we will do over the week include:
- Take part in a stunning transhumance
- Visit a wonderful farmers & artisans market
- Try your hand at traditional milking of a goat or cow
- Hands-on participation in the ancient craft of making traditional Sicilian cheeses
- Learn the secrets of Sicilian gelato, sorbetto & granita (the best in the world!)
- An afternoon spent making pasta with a Sicilian "Nonna"
- Bread making using ancient, local Sicilian grains
- Visit the beautiful seaside town of Cefalù (home to the "Duomo," an UNESCO site & La Rocca)
- A personalized tour with the owner of one of the most picturesque olive orchards in Sicily
- Tour an artichoke and fava bean farm with a young Sicilian farmer
- Experience true Sicilian hospitality at two different home cooked feasts which include many ingredients grown, harvested, and cured/cooked by our warm local hosts
- And more!
All travel will be in either a comfortable, air-conditioned van or a short (under an hour one-way) train ride (no buses or standing in long lines on this trip!).
The days are scheduled so that you will never feel rushed. Sicily is best enjoyed at a slower pace with plenty of time to savor the sights, smells, food, wine & wonderful new friendships you will make with fellow travelers & Sicilians!
Please call 802-496-3998 or email for more information!
What's Included:
- Transfer from the Palermo airport to Santo Stefano on April 26, 2024
- Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Santo Stefano for 6 nights (April 26 through May 1)
- All scheduled classes and tours
- Ground transportation to and from all class and tour destinations
- 6 lunches
- 5 dinners with wine
- Return transfer to the Palermo airport on May 2, 2024
What's not Included:
- Airfare to and from Palermo
- Extra beverages and drinks, besides those included with meals
- Extra refreshments like cafe stops, food stalls, etc.
Costs:
Cost per person $2,475 per person based on double occupancy/$2,650 per person single occupancy (includes $200 nonrefundable cancellation fee for any cancellation made before January 15, 2024).
Please remember there are only 10 spaces (SOLD OUT as of February 26) and it is on a first come, first serve basis. We look forward to you joining us for an incredible, fun & memorable Sicilian experience!
Cancellation Policy:
After January 15, 2024, the entire registration fee is nonrefundable, unless we are able to fill your spot. If your place is filled, then you will receive a credit for your payment (minus the $200 per person fee) which can be applied to a future tour or class.
Our cancellation terms are due to the payments we must make on your behalf. Our vendors do not offer us refunds, so those funds which we have paid out in advance, are no longer available to us. Because of this situation, we are unable to be as flexible as we normally are with our cancellation and refund policies.
Travel Insurance:
We strongly urge you to get travel insurance after you register for the tour. It is not a requirement, and everyone thinks "I would never need to cancel," but as we have experienced over the last few years, things do happen, and it is good to be protected. Once the deadline of January 15, 2024 has passed, we cannot provide a refund of your payments, so travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself.
You will find various travel policy options, and the best (and most expensive) is "Cancel for Any Reason" insurance. This type of insurance does not have all the exclusions that other types of policies often do, but you can decide what works best for you. This type of insurance protects you in the case of hurricanes, earthquakes, global pandemics, etc., but please note that you usually have to purchase this type of insurance within 14 days of registering for the tour.
