Three Shepherds Cheese - Celebrating 28 years of teaching cheesemaking!
Autumn in Sicily Trip
November 8-18, 2024
Join us once again for the trip of a lifetime as we explore the incredible food, traditions, and scenery, with the wonderful people of Sicily! In the autumn, the largest island in the Mediterranean overflows with the incredible bounty of this ancient land--world class wine, the richest olives and olive oil, wild mushrooms, amazing charcuterie, wild foraged chestnuts, delicious cheeses, and much more.
From November 8 to 15, 2024, you will tour Northern Sicily, visit farms, sip delicious wines little known outside Sicily, watch and learn centuries-old cheesemaking techniques, harvest olives from ancient trees in one of the most scenic orchards in the Mediterranean, learn about and enjoy local charcuterie and salumi from the wild pigs of the Nebrodi Mountains, and make pasta with a real Italian Nonna. To keep this trip more personalized, we 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 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 time to relax and enjoy the camaraderie (and of course to eat and drink incredible food & wine!).
Some of the activities we will do over the week include:
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Take part in the traditional olive harvest.
Take part in the traditional olive harvest.•Visit a wonderful farmer & artisan market.
Visit a wonderful farmer & artisan market.•Witness the ancient craft Sicilian cheesemaking.
Witness the ancient craft Sicilian cheesemaking.•Learn the secrets of Sicilian gelato, sorbetto & granita (the best in the world!)
Learn the secrets of Sicilian gelato, sorbetto & granita (the best in the world!)•Spend an afternoon making pasta with a Sicilian "Nonna."
Spend an afternoon making pasta with a Sicilian "Nonna."•Make bread using ancient, local Sicilian grains.
Make bread using ancient, local Sicilian grains.•Visit the beautiful seaside town of Cefalù (home to the "Duomo," an UNESCO site & La Rocca)
Visit the beautiful seaside town of Cefalù (home to the "Duomo," an UNESCO site & La Rocca)•Enjoy a personalized tour with the owner of one of the most picturesque olive orchards in Sicily, including witnessing the pressing of some of the best olive oil you will ever taste.
Enjoy a personalized tour with the owner of one of the most picturesque olive orchards in Sicily, including witnessing the pressing of some of the best olive oil you will ever taste.•Taste delicious wines at a traditional Sicilian vineyard.
Taste delicious wines at a traditional Sicilian vineyard.•Experience true Sicilian hospitality at a home cooked feast which include many ingredients grown, harvested, and cured/cooked by our warm local hosts.
Experience true Sicilian hospitality at a home cooked feast which include many ingredients grown, harvested, and cured/cooked by our warm local hosts.•And more!
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!
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 is reserved just for our group and will provide warm and comfortable stays with a nice breakfast. All the rooms have en suite bathrooms, air conditioning, and small balconies with a table and chairs to enjoy your morning coffee/cappuccino while savoring the wonderful autumn weather!
Cancellation Policy:
After August 8, 2024, the entire registration fee is nonrefundable, unless we can 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 all experienced over the last few years, things do happen, and it is good to be protected. Once the deadline of August 8, 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 must purchase this type of insurance within 14 days of registering for the tour.
What's Included:
•Transfer from the Palermo airport to Santo Stefano on November 8, 2024
Transfer from the Palermo airport to Santo Stefano on November 8, 2024•Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Santo Stefano for 6 nights (November 8 through November 15)
Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Santo Stefano for 6 nights (November 8 through November 15)•All scheduled classes and tours
All scheduled classes and tours•Ground transportation to and from all class and tour destinations
Ground transportation to and from all class and tour destinations•6 lunches
6 lunches•5 dinners with wine
5 dinners with wine •Return transfer to the Palermo airport on November 15, 2024
Return transfer to the Palermo airport on November 15, 2024What's not Included:
•Airfare to and from Palermo
Airfare to and from Palermo•Extra beverages and drinks, besides those included with meals
Extra beverages and drinks, besides those included with meals•Extra refreshments like cafe stops, food stalls, etc.
Extra refreshments like cafe stops, food stalls, etc.Costs:
Cost per person $2,950 per person based on double occupancy/$3,125 per person single occupancy. (Total price includes $200 nonrefundable cancellation fee per person for any cancellation made before August 8, 2024).
Please remember there are only 8 spaces, and it is on a first come, first serve basis. We look forward to you joining us for an incredible, fun & memorable Sicilian experience!