The Essence of Sicily

Bespoke Journeys

Bespoke Journeys
Since 1977

Wealth Wine & Wander - An Oxford Club Exclusive Tour

The Essence of Sicily

Wealth Wine & Wander - An Oxford Club Exclusive Tour

Dear Oxford Club Member,

For thousands of years, Sicily has stood at the crossroads of Mediterranean trade and culture. With its rich history and exceptional natural beauty, it’s no wonder that the island holds a place at the top of many travelers’ wish lists.

In the fall of 2026, you’ll have a chance to visit this incredible location in true Oxford Club style. Led by our Chief Income Strategist, Marc Lichtenfeld, our nine-day expedition through Sicily combines carefully selected cultural experiences with the financial insights and conversations that have always been at the heart of the Oxford Club.

What makes this tour stand out from other luxury travel opportunities?

The itinerary itself. We’ve custom-designed this route to cover the most compelling highlights of both islands, with luxury touches woven throughout—from private vineyard dinners to after-hours museum access.

The company you’ll keep. You’ll travel alongside fellow Oxford Club members who share your curiosity about markets, culture, and how the world works.

The depth of experience. As with all Voyager Club itineraries, this program has been thoughtfully created to foster a true connection with the history and culture of Sicily.

Our journey in late fall to Marvelous Sicily is surely “one of a kind”, not to be missed, Oxford Club adventure. Our European trips always fill fast and always sell out. If you would like to experience Sicily in the unique setting of a luxurious Oxford Club adventure, I encourage you to Register Today! Or contact our travel partner, Maggie Stephens at AESU World Travel 800 – 638 – 7640 Ext. 125 or email maggie@aesu.com as soon as possible to secure your spot.

You can also download a Print Brochure & Booking Form. I look forward to welcoming you personally on this special journey.

Warm Regards,

Steven King
Executive Event Director, The Oxford Club

Trip Experiences:

Activity Level:

Your Hosts

Marc Lichtenfeld
Chief Income Strategist, The Oxford Club
Marc Lichtenfeld is Chief Income Strategist at The Oxford Club, a bestselling author, and former analyst and columnist. He’s a frequent media guest whose commentary appears across major financial outlets, including CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business, The Wall Street Journal, and Barron’s.
Steven King
Executive Event Director, The Oxford Club
Steven King is Executive Event Director at The Oxford Club, with over 23 years of experience coordinating global seminars, conferences, and investment tours. Known for exceptional organization and presentation skills, he has led sold-out events worldwide and previously held senior marketing roles in financial research services.
Fritz Satran
President & CEO, AESU Travel
Fritz Satran, a longtime Oxford Club friend and European travel expert, will serve as our insider guide. Born in Vienna, he founded AESU Travel in 1977 and has led high-end European tours for prestigious universities, cultural institutions, and The Oxford Club, specializing in purposeful, expertly crafted travel experiences.

The Tour

Main Tour Program

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Highlights
Land Tour: Tuesday, September 29 – Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- 7 nights in deluxe five-star hotels
- Welcome cocktails and dinner at a local hot spot in Palermo
- Exclusive financial seminar led by Oxford Club Chief Income Strategist Marc Lichtenfeld
- Visit Agrigento’s Valley of Temples with a private tour
- Expert guided tour of Piazza Armerina’s historic mosaics
- Special visit to Mt. Etna with a tour and wine tasting
- Gala farewell dinner in Taormina
Inclusions
- Accommodations for 7 nights in deluxe five-star hotels
- Daily breakfast is included at the hotel
- Lunches, dinners, and cocktail receptions as listed in the itinerary
- All transportation from city to city as indicated in the tour program
- Sightseeing, special events, and a few surprises!

Post-Tour Program

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Highlights
Land Tour: Tuesday, October 6 – Friday, October 9
- Three nights in the 5-star deluxe “The Phoenicia Malta” in Valletta
- Welcome cocktails and dinner in Valletta
- City tour of Valletta, including St. John’s Co-Cathedral
- Visit to the Hagar Qim temple complex
- Excursion to Mdina and Rabat: in the footsteps of Paul the Apostle
- Gala farewell dinner in Valletta
Inclusions
- Flight from Catania to Malta
- Private transfers
- 3 nights in deluxe 5-star hotel
- Daily breakfast
- Lunches, dinners and cocktail receptions as per itinerary
- All sightseeing, entrance fees and private guides as per itinerary

Main-Tour Land Price | Sep. 29 – Oct. 6, 2026: $14,200.00 per person based on two people sharing a double room. Single room supplement: $5,860.00.

Post-Tour Land Price | Oct. 6 – 9, 2026: $3,650.00 per person based on two people sharing a double room. Single room supplement: $1,420.00.

Note: hotels and venues are subject to change.

Itinerary

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Monday September 28: Depart USA
Depart today on overnight flights to Palermo, Sicily.
Tuesday September 29: Arrive in Palermo - Main Tour Start Day
Touch down today in Palermo, Sicily’s historic capital. This vibrant and colorful city is more than 2,700 years old, and the landmarks here range from ancient catacombs to elaborate Baroque masterpieces. Upon arrival, transfer to the stately Grand Hotel et des Palmes, the only five-star hotel in the center of town. The hotel is housed in an impressive Art Nouveau building, the former residence of the Ingham-Whitaker family. It’s easy to imagine hosting a fabulous dinner party in the majestic ballroom or restful Winter Garden. Relax and settle in this afternoon. Tonight, we gather for welcome cocktails at the hotel before venturing out into the city for dinner at a lively local restaurant.
[Cocktails, Dinner]
Wednesday September 30: Palermo
This morning, join our informative financial seminar led by Oxford Club Chief Income Strategist Marc Lichtenfeld, and take in the sage advice and timely insights from some of the world’s foremost financial experts. A light buffet lunch will be served following the seminar. In the afternoon, it’s time to see the sights of Palermo with our local art historian. We’ll begin with a visit to the Palatine Chapel, which dates back to the 9^th century and highlights the multicultural influences on Sicily. Continue to Teatro Massimo, Italy’s largest opera house and the site of some of the final scenes from The Godfather Part III. The evening is free to explore the city. Don’t miss the enchanting Piazza Marina, which comes alive in the evening, full of local eateries, street food, and live music.
[Breakfast, Lunch]
Thursday October 1: Palermo to Agrigento
Bid farewell to Palermo this morning and take a short ride to the village of Corleone, in the rugged hills of the Sicilian countryside. Of course, the name Corleone is quite recognizable from the film, but the town itself acknowledges the very real violent history that impacted the area by celebrating today’s anti-Mafia movement. A visit here provides a fascinating glimpse into the island’s complex relationship with La Cosa Nostra. We’ll have time to explore the village and have lunch at a small traditional restaurant. Later, we’ll continue to Agrigento to the beautiful Doric Eco Boutique Resort & Spa. This 5-star resort is situated within Agrigento’s famous archeological reserve, and the hotel certainly makes the most of the amazing views its location affords. Spend your free afternoon lounging by the hotel’s serene pool or perhaps take full advantage of the luxurious spa. This evening we’ll gather for dinner with a view of the terrace of the hotel.
[Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]
Friday October 2: Agrigento
Today begins with a visit to the incredible Valley of Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates to 581 BC. Built into the hillside overlooking the sparkling sea, this fascinating archeological discovery includes temples to multiple gods. Perhaps most impressive among them is the Temple of Juno, built at the eastern summit of the hill. We’ll enjoy an in-depth guided tour of the sprawling ruins, followed by a light lunch. The remainder of the day is free to spend as you choose. You’ll have time to explore the charming town of Agrigento. Explore the historic center of town, where you can indulge in boutique shopping or sip espresso at a sidewalk café. Or learn more about the history of the region at the Museo Archeologico Regionale di Agrigento, which offers intriguing archeological finds as well as a lovely garden. The sun worshipers among us might spend time at one of Agrigento’s beaches, enjoying the wild natural beauty and fine white sand. The choice is yours!
[Breakfast, Lunch]
Saturday October 3: Agrigento to Noto
This morning, we set off for the town of Piazza Armerina, best known for the Villa Romana del Casale. This 4^th century residence boasts more than 3500 square meters of vivid mosaics, some of the best-preserved and extensive examples of this art style found anywhere in the world. Our local expert will detail the history of the villa during our guided tour. After a satisfying lunch, we’ll visit the Baroque town of Ragusa and have time to explore its intricate maze of narrow streets and sample the regional delicacy of granita. Our final stop for the day is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Noto. A prime example of urban planning, the city of Noto was specifically designed to maximize the amount of sunshine received by its buildings. This, combined with the use of local limestone as the primary building material, results in streets that are said to literally glow with the golden hues of the sunset. Tonight, we’ll rest in the modern resort Il San Corrado di Noto, where airy suites create a feeling of spacious luxury, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Noto.
[Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]
Sunday October 4: Noto to Taormina
Today’s scenic drive takes us along the island’s southeastern coast, past the historic city of Siracusa, and into the legendary city of Taormina, perched atop the cliffs overlooking the Ionian Sea. Taormina looks as if it were lifted straight from a movie set and is known for being the place where Sicilians go when they want to vacation. Where else can you visit an active volcano, swim in crystal clear water, and dine in a grand palazzo, all in the same day? We’ll enjoy a walking tour this afternoon that takes us through the fashionable center of town via Corso Umberto and on to the Piazza Duomo to view the classic medieval church. We’ll also see the Teatro Antico, built by the ancient Greeks in 3 BC. Our home in Taormina will be the Grand Hotel San Pietro, a thoughtfully restored villa which offers jaw-dropping views of Mt. Etna and the Bay of Naxos. Enjoy cocktails on the hotel’s grand terrace, followed by an elegant dinner.
[Breakfast, Dinner]
Monday October 5: Taormina
A unique experience awaits today, as we venture up to the heights of the 500,000-year-old volcano that towers over the city, Mt. Etna. The moon-like landscape here is a startling contrast to the rest of the island’s scenery. We’ll explore extinct craters and lava-covered paths, and even peek into a lava cave. Our trek ends with a special toast—what better location to enjoy a glass of the famous Etna Rosso? We’ll return to Taormina for a free afternoon. This is your opportunity to do some last-minute sightseeing or shopping for mementos of this amazing journey. Tonight, get ready for our special farewell dinner inside an elegant palazzo.
[Breakfast, Dinner]
Tuesday October 6: Main Tour ends
Our Sicilian sojourn ends this morning, with private transfers to the airport in Catania for return flights to the USA, or continue on our post-tour excursion to Malta.
Tuesday October 6: Post-Tour Program Start Day
A short flight whisks us from Catania to the enchanting island of Malta this morning. Malta’s unique location at the crossroads of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East makes for a fascinating combination of history and culture. We’ll begin our visit in the island’s capital of Valletta. Built in the 1500’s by the Knights of St. John, today the entire city of Valletta is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for having one of the highest concentrations of historic areas in the world. We’ll check into our hotel here in Malta, The Phoenicia, which has been welcoming discerning travelers to the island since the 1940’s. This luxurious lodging has hosted kings and queens, movie stars, and diplomats, and now it will be your home for the next three nights. We’ll enjoy welcome cocktails at the hotel’s elegant bar before heading out into the city for dinner at a local restaurant.
[Cocktails, Dinner]
Wednesday October 7: Valletta
Explore Valletta, sometimes called The Fortress City, on our morning sightseeing tour. We’ll visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral, home to a treasured Caravaggio masterpiece, as well as the peaceful Upper Barakka Gardens. Enjoy lunch at a local trattoria. In the afternoon, we’ll travel to the ancient temple complex of Hagar Qim. Legend has it that the temples here, crafted from enormous stone blocks, were built by giants. The evening is free to explore the golden streets of Valletta.
Thursday October 8: Mdina
Our morning excursion takes us first to Mdina, known as The Silent City. High on an impressive hilltop overlooking the central part of the island, Mdina has been settled by humans dating back as far as 2500 BCE. One of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city, Mdina exhibits an extraordinary mix of medieval and baroque architecture. We’ll explore the medieval fortified city, including the baroque Mdina Gate, and numerous historic noble palaces which line the city’s narrow, shaded streets. After strolling through Mdina, continue outside the walls to adjacent Rabat, which also features characteristic winding, narrow streets. Like Mdina, Rabat played a major role in Malta’s past and is a prime source of its cultural heritage. According to tradition, the Apostle St. Paul is said to have shipwrecked on the island around 60 AD, and subsequently opted to reside for three months inside a cave in Rabat known as Fuori le Mura, now known as St. Paul’s Grotto. Lunch at a local restaurant will be included during our tour. The afternoon is free to relax or catch up on souvenir shopping in Valletta, before a gala evening tonight, where we will celebrate this incredible journey with our fellow travelers.
Friday October 9: Fly Home
Our time in Malta has come to an end, as we transfer back to the airport by private coach for return flights to the USA.

Hotel Highlights

Grand Hotel et Des Palmes
Palermo, Sicily
Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2026 (2-night stay)
Experience Palermo’s historic palace hotel with Belle Époque elegance, refined modern luxury, artful rooms, Sicilian dining, rooftop views, and a prime location near cultural landmarks and vibrant markets.
Learn More →
Doric Eco Boutique Resort & Spa
Agrigento, Sicily
October 1 – 3, 2026 (2-night stay)
Stay in a boutique spa hotel overlooking the Valley of the Temples, featuring refined Sicilian rooms, private terraces, exceptional dining, tranquil pools, and unmatched archaeological views.
Learn More →
Il San Corrado di Noto
Noto, Sicily
October 3 – 4, 2026 (1-night stay)
Experience contemporary Sicilian luxury at a chic resort near Noto, featuring elegant suites and villas, farm-to-table dining, serene pools, refined wellness, and easy access to Baroque culture and coastal nature.
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Grand Hotel San Pietro
Taormina, Sicily
October 4 – 6, 2026 (2-night stay)
Enjoy clifftop luxury above the Ionian Sea with stylish rooms, gourmet Sicilian dining, panoramic views of Etna and Isola Bella, and easy access to Taormina’s historic center.
Learn More →
The Phoenicia Malta Hotel
Floriana, Malta
Post-Tour Program | October 6 – 9, 2026 (3-night stay)
Stay at Malta’s iconic five-star landmark in Valletta, offering elegant rooms, refined Mediterranean dining, harbor views, serene gardens, and an infinity pool beside historic city bastions.
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Register to Reserve Your Spot

Please provide your traveler information, and someone will be in touch with further instructions.

Prefer to call?

You can reach Maggie Stephens at 800-638-7640 ext. 125.