An Olive Harvest Experience 2026

October 3 – October 9, 2026

  • Truly a hands-on experience like no other in the olive groves of Chiaramonte
  • Harvest and crush your bottle of olive oil to take home
  • Tour Mount Etna and enjoy lunch and a wine tasting in its valley
  • Join in the celebration of the Sicilian Harvest in Zaffernese
  • Tour the historic city of Ragusa

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Trips Starting at $3,999

Day 1: Friday, October 3

After arrivals at Catania (CTA) airport, we will check into our hotel in Acireale. Once you are settled in, the afternoon is yours to explore Acireale. That evening, we will enjoy a welcome aperitivo at 7 p.m., followed by dinner.

Day 2: Saturday, October 4

Our day begins with breakfast at our Acireale hotel before embarking on an excursion to Mount Etna, followed by a delightful wine tasting. We return to the hotel around 4 p.m. for some free time. Tonight, we will enjoy dinner together in Acireale at 8 p.m

Day 3: Sunday, October 5

After an 8 a.m. breakfast in Acireale, we experience the vibrant Autumn Food Festival, the Ottobrata Zafferanese. In the afternoon, we go to Caltagirone, known for its centuries old history in brightly colored ceramic arts, before arriving in Chiaramonte to check into our villa. We have some free time before our 8 p.m. dinner and conversation at the villa.

Day 4: Monday, October 6

A leisurely breakfast at the villa and a welcomed free morning, we will then head out for a wine tasting with spectacular views. A luncheon will be prepared by Chef Danny to be enjoyed by all in a private home after our wine tasting. Free time follows, and we partake in “Cena & Passeggiata” (Light Dinner & Stroll) in Chiaramonte in the evening.

Day 5: Tuesday, October 7

We start our day with breakfast at the villa and discuss the importance of olives in this region before heading out to pick our olives. We take a traditional lunch break at 1 p.m. and return to the villa around 3 p.m. for free time. At 7 p.m., we visit an oleificio, an olive mill, followed by dinner. Each guest will bring home their own olive oil.

Day 6: Wednesday, October 8

After breakfast, we explore Ragusa Ibla. Following a brief guided tour, we have free time to discover this Baroque UNESCO World Heritage city, enjoying lunch, sightseeing, and shopping. Our evening culminates in a farewell BBQ at The Sardo Olive Farm.

Day 7: Thursday, October 9

Breakfast is served based on our individual departure times. We are then transported back to either Comiso or Catania airport for our flights home.

Program Schedule

Day 1 Friday, Oct. 3

  • 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Arrivals in Catania
  • Check-in to Acireale Hotel
  • Free Time
  • 7 p.m. Welcome Aperitivo
  • Evening on Your Own in Acireale

Day 2 Saturday, Oct. 4

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Acireale
  • 9 a.m. Mount Etna & Wine Tasting
  • 4 p.m. Return to Hotel
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Dinner in Acireale

Day 3 Sunday, Oct. 5

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Acireale
  • 9 a.m. Autumn Food festival, The Ottobrata Zafferanese.
  • 5 p.m. Arrive in Chiaramonte
  • Villa Check-in
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Dinner & Conversation at Villa

Day 4 Monday, Oct. 6

  • 9 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • 11 a.m. Wine Tasting Cantina Gulfi
  • 2 p.m. Luncheon at il Projetto
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Cena & Passeggiata in Chiaramonte

Day 5 Tuesday, Oct. 7

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • 9 a.m. A lesson in Olives – why this is an area of importance- guests will pick their own olives
  • 1 p.m. Traditional Lunch Break
  • 3 p.m. Return to Villa
  • Free Time
  • 7 p.m. Visit to oleificio, Olive Mill
  • 8 p.m. Dinner at Gerardo

Day 6 Wednesday, Oct. 8

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • 10 a.m. Ragusa Ibla
  • Free Time
  • 2 p.m. Pickup at Ragusa Ibla
  • Free Time at Villa
  • 7 p.m. BBQ Evening at The Sardo Olive Farm

Day 7 Thursday, Oct. 9

  • Breakfast based on departure
  • Transport Back to Flights – Comiso or Catania

Racing fans? Extend this week through Sunday for the Salita dei Monti Iblei. The Monti Iblei Cup (in Italian Coppa Monti Iblei) is a car competition, more precisely a hill climbing competition, occurring annually in Chiaramonte Gulfi (Sicily).

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The Fine Print

Program Fee Inclusions

The Fine Print

The per-person program fee includes 6 nights of hotel accommodation, most meals, daily cultural and culinary activities, cooking demos, tips/ gratuities on Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC meals, and other scheduled activities, hired transportation services, and expert guides.

What is not included in the Program Fee? Air travel, non-refundable passport fees, visas, excess baggage charges, optional excursions, extensions, meals not detailed in the itinerary, tips to tour escort and long-distance bus driver, expenses incurred during free periods, airport taxes that are collected on the spot in foreign airports, departures taxes, airport fees, airline and federal security fees and ticket handling fees, surcharges due to changes in currency, any mandatory new or increased fees/taxes/fuel surcharge (if any) levied on airline tickets, hotels, incidental expenses in hotels, hotel room upgrades, and transport to/from the airports. Transportation from Catania or Comiso airports on arrival and departure days, as outlined in the itinerary, are included. The Land Package Travel program begins after you arrive at the hotel accommodation. If traveling outside the arrival and departure days, participants must make their round-trip travel arrangements and join the program at the hotel accommodations. Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC, Daniel Mellman, and Michelle Moran are not responsible for the participant in any way when the participant is not part of the main group.

Luggage

Please check with your air carrier directly for their specific baggage liability limitation. Some airlines are strictly adhering to their policy of one carry-on bag. Airlines are not responsible for any act or event during the time the participants are not on board their planes or conveyances. Luggage travels at the risk of the participant, and Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC is not responsible for any delay, loss, or damage to it or its contents. When issued, the participant’s contract in use by the airline shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the participant. Any transportation companies mentioned herein shall have or incur no responsibility for liability to any traveler aside from their liability as common carriers.

Cancellations

June Tours. If canceled before April 15, 2024, by the traveler for any reason, deposits and program payments will be reimbursed in full, except for a cancellation fee of $375. Between April 15, 2024, and May 31, 2024, 50% of the total tour price, including the deposit, is forfeited. As of June 1, 2024, no refund is possible.

September tours. If canceled before July 1, 2024, by the traveler for any reason, deposits and program payments will be reimbursed in full, except for a cancellation fee of $375. Between July 2024 and August 31, 2024, 50% of the total tour price, including the deposit, is forfeited. As of September 1, 2024, no refund is possible.

There are no exceptions to this policy. We understand that emergencies of all nature do arise. However, there are no exceptions to this cancellation policy. Of course, if the trip is canceled for reasons force majeure (such as the pandemic, war, or natural disaster), Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC will fully refund the registration.

Waiver

Participants waive and release Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC, Daniel Mellman and Michelle Moran, its affiliates, agents, directors, officers, and employees including any person or entity employed or utilized by Lit’l Pond Productions in any foreign country, from all claims arising from any injury, loss, damage, accident, delay, or expense resulting from events beyond its control, including without limitation, acts of God, war, terrorism, strikes, incidents of politically- motivated violence, sickness or quarantine, government restrictions or regulations, and, in the absence of its gross negligence, arising from the use of any vehicle or Lit’l Pond Productions selection of, or from any act or omission by any bus or car rental agency, steamship, airline, railroad, taxi or tour service, hotel service, hotel, restaurant, school, university, or other firm, agency, company or individual.

Participants understand that Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC will take pictures and videos during the tour that may appear on social media, online, and in email communications.
Lit’l Pond Productions.

Changes in Itineraries and Program Assignment

Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC, reserves the right to change fees, departure cities, itinerary sequence, trip direction, hotels, optional excursions, and activities. Lit’l Pond may cancel a program due to insufficient enrollment, unforeseen operational difficulties, lack of projected availability, or other reasons.

Medical & Travel Insurance

We will require all participants to procure medical insurance for their travel time. Proof of insurance should be submitted with final payment. While we cannot offer travel insurance for the cost of the trip or your air travel, here are three widely used travel insurance companies: Allianz, Travelex, Travel Guard by AIG.