The Harvest Celebrations

September 18 – September 24, 2026

  • Truly a hands-on experience like no other in the olive groves of Chiaramonte
  • Harvest and crush your own 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

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Trips Starting at $3,999

Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!

Arrive in Chiaramonte and settle in. Take some time to unwind, and then we’ll all gather for a traditional Sicilian welcome dinner. Get ready for an evening filled with delicious food and good company!

Day 2 – Taste of Sicily

We will explore the local culture with a fun history lesson that includes olive oil and wine tasting. Afterward, we will head out for more wine tasting at Locandi Gulfi and enjoy a delightful luncheon. The rest of the day is yours to relax at the villa.

Day 3 – Market Day & Gelato!

First, we will experience the bustling market in Vittoria. Next up, more fantastic wine tasting at Occhipinti. You will have free time to enjoy the afternoon before we meet for dinner. In the evening, we will experience the charm of Chiaramonte with gelato and apperetivo.

Day 4 – Farm Life & Olive Grove Dinner

We will embark on a visit to Giannavi, a beautiful farm, for a tour and a fun cooking class followed by an agriturismo lunch. Later we will make our way to The Sardo Olive Grove for a unique dinner experience.

Day 5 – Exploring Ortigia

Today, we will head to Ortigia for a boat sightseeing trip. Expect stunning marine grotto views and a chance to swim in the Siracusa waters. Then, we will enjoy a seafood lunch, followed by free time to explore Ortigia at your own pace. We will check into our hotel in Acireale in the evening.

Day 6 – Mount Etna & Wine

Get ready for an adventure to Mount Etna! We will explore the area and indulge in more wine tasting. Enjoy a free afternoon before dinner in Acireale.

Day 7 – Farewell

Enjoy breakfast and then get ready for transport back to the airport. We will say our goodbyes but you will leave with wonderful memories of Sicily.

Program Schedule

Day 1 Thursday, Sept 18

  • 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Arrivals at Chiaramonte
  • Check-in
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Traditional Sicilian Welcome Dinner – Chiaramonte

Day 2 Friday, Sept. 19

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Chiaramonte
  • 10 a.m. A Sense of Place – Sicilian history lesson with olive oil and wine tasting
  • 11 a.m. Depart for Locandi Gulfi Wine Tasting
  • 2 p.m. Luncheon il Projetto
  • 4 p.m. Return to Villa
  • Free Time at Villa

Day 3 Saturday, Sept. 20

  • 8 a.m. Market Tour Vittoria
  • 11 a.m. Wine Tasting Occhpinti
  • 1 p.m. Return to Villa
  • Free Time
  • 6 p.m. Dinner at Gerardo
  • 9 p.m. Chiaramonte Evening
  • Gelato & Apperetivo

Day 4 Sunday, Sept. 21

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • 9 a.m. Departure for Giannavi (1-hour drive)
  • 10/10:30 Agritourismo Giannavi
  • Tour of the Farm and Cooking Class
  • Agriturismo Luncheon
  • 4 p.m Villa
  • 7 p.m. Departure for Dinner
  • 8 p.m. Dinner at The Sardo Olive Grove

Day 5 Monday, Sept, 22

  • 7 a.m. Departure for Ortigia
  • 10 a.m. Boat Sightseeing Ortigia
  • Excursion to the beautiful marine grotto and the island of Ortigia swim in the waters of Siracusa
  • Noon – Seafood Lunch
  • Afternoon Free Time Ortigia
  • 4 p.m. Departure Ortigia
  • 6 p.m Check in Hotel Acireale
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Dinner on Own

Day 6 Tuesday, Sept. 23

  • 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 7 Wednesday, Sept 24
  • Breakfast based on departure
  • Transport Back to Flights – Comiso or Catania

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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.