Sicily and Malta Tour – IT757

Sicily and Malta Tour – Escorted in English – 11 nights / 12 days

A unique Sicily and Malta tour. It includes the best of Sicily and a chance to discover the rich heritage of Malta. This tour gives you 7 days in Sicily and 4 days in Malta. Extra nights can be arranged on request. Flights between Sicily and Malta are included. A wonderful chance to capture the history, culture and cuisine of these two fascinating islands.

2021 Guaranteed Departures on Saturdays April – October

Visit: Sicily: Catania, Siracusa, Ortigia, Modica, Ragusa, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Marsala, Salt Route (Trapani Area), Palermo, Cefalu, Nebrodi Park, Taormina, Mt Etna (optional), Catania. Malta: Marsaxlokk Market, Blue Grotto, Valletta, Mdina, Rabat, Dingli. 

Day 1 Saturday – CATANIA

Arrive in Catania, make your own way to the hotel Il Principe. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner this evening. (D)

Day 2 Sunday – CATANIA – SIRACUSA- ORTIGIA – MODICA – RAGUSA

Drive to Syracuse to visit the archaeological, area then continue to the island of Ortigia, where you will see the magnificent Cathedral and the Fountain of Arethusa. Travel to Modica, a baroque town and UNESCO World Heritage site. Here we will visit a real chocolate factory, where it will be possible to create, with your hands, to create your own bar of chocolate to bring with you. Accommodation and dinner at POGGIO DEL SOLE RESORT. Optional: visit “by night” of the ancient city Ragusa “Ibla”, cradle of Sicilian baroque (additional charge on the spot; the excursion will take place with a minimum of participants). Overnight. (BD)

Day 3 Monday – RAGUSA – CALTAGIRONE – PIAZZA ARMERINA – AGRIGENTO

Drive to Piazza Armerina to marvel at the Villa Romana del Casale’s rich mosaics, depicting mythological themes and hunting scenes. Eat lunch in a local restaurant before driving to Agrigento. Visit the Valley of the Temples including the Temple of Juno, Concord and Heracles. Accommodation and dinner at hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace. Overnight. (BLD)

Day 4 Tuesday – AGRIGENTO – PALERMO – MONREALE

Travel to Palermo, the Capital of Sicily and visit Monreale: the Cathedral and the Benedictine Cloister. You will have the chance to taste Palermo’s street food, one of the most renowned all over the world. In the afternoon, visit the historical center of Palermo: the Cathedral and Palazzo Mirto a noble residence located in the ancient Arabic quarter of Kalsa. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa. (BD)

Day 5 Wednesday – PALERMO – SEGESTA – ERICE – SALT ROUTE (Trapani area) – PALERMO

Depart to Segesta to the medieval village of Erice located on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Aegadi Islands. Continue to Marsala, a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine. Stop at a prestigious winery for a guided tour of the historic wine cellars + tasting of wines with local food pairings. We then continue down to the Trapani area for a panoramic tour of the salt windmills and basins, which are still in use. Return to Palermo. Dinner on your own. Overnight in your Hotel. (B)

Day 6 Thursday – PALERMO – CEFALU – NEBRODI PARK – TAORMINA

Drive to Cefalu to admire its well-preserved Arab-Norman Cathedral. Enjoy a walk to the city center and down main street to visit the medieval wash-house built into the rock. Drive through the Nebrodi National Park and enjoy lunch in the Miraglia Forest. Continue to Cesarò and Randazzo to visit the north part of Mount Etna. Continue to Taormina, “the Pearl of the Ionian Sea”. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Villa Diodoro, located near the historic center of Taormina. (BLD)

Day 7 Friday – TAORMINA – MT ETNA (OPTIONAL) – TAORMINA

Weather permitting, you can join an optional morning excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. You will reach a height of 1800 meters and enjoy a fantastic panorama over the Ionian Sea (extra charge payable on the spot; the excursion will take place with a minimum of participants). Lunch on your own. Afternoon in Taormina: enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through the tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Roman – Greek theater on your own. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight. (BD)

Day 8 Saturday – TAORMINA – CATANIA – MALTA

Breakfast in Hotel. At the appointed time, transfer from Taormina to Catania airport. Flight to Valletta, the capital of Malta, a delightful Mediterranean island. Transfer to Hotel Dolmen Resort located in St Paul’s Bay or similar 4 stars. Dinner and overnight. (BD)

Day 9 Sunday – MALTA “MARSAXLOKK MARKET & THE BLUE GROTTO” Extended Half Day Excursion

The idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its colorful luzzus and unique character makes this a perfect setting for the local market. Continue the tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto (weather permitting – boat price not included) and the nearby caves. Explore one of Malta’s beautiful villages, with its the main square, the hub of the village and its parish church and band club. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner in your Hotel. (BD)

Day 10 Monday – MALTA “VALLETTA + MALTA EXPERIENCE” Half Day Excursion

Enjoy a morning tour of Valletta – Malta’s heritage-rich capital. Highlights include the Upper Barracca Gardens and St John’s Cathedral, home to a splendid Caravaggio painting as well as an intriguing Museum. Going down Republic Street you will walk past the Grandmaster’s Palace before watching the Malta Experience, an audiovisual show where Malta history throughout the centuries is brought back to life. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. Dinner in your Hotel. (BD)

 Day 11 Tuesday – MALTA “MDINA” Full Day Excursion

Today’s excursion takes us to the central part of Malta, dominated by the medieval fortified city of Mdina, Malta’s former capital city. The narrow streets, dating back to medieval times, lead to the imposing bastions. Leaving Mdina through Greeks’ Gate, we stop at the early Christian catacombs in Rabat before proceeding to the cliffs at Dingli. After lunch we will visit the San Anton botanical gardens situated near the Presidential Palace, which you will be able to admire from outside. We shall also spend time at the crafts center at Ta’ Qali. At the end of the tour, allow us to astound you with the majestic dome, one of Europe’s largest. (BLD)

Day 12 Wednesday – MALTA

The tour ends after breakfast with a transfer to the port or the airport of Valletta. (B)

Includes:

• Tour of Sicily and Malta
• 11 night’s accommodation in 4* hotels
• Welcome cocktail
• 11 Dinners (D), 3 Lunches (L), 10 Breakfast (B)
• Visit chocolate factory in Modica with tasting
• Street food in Palermo
• Visit a winery with wine tasting & light lunch in Marsala
• Deluxe motor-coach with free WIFI (in Sicily) or minivan with driver/guide for groups with less than 8 people
• English speaking tour escort
• Local guides where necessary
• Whispers Kit so you can always hear your guide
• Porterage at hotels in Sicily
• Transfer Taormina Hotel/Catania Airport
• Flight Catania/Valletta in Economy class. Ticket includes 1 piece of luggage max 20 kgs per person and a hand luggage max 10 kgs
• Regular sightseeing with multilingual local guides in Malta (days 9-11) English language guaranteed
• Transfer Airport Malta/Hotel Malta/Airport or Port Malta
• All entrance fees in Siracusa, Neapolis & Dome. Piazza Armerina, Villa Romana del Casale. Agregento, Valley of Temples. Palermo, Palazzo Mirto. Monreale, Cloister & Dome. 

Excludes:

• Transfers into Catania (can be requested please inquire)
• City Tax: some City Councils may charge a tourist tax that has to be paid directly at the Hotel
• Beverages
• Extra luggage (to be paid at the airport by the passenger)
• Entrance fees in Malta
• Tips
• Optional tours in Ragusa & to Mt Etna

Hotels:

• Catania:  Il Principe Hotel 4* 
• Ragusa:  Poggio Del Sole Resort 4*
• Agrigento: Dioscuri Bay Palace 4*
• Palermo: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa 4*
• Taormina: Villa Diodoro 4*
• Malta: Dolmen Resort 4*
• Similar standard hotels will be used if the above are booked out

Price Per Person in Euro: 

• US$ rate will vary with the exchange rate

Additional Services:

• Airport transfers can be arranged in Catania on request
• Additional nights in Catania and Malta can be added if required please inquire.