Escorted Sicily tours - Sicily & Malta tour

Malta and Sicily 2 jewels of the Mediterranean Sea.

7 nights/ 8 days.

Available only for pre-composed groups of minimum 16 pax.

No groupage, individual bookings will not be accepted.

If you are interested in this tour please fill the form below.

Day 1: Welcome to Sicily.

At arrival, welcome at the Palermo airport by our tour guide. A short motor coach drive brings us to our Hotel in Castellamare, directly by the sea. Time for a first walk in the historical part of Castellamare. Welcome dinner in a typical Sicilian Trattoria.

HB

Day 2: Palermo & Monreale.

Leaving the hotel by motor coach we reach Palermo, along with our tour guide. During our walking-sightseeing tour in Palermo you will step through the history of Sicily and the Mediterranean world. Founded by Phoenician, refinished by the Arabs, loved by the Normans, transformed by the Spanish - this city never lost his importance. You’ll see the main points of touristic interests as the byzantine churches Martorana and Cataldo, the Renaissance fountain of Piazza Pretoria, the Cathedral and the Norman Palace. A stop for lunch, then we proceed to Monreale. The monastery was created in order to fight the power of the bishop of Palermo. Colorful Byzantine art, the realistic roman sculptures and the wonderful ornaments of the Arabic tradition make sure that you’ll be astonished by the beauty of this monastery! We then drive back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

HB

Day 3: Agrigento & Piazza Armerina.

After check out we leave Castellamare and get to Agrigento by motor coach. The ancient city of Akragas was one of the richest Greek cities during the 5th century BC. The Valley of the Temples still clearly demonstrates the importance of the city in those times. After a stop for lunch in a typical Sicilian Baglio (an ancient rural mansion) we proceed to Piazza Armerina for a visit of the Roman Villa del Casale. Built in the first quarter of the 4th century AD, the owner ruled the region for about 150 years, then the Villa was destroyed and forgotten until 1929. Today these beautiful mosaics explain nearly without a word the day-life in roman times. We proceed to Catania and check in, follows dinner and overnight at the hotel.

HB L

Day 4: Etna & Taormina.

Leaving the hotel by motor coach we reach Mt Etna, the largest active volcano on the European continent, currently standing 3,329 meters high. It covers 1,190 km². This huge territory will offer a contact to an untouched nature with stunning panoramas and unique landscapes. After a stop for lunch in a typical mountain shelter we proceed towards. Taormina, who’s considered to be the “Ionian Pearl”. In fact, narrow streets with exclusive shops, the breathtaking view from the Roman-Greek Theatre and Medieval buildings are more than just one reason why Taormina is visited by tourists from all over the world. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

HB L

Day 5: Syracuse transfer to Malta.

After check out we drive by motor coach to Syracuse. When it was still named Syrakousai it played an important role as one of the top powers of the Mediterranean world. The city is over 2.700 years old and more than 200.000 people were supposed to live here in 500 BC. We’ll spend the morning and the early afternoon in it, first in the Archeological Park and then in the ancient part of the city situated on an isle: Ortigia; here there will also be time for a stop for lunch. Medieval streets, the harbor – and surely the cathedral, where one can still see the columns of the Temple to the goddess Athena encapsulated in the walls of the current church.Transfer to Malta by Catamaran or by Plane, according to the period of the year. At arrival meet and greet follows direct transfer to hotel, dinner and over night.

HB

Day 6: Malta Valletta & Mdina.

Departure from hotel by coach accompanied by our guide to Valletta -The Capital City of Malta, the City built by the Knights of St. John. During our walking tour of the city, we will first visit The Upper Barracca Gardens which enjoy a wonderful view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Historical Cities. We then visit St. John’s Co Cathedral which is Historically and artistically one of the most important monuments on the island. The beginning of the building of this Conventual church started in 1573 by Grandmaster La Cassiere. Four hundred memorial slabs cover the floor and the cathedral is full of beautiful paintings. The Grandmaster’s Palace which has two lovely courtyards. In the Tapestry Chambers, one can see the priceless Gobelein Tapestries. The National Museum of Archaeology displays a significant array of artefacts from the Islands’ unique prehistoric periods, starting with the first arrival of man in 5200 BC, running up to 2500 BC. After Lunch we drive to the central part of Malta that is dominated by the ancient citadel of Mdina - The Old Capital City of Malta, also known as the silent city. We will walk up to the imposing bastions from where the group could admire the panoramic view which commands most of the island. Return to the hotel.

HB Excursion Lunch

Day 7: Malta Landscape & Megalithic Temples.

Explore one of Malta’s few unspolt villages in the south of the island. Together with our guide you will be led to a maltese pjazza with long winding narrow streets where progress did not leave its mark. We proceed about 2 km south-west from the village of Qrendi to visit the most complex and elaborated temples of Hagar Qim, Malta’s foremost prehistoric site which were excavated for the first time in 1839. The temples stand on a hilltop wherre one can admire the breathtaking view of the sea and the islet of Fifla. Leaving Hagar Qim we proceed to Wied iz-Zurrieq where (weather permitting) we take a short boat trip to adnmire the Blue Grotto renowned for its azure sea. After Lunch we drive past varied agricultural land and vineyards upt to the idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its waterfront lined with luzzus painted in traditional colours. Our last stop will be at the cave of Ghar Dalam – one of the first habitats of these islands.

HB Excursion Lunch

Day 8: Departure.

According to the possibilities 2 options (flight in the morning, or in the afternoon – same for boat).

Day 8: (OPTION 1) Departure transfer to airport.

Day 8: (OPTION 2 In case that the flight is in the afternoon) The three cities departure transfer to airport.

Check out. Discover the historical area known as the three cities : Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea. A drive pas Cospicua will bring us to Vittoriosa where we walk through the various nharrow streets shaded by many historic buildings and churches. Froj the old quay we take a typical harbor “fregatina” for a tour of the famous harbor creeks. In Senglea we have a look from the beautiful “vedette” placed in the centre of the Grand Harbour. Direct transfer to Malta International Airport.

Meal legend:

B = Breakfast.

L = Lunch.

HB = Half board.

What is included:

• Accommodation with daily continental breakfast buffet.

• Vehicle/coach with air conditioning.

• Tour Guide as per program.

• Hotel & city taxes.

• Half-board Basis (Bev. not included) lunch on Day 3 and Day 4 and in Malta Day 6 and Day 7.

• Beverage at programmed meals.

• All sightseeing and excursions as specified in the itinerary.

What is not included.

• Flight or Boat passage in and out (available on request).

• Entrance Fees.

• Tips/gratuities.

• Meals and beverages not mentioned into program.

• All personal expenses and all that is not explicitly mentioned in “what is included”.

• Option 1 and 2 on Day 8 (departure day) will be quoted separately, available only in case of afternoon flights.