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14 days/13 nights Malta & Sicily Tour
Starts in
Malta/Ends in Catania (Sicily)
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE
ESCORTED COACH GROUP TOUR
Sunday
Arrive at Malta airport. Transfer to your hotel in St. Paul's Bay.
After hotel
check-in the rest of the day/evening is at your leisure. Explore the area,
seafront, shops, bars and restaurants.
Monday
Valletta - Malta Experience Show
Our guided tour of Valletta starts with a visit to the Barraka Gardens, here
you can enjoy breathtaking views overlooking the magnificent Grand Harbour
and the Three Cities. The tour also includes a walk through the bustling
Republic street, our guide pointing out prominent buildings en-route. A tour
of St. John’s Co. Cathedral, historically one of the most important
buildings in Malta and which is adorned in riches dating back to the era of
the Knights of St. John is a highlight of this tour. Here you can also
admire the magnificent Caravaggio painting “The Beheading of St. John”,
after our tour of the cathedral you will also have time to visit the church
museum, a main feature are the numerous Flemish tapestries. Our tour ends at
the Malta Experience, a superb 45-minute show illustrating the history of
the Maltese Islands - from Neolithic to modern times. The show is displayed
on a giant screen by means of state of the art visual and audio effects.
Breakfast Included
Tuesday
Mdina – Mosta Dome - San Anton - Crafts Village - Rabat
Today’s
tour takes us to the central part of Malta that is dominated by the
ancient medieval city of Mdina. Our walking tour takes through a maze of
magnificent architecture in an olde worlde setting, evidence that this
magnificent city is also known as the ‘silent city’. From the high
bastion walls you can admire views of most of the island. Close to Mdina
is the Roman town of Rabat, here we will visit the catacombs before
proceeding to the remote Westside of the island visiting the spectacular
cliffs of Dingli. After lunch (included) we will stop at the botanic gardens of San
Anton and the impressive Mosta Dome church, the fourth largest
unsupported dome in the world. To end our tour we include the Crafts
Village. Here you can admire the local glassblowers, filigree, pottery
and variety of other local crafts with time for some shopping.
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Wednesday
Gardjola Gardens - Birgu - Traditional Boat Trip
This half day tour visits the oldest part of the Grand Harbour. We
first visit the Gardjola Gardens, here you can admire the
magnificent view from the Vedette (watch tower used by the Knights). We
continue with the tour of this area next Birgu. Birgu is the oldest city of
the Grand Harbour. In 1530 the Knights of St. John first settled in this
area, and we will give you an insight to an era dominated by the Knights of
St. John. Our walking tour will take us to the heart of city, the
narrow streets and quaint alleys known as the 'collachio', an area of old
Palazzo's which where the original Auberge's occupied by the Knights'. We
finish this tour with a trip around the harbour on a traditional Dghajsa
(type of gondola). This is the end of our tour and we make our way back to
the hotel.
Breakfast Included
Thursday
Gozo Island Tour
Our tour
starts with a short 25min. ferry crossing which passes the small and
pretty island of Comino. On arrival at the picturesque Mgarr harbour,
you will notice how much greener it is on Gozo. Even though so close to
the larger island of Malta, the smaller island has many different
characteristics. Included on our tour is a variety of scenic routes and
interesting sights. We include stops at the Inland Sea and Azure Window
at Dwejra, Victoria and the imposing Citadel, the beautiful seaside
village of Xlendi Bay and include a spectacular show which relives the
life of Gozo’s yesteryear throughout the centuries. You will have time for lunch
(included) and shopping for local hand made lace and woolen
goods, both very popular buys on the island. Throughout the day you will
also see some of Gozo’s typical old villages where the pace of life
is typical of Mediterranean lifestyle of years gone by.
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Friday
Blue Grotto - Local Villages - Marsaxlokk
- Hagar Qim - Ghar Dalam
Our tour will take us to an unspoilt local villages in the southern part
of the island, you will be guided through the narrow winding streets
that lead to the village piazza - a typical scene of Malta's old towns
and villages. We will then proceed to the beautiful Wied iz-Zurrieq for
a visit to the Blue Grotto. This picturesque grotto and its neighboring
system of sea caverns mirrors the brilliant phosphorescent colors of
underwater flora. Boat trips, which take around 25 minutes allow you to
explore these grottoes and sea caverns along this stretch of coast.
The boat trip is not included in the overall price as it operates
subject to weather conditions. We will
then proceed to a rural area and the unique Hagar Qim Temple.
Hagar Qim has the largest
and heaviest megaliths out of all the temple sites around the
Maltese Islands, some slabs weighing a staggering 20 tons.
In the afternoon after lunch
(included) we
then visit the pretty village of Marsaxlokk on the south coast of the island. Marsaxlokk
is characterized by low lying buildings and the colorful traditional
fishing boats known as the 'luzzu'. You will have some free time to
browse around the small market which lines the seafront. Our final stop is a
visit to the unique Ghar Dalam caves.
The Ghar Dalam Cave
(meaning dark cave) is a
highly important site as it was here that the earliest evidence of
human settlement on Malta, some 7,400 years ago, was discovered.
This huge cavern is some 144 metres deep, but only the first 50
metres are open to visitors. The lowermost layers, more than 500,000
years old, contained the fossil bones of dwarf elephants,
hippopotami, micro-mammals and birds.
At this stage our
tour comes to an end and we make our way back to your hotel.
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Saturday
Check-out and
transfer to the airport or port for your flight or ferry to Sicily.
Arrive Sicily (Catania airport or port). Transfer to your hotel in Catania.
After hotel
check-in the rest of the day is at your leisure.
You will meet your Sicily tour leader during dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Sunday
Mount Etna - Taormina
After
breakfast, departure to Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. We will
reach the “Crateri Silvestri”, small volcanic cones which are now inactive.
The area is surrounded by old lava flows, evidence of eruptions of the past.
You will have free time for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the
charming town of Taormina. Located midway
up Monte Tauro, Taormina is a place that everybody should visit at least
once during their lifetime. The moment you arrive in Taormina you will
feel the magical and mythical atmosphere which has enchanted visitors
from all over the world for years and years. You
can explore central Taormina,
visit the Greek Theatre and quaint streets which are lined with small
boutiques and curiosity shops or find the ideal spot and admire the
stunning views of the bay, Etna in the distance and the expanse of the Ionic
Sea. We will return back to the hotel in Catania, dinner included.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Monday
Aidone - Piazza Armerina - Palermo
Check-out of
hotel. After breakfast we will visit a locally famous statue known as the
statue of the “Venus of Morgantina”, this statue was carved in the 5th
century BC. Continue onto to Piazza Armerina
where we will tour the magnificent Roman "Villa del Casale". This ancient
Roman Villa its famous
polychrome
beautiful mosaics which depict scenes representing, mythological and
historical episodes of that period. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon we
continue to Agrigento. In Agrigento
we will be visiting the wonderful
Valley of the Temples, some of the main temples include; Concordia Temple, Ercole Temple, Giunone Temple, Castore and
Polluce Temples which represent the most beautiful examples of Greek
Civilization in Sicily.
We end our tour with a transfer
to Palermo. Check-in to our hotel for the night. Dinner is included.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Optional night tour of Palermo will be offered locally at a
supplement
Tuesday
Palermo
- Monreale - Gibellina - Salemi
Check-out of hotel.
After breakfast we depart on our last day of touring which will be
dedicated to the city of
Palermo. Palermo is the capital of Sicily, it is rich in history and art. We include
a visit to the Cathedral, the Palazzo dei Normanni including the Palatina
Chapel, Quattro Cianti, the Opera House and Pretoria Square.
Our next visit is to Monreale, here you can visit the Cathedral with its splendid 12th century
mosaics, and the cloister of the Benedectine monastery with Moorish and
Norman architecture.
Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon we continue to Gibellina,
passing through Poggioreale.
This town which was also destroyed by an earthquake in 1968, today one
can only see the ruins. We visit the “Cretto di Burri” (Burri's Crevice), one of the
widest works of
contemporary art, whose giant slabs just follow the paths of the town’s
streets and alleys. This huge monument of death is what remains today of the
old city. We end our tour in the town of Salemi. Check-in to our hotel in Salemi, dinner is included.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Optional night tour
to Erice will
be offered locally at a supplement
Wednesday
Segesta - Erice - Mothia - Marsala - Salemi
After
breakfast we will depart for Segesta.
Segeste is an
abandoned ancient Greek city once part of the Elymian Empire. You can
view a Greek Temple and Amphitheatre here and admire the stunning
scenery which surrounds this superbly located city.
Our next stop is Erice. The Elymians settled the medieval town of Erice,
which was an important religious site associated with the goddess Venus.
Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade
pastry shops—world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like
almond and pistachio pastries. The vies from this city are simply
breathtaking. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the
small island of Mothia, situated at the centre of a large lagoon
in Marsala, known today as 'Stagnone'. Thanks to its particularly favorable
location, in the past it was one of the most prosperous Punic colonies in
the Mediterranean. The final stop includes a visit to a local winery’s
cellar and taste Sicilian wines. Return back to our hotel in Salemi. Dinner included at the hotel.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Thursday
Selinunte - Agrigento - Modica
Check-out of hotel.
Depart for Selinunte. Selinunte is evidence of what was
once a thriving Greek city. Here you can enjoy a walk around this ancient
site and admire the stunning panoramas and beautiful landscapes that
surround this site. Today Selinunte is still considered as the largest of
the Greek archeological sites in the Mediterranean. Our next visit is
Agrigento and stop for lunch (free time). In Agrigento
we will
be visiting the wonderful Valley of the Temples, some of the main
temples include; Concordia Temple, Ercole Temple, Giunone Temple,
Castore and Polluce Temples which represent the most beautiful examples
of Greek Civilization in Sicily.
Our final stop on this tour will be the town of Modica. Modica
once so important as to constitute a kingdom within the kingdom, is today a
prosperous town still dependent on its traditional agricultural economy. The
beautiful flight of steps leading to the main entrance and the statues
representing the twelve apostles are the main features of S. Pietro's
church. The main street or "Corso", with it's mixture of magnificent
buildings, modern shops and al fresco cafes provides the ambience of a
thriving town centre.
One of the main highlights of a visit to Modica however is to pay a visit to
the shops that specialise in chocolate. Here can taste a variety of locally
made chocolate treats. Check-in
tour our Modica hotel, dinner included.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Friday
Noto - Siracusa - Catania
Check-out of hotel. After breakfast our first visit will be to Noto, the
capital of Sicilian Baroque. Our tour en route passing through a variety
of local towns in the Ragusa region. Noto, famous for its fine buildings
of the early eighteenth century, is considered one of the main
masterpieces in the Sicilian baroque style and the town was declared
UNESCO
World Heritage
Site
in 2002.
We continue our tour and onto Siracusa, the most beautiful and greatest
Greek colony in Sicily.
Free time for lunch. In the afternoon the visit will start with the
Archeaological Park of Neapolis, with its Greek Theatre, the Roman
Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the Dyonisios “Ear” and it
will continue with the visit of Ortigia, a small island which is the
historical centre of Siracusa. In Ortigia you will admire the beautiful
Cathedral and the famous Arethusa’s Fountain. We end our day of touring
with a transfer to Catania.
Check-in to our hotel for the final night, dinner is included and rest of the
evening is at leisure.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Saturday
Breakfast at hotel and check-out
Breakfast Included
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Price
Price is per person based on 2 adults sharing.
€1395.00
€180.00 supplement for tours
starting during July and August.
For single travellers,
contact us.
Tour Availability & Details
This tour requires a Sunday check-in Malta. Tour ends in Catania,
Sicily on a Saturday.
Availability Dates (starting
dates)
March 25
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
May 6, 13, 20, 27
June 3, 10, 17, 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
August 5, 12, 19, 26
September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
October 7, 14
What is Included
• 14 day tour & hotel package
• 13 hotel nights
• Daily breakfast
• 7 dinners
• 3 lunches
• 6 transfers, including:
•
arrival and departure in Malta
•
arrival and departure in Sicily
• Licensed Tour Guide (multilingual)
•
accompanies in Malta
• Tour Escort (multilingual)
•
accompanies in Sicily.
• Entrance fees during Malta
Tour
Not Included
• Entrance fees during Sicily tour, paid
•
locally
Accommodation
Information
This tour includes 3* and 4* hotels. Our preferred hotels include:
Malta
3* Sunflower Hotel or 3* Gillieru Harbour Hotel
6 nights in St. Paul's Bay, Malta
Sicily
4* Hotel Nettuno, 4*
Hotel Torre del Sud, 4* Colleverde Park Hotel, 3* Hotel Villa Mokarta,
4* Hotel Palazzo Sitano
3 nights in Catania, Sicily
1 night in Modica, Sicily
2 nights in Salemi, Sicily
1 night in Palermo
Hotels can be replaced
with hotels of a similar if unavailable at the time of booking.
Connecting
Flight/Ferry
You can book your own
flight/ferry between Malta/Sicily or we can book them for you.
How to Book/Make
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