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The Medina Souks, Tunisia
Traditional Property,
Tunisia
Ancient Columns,
Tunisia
Dougga Monuments,
Tunisia
Matmata Mosque,
Tunisia
Berber Dwelling,
Tunisia
Oasis,
Tunisia
Sunset Camel Ride,
Tunisia
Castille Palace, Valletta,
Malta
Mdina Streets, Malta
Marsaxlokk, Malta
The Vedette, Malta
Hagar Qim Temples, Malta
The Citadel, Gozo
Island, , Malta
Calypso Cave, Gozo Island,
Malta
Ggantija Temple, Gozo Island , Malta
Riviera dei Ciclopi,
Sicily
Monreale, Palermo,
Sicily
Selinunte Temple, Sicily
Mosaics at Roman
Villa, Piazza Armerina, Sicily
Ear of Dionisios, Sicily
Greek Theatre & Etna,
Sicily
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Tunisia,
Malta & Sicily Tour Itinerary
18 days/17 nights starting in
Tunisia
Tuesday
You will be greeted at Tunisia airport for a transfer to your hotel,
check-in and rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner Included
Wednesday
Sidi Bou Said - Ancient Carthage - Bardo Museum - Tunis Medina
Full day tour starting with
a visit Carthage, living evidence of ancient civilisations. Declared a
national monument, the ancient city of Carthage and nearby Salammbo, abound
in vestiges of the Punic and Roman empires with baths, dwellings, temples,
shrines and the fabulous naval port of the Carthaginians. See the Antoinine
Thermal Baths one of the largest built under the Roman empire with the 'cool
room' an amazing 47 metres long and 15 metres high, the Roman theatre which
is still used today for the summer festival of Carthage. And, admire the
stunning panoramic view from hill of Byrsa overlooking the ancient site. The
second part of our tour includes a visit to the beautiful village of Sidi
Bou Said, a lovely blue and white village perched on the cliffs overlooking
the Bay of Tunis. Follow the cobblestone streets winding upwards with small
shops selling antiques, Tunisian handicrafts and silver. Catch glimpses of
the emerald sea with the mountain of Bou Kornine and the southern beaches of
Tunis across the bay. Time for a local speciality, Green tea with mint at
the famous 'Cafe Des Nattes' before we depart for lunch. After lunch we proceed to the suburbs of the capital, visiting
the Bardo Museum. This museum was originally a Hafside Palace, built in the
13th century and over the years it has been restored and now displays some
of the finest Roman mosaics and other priceless treasures from various
parts territories throughout Tunisia. This superb example of Arab-Moslem
architecture and decoration features vaulted ceilings, galleries and
cupolas. The second part of our tour will take us to the heart of Tunis and
the old Medina. You will have some free time in the Medina to explore the narrow alleys which
wind their way through the heart of this cultural haven. You will see
the great Mosque Zaytuna located in the centre of the old Medina,
door-to-door shops selling all types of local curiosities and stunning
houses of character which are nowadays used as exclusive gift shops, art
galleries and fine traditional restaurants. Our tour at this stage comes to
an end and we make our way back to your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Thursday
Thuburbo Majus - Dougga
Our tour today visits two very important ancient sites which where located
at the very heart of Ancient Carthageland and then located on a major
thoroughfare which connects Carthage city to the Sahara. Our first stop
includes a visit to the large ancient Roman site of Thuburbo Majus which
dates back to 27BC. The town was a productive grower of grain, olives, and
fruit, hence the fertile land which surrounds the town in the middle of the
country side. During your visit you can visit the ruins of the temples,
theatre and old Roman houses. After a local lunch we continue with our tour
to Dougga. Dougga is situated 550 metres above sea level, the views
surrounding the city are stunning. There are some very
interesting ruins including the 'Capitol' with a peristyle and considered to
be one of the most impressive Roman ruins, the Libyco-Punic mausoleum, the
theatre which is in such good condition is used for the Dougga summer
festival and which can seat 3500 people. Other sites of interest include the
temples in the surrounding area, the forum and the Licinian baths. After our
visit to these unique sites we had back to our hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Friday
Coach Safari Tour to El Jem Sfax - Matmata - Douz
Day One of the 2 Day Coach Safari
Early departure for the start of our 2 day tour heading down the
east towards El Jem. El Jem is particulary famous for the Coliseum which
could accommodate over thirty thousand spectators in its heyday, this
magnificent Roman Amphitheatre is very well preserved, possibly better than
the Coliseum in Rome. Our journey then continues to Matmata, en route you
will notice the landscape gradually changing to a more rural and lunar type
terrain. On arrival in Matmata we will stop for a local lunch and later
visit a Troglodyte dwelling, similar to the dwellings featured in the hit
movie Star Wars I. We continue our tour heading towards Douz which is known
as the Gateway to the Desert'. Douz is a typical dessert village, flat
dessert as far as the eye can sea and the occasional sand dunes and palm
tree oasis. You will also have the opportunity to explore the area on a
camel or cart ride, for the more adventurous quad bikes are also available
(camel, cart and quad rides are additional and payable locally). After our
desert experience we make our way to our 3* hotel for an overnight stay and
dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Saturday
Coach Safari Tour to
Chott El Jerrid -
Tozeur - Chebika - Tamerza - Kairouan - Tunis
Day Two of the 2 Day
Coach Safari
After breakfast we continue our tour crossing the huge Chott El
Jerid, which is a dry salt lake, in the distance you will see the massive
Atlas Mountains region which is our next destination. We arrive on the
outskirts of Tozeur, one of the largest southern settlements. Here you will
visit the town and some of its places of interest. After our brief stop in
Tozeur we will transfer from our coach to 4x4 vehicles to continue with the
next part of our tour. Our 4x4 convoy will wind its way into the mountain
region and our first stop is the small settlement of Chebika. Chebika has
two villages, the old and the new. The old village was destroyed by storms,
however some of the dwellings and buildings still remain intact. It was
built on a around a steep gorge and provides amazing all round scenery. You
will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful location where you will
see natural springs, a palm oasis and you can also walk through the gorge, a
wonderful experience as you cross the small streams and pass small
waterfalls. We continue with our 4x4 adventure en route passing the isolated
mountain village of Tamerza before rejoining our coach again. We stop for a
local lunch in the town of Gafsa before proceeding with our tour. Our next
stop is Karouan, the Holy City. Here, more than fifty mosques are clustered
within the old medina, however the ninth century Great Mosque is the most
impressive. You will have time to visit the rest of the holy city including
the Berber Mausoleum and some shopping. At this stage our tour comes to an
end and we make our way back to your hotel in Port El Kantoui.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Included
Sunday
Check-out of hotel, rest of the day at leisure and later transfer from your
hotel to the airport.
Breakfast Included
Tunisia to Malta Flight
Book your flight direct with Air
Malta at http://www.airmalta.com
or Tunis Air at
http://www.tunisair.com or we can book the flight for you.
On arrival at Malta airport
transfer to your hotel and check-in, rest of the day/evening at leisure.
Monday
Enjoy a free day to explore the
surrounding area of St. Paul's Bay.
Breakfast
Included
Tuesday
Valletta Mdina Mosta Dome - Rabat
Our first visit during this tour is
Valletta,
here we include the Barraka
Gardens which offer stunning views of the
Grand
Harbour and magnificent fortifications, a walk down
Triq
Republikka where you can admire numerous historical
buildings built by the
Knights
of St. John including the
Aubereges,
the
Grand
Masters Palace and the
St.
John's Co. Cathedral, the church of the order and also home
to
Caravaggio's masterpiece "Beheading of St. John"
amonst other treasures. Our next stop will be to Mdina. Mdina is a unique
medieval city, built in the 9th century, the city was built on a plateau in
the centre of the island and from the high bastion walls you can admire
stunning views of the island. This medieval
city is a maze of narrow alleys and magnificent architecture, the only way
to appreciate this special city is to stroll through it and admire the
living history. Free time will be given for lunch, approx. 1 hour. After
lunch we proceed with our tour and visit the old town of
Rabat.
Here we will make our way through the narrow streets to the centre which is
dominated by the imposing
St.
Paul's Church which overlooks the piazza. Rabat,
can claim the origins of Maltese Christianity. It was
here in AD60 that the
Apostle
St Paul is said to have stayed after
being shipwrecked on the Islands. We visit the St.
Paul's Grotto which is said to be the
resting place of St. Paul during his visit to the islands. Our final stop is
one of Malta's most famous churches, Mosta Dome. The churchs dome is the
third largest unsupported in the world, exceeded in size only by St. Peters
in Rome and St. Sophia in Istanbul. Mosta Dome is also popular with visitors
as it was at this church where the World War II bomb pierced the dome during
a service, fell inside the church during a service and failed to explode,
this locals hailed as a miracle. Our tour ends here and we make our way back
to your hotel.
Breakfast Included
Wednesday
Gardjola Gardens Birgu - Marsaxlokk Village - Blue Grotto - Hagar Qim -
Tarxien Temples
Our tour stats with a visit to the oldest part of the Grand Harbour
and the Three Cities. 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 and our next stop is the
old city of Birgu. 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'. Our
next stop takes to the southern coastline and the quaint fishing village of
Marsaxlokk. This fisherman's village is characterized by low lying
buildings and the colorful traditional fishing boats known as the 'luzzu'. A
small market lines the seafront and it is a haven for fish food lovers with
an array of good quality restaurants. Our tour continues to Wied iz-Zurrieq
and 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 to the caves, 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, EUR7.50 paid on the day). Free time will
be given for lunch, approx. 45 min/1 hour. After lunch we proceed with our
tour to the Hagar Qim temple site. Set in a rural area this ancient
temple is particularly interesting as it has the largest and heaviest
megaliths out of all the temple sites around the Maltese Islands, some slabs
weighing a staggering 20 tons. Our guide will unfold the history related to
this temple which dates back 3300BC, an era dominated by neolithic man. Our
next visit is to the Tarxien Temples, a unique collection of circa.
3000 BC sanctuaries. Stone idols and tablets, domestic animals
carved in relief, altars and screens decorated with spiral designs and other
patterns, oracular chambers and riches enhance the attractions of these
temples.
Breakfast Included
Thursday
Gozo Island Tour
We start our tour to Gozo with a pleasant 25 minute ferry crossing. The
charm of Gozo is apparent the moment you arrive there. Greener, more rural
and smaller than Malta. Our tour is a combination of scenic spots,
historical sites and local culture. We feature most of the main highlights
during our tour including the oldest free standing temples in the world,
known as Ggantija Temples, we will pass through quaint sleepy villages that
characterise Gozo's unique charm, visit stunning sites such as Calypso Cave
which offers magnificent views over the red sands of Ramla Bay. Just before
lunch we will also stop at the Fontana Cottage where you can sample local
delicasies such as sun dried totmatoes, olive pate, local cheeslets, wines
liquers and anything made locally, you will also have some time for a spot
of shopping for popular buys such as lace. Free time for lunch will be at
the pretty bay of Xlendi. After lunch we continue our tour with visits
to one of the most photographed sites in Gozo, the Azzur Window and Inland
Sea. Here you can take an optional boat trip (the boat trip is not
included in the overall price as it operates subject to weather
conditions, EUR7.00 paid on the day) around the sea locked lake. Our
final stop before we head back to the ferry for Malta includes a visit to
the main town on Gozo, Victoria and The Citadel. The Citadel is a small
fortified city that dominates the heights above Victoria. The history of The
Citadel dates back to an early period when Gozo was under Roman and Arab
occupation. The views from its fortified walls offer panoramas of the whole
island. Our tour comes to an end and we make our way back to the ferry
terminal for our return to the main island.
Breakfast Included
Friday
Check-out of hotel, rest of the day at leisure and later transfer from your
hotel.
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Malta to Catania Flight
Book your flight direct with Air
Malta at http://www.airmalta.com
or we can book the flight for you.
On arrival at Catania airport
transfer to your hotel and check-in, rest of the day/evening at leisure.
Later you will meet the group leader and enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Saturday
Riveira dei Ciclopi - Palermo
Breakfast at hotel and depart
for a tour of Riviera dei Ciclopi. Well start from Acicastello, a small
fishing village which has a Norman Castle, built of black lava stone,
nestled atop a rocky spur overlooking the sea. Our
next stop is Acitrezza, where Verga set his Novel I Malavoglia,
dominated on the seaward side by the Rocks of
the Cyclops, a treacherous
pointed mass of black lava rising up from the waters. We finish our tour
with a vist to Acireale
which is situated at the northern end of the Cyclops Coast, the historic
centre is famous for its Baroque buildings and
seasonal carnival. After lunch we depart for Palermo.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Sunday Palermo - Monreale - Cefalu
Breakfast at the hotel, today's tour will be dedicated to the city
of Palermo, the capital of Sicily, rich in history and art. We include
visit to the Cathedral, the Palazzo dei Normanni including the Palatina
Chapel, Quattro Cianti, the Opera House and Pretoria Square. We continue
to Monreale to admire the Cathedral with its splendid 12th century
mosaics, and the cloister of the Benedectine monastery with Moorish and
Norman architecture. After lunch our tour continues to Cefalu. During
our stop here you can visit the Norman Dome, rich of byzantine mosaics
and wander around the narrow streets and quaint alleys. Our tour comes
to an end when we return to Palermo for our overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Monday
Selinunte - Erice - Agrigento
Breakfast at the Hotel. Today we will be
visiting beautiful area of Trapani, which is renowned for its vineyards,
famous all around the world. Medieval town of Erice, which is located on
a high plateau and commands magnificent views of the region. A stop at a
local pastry shop is included to taste typical marzipan and almond
pastries and biscuits, these recipies have been passed down many
generations. You will also have free time to explore this delightful
medieval town. In the afternoon we will drive to Selinunte to visit the
archaeological park, the largest in the Mediterranean area. After lunch
we will continue with our tour down the west side until we reach
Agrigento. Here we will check-in to our hotel for one night and dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Tuesday
Agrigento - Piazza Armerina After breakfast we depart for our
tour of Agrigento. Here 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. After lunch we
include a visit to Piazza Armerina, in the heart of Sicily, where we
will tour the magnificent Roman "Villa del Casale", famous for
its beautiful mosaics. Our tour ends on the east coast for an overnight
stay and dinner at our hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Wednesday
Siracusa - Catania
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning we will be visiting Siracusa,
the most beautiful Greek colony of Sicily; in particular we will visit
the famous Arethusa Fountain, and the archaeological area with its
marvellous Greek theatre and Ear of Dionisios. In the afternoon the tour
will go on to Catania, the town known for its original baroque style and
for its streets paved with black lava stone the from Mount Etna. Walk
along Via Etnea, the Baroque main street, Via Crociferi, Piazza Duomo
with the Cathedral and "Liotru" statue, Roman Amphitheatre, the Opera
House and the princely Biscari Palace. Return to the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Thursday
Etna - Taormina
Breakfast at hotel. Today's tour includes probably two of
Sicily's more famous attractions, Mount Etna and Taormina. We first
visit Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across
fascinating landscape, we will reach the height of 2000 metres, from
where we will enjoy a superb panorama of the Ionic Sea. In the
afternoon, time at leisure in Taormina, the small mediaeval village
called "the pearl of the Ionic Sea", famous for its typical tiny streets
and its fascinating Greek theatre. Late afternoon, return to the hotel.
Dinner is at the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Friday
Check-out of hotel, rest of the day at leisure and later
you will be pick-up for a transfer to the airport.
Breakfast Included
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Tour Details
This is a
multilingual group tour
(English speaking is guaranteed) and is guaranteed to operate with a
minimum of 2 passengers
Tour Highlights
Visiting
Tunisia
Hammamet
Sidi Bou Said
Ancient Carthage
Bardo Museum
Medina & Souks
Tunis
Thuburbo Majus
Dougga
El Jem & Colliseum
Sfax
Matmata
Douz
Chott El Jerrid
Tozeur
Chebika
Kairouan
Malta
Valletta
Mosta Dome
Mdina Medieval City
Rabat
Birgu Citta
Marsaxlokk Fishing Village
Blue Grotto
Hagar Qim Temples
Tarxien Temples
Gozo Island
Inland Sea/Azzur Window
Xlendia Bay
Victoria/The Citadel
Sicily
Palermo
Cefalu
Monreale
Erice
Selinunte
Agrigento
Piazza Armerina
Siracusa
Catania
Mount Etna
Taormina
Riveira dei Ciclopi
What is Included
18 day tour & hotel package
**17 + 1 hotel nights on bed and breakfast
basis
11 dinners
10 lunches
Multilingual speaking Licensed Tour
Guide
for
full tour
duration in Malta
and
Tunisia
Multilingual speaking host for full tour
duration and local guide at historical
sites
in Sicily
Entrance fees during Malta and
Tunisia tours
6 airport and hotel transfers
**As you will be
spending 1 night at a different hotel on Friday during the 2 day coach
Safari, you need only to prepare a small bag. You can leave the rest of
your luggage in your hotel room for your return on Saturday.
Not Included
Entrance fees during Sicily tour, paid
locally
International and connecting flights,
see below
Dates and Days of Operation
Operates April to November, weekly on Tuesday from Tunisia.
For tours during
January, February, March, November
and December please contact us
Price
2062.00 per person
60 supplement for tours departing on March 21st, April 25th, May 2nd, May
30th
126 supplement for tours starting in August
Accommodation
Information
Tunisia
4* Hotel Kanta, Port El Kantaoui
3* Hotel Mehari or Sun Palm, Douz
Malta
4* Gillieru Harbour Hotel
Sicily
3* Excelsior Hotel, Acireale (Catania)
4* Hotel President, 3* Cristal Palace Hotel or Hotel Calarossa in Palrmo
3* Hotel Mose or Capo Rossello Hotel in Agrigento
These are the
preferred hotels, subject to availability and can be replaced with
hotels of similar standard.
International &
Connecting Flights
This tour starts in Tunisia and ends Catania, Sicily.
Flights between Tunisia & Malta and
Malta & Sicily can be booked with Air Malta at http://www.airmalta.com
How to Book/Make
an Enquiry..> |
