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Giardini Naxos
Agrigento
 
Mosaics at Roman Villa
Lipari Port
Alcantara
Etna
Calypso Cave, Gozo (Malta)
Castille Palace, Valletta
Mdina Streets
Marsaxlokk
The Vedette
Hagar Qim Temples
Ggantija Temples
The Medina Souks
Traditional Property
Ancient Carthage
El Jem
Berber House
Mountain Oasis
Karouan Holy City |
12 day/11 night Sicily,
Malta & Tunisia
Tour
Starts in
Catania (Sicily)/Ends in
Tunisia
Wednesday
You will be greeted at Catania airport for a transfer to
Taormina.
Arrive in central Taormina and check-in to your hotel.
After hotel check-in
the rest of the day/evening is at your leisure. Explore central Taormina,
visit the Greek Theatre and quaint streets which are lined with small
boutiques and curiosity shops. You can also take a cable ride down to
the resort of Giardini Naxos which lies at the foot of Taormina.
Giardini Naxos has a pretty seafront and opportunities to have a swim or
stroll the around Yacht marina.
During the evening
take a walk into central Taormina and enjoy dinner at a local
restaurant. Sicilian cuisine is renowned to be one of the best in the
Mediterranean region. After dinner find the ideal spot and enjoy the
stunning views as far as Calabria and inland views of Mount Etna....the
scenery is simply breathtaking.
Thursday
Agrigento & Piazza Armerina
This tour will take
us through central Sicily and on to the west coast, across the vast countryside
which will enable us to enjoy a great variety of sceneries. Our first stop
includes a visit to Agrigento. Agrigento his home to the magnificent Valley of
the Temples which date back to 6th century B.C. We will visit
the temples of Juno,
Concordia, Hercules, Olympian Zeus, Castor and Pollux.
These temples
represent the most impressive and beautiful examples of Greek Civilization in
Sicily. After our visit to Valley of the Temples you will have free time for
lunch. Our afternoon tour will continue into the very heart of Sicily and the
typical town of Piazza Armerina. Located a few minutes from the old town of
Piazza Armerina is the Roman Villa of Casale. This ancient Villa which was part
of a larger settlement is surrounded by beautiful hills and is nestled at the
top of a valley, protected by the rising hills surrounding it. The Villa which
dates back to the 3rd & 4th century A.D. offers 3500 square metres of
magnificent mosaic flooring. Parts of the building have been preserved and
restored and you can get a very good idea of what this magnificent Villa used to
look like. You will have free time to admire the Villa and surroundings before
we return back to our coach. At this stage our tour comes to an end and we make
our way back to Taormina.
Breakfast Included
Friday
Lipari & Vulcano
We depart Taormina heading
north towards the coastal town of Milazzo. Here will board our private boat for
the start of our very interesting cruise tour to the Aeolian Islands of Lipari
and Vulcano. Our first visit is to Lipari, named after the mythical king 'Lipara'.
On arrival you will have free time to visit the old city centre and port area.
We return to our boat and continue along the coast. This is the ideal way
to explore this island many coastal attractions including the 'Forgia Vechia',
bed of obsidian. The unique colours of the sea bed and White Sandy beaches are
beautiful. Our tour escort will point other interesting sites en route including
the Faraglioni, Papa
Giovanni's rock and the Grotta degli Angeli. We arrive early afternoon to the
island of Vulcano. The island has five vulcanos - Punta Luccia, Serri di Lentia,
Piano, Gran Cratere and Vulcanello. During our visit of Vulcano you will
have fee time for exploring and lunch. During your visit you may also want to
bathe in the warm sulphurous muddy sea (not advisable for children under the age
of 13, pregnant women and for those suffering from asthma), particularly good
for suffers of rheumatic pains. On your return to the boat we settle down for
the final part of this fascinating island tour which continues along the coast
of Vulcano, visiting the Grotto del Cavello and Piscena di Venere before
returning back to the Sicilian coastal town of Milazzo.
Breakfast
Included
Saturday
Etna
We set off for what is probably Sicily's most famous attraction, ETNA - the
highest active volcano in Europe.
The drive up the Mount
Etna mountain slopes takes us through picturesque villages and an ever changing
landscapes. The lower slopes of the volcano are extremely fertile with groves of
oranges, lemons and other Mediterranean flora and of course vines which produce
Sicily's best wines. We go through forests of chestnut trees which gradually
give way to oak, beech, birch and pine. We
will drive across fascinating land scenes including the old lava fields and
volcanic trails, admire the stunning views and
superb
panorama of the Ionic Sea.
Our tour will reach a
peak of 1900 metres above sea level when we reach 'Etna Refuge'. You will have
free time to explore the area and for lunch during our stop here before
returning back to Taormina.
Breakfast Included
Sunday
Check-out of hotel, rest of the day at leisure and later transfer from your
hotel to the airport.
Breakfast Included
Catania to Malta Flight
Book your flight direct with Air
Malta at http://www.airmalta.com
or we can book the flight for you.
You will be greeted at Malta airport for a transfer to
St. Paul's Bay.
Check-in to your hotel.
After hotel check-in
you can take a stroll along the long promenade and familiarise yourselves
with the area.
Monday
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. A local
lunch is included and some time for 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 Included
Tuesday
Valletta - Mdina Medieval City - Rabat - Mosta
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 church’s dome is the
third largest unsupported in the world, exceeded in size only by St.
Peter’s 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
Three Cities - Marsaxlokk - Blue Grotto - 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.
Our tour ends here and we make our way back to your hotel.
Breakfast Included
Thursday
Check-out of hotel, rest of the day at leisure and later transfer from your
hotel to the airport.
Breakfast Included
Malta to Tunisia Flight
Book your flight direct with Air
Malta at http://www.airmalta.com
or we can book the flight for you.
You will be greeted at Tunis airport for a transfer to
Port El Kantoui.
Check-in to your hotel.
After hotel check-in
the rest of the day/evening is at your leisure. Explore the centre and
port of Port El Kantoui. There are a number of shops, bars and restaurants
surrounding the pretty marina.
If you would like to venture further away the town of Sousse is just a 20
minute taxi journey away. Here will find numerous outlets, a long promenade
and you can also visit the local medina.
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
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 to the airport or a hotel if you decide to stay longer.
Breakfast Included
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Price
Price is per person based on 2 adults sharing.
€1619.00
€71.50 August supplement
Tour Availability & Details
This tour starts in
Sicily on
a Wednesday and ends Tunisia on a Sunday
Departure Dates
Weekly from April 22nd to
October 7th
•
What is Included
• 12 day tour & hotel package
• **11 + 1 hotel nights on bed and
• breakfast basis
• 3 dinners
• 2 lunches
• Multilingual (English included) Tour
•
Escort full tour
duration in Sicily
• Multilingual (English included)
•
Licensed Tour Guide
for
full tour
• duration in Malta and
Tunisia.
• Entrance fees during Malta and
•Tunisia tours
• 5 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
Tour Accommodation
Tunisia
Hotel Kanta, Port El Kantaoui
Hotel Mehari or Sun Palm, Douz
Malta
Gillieru Harbour Hotel, or
Santana Hotel
Sicily
Hotel Isabella, or
Hotel Continental, or
Hotel Bel Soggiorni, or
Hotel Del Corso, or
Hotel Villa Chiara
These are the
preferred hotels, subject to availability and can be replaced with
hotels of similar standard.
Connecting Flights
Flights between Sicily & Malta and
Malta & Tunisia can be booked with Air Malta at http://www.airmalta.com
How to Book/Make
an Enquiry..> |
