Malta & Sicily – Mediterranean Islands small group tour

After arriving in Malta, make your way to the hotel. In the evening the group will meet at the hotel for a tour briefing, followed by a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

In the morning we set off for a tour of the main sites around our hotel, commencing at Paola, home of the enigmatic Tarxien Temples. We will also visit Birzebugga, to visit the prehistoric Ghar Dalam cave. Next we will move on to the picturesque Marsaxlokk, famous for its market, to Marsakala where we stop to have lunch. In the afternoon we transfer to Three Cities, where we have some free time to explore or perhaps take a cruise along the shore (not included, paid locally, approx. EUR 20 per person). We will transfer back to the hotel in the later afternoon. (B,L)

Today's activities centre around Valletta, the capital of Malta. We visit the Upper Barakka Gardens, the Grandmaster’s Palace, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, and the Museum of Archaeology. In the late afternoon we take in the ‘Malta Experience’, an audio-visual attraction set in a purpose-built auditorium overlooking Valletta’s magnificent Grand Harbour. We return to our hotel for a short rest and later take an evening walk to a local restaurant for dinner. (B,D)

We spend today further exploring the island, We learn about Malta’s natural and cultural heritage, strategic Mediterranean importance, centuries-old fortifications, settlements, and religious sites. Typical of the islands of the Mediterranean, Malta has played host to waves of several great civilisations including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, and the Spanish. The Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights of St John, were Malta’s Masters from 1530 to 1798, when Napoleon’s French forces invaded. Then, in 1800, the British assumed control until Malta was granted independence in 1964. The island and its people were awarded the George Cross for their bravery during World War II. We then enjoy a full-day tour of local sites, starting with the ancient fortified city of Mdina where we enjoy a walking tour and stop to view the Cathedral. We visit Mosta to see the Mosta Rotunda, then travel to Rabat for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we explore St. Paul’s Church and Grotto, and St. Paul’s Catacombs, then make our way back to our hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,L)

This morning we’ll take a morning ferry ride across to Gozo, Malta’s second largest island, where we have a full day island tour. We visit the citadel at Victoria and the coastal village of Xlendi, which is still guarded over by a 17th century tower built by the Knights of St John. Following lunch, we will travel up the western coast of Gozo to visit Dwejra. Here we will take a boat ride to Fungus Rock, then on to the Ta Pinu basilica in Gharb, followed by a tour of the megalithic Ggantija Temples in Xaghra. In the evening we’ll return via ferry and coach to our hotel. We have dinner at our hotel this evening. (B,L,D)

This morning begins with an early morning ferry across to Pozzallo in Sicily. Here we join our coach and continue to the UNESCO world heritage town of Noto, the finest Baroque town in Sicily, home to sights like the San Francesco Church, Monastery of Santa Chiara and Palazzo Ducezio. We have free time for lunch, and continue on to Syracuse. The remainder of the day in Syracuse is free to relax or explore on your own until we meet as a group again for dinner at the hotel. (B,D)

Today we enjoy a half day tour of Syracuse, where a visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park will be followed by a trip to Ara di Ierone, the Great Altar of Syracuse, a monumental grand altar in the ancient quarter of Neapolis. In the evening we attend a traditional "puppet theatre" (Opera dei Pupi - Sicilian marionette show) and then return to our hotel. (B)

Today we depart to Agrigento with a stop in Caltagirone along the way where we view the Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte. We will enjoy some free time for lunch and then we make our way to visit Piazza Armerina and see its famous mosaics during our guided tour of the Villa Romana del Casale. Later we transfer to our hotel and the evening is free to explore the town on your own. (B)

In the morning we tour Agrigento and visit the Valley of the Temples, one of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art and architecture. We then depart towards Trapani, with a stop in Segesta, an archaeological site outside Palermo, where we’ll take a guided tour to see the Doric Temple and ancient theatre. We arrive in Trapani later in the afternoon and the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant. (B,D)  

This morning we’ll enjoy a walking tour of Trapani to view its main attractions, we’ll then transfer to San Leonardo for a ferry trip across to the island of Mozia. We’ll visit the main archaeological sites here, including the Whitaker Museum, followed bylunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we Erice where we take the funicular to the medieval eyrie of Erice, to enjoy its sweeping views of the valley and sea. We then transfer back to our hotel for the evening. (B,L)

This morning we transfer to Monreale, to visit its cloistered Cathedral followed by Palermo, Sicily's capital where we overnight. In Palermo we visit Quattro Canti, the “Theatre of the Sun”, and La Martorana, the city’s most famous medieval church, visit Palazzo dei Normanni and Cappella Palatina and then take a guided tour of Teatro Massimo, Palermo’s magnificent Opera House. Dinner this evening is at our hotel. (B,D)

The tour concludes this morning after breakfast. (B)