12D/11N - 2020 Best of Sicily and Malta

day 01 sat Catania Arrival

Independent arrival at your hotel in Catania. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner this evening.

day 02 sun Catania-Siracusa-Modica-Ragusa

Drive to Syracuse to visit the marvellous archaeological area then continue to the island of Ortigia, where you will see the magnificent Cathedral and the Fountain of Arethusa. Travel to Modica, a baroque town part of UNESCO Heritage Sites in Italy: visit a real chocolate factory, where it will be possible to create, with your hands, own bar of Chocolate to bring with you. Accommodation and dinner.

Optional: visit "by night" of the ancient city Ragusa "Ibla", cradle of Sicilian baroque (supplement paid direct; the excursion will take place with a minimum of participants).

day 03 mon Ragusa-Piazza Armerina-Agrigento

Drive to Piazza Armerina to marvel at the Villa Romana del Casale’s rich mosaics, depicting mythological themes and hunting scenes. Eat lunch in a local restaurant before driving to Agrigento. Visit the Valley of the Temples including the Temple of Juno, Concord and Heracles. Accommodation and dinner at hotel .

day 04 tue Agrigento-Palermo-Monreale

Travel to Palermo, the Capital of Sicily and visit Monreale: the Cathedral and the Benedictine Cloister. You will have the chance to taste Palermo’s street food, one of the most renowned all over the world, while wandering around its historical centre. In the afternoon, visit the historical centre of Palermo: the Cathedral and Palazzo Mirto a noble residence located in the ancient Arabic quarter of Kalsa. Accommodation, dinner and overnight.

day 05 wed Palermo-Segesta-Erice-Salt Route (Trapani area)-Palermo

Depart to Segesta to the medieval village of Erice placed on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Continue to Marsala, a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine. Stop at a prestigious winery for a guided tour of the historic Wine Cellars + tasting of wines with local food pairings. Down to Trapani area for a panoramic tour of the salt windmills and basins, which are still in use. Return to Palermo. Dinner on your own

day 06 thu Palermo-Cefalu’-Nebrodi Park-Taormina

Drive to Cefalu to admire its well-preserved Arab-Norman Cathedral. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down main street to visit the medieval wash-house built in the rock. Drive through the Nebrodi Park and enjoy lunch in the Miraglia Forest. Continue to Cesarò and Randazzo to visit the north part of Mount Etna. Continue to Taormina, “the Pearl of the Ionian Sea”. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Villa Diodoro, located near historic centre of Taormina.

day 07 fri Taormina-Mt Etna (Optional)-Taormina

Weather permitting, you can join an optional morning excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. You will reach a height of 1800 metres and enjoy a fantastic panorama over the Ionian Sea (supplementpaid direct; the excursion will take place with a minimum of participants). Own arrangements for lunch. Afternoon in Taormina: enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through the tiny streets. Option to visit the Roman - Greek theatre. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

day 08 sat Taormina-Catania-Malta

After breakfast, you will be transferred from Taormina to Catania airport for your flight to Valletta, Capital of Malta. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Hotel Dolmen Resort located in St Paul’s Bay or to a similar 4 star hotel. Enjoy dinner in the evening.

day 09 sun Malta “Marsaxlokk Market & The Blue Grotto”

The idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its colourful luzzus and unique character make the unrivalled setting for the local market. Continue the tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto (weather permitting – boat price not included) and the nearby caves. Explore one of Malta’s unspoilt village: the main square, the hub of the village with its parish church and band club. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner at your hotel.

day 10 mon Valletta & Malta Experience

Enjoy a morning tour of Valletta – Malta’s heritage-rich capital. Highlights include the Upper Barracca Gardens and St John’s Cathedral, home to a splendid Caravaggio painting as well as an intriguing Museum. Going down Republic Street you will walk past the Grandmaster’s Palace before watching the Malta Experience, an audiovisual show where Malta history throughout the centuries is brought back to life. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. Dinner in your Hotel.

Please note: from April to June and in October, the excursion “Valletta + Malta experience” will take place in the afternoon.

day 11 tue Mdina full day excursion

Today’s excursion takes us to the central part of Malta, dominated by the medieval fortified city of Mdina, Malta’s former capital city. The narrow streets, dating back to medieval times, lead to the imposing bastions. Leaving Mdina through Greeks’ Gate, we stop at the early Christian catacombs in Rabat before proceeding to the cliffs at Dingli. After lunch we will visit the San Anton botanical gardens situated near the Presidential Palace, which you will be able to admire from outside. We shall also spend time at the crafts centre at Ta’ Qali. At the end of the tour, allow us to astound you with Mosta’s majestic dome, one of Europe’s largest.

day 12 Malta

The tour ends after breakfast with your private transfer to the port or the airport of Valletta.

Inclusions: standard twin share room at 4* Hotels, welcome cocktail, breakfast, daily, 10 dinners, 3 lunches visit choclate factory in Modica, street food in Palermo, winery & wine tasting in Marsala, deluxe coach, English speaking tour escort, local tour guides, regular sightseeing with multilingual local guides in Malta, transfer Taormina hotel to Catania airport, flight Catania to Valletta in economy class including 1 piece of luggage max 20 kgs per person and a hand luggage max 10 kgs, return transfers Malta airport to hotel, porterage at hotels in Sicily, whispers kit in Sicily.

Exclusions: arrival transfer, entrance fees, city tax, beverages which are applicable to both Sicily and Malta.

Hotels: Catania-Il Principe, Ragusa-Poggio del Sole Resort, Agrigento-Dioscuri Bay Palace, Palermo-Piazza Borsa, Taormina-Villa Diodoro, Malta-Dolmen Resort (or similar).

On request: arrival/departure transfers, upgrade room or hotel