From Sicily’s Ancient Wonders to Malta’s Timeless Charm
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Palermo, Sicily with a change of planes in Rome.
We arrive in Palermo and transfer to our hotel for a 2-night stay. The balance of the day is at leisure, followed by a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Explore Palermo’s Old and New quarters before visiting the magnificent Monreale Cathedral (entrance included), a true architectural masterpiece. See the Teatro Massimo and Politeama Theatre (exterior) and experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Capo Market.
Visit the medieval hilltop town of Erice, perched high above the coast, and explore its historic streets and cathedral (entrance included). In the afternoon, continue to Marsala, renowned for its historic centre and world-famous wines.
Visit Mazara del Vallo, one of Sicily’s main fishing ports, and explore the “Satiro Danzante” Museum (entrance included). Enjoy a light lunch at a local winery/farm.
Enjoy a boat ride to the island of Mozia to explore the remains of an ancient Phoenician city. Discover its unique setting, surrounded by traditional salt marshes and windmills.
We travel inland to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, one of the most outstanding examples of Greek architecture, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch is included before we proceed to the eastern side of Sicily and our hotel in the Riviera dei Ciclopi area north of Catania, for a 2-night stay.
We drive to the ancient city of Syracuse, and we’ll visit the island of Ortigia, the Spring of Arethusa Fountain. Afternoon at leisure followed by a walking tour of the historical city centre of Catania.
We visit the charming cliffside town of Taormina for a scenic walking tour, before proceeding to the airport for our flight to Malta. Upon arrival in Malta, we transfer to our hotel for a 6-night stay in seaview rooms!
This morning, we’ll have a welcome orientation followed by a half-day guided excursion to the historic Three Cities, including a visit to the Inquisitor’s Palace and a traditional dgħajsa boat ride through the picturesque harbour creeks
Our city tour of Malta’s capital, Valletta, will include the Upper Barrakka Gardens, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster’s Palace, the Armoury, and a viewing of the film The Malta Experience.
Our morning excursion is to the Ta’ Qali Crafts Village where you can admire the local artisans at work and find some souvenirs. We then continue to Mdina, Malta’s old capital city, with a visit to the Cathedral and the catacombs in Rabat.
On today’s full-day excursion, we take the short ferry ride to Malta’s second largest island, Gozo. Here we visit the sites of Fontana Cottage, the Citadel, Gozo Cathedral, Dwejra inland sea, and the prehistoric temples. Lunch is included while in Gozo.
A delightful cruise around the Grand Harbour with beautiful views of Valletta.
Morning free at leisure. After a late lunch proceed to the airport for your flight to Rome. Upon arrival overnight in a hotel near Rome airport.
We transfer to the airport for our flight home.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (120 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
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