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.
Today our city tour of Palermo will show us the Old and New quarters, the Cathedral of Monreale - a stunning architectural treasure, the theatres of Massimo and Politeama, and the Capo Market.
Our tour of western Sicily continues with a visit to the medieval city of Erice, built an impressive 750 metres above sea level. In the afternoon we visit the ancient seaside town of Marsala, well known for its famed quality wines. Later we proceed to Mazara del Vallo for a 3-night stay.
Today we enjoy a full day tour of Mazara del Vallo. This is one of Italy’s foremost fishing harbours, and this region of Sicily boasts one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Mediterranean. Lunch is included at a local winery.
Today we enjoy a boat ride to the island of Mozia to visit what was once an ancient Phoenician city. We will see the original landscape of the salt marshes, windmills, and vineyards.
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, 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 delightful cruise around the Grand Harbour with beautiful views of Valletta.
A morning excursion that takes us to “Malta’s Three Cities”: Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa.
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.
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.
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.
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 (90 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).
