Best of Sicily & Malta | Partially Guided Group Tour | 12 Days

DAY 1:                CATANIA

Upon arrival at Catania Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Welcome drink and dinner at your hotel. Overnight Catania. (D)

DAY 2:                CATANIA – SIRACUSA – CATANIA

After breakfast, depart for Syracuse to visit Neapolis, including the Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, Latomie of Paradise, and the Ear of Dionysius. Continue to Ortigia, the baroque old town, to see the Cathedral, Arethusa’s Fountain, and the Temple of Apollo. Enjoy a street food light lunch, then free time for strolling and shopping. Return to Catania for a free evening to explore, dine, and experience the city. Overnight in Catania. (B, L)

DAY 3:                 CATANIA – RAGUSA

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Catania, including the famous A Piscaria fish market to experience Sicily’s vibrant seafood culture. Continue to Ragusa, known for its cheeses, with a tasting of artisan cheeses and Sicilian specialties (light lunch). Explore the historic Ibla district on the “Baroque Train,” admiring its stunning palaces and churches-part of the UNESCO-listed Val di Noto. Overnight in Ragusa. (B, L, D)

DAY 4:                RAGUSA – AGRIGENTO – MARSALA

After breakfast, depart for Agrigento to visit the Valley of the Temples, including the Temple of Concordia, Juno, and Heracles. Free time for lunch, then continue to Marsala, a city famous for its sweet wines. Arrive at Baglio Donnafranca, a restored 19th-century estate with views of the Egadi Islands, formerly owned by the Florio family. Tour the cellar, learn about winemaking, and enjoy a wine tasting with a light dinner at sunset. Overnight in Marsala. (B)

2025 DEPARTURES:

DAY 5:                 MARSALA – ERICE – PALERMO 

After breakfast, departure to Erice, via the spectacular “Salt Route”, a road flanked by the salt pans, windmills, and the “salt houses” where they still extract the sea salt as did the Phoenicians. Arrival in Erice, located on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes and, inner courtyards. Stop for marzipan and biscuit tasting Continue to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Free time for lunch and then we’ll visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach “I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and the Church of Santa Caterina. Overnight in Palermo. (B)

2026 DEPARTURES:

DAY 5:                 MARSALA – ERICE – MONREALE – PALERMO 

After breakfast, drive along the scenic “Salt Route,” lined with salt pans, windmills, and traditional salt houses, before reaching Erice, a hilltop town overlooking Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Stroll its charming streets and enjoy a biscuit tasting. Continue to Monreale with a light lunch en route, then visit Monreale Cathedral, famed for its Moorish architecture and stunning Arab-Norman mosaics. Proceed to Palermo for hotel check-in. Overnight in Palermo. (B)

2025 DEPARTURES:

DAY 6:                 PALERMO – MONREALE – CEFALU – MESSINA – TAORMINA 

After breakfast, departure to the town of Monreale, situated on a hill at few kilometres from Palermo in a panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down the main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time to explore the town. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we will have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Continue to Taormina for overnight. (B)

2026 DEPARTURES:

DAY 6:                 PALERMO – CEFALU – MESSINA – TAORMINA 

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Palermo, visiting Corso Vittorio Emanuele, I Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini, and the Cathedral. Explore a historic market, then continue to Cefalù, a charming coastal town, to see the Arab-Norman Cathedral and medieval washhouse. Free time for lunch, shopping, and strolling. In the afternoon, drive along the scenic coastal road through Messina to Taormina. Check in at your hotel and enjoy free time for dinner. Overnight in Taormina. (B)

DAY 7:                TAORMINA – MT ETNA – TAORMINA

After breakfast, take an excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, reaching 1,800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters and enjoy panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local winery on Etna’s eastern slopes for a cellar tour and tasting of wines with local cheeses and cold cuts. Return to Taormina, the “pearl of the Ionian Sea,” with free time to explore, shop, or visit the Greek-Roman Theatre. Overnight in Taormina. (B)

DAY 8:                 TAORMINA – CATANIA – MALTA

At the appointed time, transfer from Taormina to Catania airport for flight to Malta. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Malta. (B, D*)

*Dinner not included for 2026 departures.

DAY 9:                 MALTA (Marsaxlokk & The Blue Grotto)

After breakfast, departure to the idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk where 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 ride price not included) and the nearby caves. Explore one of Malta’s unspoilt villages: the main square, the hub of the village with its parish church and band club. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Malta. (B)

DAY 10:             MALTA (Valletta)

After breakfast, 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 audio-visual show where Malta history throughout the centuries is brought back to life. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. Free time for dinner and overnight in Malta. (B)

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

DAY 11:             MALTA (Mdina, Rabat, Dingli, Ta’ Qali, Mosta)

After breakfast, 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. Overnight Malta. (B, L)

DAY 12:             MALTA

The tour ends after breakfast with a transfer to Malta airport. End of our services. (B)

ACCOMMODATION (OR SIMILAR):

CATANIA: Katane Palace Hotel

RAGUSA: Poggio del Sole Resort

MARSALA: Baglio Donnafranca Wineresort

PALERMO: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, or Hotel Politeama Palace

TAORMINA: Hotel Splendid, or Hotel Caparena

MALTA: Seaview Hotel, Verdi Gzira Promenade

INCLUDES:

In Sicily:

• 6 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels and 1 night accommodation in a wine resort
• Welcome drink on day 1
• Meals as per itinerary
• Sightseeing tours in Syracuse, Catania, Ragusa, Agrigento, Erice, Monreale, Palermo, Cefalu, and Etna
• Street food lunch experience in Syracuse including a glass of wine
• Mineral water (1/2 bottle per person) at meals in hotel
• Cheese & Sicilian products tasting/light lunch in Ragusa including water and a glass of wine
• Almond pastries tasting in Erice
• Two visits of a cellar and wine tasting in Marsala and Mt Etna
• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach with free wi-fi
• English speaking tour escort and local guides where necessary
• Whispers kit (for groups with more than 10 passengers)
• Porterage at hotels
• Flight: Catania to Malta in economy class
• Arrival and departure transfers

In Malta:

• Arrival and departure transfers
• 4 nights’ accommodation in a 4* hotel on the island of Malta
• Full day tours of with multilingual local guides of Mdina, Rabat, Dingli, Ta’Qali, and Mostar
• Half day tour of Marsaxlokk and the Blue Grotto
• Half day tour of Valletta
• Meals as per itinerary

EXCLUDES:

• Entrance tickets to sites and museums (unless pre-purchased at time of booking)
• City tax (to be paid directly at the hotel)
• Beverages (excluding water with meals at hotel in Sicily)
• Excess luggage fees
• Ticket to the Blue Grotto
• Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling
• Everything which is not mentioned in “inclusions”

THINGS TO NOTE:

• For organisational reasons or health security, the itinerary may be reversed or modified without notice; in this case the operator ensures similar visits and excursions in accordance with the spirit of the tour program.
• If the tour operates with fewer than 9 passengers, it will be conducted by minivan with an English-speaking driver, and local guides will be provided where needed. The travel program may be adjusted, with any changes communicated at least 15 days prior to departure.
• Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.
• Flight from Catania to Malta includes 1 piece of luggage max 20kgs per person, and a hand luggage max 10kgs per person. Extra luggage will incur fees payable direct at the airport.
• The Catania-Malta flight (on day 8), operated by Air Malta, is scheduled for 7:00am (subject to change). The arrival at the hotel in Malta is expected at around 9:30 am. Check-in is scheduled from 1:00pm. Based on the availability of rooms, the hotel may assign the room before this time, but it is not guaranteed. There is the option to guarantee early check-in with a supplement.
• Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.