Sicily & Malta: cities, temples & sea - copia

Arrive at Catania Airport and meet your local assistant. Transfer to your hotel in Giardini Naxos (approximately 50 minutes). The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore the beautiful Ionian Coast at your leisure. Overnight stay in Giardini Naxos.

Breakfast at the hotel. Orient yourself with a morning walk through Giardini Naxos alongside your Tour Leader, followed by free time for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day excursion to Taormina. Admire Taormina’s renowned views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna; wander through its picturesque streets and explore the historic center. Admire the famous Greek Theatre from the outside. Complete your afternoon with a traditional Sicilian granita tasting, one of the island's most iconic specialities.  Overnight stay in Giardini Naxos.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take time to enjoy Giardini Naxos at your own pace, either relaxing at the hotel or exploring the surrounding area. To fully savor the local experience, we recommend our Mount Etna & Regional Specialties Tasting Excursion.* Overnight stay in Giardini Naxos.

*Optional Mount Etna & Regional Specialties Tasting Excursion: Explore Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. Admire its striking landscapes before tasting a selection of local products, including honey, wine, and olives, grown in Etna’s fertile volcanic soil.

Breakfast at the hotel. A transfer will take you from Giardini Naxos to Cefalù. Here you'll have free time for lunch before joining your Tour Leader for a Guided Walk Through Cefalù's Old Town. Discover the sights which make it one of — I borghi più belli d'Italia — the most beautiful villages of Italy. In the evening, you may choose to continue your Sicilian experience with an authentic countryside dinner with our Optional Dinner at Tenuta Luogo Marchese.* Overnight stay in Cefalù.

*Optional Dinner at Tenuta Luogo Marchese:  Escape to a Sicilian estate and enjoy a traditional dinner prepared with local ingredients in a peaceful countryside setting, perfect for experiencing the island's authentic flavors.

Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to Palermo, Sicily’s capital, for a full-day excursion. Uncover the city’s rich history, shaped by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and Romans who have each influenced it over the centuries. Walk through Palermo’s historic center and admire Palermo Cathedral and Palazzo dei Normanni from the outside, before experiencing Ballarò Market. Browse its colorful stalls filled with produce, street food, spices, clothing and accessories. Later, enjoy some free time and continue exploring Palermo at your own pace. After a leisurely afternoon, return to Cefalù. Overnight stay in Cefalù.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Valley of the Temples and enjoy a tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site,  one of Sicily's most important archaeological areas. Admire these remarkably preserved ancient Greek temples as you learn more about their construction and history. After your visit, continue your journey to your hotel. Overnight stay in Syracuse area.

Transfer Cefalù to Valley of the Temples, approximately 2 hrs 10 minutes. Transfer from Valley of the Temples to Noto, approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.)

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day to relax or explore the Noto area at your own pace. For a deeper insight into Sicily's rich heritage, join our optional Ragusa & Modica Guided Tour with Chocolate Tasting.* Overnight stay in Syracuse area.

*Optional Ragusa & Modica Guided Tour with Chocolate Tasting: Discover more UNESCO World Heritage sites with the Baroque towns of Ragusa Ibla and Modica. Accompanied by a local guide, explore Ragusa Ibla’s historic cobblestone streets before visiting Modica to learn about the town's celebrated chocolate-making tradition with a traditional chocolate workshop and tasting.

Breakfast at the hotel. Bid farewell to Sicily and take a private transfer from your hotel in Syracuse to the port of Pozzallo. From here, board the ferry and cross the Mediterranean to Malta, where a transfer will take you from the port to your hotel. Overnight stay in Malta.

Overnight stay in Malta. 

Total transfer time: ferry transfer from Pozzallo to Malta approx. 45 min.

Important: From today, you will travel independently rather than as part of a group tour. You will no longer be accompanied by a tour guide, which means that the travellers participating in each activity may vary.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on an included Gozo & Comino boat tour along Malta’s northern coast, passing dramatic cliffs, sea caves and crystal-clear waters. Stop at Comino’s Blue Lagoon, where you can swim or relax beside the water. Continue to Gozo and enjoy time to explore Victoria and its historic Citadel or unwind on the red sands of Ramla Bay.

Overnight stay in Malta.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day at your own pace and discover Malta. Alternatively, you may choose one of our three optional tours: a guided walking tour of Valletta*, a visit to Mdina and its picturesque surroundings** or take an excursion to Malta’s prehistoric temples and southern highlights***.

Overnight stay in Malta.

Please note: Only one optional activity may be selected on this day.

*Optional: Guided walking tour of Valletta: Explore Malta’s elegant capital. Wander the streets and marvel at the charming streets bursting with local charm. Admire the Grand Harbour, stroll through the Upper Barrakka Gardens, and discover the city's Baroque architecture, lively squares, and many ornate churches that give Valletta its distinctive character. 

**Optional: Explore the medieval city of Mdina: Step inside the fortified city of Mdina, Malta’s former capital, and explore its atmospheric medieval streets and imposing bastions. Continue your journey towards the Dingli Cliffs and marvel at the panoramic views. Finally, visit the peaceful San Anton Gardens, located near the Presidential Palace. 

***Optional: Prehistoric temples and southern highlights of Malta: Journey through southern Malta on a full-day guided excursion combining ancient history with spectacular coastal scenery. Discover the UNESCO-listed Hagar Qim Temples and the prehistoric cave of Ghar Dalam. End the day by admiring one of Malta’s most breathtaking coastal views: the dramatic surroundings of the Blue Grotto.

Breakfast at the hotel* before transferring to Malta Airport for your return flight to the US.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel's breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.