Old World Sicily & Malta
Old World Sicily & Malta
Old World Sicily & Malta
15 Days Starting in Italy and ending in Malta
Visiting: Palermo, Trapani, Mozia, Marsala, Gibellina, Agrigento, Valley of the Temples, Piazza Armerina, Taormina, Mount Etna, Ragusa, Pozzallo, Malta, Saint Julian's, Valletta
Tour operator:
Tour code:
13723
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Physical rating:
Medium, Activity Level 3
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Collette with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Explore Sicily and Malta – two island paradises nestled amongst the deep blue waves of the Mediterranean. Sample specialties in Palermo’s colorful food market. Meet a countess in her medieval palace. Taste award-winning olive oil and learn about the Slow Food movement at a local farm. Explore Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples (UNESCO) with a guide at twilight. Spend three nights in Taormina, perched above the Ionian Sea. See Mount Etna from a different perspective on an off-road excursion. Engage with Malta’s dynamic past on a leisurely 3-night stay. Discover how ancient traditions blend into modern society as you travel along timeless Italian and Maltese towns.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Overnight Flight
Location: Palermo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Grand Piazza Borsa
Meals Included: No Meals
You’re on your way to Sicily – an island paradise nestled amongst the deep blue waves of the Mediterranean. Look past the Italy you think you know and see how this coastal farmland balances ancient traditions and modern comforts.
Day 2 : Palermo, Italy - Tour Begins
Location: Palermo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Grand Piazza Borsa
Meals Included: Dinner
Start your journey in Palermo (UNESCO), Sicily’s welcoming capital city. Uncover the island’s deeply rooted heritage, teeming with Arab-Norman architectural masterpieces and delicate Classical designs. Come to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner.
Day 3 : Palermo
Location: Palermo
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: I Mulini Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast
Decide how you explore because it’s your choice! Tour Palermo and head to Monreale Cathedral, ascending on foot to see the gold Byzantine mosaics -OR- descend into a WWII air raid shelter before exploring the historic city center with a guide. No matter how you spend your morning, you’ll spend your afternoon tasting your way through Ballarò Market’s olives, spices, and other local produce. End your day at a medieval palace, where a countess guides you through her family’s home, joining you for an aperitif and hors d’oeuvres.
Day 4 : Palermo - Impact Moment - Trapani
Location: Palermo, Trapani
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: I Mulini Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Experience an impact moment with Addiopizzo, an anti-Mafia nonprofit that supports locals who refuse to pay the Mafia’s protection fees. Visit Capaci and Cinisi, the site of two terrorist acts led by the Mafia, and pay tribute to fallen activists. Chat with locals for a personal perspective and learn how they overcame the Mafia’s reign. As the day draws to a close, settle into Trapani for two nights and watch the sunset fade against the crashing waves and whirling windmills.
Day 5 : Trapani - Isle Of Mozia - Marsala - Optional Excursion
Location: Trapani, Mozia, Marsala
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Baia di Ulisse
Meals Included: Breakfast
Venture to the isle of Mozia, once a great trading port for the Phoenician, Greek and Roman civilizations. On the way, sail next to a submerged Roman road, once traversed on foot. Explore Mozia with a guide, visiting the ruins of its ancient port, and a museum featuring impressive Greek statuary. Then continue to Marsala, heading down into a cellar for a taste of its renowned wine. The remainder of the day is yours. Perhaps you will join an optional tour to Erice to visit Maria Grammatico’s famous bakery for a hands-on pastry-making class.
Day 6 : Trapani - Gibellina - Agrigento - Valley Of The Temples - Agrigento
Location: Trapani, Gibellina, Agrigento, Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: NH Collection Taormina
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Begin in Gibellina, a humble countryside village. See how this town rebuilt itself after an earthquake, transforming ruins into a sprawling piece of contemporary art. Head to an award-winning olive grove and learn about the Slow Food movement, which supports local cultures and preserves traditions. Try their unique olive oil at lunch before departing for Agrigento, where ancient roots and medieval buildings blend into modernity. Wander through the Valley of the Temples (UNESCO) with a guide at dusk.
Day 7 : Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Taormina
Location: Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Taormina
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: NH Collection Taormina
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Venture deep into Sicily’s countryside to Piazza Armerina, home of the ancient Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO), and explore the site with an expert insider for a locally guided tour of its impressive mosaics. In the afternoon, journey along the Ionian Coast to Taormina, a seaside hub of ancient Greek theaters and hilly walkways. Settle into your new home for the next three nights before enjoying Sicilian food at dinner, surrounded by local musicians.
Day 8 : Taormina
Location: Taormina
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: NH Collection Taormina
Meals Included: Breakfast
Discover Taormina with a local guide, leading you to the city’s Duomo, public gardens, and the well-preserved Greek theater. Walk in the footsteps of ancient attendees and take in an unparalleled viewpoint of the adjacent ocean. Spend the afternoon on your own. Perhaps you’ll grab a bite to eat at a sidewalk café, or peruse the local boutiques for handcrafted souvenirs.
Day 9 : Taormina - Mount Etna - Taormina
Location: Taormina, Mount Etna, Taormina
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Poggio del Sole
Meals Included: Breakfast
See Sicily’s wilder side on an off-road adventure to Mount Etna. Stare up at the iconic peak as your vehicle climbs along the sides of Europe’s largest active volcano. Spend the day exploring this legendary giant, passing by lava formations and basalt rocks.
Day 10 : Taormina - Ragusa
Location: Taormina, Ragusa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Poggio del Sole
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Make your way to Ragusa (UNESCO), an ancient city perched upon a hill. Meander through its Baroque neighborhood with an expert guide, passing by winding lanes, cobblestone streets, and wrought iron balconies. Make the most of a free afternoon to explore on your own. As the sun sets, retreat to your countryside resort just outside the city.
Day 11 : Ragusa - Optional Excursion
Location: Ragusa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The George Urban Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
The entire day is yours. With free time, you might choose to relax in the countryside and enjoy the resort’s amenities. Or, perhaps you will join an optional tour to the picture-perfect towns of Scicli and Modica, where you’ll enjoy a savory brunch at a ricotta farm before continuing to an Aztec chocolate shop for some sweet samples.
Day 12 : Ragusa - Pozzallo - Ferry To Malta - Three Cities - St. Julian’S
Location: Ragusa, Pozzallo, Malta, Saint Julian's
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The George Urban Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch,
Grab your bags* and hop on a ferry in Pozzallo. Say goodbye to Italy and venture to the island paradise of Malta, one of the smallest countries in the world. Start your exploration in Three Cities, a conglomeration of three fortified cities of medieval heritage. Once the setting of battles by the Knights of Malta, this area preserves endless layers of the past. Connect with the heart of the neighborhood at a Band Club, where locals gather to learn and play instruments together. Enjoy some light snacks as the musical Maltese culture drifts softly around you. Your day ends in St. Julian’s, your home for the next three nights.
Day 13 : St. Julian’S - Optional Excursion
Location: Saint Julian's
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The George Urban Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast
The day is yours to experience the island of Malta however you please. Soak up the sunshine, relax on the beach, or even explore the colorful harbor on foot. Perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion to a temple complex older than Stonehenge, followed by an intimate look at Mdina – the “Silent City.”
Day 14 : St. Julian’S - Valletta - St. Julian’S
Location: Saint Julian's, Valletta, Saint Julian's
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The George Urban Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Your adventure continues in Valletta, the capital of Malta. Discover this fortified city on a guided walking tour. You’ll take in the picturesque Barrakka Gardens overlooking the harbor, featuring a charming blend of natural beauty and terraced arches. Then it’s your choice! Visit the private home of a modern-day Knight of Malta -OR- tour the masterpieces of Valletta’s Cathedral featuring Mattia Preti and Caravaggio. As the day draws to a close, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers as you recount memories of the Mediterranean islands.
Day 15 : St. Julian’S - Tour Ends
Location: Saint Julian's
Meals Included: Breakfast
Say goodbye to Malta and the Mediterranean as your tour comes to a close today.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Drinks with Meals
(non-alcoholic)
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Train Tickets
(if train occurs once tour starts and before tour ends – i.e. not airport transfers)
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Meals – Half Board
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Fully Guided
What's Not Included
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Country Entry Visas
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Tipping and Gratuities
Experiences
- Visit a medieval palace and enjoy hors d'oeuvres with a countess.
- Ascend the sides of Mount Etna (UNESCO) on off-road vehicles.
- Soak up the island ambiance of Malta with a 3-night stay in St. Julian's.
Check out our Q&As
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
That will vary by country of residence and country destination.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes, our Customer Care center would be happy to help.
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What is the maximum group size?
Varies by tour.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
Effective immediately and until further notice, all guests will be required to bring one of the following: proof of vaccination (official vaccination certificate in paper or electronic form), proof of recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test result (FDA Approved diagnostic) for a test performed 72-hours or less from the start date of the tour with you on tour to verify information you will be pro
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
Yes.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Varies by tour.
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes, you will receive full information within the weeks leading up to your departure.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, the fees associated with required Visa’s are an additional expense.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes, most likely. Our tours draw travelers from the United States, Canada and Australia, predominatly.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No.
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
Varies by tour, but typically thjey are 4* / 4*+, and an occaissional 5*
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What currencies are required for this tour?
Local currency.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, unless you purchase and land and air package from Collette.
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Yes. Baggage is limited to 1 checked bag and 1 carry per person.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Primarily, yes. All of the coaches used must meet rigourous safety and cleanliness standards.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes, an experienced Tour Manager, with the passion for travel, discovery and the destination - will guide you through your journey from start to finish,
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes, with few exception.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Yes, it varies by tour.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
We can accommodate children as young as 5 years old, provided they are traveling / rooming with a parent or legal guardian.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Absolutley. Out tours are crafted with that in mind – striking a balance between included experiences and time to explore on your own.
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What is the tipping policy?
Igratuities for included meals and accommodation housekeeping are included. It is customary to tip you Tour Manager and driver at the end of the tour.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Collette requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of collette charges.
Up to 300 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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