MEDITERRANEAN GATE – 7 Days/6 Nights

Itinerary

Dip yourself in the beauties of the two wonderful mediterranean islands: Malta & Sicily

The tour start in Malta airport (MLA) and finish in Catania airport (CTA) We strictly recommend clients to provide international airline tickets with arrival in Malta airport and departure from Catania airport, plus a domestic flight from Malta to Catania (operated by: Air Malta/KM) or ferry ticket from Malta port to Catania port (operated by: Virtu Ferries).

Day 1 (Friday) Malta
You are greeted at Malta airport and transferred to your hotel. Time at leisure to rest or shopping.

Day 2 (Saturday) Malta: Valletta, Mdina & Marsaxlokk
After breakfast our full day tour includes a tour of Vallettal. Our tour starts with a visit to the Upper Barakka Gardens which overlooks the stunning fortified Grand Harbour. Then the magnificent St. John's Co. Cathedral, to see Caravaggio's 'Beheading of St. John'. Our final stop is the Grand Masters Palace the old seat of the order of St. John and today used as parliament. After our tour we visit the pretty fishing village of Marsaxlokk in the south, the best place for fresh fish and an ideal stop for lunch. In the afternoon we visit the Hagar Qim Temple site circa 3300BC, this temple has the largest and heaviest megaliths, some weighing a staggering 20 tons. The final stop is the medieval city of Mdina, which is otherwise known as "The Silent City". Mdina is the islands old capital, built in the 9th century by the Arabs. It is a maze of narrow alleys and magnificent architecture. Our walking tour includes all the main highlights and also a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral.(BB)

Day 3 (Sunday) Fly from Malta to Sicily: Catania/Taormina
All day long at leisure to rest or shopping or optional excursion to Gozo Island. Tonight transfer at airport and independent departure to reach Sicily: Catania airport. On arrival in Sicily you are greeted at Catania airport and transferred to your hotel in Taormina (BB)

Day 4 (Monday) Sicily: Taormina
All day long at leisure to rest or shopping. (BB)

Day 5 (Tuesday) Sicily: Catania & Siracusa
Today depart for Catania, the city of lava that stands in the ominous shadow of Mount Etna. The town is called the city of “black and white”: white plaster and marble and black lava form major parts of its architectural adornment. Here we will visit the old centre of the city in the Piazza Duomo with the fountain of the ancient elephant. Then we will drive to Syracuse. On arrival walk in the island of Ortygia, the picturesque and densely built original centre of Syracuse. Enjoy the lunch at local restaurant. During afternoon we will visit the magnificent of the Archaeological Park where we will admire the 5th-cent BC Greek Theatre, the stone quarries and the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Then back to Taormina (BB L)

Day 6 (Wednesday) Sicily: Jeep Ride to Mount Etna
A short drive by Jeep takes us to the slopes of Mt. Etna. Weather and volcanic conditions permitting, we experience the lava fields and incredible view of Europe’s highest and most active volcano. Visit the Cave of the Thieves and Mount Fontana with a spectacular view of Bove Valley and the extinct craters of Sartorius Mounts. Then to a farmhouse to taste Etna artisan food and we indulge in a typical light-lunch at the farmhouse. After enjoy a stop to the entrance of Alcantara Gorges before drive along the coast to reach Taormina (BB L)

Day 7 (Thursday) Sicily: Taormina/Catania airport
Time to say goodbye to Sicily while as we are transferred to Catania Airport (CTA) for our return flight. (BB)

Tour Details

The tour includes
• Group Airport/Port Transfers for services done from 8:00am to 7:00pm
• Malta: 2 nights in First class Hotel, standard room, no sea-view
• Taormina: 4 nights in First class Hotel, standard room no sea-view
• Buffet continental breakfast daily
• Deluxe Vehicle-coach with Air Conditioning
• English speaking tour director/Driver as per program
• One light lunch at farmhouse with tasting typical Etna dishes
• One lunch at local restaurant with group set-menù in Syracuse
• All sightseeing and excursions as specified in the itinerary
• 1 Full Day jeep ride excursion to Etna Volcano
• Hotel & City Taxes
• Admission fee

Not included
Intercontinental flights; Internation flight Malta/Catania airport or Ferry tickets Malta/Catania port; Gratuities to Driver-Escort, Tour Director; Porterage at airport; Luggage handling fee at hotel; Gratuities to Local Guide; tips; Beverages and meals not mentioned in the program; Travel Insurance; Airport-Port Transfer done 8:00pm to 7:00am clients have to pay the night-use supplement Euros 20,00 per person each way.

Our Hotels
Hotels may be substituted with similar category
Malta: Hotel Corinthia Marina
Taormina: Hotel Lido Caparena

Prices per person
Double/twin share: $2000 Single: $2361 Sea View room: supplement $222 per person

Departure Dates:
Every Friday from April 4 to October 17.