Malta Adventure Tour

The tour starts at Valetta airport from where we drive to Cirkewwa and catch the ferry across to the island of Gozo. Gozo is fertile and picturesque and has retained much of its traditional character. Only 15kms in length and 7kms wide, all parts of the island are easily accessible, and for its size the variety of scenery is incredible.

Overnight Standard Hotel

We start our exploration fittingly in the island’s capital, Victoria; a tiny city named after Queen Victoria in 1887 but locally known as Rabat. After climbing up to the imposing Citadel we’ll have a fantastic view of the whole island. Here we’ll explore the old prison where the Knights of St John would send their rowdier members ‘to cool off therein’! The graffitied walls are a fascinating insight into the lives of those who were incarcerated here. Descending to the graceful central square, It Tokk, we have time to wander the cobweb of narrow streets. Heading to the town of Xaghra, we reach Ggantija, a megalithic temple complex dating back to 3600BC and thus named as it was believed only giants could have moved the stones. Some of the colossal stones are over 5 meters long and weigh over 20 tons and the temple still reaches a height of over 7 metres. Predating the Pyramids even, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is believed to be the world’s oldest free-standing structure. We continue to Calypsos Cave, alleged to be the cave referred to by Homer in "The Odyssey". In the afternoon we’ll get the chance to stretch our legs on a walk from the area of Calypso's Cave to Ramla Bay where we can enjoy a refreshing dip at the beautiful red sandy beach.  If the weather is not permitting this, we will then have lunch at the Citadel and walk from nearby the Ggantija Temples to Ramla bay.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Dwejra is perhaps Gozo’s most spectacular natural landmark. Here, geology, time and sea have worked together to produce some of the most remarkable scenery on the island. We’ll see Fungus Rock, notable as the habitat of a rare fungus which was highly prized by the Knights of St John for its medicinal properties. We will also see the Azure Window, rock arch over the sea and take a boat ride along the coast from the Inland Sea (weather permitting) - a shallow inland lagoon linked to the sea via a 30-metre tunnel. From Dwejra we continue to the Ta Pinu Basilica, renowned for the miraculous cures reported by its supplicants. We drive past neat, well-tended fields with their dry-stone walls and enjoy glorious views on our way to Zebbug; perched on a hilltop above the patchwork of green fields below. As with all these fortified hilltop villages, the far reaching views across the island and beyond are spectacular on a clear day. From Zebbug, we’ll take a walk to nearby Xwejni Bay. The coastal scenery along the way is varied – at times we pass limestone outcrops eroded by the wind and sea into unusual shapes, where traditional salt pans dominate the view. This section of the coast is one of the most remote and rugged on the island but our walk is a relatively steep downhill. After a stop for lunch and maybe a chance to swim (weather permitting), we head back to Mgarr and catch the ferry to Malta where we transfer to our hotel in Sliema near the capital. The capital stretches east from Valletta along scenic bays with busy marinas. A seafront promenade skirts around the coast of this busy town and is great for people watching. Our hotel is in Sliema where many restaurants and bars can be found.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we plan to drive from the hotel for a walking tour around the impressive and heavily fortified Old City. Originally built by the Knights of the Order of St John in the 16th Century, Valletta is built on the steep slopes of the Sceberas Peninsula and surrounded by two huge natural harbours which have helped to make it such an important strategic port at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Fort St Elmo guards the entrance to the harbours. Walking down Triq ir Republika – the main thoroughfare in the centre of the city, we visit the elaborately decorated St John’s Co- Cathedral and the grandiose Grandmaster’s Palace with its fine collection of artworks and impressive armoury. We’ll also admire the classic views across the Grand Harbour from Upper Barrakka Gardens and visit the impressive Archaeological Museum which boasts many finds from the archipelago’s rich history. Your afternoon is left free.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A short drive brings us to Hagar Qim and Mnajdra; another incredible Stone Age temple complex and World Heritage Site. For three millennia, from around 5200 B.C., the Maltese archipelago was home to a unique, temple-building civilisation. The discovery of many ‘fat lady’ statuettes in the vicinity of Hagar Qim has shown these temples to have been built to worship the Venus of Malta, the sleeping goddess of fertility. Mnajdra is probably the most atmospheric of all of Malta’s temples, occupying an isolated position overlooking the rocky coastline. We walk between the two temple groups along a short well laid path before continuing a short distance along a rough country path to the Tal Hameja costal 16th century tower to enjoy breathtaking scenery as the cliffs rise out of the blue Meditterranean Sea. Following our tour, we head down to the coast where there is the option to take a boat trip to the Blue Grotto; a series of natural caverns which glow with the brilliant phosphorescent colours of the underwater flora. We return to our bus where you have the option to drive or stroll (30mins) along the promenade to the Tal Hamrija coastal tower, to enjoy the breathtaking scenery as the cliffs rise out of the blue Mediterranean Sea, then drive to Marsaxlokk. This charming harbour town with its colourful boats is Malta’s largest fishing port and boasts some excellent fish restaurants. After a leisurely lunch and time to wander, we return to Sliema.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our first stop this morning is at a Maltese bakery in the village of Qormi. The huge concentration of bakeries in this village is said to date back to the time of the Knights of St. John when they were built to smoke out the mosquitoes which were to be found in the harbour area further down. To this day Qormi maintains a thriving baking industry. Next we head to the historic ‘Three Cities’ of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua, considered to be 'the cradle of Maltese history' as settlers and rulers from the Phoenicians to the British all made use of the defences here. The Knights of the Order of St John settled in Vittoriosa in 1530 and used the city as their headquarters. The Three Cities have retained much of their romantic medieval charm and we’ll see the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa and admire the views from the Gardjola Gardens - a look-out post to guard the harbour entrance – in Senglea. The best way to explore the creeks and dockyards of the Grand Harbour is by boat. Only by travelling across the water does one appreciate the sheer magnitude of the ramparts and forts that protect the city. Our last stop is to visit the cellars of one of Malta’s most famous wine makers – Marsovin – where we’ll hear all about wine making and have the chance to sample some of the different vintages and some typical Maltese snacks and nibbles before returning to our hotel.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Malta’s medieval old capital, Mdina, is a beautifully preserved city. Its warren of winding, narrow alleys (mostly too narrow for cars) and fortified walls contain a number of impressive buildings such as the Palazzo Falzon and Cathedral dedicated to the Conversion of St Paul.  After our visit to Mdina we'll visit the Domus Romana (a Townhouse usually belonging to Roman dignitaries) and St. Paul's eery catacombs (underground). Following our walking tour we drive to the Cremona Olive Estate. This family run business produces high quality oils and the owner Sammy will introduce us to all the ins and outs of olives and olive oil production. We’ll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on the estate then return to our hotel where the rest of the afternoon is free for last minute sightseeing and shopping.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We transfer to the airport this morning for the flight to Catania in Sicily. On arrival we drive to Syracusa where we will join those members of the group just travelling on the Sicily part of the tour. Ancient Syracusa was a colony of Corinth which once rivalled Athens as the most important and beautiful city in the Greek world. Its fascinating history is associated with such famous names as Alcibiades, Aeschylus, Pindar, Demosthenes and Archimedes.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we will visit the Neapolis Archaeological Zone with its famous Greek theatre hewn out of the hillside and the fine Roman amphitheatre where gladiators once fought. We then continue to Ortygia Island before leaving Syracusa and driving to Piazza Amerina, our stop for the night.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we’ll drive to the impressive Villa Romana at Casale, a magnificent country mansion containing some beautiful Roman mosaics.We then continue to Agrigento, once one of the most prosperous cities in Sicily. The ancient Acropolis, now the modern city, overlooks the valley where the lower city stood and the southern ridge where the temples still stand. After a visit to the Temple of Zeus, we visit the Valley of the Temples including the Temple of Hercules, the oldest in the complex and the perfectly proportioned Doric columns of the Temple of Concord. From this ancient Acropolis, we continue along the coast to our stop for the night in Petrosino. A small agricultural town, Petrosino is located 13km south of Marsala.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we take a short boat ride out to the tiny island of Mozia, whose role in the events of Sicily’s early Phoenician period (before 600BC) far transcends its diminutive size. Our visit will include Mozias unique museum and the ruins of a remarkable civilisation, complete with harbour. Moving on from the island, we continue on to Erice, where we will take in the medieval ambiance of this ancient hill town. Early afternoon will see us travelling on to Segesta - one of the best-preserved ancient Greek sites that exists anywhere today. A visit to Segesta is a wonder, not only for the structures themselves, the Doric Temple and the amphitheatre on the slopes of Mount Barbaro, but for the stunning natural setting in which they are to be found. No modern day structures mar your appreciation of the site. On leaving magnificent Segesta, we will reach our hotel situated on the outskirts of Palermo.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning, we will visit the Palatine Chapel before departing Palermo and driving into the hills to the majestic Norman Cathedral of Monreale. Founded in 1174 by William the Good, the cathedral is famous for its extensive mosiacs and the beautiful cloisters showing both Romanesque and Islamic influences. We will return to Sicily’s capital where the afternoon is free for you to enjoy Palermo. The city stands at the foot of Monte Pellegrino with the fertile valley of Concha d’Oro behind. It was one of the richest cities in Europe from the 9th to the 12th centuries AD when Islamic culture, Byzantine magnificence and the vigorous world of medieval Europe were merging into a fascinating civilisation.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Leaving Palermo we drive along the spectacular coastline to the picturesque fishing village of Cefalu. Here we stop to visit the Norman Cathedral to see the stupendous mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. Next we’ll drive via the coastal road to Aquadolci, then into the mountains via Cesaro and Randazzo, with spectacular views of Mount Etna in the distance, to Giardini Naxos, a small beach resort just outside Taormina. Please note we may take the coastal road from Cefalu, depending on weather conditions.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning there is the opportunity to visit the lunar landscape and lava fields of Etna one of the most active volcanoes in Europe! Taormina, Sicily’s most famous resort, is situated 213m up on the slopes of Monte Tauro and overlooked by Castel Mola. This afternoon we’ll visit the Greek Theatre for possibly the most famous view in Sicily – the snow capped Mount Etna acting as a backdrop to the remarkably preserved columned stage.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Catania Airport where the tour ends.

Included meals: Breakfast