Flavors of Sicily with Malta

Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.

You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.

Welcome to Sicily! Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will be greeted at the Catania airport and escorted to our hotel in Palermo, the capital city. Along the way, stop in Cefalu to walk around the coastal town and enjoy a cannoli tasting at a bakery. This evening, our Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner at an ancient palace overlooking Palermo's Cathedral.

After breakfast is a guided tour of Palermo. Palermo has been at the crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years and is famous for its history, culture and architecture. Visit UNESCO'S World Heritage Monreale Cathedral (admission included). Return to Palermo and experience the vibrancy of local foods and flavors at the historic Capo Market, which feels like and still has the influence of an Arab medina. As we make our way through the stalls, taste Sicilian staples like panelle (chickpea fritters), crocche (fried mash potatoes), and caponata e sfincione (thick pizza). The day continues with a tour of the ancient Old City and its incredible mix of architecture styles.

Today is at leisure. Consider joining an optional tour to Trapani & Erice with a visit to a famous pastry stop.

Today we travel inland towards Agrigento. First, we will have an excursion to the UNESCO site of the Valley of Temples, the largest and best preserved temple ruins outside of mainland Greece. Here we will walk and explore the well preserved archaeological remains of the Greek Temples. Continue to a rural farmhouse rich in authentic traditions and quality agricultural products. Enjoy a sampling lunch of homemade Sicilian food with local olive oil, cheese, grilled meat and cassata cake. Continue to Taormina where we will check into our hotel and have the evening at leisure.

Today we will visit the area around Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano and UNESCO site. We'll visit the Silvestri craters where lava flows from previous eruptions, and then visit a farmhouse at the foot of Mount Etna with a tasting of homemade honey, olives, olive oil and wine. Learn about the fascinating world of bees from the beekeepers, with the possibility of assisting in the extraction of honey from the hive. Back in Taormina, we'll sample the pistachios that are often used in Sicilian cuisine, then enjoy a panoramic tour finished with a visit to the ancient Greek Theater, where we'll enjoy remarkable views of the city and countryside. The rest of the day is at leisure in Taormina to enjoy the delights of the city.

We'll start the morning with a guided visit to the historical food and fish market of Catania, Piscaria. Here we'll gather ingredients for a cooking class hosted in the private home of a Sicilian chef. Learn how to make some of the best traditional Sicilian street food specialties while sipping local wine. Discover the connections between recipes and Sicilian history and culture with storytelling by the chef.

We'll make our way to Ragusa, a town of two faces: Ragusa Superiore, a busy working town with grid-pattern streets, and Ragusa Ibla, a protected UNESCO historic city center. The Ilba district is located above a hill and is filled with narrow alleys, bridges, and small streets with Sicilian Baroque architecture. Next, visit Noto, another example UNESCO town with beautiful Baroque architecture and an elegant walkway flanked by palazzos and churches. Enjoy refreshing Sicilian gelato, which typically does not contain eggs or cream. Afterward, we'll continue to our hotel in Syracuse for free time.

Step back in time to the glorious days of Grecian Sicily. Syracuse encapsulates Sicily's timeless beauty with ancient Greek ruins, citrus orchards, cafe tables on baroque piazzas and medieval streets leading down to the blue sea. Across the water is Ortygia, a beautiful island with beautiful streetscapes and attractive dining and shopping. In the afternoon, we will visit an ancient castle, which is a farm owned by the same family for over a century. Here we'll enjoy a guided tour of the winery and historic garden followed by a tasting of their wines. We'll return to our hotel to join together for a delicious dinner as we prepare for Malta the next day.

Today, we'll transfer by coach to Pozzallo and board the ferry to Valletta. The crossing takes approximately 1 hour and 45 mins. Once in Malta, we will arrive at our hotel and enjoy light Maltese platters and two cocktails at the scenic Valletta Waterfront at night.

Note: If the ferry is not available, we will fly from Catania Airport to Malta Airport.

Beginning at the main gates of Valletta is where the food and culture experience will begin. Valletta was built by the Knights of St. John after the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottomans in 1565. With over 320 monuments in a 2-mile radius, the Baroque capital of Malta was named the European Capital of Culture in 2018. The town offers a great mixture of history and contemporary liveliness. Walk through the back streets of Valletta, where we'll uncover secret spots and local delicacies one can only find in Malta. With hints from North Africa to the Mediterranean, this unique experience will leave your taste buds singing.

Enjoy a day at leisure or consider joining an optional tour to the Sister Island Gozo. Tonight, rejoin other travelers for a farewell dinner.

Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast.