Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina, Catania, Syracuse & Mellieha
Sicily & Malta: Where History Meets Gastronomy. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Sicilian and Maltese culture, woven with the flavors of their vibrant cuisines. Explore the ancient Valley of the Temples, wander through the charming streets of Taormina, and witness the majesty of Mount Etna. Delve into the fortified city of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and uncover the island’s fascinating history. Discover the secrets of Sicilian and Maltese cooking, savor the unique flavors of local wines and produce, and uncover the stories behind each delectable dish. Experience the heart and soul of the Mediterranean.
Shorten Your Trip! Enjoy our 9-day Flavors of Sicily tour visiting Sicily’s highlights from Palermo to Syracuse.
Itinerary
2025 Tour Itinerary:
- 3 nights in Palermo
- 3 nights in the Taormina Area
- 2 nights in Syracuse
- 3 nights in Mellieha (Malta)
Tour Highlights
- Walking tour of Palermo with street food tastings
- Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
- Homemade lunch at rural farmhouse
- Learn about honey bees at Mt. Etna farmhouse with honey and olive oil tastings
- Bronte's Pistachios tasting
- Taormina Tour with Greek Theatre
- Cooking Class in Chef's private Catania home
- Ragusa and Noto guided tour with gelato tasting
- Traditional Sicilian cannoli tasting at pastry shop
- Syracuse & Ortiga guided tour
- Wine tasting at ancient castle
- Sample Maltese Platters and drink on Valletta waterfront
- Valletta Walking Tour with local tastings
Included
- Ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodations at first class hotels
- Porterage (1 bag per person)
- 17 Meals: 12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners plus 8 additional tastings
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees as per itinerary
- Experienced, English-speaking Tour Director
2025 Tour Itinerary
Included meal: Dinner
Welcome to Sicily! This evening, our Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner at an ancient palace overlooking Palermo's Cathedral.
Ucciardhome Hotel Palermo or similar
Included meal: Breakfast
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.
Included meal: Breakfast
Today is at leisure. Consider joining an optional tour to Trapani & Erice with a visit to a famous pastry stop.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Included meal: Breakfast
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.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Included meal: Breakfast
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. Throughout the day, we'll have the chance to try refreshing Sicilian gelato, which typically does not contain eggs or cream as well as enjoy a traditional Sicilian cannoli tasting. Afterward, we'll continue to our hotel in Syracuse for free time.
Grande Albergo Alfeo or similar
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Included meal: Breakfast
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.
Pergola Hotel & Spa or similar
Included meal: Breakfast
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.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a day at leisure or consider joining an optional tour to the Sister Island Gozo. Tonight, rejoin other travelers for a farewell dinner.
Included meal: Breakfast
Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast.
Flights
Book flights with ease with our partner, Exito Travel, to enjoy flexible flight options to and from our tour! Enjoy greater flexibility from flying from your preferred airport, picking your seat, upgrading to business class, and more.
You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.
Guided Tour Pricing
2025 Tours
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern) at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone (1.800.337.7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $300 per person. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Enhance Your Trip
Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.
Trapani & Erice Excursion
Day 3 Full-Day Tour
Visit the old town of Trapani, an old-world coastal town. From Trapani, take a cable car linking to the medieval village of Erice, surrounded by a mighty wall. The town's panoramic location allows fantastic views of the surrounding landscape. Here you will stroll through the narrow streets of the picturesque historic district with its numerous historic buildings, small squares and landscaped inner courtyards. Don't miss out on a traditional almond pastry from the old bakery.
$115 per person
MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!
This tour must be pre-booked prior to final payment as it is not available to book in-destination.
Sister Island Gozo Excursion
Day 11 Full-Day Tour
Gozo is Malta's rural sister island. It boasts quaint villages and little gems. The Island of Calypso is a 25 minute crossing from North Malta. Venture to the capital of Gozo for a walk through the village streets. Visit Ggantija Temples, built between 3600 and 3200 B.C, the Gozitans used to believe the temples were built by a race of giants. This is not surprising when you see the size of the limestone blocks used to construct the two temples.
$159 per person
MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!
This tour must be pre-booked prior to final payment as it is not available to book in-destination.
