RATE IS LAND ONLY

Price per person
based on a minimum of 2 paying people

Euro 1.580,00 in double room

Euro 1.535,00 in triple room
Euro 1.975,00 in single room

DEPARTURE DATES 2009

FEATURED PROPERTIES USED

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

INCLUSIONS

ITINERARY (7 nights/8 days):

Palermo (2 nights) Taormina (3 nights)

Malta (2 nights)

Day 1 (Saturday): Palermo

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Driver will transfer you to your hotel. Tonight, after a brief introduction made by your Tour Director, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 (Sunday):  Monreale & Palermo 
Breakfast at hotel. Our first stop will be Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Then on to Palermo to visit the Palatine Chapel, which was the crowning architectural achievement of William II’s grandfather, Roger II. We then continue by seeing: Piazza Pretoria and Via Maqueda with its “four corners” converging Palermo at a quartet of Baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating back to 1560. This afternoon at leisure to explore the town on your own OPTIONAL EXCURSION.  (BB)

Day 3 (Monday): Palermo/Cefalù/Polizzi Generosa/Taormina

Today depart for Cefalù, a charming coastal town home to a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. Here we will visit the city center and stroll down main street to reach the Cathedral. Afterwards, we drive across the vast countryside of the Madonie Park showcasing Sicily’s great variety of landscapes. The territory of the Madonie mountains is a paradise of earth and sky, tucked away on the island. We soon arrive in Polizzi Generosa—a lovely town nestled in the heart of the Madonie Natural Park in Palermo province.  Step back in time viewing

the ancient masserie transformed into a farmhouse, the flour mills evidencing the plentiful water supply of the area, and the furnaces used today, as in the past, to make ceramics. Light lunch at country trattoria to taste typical local dishes. This afternoon we will continue to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily. (BB L)

Day 4 (Tuesday):  Taormina/Syracuse/Taormina
Today we leave for Syracuse. Upon arrival we will visit the magnificent Archaeological Park where we will admire the 5th-century BC Greek Theatre, the stone quarries, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later we will walk through the island of Ortygia, the picturesque and densely built original center of Syracuse. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we drive back to Taormina. (BB L)

Day 5 (Wednesday): Taormina
Today at leisure to relax, shop, explore or OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS (BB)

Day 6 (Thursday): Taormina/Catania airport/Malta

Time to say goodbye to Sicily.  Today transfer to Catania airport to independent flight (www.airmalta.com) /ferry to Malta. Upon arrival at Malta airport/port a driver will transfer you to your hotel. (BB)

Day 7 (Friday) Malta, Valletta, Mosta Dome, Mdina Medieval City & Rabat Tour

Following breakfast, our first visit is Valletta, here we include the Barraka Gardens which offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and magnificent fortifications, a walk down Triq Republikka where you can admire numerous historical buildings built by the Knights of St. John including the Aubereges, the Grand Masters Palace and the St. John's Co. Cathedral, the church of the order and also home to Caravaggio's masterpiece "Beheading of St. John" amongst other treasures. Our next stop will be to Mdina. Mdina is a unique medieval city, built in the 9th century, the city was built on a plateau in the centre of the island and from the high bastion walls you can admire stunning views of the island. This medieval city is a maze of narrow alleys and magnificent architecture, the only way to appreciate this special city is to stroll through it and admire the living history. Free time will be given for lunch. After lunch we continue by visiting the old town of Rabat. Here we will make our way through the narrow streets to the centre which is dominated by the imposing St. Paul's Church which overlooks the piazza. Rabat, can claim the origins of Maltese Christianity.  It was here in AD60 that the Apostle St Paul is said to have stayed after being shipwrecked on the Islands. We visit the St. Paul's Grotto which is said to be the resting place of St. Paul during his visit to the islands. Our final stop is one of Malta's most famous churches, Mosta Dome. The church’s dome is the third largest unsupported in the world, exceeded in size only by St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Sophia in Istanbul. Mosta Dome is also popular with visitors as it was at this church where the World War II bomb pierced the dome during a service, fell inside the church during a service and failed to explode, this locals hailed as a miracle. Our tour ends here and we make our way back to your hotel. (BB)

Day 8 (Saturday):  Malta apt
Time to say goodbye to Malta while we are transferred to the airport for our return flight or optional trip. (BB)

Meal Legend: BB Buffet Breakfast L Lunch FC Farwell Cocktail D Dinner

FEATURED PROPERTIES USED:

featured properties used:

Palermo: Hotel Politeama or Hotel Mercure Palermo Centro or Hotel Residenza d'Aragona

Taormina: Hotel Miramare or Hotel Lido Caparena

Malta: Hotel Marina Corinthia

Hotel may be substituted with similar category.

List of  Hotels will be advised 20 days before departure.

IMPORTANT: In order to guarantee all departures with a minimum of 2 clients, we operate this tour either with a Driver-Escort or Tour Director and driver.  We do not use licensed Local Guides for this tour.  Driver-Escort or Tour Director provide basic historical and site information preparing you to visit sites on your own.  They may not accompany you on your visit of the sites.

If you require licensed Local Guides, it is your responsibility to purchase on the spot (if available). 

We cannot arrange licensed Local Guide services for you in advance. 

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS:

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS:

-(Sunday) Segesta

-(Wednesday) Etna Volcano experience by Jeep ride with light lunch at farmhouse

-(Wednesday) Etna Volcano experience with light lunch at Etna Winery

-(Wednesday) Taormina & Gourmet Cooking Course

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS (Based on a minimum of 2 paying clients):  

 1) Segesta

1) Segesta

Day 2 (Sunday) Palermo/Segesta/Palermo

This afternoon depart for Segesta -- it looks as if it were built yesterday. Segesta's ancient Greek temple makes a valid claim to being the best preserved in the world, and its amphitheatre boasts a hilltop position on Mount Barbaro second to none. The magnificent Doric temple--whose roof was never added and the pillars never fluted-- is impressive as one of the highlights of a large archeological park. The archaeological site reflects the presence of several ancient civilizations, beginning with the elusive Elymians.

                             Later back to Palermo.

RATE PER PERSON: Euros 40,00 per person

What is Included:

üVehicle/coach with air conditioning, no toilet

üEnglish speaking Tour Director/Driver as per program

üAll sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary

üCity taxes

What Is Not Included:

üGratuities

üAdmission fees

üAmphitheatre shuttle bus

üLicensed local guide

OPTIONAL EXCURSION (Based on a minimum of 2 paying clients):

2) Etna Volcano experience by Jeep ride with light lunch at farmhouse 

2) Etna Volcano Jeep ride experience with light lunch at farmhouse

Day 5 (Wednesday) Taormina/Mount Etna in Jeep Ride/Taormina

Today  you will be picked up at your hotel by an off-road driver/escort and transferred to Etna Volcano. You will enjoy a lovely Jeep experience through the Etna area: Mount Fontana (view of Bove Valley), the Thieves Cave (grotta dei ladroni), extinct craters of Sartorius Mounts, and lava flow from the 2002 eruption. Light lunch at a farmhouse to taste typical Sicilian dishes. Off-road drive along the Linguaglossa-Castiglione and Alcantara Gorges area. This afternoon return to Taormina hotel. (L)

RATE PER PERSON: Euros 110,00

What is Included:

ü One collective jeep ride to Etna Volcano with pick-up and drop-off at Taormina hotel

ü Basic English speaking jeep driver as per program

ü  One light lunch at farmhouse in Etna district, 3 course menu including water and local wine

üAll sightseeing and excursions as specified in the itinerary

üCity Taxes

What Is Not Included:

üGratuities to jeep driver

üTips

OPTIONAL EXCURSION (Based on a minimum of 2 paying clients):

3) Etna Volcano experience with light lunch at Etna Winery

3) Etna Volcano experience with light lunch at Etna Winery

Day 5 (Wednesday) Taormina/Mount Etna Winery/Taormina

A short drive takes us to the main visitor elevation on the slopes of Mt. Etna.  Those interested in experiencing the Etna craters will have the option to purchase cable car tickets on the spot (weather and volcanic conditions permitting)to experience the lava fields and incredible landscape view from Europe’s highest and most active volcano on their own. Then to a winery and farmhouse.  This estate also produces olive oil, grappa, sparkling wine and artisan food.  We indulge in a typical Sicilian light lunch at the farmhouse.

This afternoon, back to Taormina. (L)

RATE PER PERSON: Euros 75,00

What is Included:

ü One visit to Sicilian cellars with Sicilian wine tasting

üDeluxe vehicle/coach with air conditioning

üEnglish speaking Tour Director/Driver as per program

üOne light lunch at winery/farmhouse with tasting of typical Etna dishes

ü All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary

üCity Taxes

What Is Not Included:

üGratuities to Driver/Tour Director

üBasic Etna cable car ride payable directly on the spot

ü Etna cable car ride + crater Jeep ride + Alpine guide ticket payable on the spot

üBeverages not specified

OPTIONAL EXCURSION (Based on a minimum of 2 paying clients):

4) Taormina & Gourmet Cooking Course

4) Taormina Gourmet Cooking Course

Day 5 (Wednesday) Taormina Gourmet Cooking Course

(h 9:00AM - h 1:00PM)

This morning independently transfer to a local restaurant in Taormina where we are greeted by Chef Antonio Orlando and Chef Donna Maria. A brief walk takes us to an open air market where we'll purchase fresh fruit, vegetables and all the ingredients necessary for the cooking course. Then back to the restaurant to start cooking. At the end of the cooking course, we will enjoy our scrumptious creations with the perfect compliment—a beautifully paired Sicilian wine.  Dessert follows accompanied by a typical local Dessert wine. (L)

RATE PER PERSON: Euros 110,00 per person

What is Included:

üOne gourmet cooking course

üOne lunch at the local restaurant to taste your creations

üBeverage: water, ½ bottle local wine, dessert wine

üAll sightseeing and tasting as specified in the itinerary

üCity taxes

What Is Not Included:

üGratuities

ü Round trip restaurant transfers

DEPARTURE DATES 2009

DEPARTURE DATES 2009

What is Included:

What is Included:

ü       One main round trip airport transfer for Sicily & Malta

ü       Palermo: Two nights accommodation

ü       Taormina: Three nights accommodation, NO sea view rooms

ü       Malta: Two nights accommodation

ü       Daily continental breakfast buffet

ü       Welcome Dinner with set group menu

ü       Vehicle/coach with air conditioning, no toilet

ü       English speaking Tour Director/Driver as per program

ü       All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary

ü       One light lunch at country restaurant in Polizzi Generosa with tasting of several  typical local dishes

ü       One lunch at local restaurant in Syracuse

ü       Hotel & city taxes

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