The ancient lives, modern wonders, and cultural pleasures of Malta and Sicily surpass all expectation. Your custom-tailored tour of Sicily and Malta immerses you in unparalleled splendor, from ancient Greek temples to medieval fortresses. The protective ramparts of small towns create a fairytale ambiance for you to enjoy. Baroque palaces frame charming cobblestone piazzas. You will experience the luxuries of country estates and the comforts of lavish hotels overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Palermo - Arriving in Spectacular Sicily
The wonders of Palermo encapsulate the rich history and vibrant culture across the island of Sicily. The azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea lap at the edges of the city. Fishing boats wade in the marina. Jovial marketplaces fill with colorful produce and fresh seafood. Vendors call out to one another and passersby with conviction in an attempt to call attention to their lush displays. The Mediterranean atmosphere thrives in the eclectic mixture of traditions ranging from Arab markets to Spanish siestas.
The Cathedral displays an unforgettable Norman character, with prominent rounded arches crossing over one another, and curved parapets. A 13th-century mosaic of the Virgin Mary glitters with a gold background adorning the doorway. An Arabic inscription decorates a column in the 14th-century Spanish portico, illuminating the history of the structure having fluctuated between a cathedral and a mosque. Your private transfer meets you at Falcone-Borsellino Airport and escorts you into the heart of the city to your hotel. You can relax in the charming atmosphere of the central courtyard, listening to the trickling water of the ornate fountain.
What's Included:
Day 2
Palermo - Old Quarters and Alluring Cathedrals
Day 3
Agrigento - Enchantment near Agrigento
Day 4
Agrigento - Introducing the Ancient World of Sicily
Day 5
Agrigento - Symbols of Sicily
Day 6
Valletta - Connecting Syracuse to Malta
Day 7
Valletta - Visiting Valletta
Day 8
Valletta - Untangling the Beauty of Malta
Day 9
Valletta - Calypso’s Legendary Isle
Day 10
Valletta - Memorable Malta and Sensational Sicily
Trip Highlights
- Discover the elaborate ancient Greek ruins of magnificent temples on a private tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
- Explore the stunning prehistoric Ggantija Temples on the Maltese island of Gozo
- Stroll along the preserved 15th-century streets of the UNESCO Heritage city of Valletta, the capital of Malta
- View the tremendous Roman mosaics at the preserved ancient estate of Villa del Casale
- Experience the vivacious culture of Palermo’s food markets, filled with vibrant produce, fresh seafood, and exuberant character
- Relish the fairytale ambiance in the historic town of Mdina in Malta, enclosed by medieval ramparts
Detailed Description
The treasures of Sicily and Malta transcend history. Your 10-day tour of Sicily and Malta leads you on a cultural discovery through famous cities and ancient artifacts. Prehistoric weapons provide insight into the lives of the first civilizations in Sicily. Fishers traverse the waters in the morning in search of the perfect catch for a seaside city. Ancient temples and Baroque churches pepper the landscape. The beauty of islands is invigorating. You arrive in Palermo, where your private transfer is waiting at the airport to greet you. The city is exciting, filled with Norman and Arab architecture spanning more than 1,000 years.
The following morning, your guide meets you at the hotel ready to take you on the first of many private Sicily tours. Traverse the wide boulevards. See the stunning Medieval and Baroque architecture of the city before exploring the Arab-Norman style of the Monreale Cathedral. The next day takes you to a charming estate in the countryside near Agrigento where you can relax overlooking the vast landscape. Your guide leads you through a detailed tour of the Valley of the Temples to witness divine Greek temples and the splendor of Kolymbetra Garden.
Next, you witness the exuberant mosaics at the Roman estate of Villa del Casale, and traverse the hillside artistic charms of Caltagirone, en route to Syracuse. Your private transfer escorts you to the port of Pozzalo, where you board a ferry to the city of Valletta, the capital of the island Republic of Malta. Your guide greets you in the morning and leads you through the fabulous streets of Valletta on a private tour of the city’s graceful palaces, winding streets, and magnificent harbor.
Enjoy the quaint village of Mosta, and visit the Church of St. Mary. Continue to Malta’s ancient capital city of Mdina to absorb its continuing historical charm. Travel to the island of Gozo with your guide for a private tour of ancient treasures. Visit the Ggantija temples and enjoy the views of island’s natural wonders before returning to Valletta for the evening. On your final day, your private transfer meets you at the hotel. He escorts you to Malta International Airport with plenty of time to catch your flight home.
Starting Price
$4,500 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.9 stars based on 5890 reviews.
Zicasso’s travel company was wonderful in planning our trip on short notice and in line with our requests and preferences. Their suggestions of what to do and where to stay were perfect. And when we accidentally got off on the wrong island, the travel company quickly got us new ferry tickets to get to the right place. It was all seamless.
Reviewed By Sherry G.
This trip was the greatest week of our lives! Everything planned was better than I could have imagined. The private drivers being coordinated behind the scenes made the trip so easy and removed all the stress of trying to navigate a new country. Every driver and our tour guide was so nice and I feel like we made friends with all of them.
My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking classes and that every tour was private and intimate for my wife and I. The connections Zicasso’s travel agent hooked us up with made the trip the most memorable experience. Our travel agent and the travel company took special care of all the tiny details of the trip; our hotel knew it was my birthday and had a special surprise for me! I’m beyond thankful for the perfect honeymoon they provided my wife and I.
Reviewed By Branson S.
The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.
Reviewed By Claudia R.
The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.
Reviewed By Nisha V.
Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.
When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.
She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.
The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.
Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.
If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.
Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!
Stephanie
Reviewed By Stephanie S.
This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.
Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!
Reviewed By Mauro A.