Sicily 8 Day Winter Getaway
Plus Optional 4 Day Malta Extension

February 16-23, 2012

Day 1: DEPARTURE
Take an overnight flight to Sicily.

Day 2: ARRIVE PALERMO
Arrival at Palermo airport, meeting with our assistant and transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant and overnight.

Day 3: PALERMO, MONREALE, CEFALU
After a buffet breakfast enjoy a guided visit of Palermo including the historical centre, one of the largest of Europe, the Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, and the Royal Palace.. Proceed to Monreale to visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments of the world with its Moorish architecture and the Benedictine Cloister in Arab-norman style. Lunch on your own. Afternoon excursion to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city center and down main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built in the rock. Back to the Palermo hotel.

Day 4: SEGESTA, ERICE, TRAPANI (OPTIONAL- $90)
Enjoy a day at leisure or optional full day excursion to Segesta/Erice/Trapani. Depart to Segesta to admire the Temple and the Theatre surrounded by a suggestive landscape. Continue to the medieval village of Erice placed on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands: walk through its tiny and characteristic streets. Lunch on your own. Down to Trapani for a panoramic tour of the salt windmills, still working. Return to the hotel in Palermo.

Day 5: PALERMO, AGRIGENTO, CATANIA
Depart to Agrigento and visit the Valley of the Temples including the Temple of Juno, Concord, Heracles, Zeus and Castor & Pollux. Lunch on your own. Proceed to hotel in Catania.

Day 6: SIRACUSA (OPTIONAL- $110)
Enjoy a day at leisure or optional full day excursion to Syracuse. Depart to Syracuse and visit the archaeological area including the famous Latomie of the Paradise and the Dyionisios “Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of Siracusa: visit of the Cathedral and the Arethuse fountain. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, return to the hotel in Catania.

Day 7: MT. ETNA, TAORMINA (OPTIONAL- $120)
Take part in another day at leisure or an optional full day excursion to the Mount Etna/Taormina. Depart to Mt Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across fascinating landscape, we will reach a height of 1800 metres, where we will enjoy a fantastic panorama of the Ionic Sea. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon visit of Taormina, the small medieval village called "the pearl of the Ionic Sea". Enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through the tiny streets. Visit of the Roman - Greek theatre. In the late afternoon return to the hotel. Farewell dinner and overnight.

Day 8: HOME
After a buffet breakfast, transfer to Catania airport. Fly back to New York.


Malta Extension: February 23-27

Day 8: FLIGHT TO MALTA (OPTIONAL DINNER SHOW- $70)
After a buffet breakfast, you will have free time in Catania to explore on your own. This afternoon transfer to Catania airport. Fly to Malta for a four day extension. Arrive at our Mediterranean paradise where we are greeted by the tour host. Continue to our seaside hotel for the next four nights. Tonight you can join an optional dinner show called the Knights Spectacular 1565 dinner show (http://www.visitmalta.com/spectacular). The excursion will include transportation to and from this action packed spectacular dinner show with over 50 performers and 8 trained horses.

Day 9: VALETTA AND MALTA EXPERIENCE
We begin with a half day guided tour through the bustling streets of Valletta. You will view the Barracca Gardens and have a breathtaking panorama of the Gran Harbour. Next visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral which is adorned in riches that date back to the Knights of Malta. This will include the world famous Caravaggio painting that is on display in the Oratory. We will also visit the Church Museum that is adorned with Flemish tapestries. Next we will have outside views of the Grand Master’s Palace and other historical buildings. The tour ends with a stop at the Malta Experience, a multi-vision show that depicts Malta’s history throughout the ages.

Day 10: GOZO (OPTIONAL- $80)
Take part in another day at leisure or an optional full day excursion to Malta’s sister island of Gozo. After a twenty minute ferry crossing, you will land in Gozo and notice the difference. Gozo is a three hilled island that is greener and more picturesque than Malta. We will visit the temples Ggantiga, the citadel in Victoria, the bay of Xlendi, and Azure Window at Dwejra. There will be some free time for shopping as Gozo is known for its woollen goods and handmade lace. Lunch is included in today’s excursion.

Day 11: BLUE GROTTO, LIMESTONE HERITAGE, MARSAXLOKK MARKET (OPTIONAL- $40)
After a buffet breakfast, enjoy a day at leisure or optional excursion to the south of the island. We commence our tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto and the other grottos from close by (boat price not include and weather permitting). We proceed on our tour with a visit to an insight into Maltese history. Learn about the history of limestone work from traditional quarrying techniques to today’s uses. Lastly we will visit the main fishing village of Marsaxlokk whose waterfront is lined with “luzzus” painted in traditional reds, blues, and yellows. You will learn about the village and be given free time to spend browsing around the local market stalls.

Day 12: HOME
Take a flight from Malta back to Sicily and then home to the US.

Sicily Tour Price: $1699.00
Single Supplement: $250.00
All prices are based on current exchange rate of $1.43 USD to 1 EURO and is subject to change.

Malta Extension Price: $549.00
Single Supplement: $80.00
Sicily Tour Includes: Roundtrip airfare from JFK airport in New York City, current air taxes and fuel surcharges of $538 (subject to change), 6 nights at tourist class hotels Tonic Hotel in Palermo and Hotel Excelsior Palace Terme in Acireale), breakfast daily, 2 dinners, all guides, entrances, touring, and transportation as appears on itinerary

Sicily Tour Not Included: Optional day tours, tips to the guide, driver, and hotel staff ($54 recommended), lunches, 4 dinners, drinks at meals, optional travel insurance.

Malta Tour Includes: Roundtrip airfare from Sicily, current air taxes and fuel surcharges of $36 (subject to change), 4 nights at tourist class hotel (Sliema Chalet), breakfast and dinner daily, all guides, entrances, touring, and transportation as appears on itinerary.

Malta Tour Not Included: Optional day tours, tips to the guide, driver, and hotel staff ($36 recommended), lunches, drinks at meals, optional travel insurance.