Welcome to Rome! Upon arrival please make your own way to your hotel. 

This evening is free for you to explore Rome at your leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel this morning before we leave the bustling capital of Rome for Southern Italy. We head to Pompeii, arguably the most famous archeological site of the Roman era. While there are some exemplary remains of the Roman Empire left behind, Pompeii is unique in that almost a whole town has been preserved, rather than a stand alone villa or temple, but at the cost of tragic circumstances. In AD79, nearby Mount Vesuvius, had a major eruption completely destroying surrounding towns and cities in metres of volcanic ash, wiping Pompeii off the map. But while Pompeii ceased to exist, the volcanic ash that now blanketed the town acted as a preservation for the city. What remains is a striking insight into the daily life and social structure of the Roman Empire. 

You will enjoy a guided tour through the ancient ruins, which includes multiple villas, an amphitheatre, intact frescoes and probably the world’s oldest take-away restaurant.

Afterwards, we drive to nearby Torre Del Greco, on the outskirts of Naples, where we will spend the next two nights. Dinner in the hotel.

We depart mainland Italy for one of its most famous islands and a firm holiday favourite, Capri. It is truly beautiful – there’s barely a building, street, beach or cliff face that isn’t worthy of getting your camera out. The island’s beauty has been appreciated since Roman times, with Tiberius building no less than 12 villas on the island and choosing Capri as his main residence. Today, the island is known as the holiday spot of the rich and famous with a multitude of luxury hotels and streets lined with boutique designer shops. 

Today, you will enjoy a day trip including the chance to enter the Blue Grotto (optional) and Villa San Michele, one of the most beautiful homes in all of Capri.

Return to Torre Del Greco in the early evening for overnight and dinner at the hotel.

This morning we drive to Naples, what many describe as ‘true Italy’. A major cosmopolitan hub of Southern Italy, Naples is renowned first and foremost for its culinary highlights. Some of the best food and wine in Europe is in Naples, right from your curbside cafe to high end restaurants – Naples is the capital of Italian cuisine. 

Otherwise, its rich history with two royal palaces, three castles and ancient ruins will charm you on our tour today. We will experience fantastic food with lunch at a local restaurant and some free time to explore before boarding an overnight ferry for the next stage of our journey, the enchanting island of Sicily.

There is a timeless charm about Sicily. Perfectly positioned in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, its shores have seen all the major civilisations of the Mediterranean from the Phoenecians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans and the Byzantines.

Today, the island is a character-laden melange of its complex historical past, resulting in one of the most striking places to visit in Europe. Today, we dock in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. After check in, you will have the day and evening to explore the city at your own leisure.

Time to get out of the capital and see the real Sicily as we depart for Agrigento and its famous Greek temples, but on the way, we will stop at some Sicilian highlights. First up is the medieval village of Erice, perched on top of a hill, featuring striking mediaeval fortifications. Walk the narrow cobblestone streets before we venture to the seaside town of Marsala. 

Our final stop is Agregento, another beautiful city perched on a hilltop. Its history runs deep, with its most famous attraction being the Valley of the Temples, featuring one of the most well-preserved Greek Doric temples anywhere in the world, the Temple of Concordia. We will see these magnificent structures before enjoying dinner in our hotel and staying overnight in Agrigento town.

We leave the southern part of the island to drive towards the east coast, to the beautiful seaside village of Taormina. On the way we stop at Piazza Armerina, which isn’t a square but a town in itself, and one of Sicily’s most frequent tourist spots. 

The town is home to Villa Romana del Casale. Built in the 4th century AD as a hunting lodge, the villa is known to have some of the best preserved and extensive examples of Roman mosaics. We visit the villa before continuing to our hotel located near Taormina, in the beachside town of Giardini di Naxos.

After breakfast, we have an early departure to one of the natural wonders of the island, Mt Etna. With over 400 craters, it is the largest active volcano in Europe. It is so active, that it is always in a constant state of activity. If you are brave enough, you will have the opportunity to venture 1900 metres above sea level for amazing panoramic views from its peaks. 

We then return to Taormina for the rest of the day at leisure, to relax or explore at your own pace.

After breakfast, we drive north of Toarmina to the quaint villages of Savoca and Forza D’Agro, known for being the filming locations for Francis Ford Coppolla’s The Godfather. After some time to explore the hilltop towns on foot, we then drive south towards Catania, the other major city on the east coast of the island.

A rich history in itself, Catania is the major entry point for visitors into Sicily, a cosmopolitan hub, Catania boasts large piazzas, countless restaurants, bars and shopping to explore. Highlights include the mediaeval Castello Ursino, the Roman theatre dating back to the 2nd century AD and the Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena, the second largest Benedictine monastery in Europe.

We enjoy our last day in Sicily before we say arrivederci to Italy and Sicily and say bongu (hello) to Malta. Before we depart Italy, we drive to Syracuse for a quick visit. Syracuse is one of the oldest and historical towns in Sicily. At its peak, it was the largest city in the ancient world, once bigger than Athens and Corinth. Now, it is a beautiful seaside city with an old town located on the fortified island, Isola di Ortigia. We will have some time to explore on foot before we drive to Pozzallo to board our ferry.

Our destination is Malta, one of the most fascinating countries in Europe. One of the smallest countries in the world, it is often referred to as a city-state. However, its influence on history and global diaspora is impressive for a tiny island positioned in the middle of the Mediterranean. Over the next week, we will be spending time on its two main islands – Gozo and Malta itself.

A country that is completely unique, with its own culture, cuisine, and incredibly distinct language, Malta has charmed civilisations for centuries. With historical sites aplenty, all the while wrapped with the magnificent coast of the Mediterranean, Malta has it all. Our first few days are spent on the smaller island of Gozo. 

Once arriving into Malta, we have another short ferry journey to Gozo, where we will be transferred over to our hotel to check in where we have an evening at leisure.

We begin our exploration of Gozo today. We drive to Xagħra, where our first stop is the Dream of Horses Farm, a multi-purpose Equestrian farm where we will enjoy lunch.  Afterwards, we will visit a local bakery in town where we will enjoy the famous Maltese ftira. Our culinary journey will continue as we then visit a local winery for a wine tasting experience.

After trying local wine, we will drive to the picturesque area of Sannat where we will we stop by the famous Ta' Ċenċ Cliffs, a long stretch of 150 metre high cliffs dominating the south coast of Gozo where you will get the chance to get a photo of this incredible natural wonder of Malta.

Back to the hotel and overnight in Marsalforn.

We start with a morning drive to Xwenji bay, an insight to centuries-old local industry and trade before we arrive at the iconic Citadella. With records of occupation since the Bronze Age, and the site of the acropolis of the Roman city of Gaulos, the Cittadella has had a long history of human settlement. 

What you see today was mostly developed when the ancient acropolis was converted into a fortress during the medieval period. For centuries the citadel was a refuge for the population of Gozo, and held strong until it was conquered in the 16th century by the Ottoman Empire. Today, the entire citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Next up is a visit to Ta' Pinu, one of the most important religious sites in the country. We then drive to Dwejra Bay, where we will take a refreshing stroll to see Fungus Rock, known for its fungus which for centuries has been used for medicinal purposes. In the evening, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning back to our hotel.

We say addiju (farewell) to the island of Gozo as we are transferred back to the island of Malta, and head towards our hotel in St Julian’s - a popular holiday spot near Valletta. St Julian’s is famous for its seafront promenade, restaurants and being a hub of activity in the evening from tourists and locals alike. This is where we will be staying for the next five days as we venture out to explore the island of Malta.

The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore the local area. 

Today is spent exploring Matla’s capital and largest city, Valletta.
 
A guided tour will get us acquainted with this truly unique city. With the entire of the fortified old town being of unique historical significance, the entire city has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit the Upper Barracca Gardens, St John’s Cathedral and the Sacra Infermeria, the Holy Infirmary of the Knights of St John which now hosts an audio-visual show highlighting Malta’s 7,000-year history. 

Another culinary experience awaits as we enjoy a pizza making class for lunch, before some free time in the afternoon.

Return to St Julian’s in the early evening for time at leisure.

We continue our exploration of Malta after breakfast, when we visit Rotunda of Mosta. Modelled on the Pantheon in Rome, it features the third-largest unsupported dome in the world. The Maltese miracle happened here, when a German aerial bomb pierced the dome during World War II and fell into the church during mass, but did not explode.

We then enjoy a visit to the Buskett Gardens, whose history goes back to pre-Christian times where Pagan rituals would take place. Our day is highlighted by a visit to Mdina, whose striking fortified hilltop location will take your breath away. The city was founded by the ancient trading civilisation known as the Phoenicians, and was later taken over by the Romans.  Mdina was the capital of Malta throughout the Middle Ages, when some magnificent buildings were built. We enjoy a guided tour of the city before enjoying a local cheese making experience.

Return to the hotel. In the evening we will head to a local restaurant for dinner and a traditional folklore show.

After breakfast, we visit one of the most important archeological sites in the region, Hagar Qim. 

A megalithic temple complex, dating back to approximately 3600-3200 BC, these are among the most ancient religious sites on Earth. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the complex is thought to be older than sites in Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece. 

Afterwards, we visit the nearby Tal-Hamrija coastal tower, built in the 17th century. We will then drive through the village of Birżebbuġa to go see the nearby Blue Grotto. Weather permitting, you can take a short boat trip to get a closer look (paid locally). 

We then return to St Julian’s for an evening at leisure.

We venture out for a final day of touring with a tour fondly known as the ‘three cities tour’. The tour itself is of three neighbouring areas to the south of Valletta’s old town, and offers travellers a more off-the-beaten-track experience. One of the first settlements in the modern-day Grand Harbour, settlers in Valletta used the many harbour inlets from Phoenician times, resulting in locals identifying the three cities as the cradle of Maltese history. The area is known also for being the original settlement for Knights of St. John in the 16th century. You will visit Vitoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua for a truly unique view of Malta. 

Afterwards, we will visit the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk before heading back to the hotel.

Today your tour concludes upon checking out of your hotel.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this extraordinary journey.