NEW TRIP
Coastal Hikes, Baroque Architecture & Mediterranean Archaeological Sites
Exploring Malta & Southern Sicily
Overview
In the aquamarine Mediterranean between Sicily and North Africa lies Malta, a tiny island-nation that’s one of Europe’s smallest. Here we discover crystal-clear beaches, fortified medieval towns, a hospitable culture, and a turbulent history at the crossroads of world powers. We start our trip in Sicily’s southeastern Val di Noto, capital of Italian Baroque architecture, where we visit vineyards, see UNESCO-listed castle-topped towns, and hike canyons of natural emerald pools and prehistoric remains before ferrying to Malta. Our Maltese adventures include hikes on coastal cliffs above electric blue waters and visits to colorful Marsaxlokk and Baroque Valletta. Along the way we’ll taste local street food and enjoy warm welcomes at countryside farmhouses and aristocratic boutique hotels.
Arrive: Catania, Italy
Depart: Valletta, Malta
Highlights
- Witness some of the world’s most grandiose Baroque architecture
- Hike stunning ravines by natural pools and prehistoric archaeological sites
- Visit Ragusa Ibla, Sicily’s breathtaking UNESCO-designated hilltop town
- Discover Malta, a Mediterranean island-nation south of Sicily
- See the natural paradise of Comino island and its Blue Lagoon
- Explore the open-air museum of Valletta and the colorful fishing village of Marsaxlokk
Itinerary
We start our journey in Sicily’s southeastern Val di Noto region, dominated by late Baroque hilltop cities and rolling vineyards. Here, we stay in an idyllic countryside manor and then a historic palazzo in Ragusa, a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage city. Hikes bring us through limestone canyons filled with emerald swimming holes and ruins like prehistoric necropolises and ancient churches—and one morning we hike low cliffs along the crystal-clear sea. We dine on local fare like granita, wines, and artisan cheeses at vineyards and rifugios.
We ferry to Malta, a small archipelago country just south of Sicily. From our base on Malta’s quiet northwest coast, we explore the island’s historic sites like prehistoric fortified villages and modern forts. We discover Mdina, Malta’s ancient walled capital, and adjacent Rabat, with its charming alleys and Roman ruins. We spend our final day in the country’s north exploring the smaller islands of Comino and Gozo, including the breathtaking Blue Lagoon and Gozo’s ancient citadel.
After a hike along some of Malta’s secluded coastline and turquoise waters, we discover the vibrant fishing village of Marsaxlokk, the harbor of which is dotted with colorfully painted wooden boats. We spend our last two nights and full day in Valletta, the smallest capital city in Europe. The charming streets of this seaside city are full of cafes, shops, and magnificent Baroque buildings, including St. John’s Co-Cathedral, home to two Caravaggios.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. Day hikes and cultural exploration are our focus; many days we hike or take walking tours for 2 to 7 hours. Hikes are coastal or otherwise at low elevation, with an elevation gain of no more than 1,500 feet per day.
Average Hiking Day
- 4 miles
- 3 hours
- 1,000' ascent/descent
Our hikes are over easy to moderate terrain in nature reserves with marked paths throughout. Canyon hikes in Sicily may include some steep ascents and descents that require sure footing and plenty of hiking experience. Coastal hikes are on gently rolling terrain of low cliffs. Our walking tours through this region’s ancient cities include hills, stairs, and potentially uneven cobblestone.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
Accommodations on this trip are in resorts—one a countryside eco-resort in Sicily and one set on a golden sand beach in Malta—and small boutique hotels in former aristocratic residences. Set in historic buildings, the rooms blend antique details with modern luxury touches and are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.
Cuisine is a highlight of this trip. We try regional specialties like Sicily’s granita and Malta’s pastizzi (a savory street food pastry) and fenek, a rustic stewed rabbit dish—rabbit is the most popular meat in Malta. We try wines made on nearby vineyards and taste the other hyper-local foods popular in Sicilian and Maltese cuisine like artisan cheeses, olives, citrus, capers, and fresh seafood. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is later than in the US. Most often, the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group’s luggage, so you need only carry a daypack for items you’d like during the day (sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Driving time on this trip is minimal—though our drive on Day 1 is 1.5 hours, most drives are no more than 30 to 45 minutes. We take two boat excursions: one a 1 hour and 45 minute ferry from Sicily to Malta, and the other a short boat ride from Malta’s main island to the smaller islands of Gozo and Comino.
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.