1st Day ISTANBUL – MALTA | Mosta & Rabat & Mdina
Our tour begins at 05:30 by meeting our guide at Istanbul New Airport International Terminal. After completing ticket and baggage procedures, we will take flight TK1369 by Turkish Airlines at 08:15 from Istanbul to Malta. We will arrive in Malta at 08:50 local time, after which we will embark on our city tour. Sit back and explore the cities of Vittoriosa, Cospicua, and Senglea, known as Cottonera, which were built and supported by the Knights of Malta. After our bus tour in Cospicua, we will walk through the narrow streets of the mystical and mysterious city of Vittoriosa where we will see historic churches and palaces. Finally, the watchtower located in the center of the Grand Harbor with its magnificent waterfront view will be waiting for us in Senglea. After the tour, we will head to our hotel. In the afternoon, guests wishing to join can participate in our extra tour of Mosta & Rabat & Mdina (50 Euro) organized by our guide. Our first stop is Mosta, where we will visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, which has the third largest dome in Europe. This massive basilica, with a dome diameter of 56.2 meters, features interior paintings done by artist Giuseppe Cali. We will also see the replica of a 200 kg bomb that was dropped by German Nazi aircraft during World War II in 1942, which penetrated the dome but did not explode, and learn about the church's interior and exterior architecture. After leaving Mosta, we will proceed to Rabat, which has narrow streets that date back to when it was colonized in 700 BC, surrounding Mdina. After exploring Rabat, we will visit Mdina, the old capital of Malta, known as the silent city, where many scenes from the famous series Game of Thrones were filmed. As we stroll through the narrow streets of this medieval city, we will see the magnificent Saint Paul Cathedral, the Falson Palace constructed by the noble Falson family in the 13th century, the Baroque-style Carmelite Monastery built in the 17th century, Vilhena Palace, and the old houses of Mdina. After free time, we will return to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel.
2nd Day MALTA | Popeye Village & Marsaxlokk & Valletta
After breakfast at our hotel, guests wishing to join can participate in the extra tour organized by our guide to Popeye Village, the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, and the capital Valletta (65 Euro). We will arrive at Popeye Village, where the movie Popeye was filmed in 1980. Here we will tour the village and watch shows featuring Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Bluto. Also known as the new face of Malta, you can walk along the promenade in Sliema and visit shopping stores. Sliema has a vibrant atmosphere with many restaurants and cafes. After our tour of Sliema, we will continue to visit the fishing village named Marsaxlokk, where you should not miss the view of the small fishing boats decorated with unique colors and designs known as Luzzo. Additionally, in this charming fishing village where an open market is held, guests can taste fresh fish and seafood during their free time. After the tour, we will head towards Valletta. We will have a city tour of Valletta. Valletta was selected as the European Capital of Culture by the European Union Council in 2018. During our tour, we will have the opportunity to see the magnificent walled city of Valletta from outside. After our bus city tour, we will explore the lively streets of the capital Valletta with our guide. Our first stop will be the Barracca Gardens, located on the upper part of the defensive walls surrounding this magnificent city. Created by the Knights of Saint John, these gardens also offer a fantastic view of the Grand Harbor and the three ancient cities surrounded by walls. After our break in Valletta, we will return to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel.
3rd Day MALTA – CATANIA | Siracusa & Noto
Early in the morning, we will transfer to the Malta Ferry port. After approximately a 1 hour and 45-minute journey from Malta, we will arrive at Pozzallo Port in Sicily. After leaving Pozzallo, we will head to Catania. Guests wishing to join can participate in the Siracusa and Noto tour (50 Euro). Our tour begins in Siracusa, the city where the famous mathematician Archimedes lived. We will start by crossing to the Ortygia peninsula, which is connected to Siracusa by bridges, and visit Duomo Square, where we will see the Siracusa Cathedral built on top of the Temple of Athena and the church of Santa Lucia, known as the patron saint of the city. After visiting the fountain of Arethusa and Archimedes Square, we will wander through the narrow streets adorned with cafes and shops. After free time, we will head to Noto, one of the most significant Baroque towns in Sicily, which was completely destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and was rebuilt accordingly in the 18th century, where we will explore many historical buildings and architectural wonders. After this, we will proceed to Catania. Upon arrival in Catania, we will have a panoramic city tour. During this tour, we will see the Fontana dell'Elefante, Republic Square, Etna Street, and the Duomo Cathedral. We will then transfer to the hotel and spend the night at our hotel.
4th Day CATANIA | Etna & Savoca & Taormina
After breakfast at our hotel, guests wishing to join can participate in the extra tour organized by our guide to Mount Etna, Savoca (where the movie The Godfather was filmed), and Taormina, a favorite spot of famous figures like Oscar Wilde and Richard Wagner (80 Euro). Our tour begins with Etna, the largest and highest volcano in Europe, which has been active for about half a million years and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will ascend to the Silvestri crater at an altitude of 1900 meters, where we will see the landscape covered with lava. Next, we will continue to Savoca, where significant scenes of the film The Godfather were shot. You can listen to the stories of famous mafia families on the island of Sicily and enjoy a local drink at Bar Vitelli, decorated with photos of the film's characters Michael and Apollonia, while reminiscing about the film's scenes. After this, we will check out the San Nicolo church, which dates back to the 14th century, where Michael and Apollonia got married in the film. Then we will head to Taormina via Naxos. The splendid beach and nature of Naxos will dazzle you. After arriving in Taormina, Sicily's most luxurious town, we will see Chiesa di san Giuseppe, Porta Catania, and Porta Messina. We recommend trying Pasta alla Norma and Canolo Siciliano, flavors from Sicilian cuisine. After the tour, we will return to our hotel and spend the night at our hotel.
5th Day CATANIA – PALERMO | Outlet & Cefalu
After breakfast at our hotel, we will check out and return the room keys to the reception. Then we will head to Palermo. Guests wishing to join can participate in the extra tour organized by our guide to the Outlet & fishing village of Cefalu (30 Euro). Cefalu is a historic and beautiful fishing village located on Sicily's north coast. It is known for its historic streets, splendid beaches, and the famous Cefalu Cathedral. After enjoying the view from the Rocca di Cefalu hill, we will descend into the historical city center and its narrow streets. We will see the magnificent Cefalu Cathedral, which features a unique blend of Arab and Norman architecture. After a break at cafes by the sea, we will transfer to Palermo. Upon arrival in Palermo, we will have a panoramic city tour, where we will see Via Liberta and Via Roma streets, Quattro Canti, the Shame Fountain, the Norman Palace, Teatro Massimo, Teatro Politeama Garibaldi, and the Palermo Cathedral. After the tour, we will return to our hotel and spend the night at our hotel.
6th Day PALERMO | Erice & Trapani
After breakfast at our hotel, guests wishing to join can participate in the extra tour organized by our guide to Erice and Trapani (65 Euro). Our tour begins in Erice, where you will experience a medieval atmosphere. We will stroll through the cobblestone streets of Erice and enjoy the magnificent view from Venus Castle. We recommend trying the delicious treats from the famous chocolate shops and pastry shops in Erice. Then we will go to the fishing village of Trapani. We will walk in the fishing harbor and see the colorful fishing boats. During our break in Trapani, which has unspoiled beaches like Lido di Paradiso, guests can enjoy seafood. After the tour, we will return to our hotel and spend the night at our hotel.
7th Day PALERMO – ISTANBUL | Monreale
After breakfast at our hotel, guests wishing to join can participate in the extra tour organized by our guide to Monreale (35 Euro). With its charm and beauty, Monreale is one of Sicily’s most important cultural sites, creating a magical experience with its medieval atmosphere. We will explore Monreale, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to Sicily's most important cathedral. After free time in Monreale, we will pick up guests who did not participate in the tour from Palermo and transfer them to the airport. After completing ticket and baggage procedures, we will depart for Istanbul at 18:45 on flight TK1376 by Turkish Airlines. We will arrive in Istanbul at 23:15 local time, marking the end of our tour.
- Turkish Airlines scheduled flight with Istanbul - Malta // Palermo - Istanbul economy class plane ticket
- 2 nights accommodation with breakfast in Malta, 2 nights in Catania, and 2 nights in Palermo in 3* and 4* hotel categories
- Airport-hotel-airport transfers
- Ferry ticket between Malta and Catania
- 3 City tour in Malta
- Panoramic city tours of Palermo and Catania.
- Catania - Palermo transfer
- Professional Turkish guiding services
- Travel health insurance covering the travel period. 100% premium applies for ages 70 and over. (25€)
- Visa fee, service charge
- Lunches and dinners not specified in the program
- All personal expenses and hotel extras
- International departure tax
- Extra tours
- Driver tips 5 Euro per person (optional)
- In Malta, a nightly Eco Tax fee of 2€ per person will be collected at reception; in Catania, 3€ per person per night; and in Palermo, a city tax of 4€ per person per night.
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ACCOMMODATION AND FLIGHT NOTES |
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IST MLA 08:15 – 08:50 – TK1369 PMO IST 18:45 – 23:15 – TK1376
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IMPORTANT NOTES
- Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 40 people. If adequate participation is not achieved, the final cancellation notification date is 21 days before the tour departure. The tour canceled due to inadequate participation will be communicated to you through your agency.
- In cases where only category information is provided without specifying names in the tour program and/or there are alternatives for the same destination, the hotels will be informed by your agency 48 hours before the tour departure.
- During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be used which are farther than the indicated distances. In such cases, your agency will inform you 15 days prior to the tour departure date.
- Triple rooms can be allocated depending on hotel availability; in these types of rooms, the bed allocated for the 3rd person is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Extra beds are often smaller beds called pull-out and coach beds. Therefore, participants acknowledge that they accept the possible congestion and bed type issues in rooms reserved for 3rd person and/or children. Child discounts apply only for one child in the age group staying with 2 adults.
- The included services in the tour program, the breakfasts served at the hotel, are generally served in a limited menu consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee and are suitable according to the breakfast culture of the country being visited and may be served in a separate hall assigned for groups.
- Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are organized for the general introduction of the cities and are conducted as panoramic tours with narration from the vehicle, excluding museum and archaeological site admissions, and last a maximum of 2-3 hours. Should any of these panoramic tours be unable to take place due to local authorities not permitting entry or any event resulting in closed roads on the days and times indicated in the program, or due to weather conditions making the tour impossible, Fly Express is not responsible for this. Some tours may be conducted using public transport or on foot where vehicle access is not allowed.
- Extra tours are organized by the local agency we use with a minimum participant requirement of 20 people. If adequate numbers are not met, the trips may not be carried out, or extra tour prices, contents, and the vehicle used may vary depending on the number of participants. Furthermore, the days and times of the tours can be changed by the guide depending on the open/closed status of the museums or archaeological sites we will visit and the weather conditions.
- Participation in extra tours is entirely at the discretion of the participant and is not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to participate in the extra tours organized during the trip agree to wait at a suitable rest facility on the way. These passengers will be dropped off at the rest facility before the extra tour starts and will be picked up from the same place after the tour is completed.
- In cases where only category information is provided and/or alternatives are available for the same destination, you can learn about the hotels you will stay at 48 hours before the tour departure.
- In promotional and early reservation campaigns, cancellations and changes by the guest are not allowed.
- Fly Express acts as an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delays in scheduled and special flights, or flight times may change before the existing trip. Fly Express is obliged to inform about these changes as soon as possible. Our passengers acknowledge and agree that flight details may change when purchasing the trip. Infants aged 0-2 do not pay airport taxes and service fees.
VISA
- Visa application is required for Turkish citizens. For the visa application, it is necessary to apply at our agency with a passport valid for at least 6 months after the travel end date, along with the documents listed in the "Necessary Documents for Visa" list.
- For guests traveling with a green passport, if their passport was issued more than 10 years ago, they need to renew their passports. Otherwise, they may be denied entry into the country they are visiting and/or the airline may refuse to carry them. In such cases, the responsibility lies with the passenger.
- There is no visa requirement for green passport holders; a passport valid for at least 6 months after the travel end date is sufficient.
- Having a visa does not guarantee entry into the country, as the passport police have the authority to deny entry. Fly Express is not responsible for this situation; the responsibility lies with the passenger.
- To avoid problems with customs officers at the border of the country to be visited due to torn, worn, wet, or similarly damaged passports; it is necessary to renew such passports. If the country being visited requires visa application for Turkish citizens, the relevant visa must be in the new passport. In the opposite case, the responsibility lies with the passenger.
- For minors under the age of 18 traveling alone or with only one of their parents, it is advisable to show a joint consent document from both parents, as they may be asked for it by the police officer at the country’s border entry-exit points. We recommend that guests under 18 and their parents be sensitive to this matter.