1st Day ISTANBUL – Palermo
We start our tour by meeting our guide at Istanbul New Airport’s International Terminal at 05:30. After our ticket and luggage procedures, we take Turkish Airlines flight TK1373 at 06:50 from Istanbul to Palermo. After arriving in Palermo at 08:20 local time, we will have a panoramic city tour of Palermo, where we will see places such as Via Liberta and Via Roma streets, Quattro Canti, Shame Fountain, Norman Palace, Teatro Massimo, Teatro Politeama Garibaldi, and Palermo Cathedral. After the tour, we will proceed to our hotel for check-in and accommodation.
2nd Day PALERMO | Erice & Trapani
After breakfast at our hotel, we will have a full day of free time. Guests who wish to can join an optional excursion to Erice and Trapani organized by our guide (55 Euro). Our tour begins in Erice, where you will experience a medieval atmosphere while strolling through its stone streets and enjoy the magnificent view from Venus Castle. We recommend tasting the delicious sweets in Erice, which is famous for its chocolate shops and patisseries. Afterward, we head to the fishing town of Trapani, where we will walk along the fisherman’s port and see the colorful fishing boats. During our break in Trapani, guests can enjoy seafood. After the tour, we will return to our hotel for accommodation.
3rd Day PALERMO – Catania | Cefalu & Outlet
After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and return our room keys to the reception. Then we will head to Catania. Guests who wish to can join an optional trip (30 Euro) organized by our guide to the fishing town of Cefalu and one of the largest outlets in Sicily, where you can find many brands at low prices. Cefalù is a historic and beautiful fishing town located on Sicily's northern coast, known for its historic streets, magnificent beaches, and the famous Cefalu Cathedral. After enjoying the city view from Rocca di Cefalu, we will descend to the historic city center and its narrow streets. We will visit the magnificent Cefalu Cathedral, which has a unique blend of Arab and Norman architecture. After taking a break at the seaside cafes, we will head to the Outlet for shopping. After our shopping break, we will transfer to Catania. Upon arrival in Catania, we will have a panoramic city tour, where we will see the Fontana dell'Elefante, Republic Square, Etna Street, and Duomo Cathedral. Accommodation will be at our hotel.
4th Day CATANIA | Etna & Savoca & Taormina
After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish to can join an optional tour organized by our guide to Mount Etna, Savoca (the filming location of the movie "The Godfather"), and Taormina (80 Euro). Our tour begins at Mount Etna, which, at 3350 meters, is the largest and highest volcano in Europe and has been active for about half a million years, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will ascend to 1900 meters at Silvestri Crater, which is covered with lava and features extinct craters. Next, we will continue to Savoca, the location of some of the most important scenes in The Godfather 2. Here, you can listen to the stories of famous mafia families while sipping local drinks at Bar Vitelli, adorned with photos of the film characters Michael and Apollonia. Afterward, we will follow a cobbled narrow road to see the San Nicolo church, where Michael and Apollonia got married in the film. Then, we will proceed to Taormina via Naxos. Naxos, with its stunning beach and nature, will enchant you. After our arrival in Taormina, we will see Chiesa di San Giuseppe, Porta Catania, and Porta Messina. We recommend trying the delicious Sicilian dishes Pasta alla Norma and Cannolo Siciliano in Taormina. After the tour, we will return to our hotel for accommodation.
5th Day CATANIA – Malta | Siracusa & Noto
After breakfast at our hotel, we will complete check-out procedures. Guests who wish to can join an optional tour to Siracusa and Noto (50 Euro). Our tour will begin in Siracusa, the city where the famous mathematician Archimedes lived. We will cross to the Ortygia peninsula, connected by bridges, and start our tour at the main square, Duomo Meydanı, where we will see the Siracusa Cathedral built on the ruins of the Temple of Athena and the church of Santa Lucia, also known as the patron saint of the city. After visiting the Arethusa Fountain and Archimedes Square, we will wander through the narrow streets filled with cafes and shops. After some free time, we will head to Noto, one of the most important Baroque-style towns in Sicily, which was completely destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and reconstructed in the 18th century, showcasing many historical buildings and architectural wonders. Afterward, we will move to Catania and have a panoramic city tour. On this tour, we will see the Fontana dell'Elefante, Republic Square, Etna Street, and Duomo Cathedral. Following our tour, we will head to Pozzallo port, where we will board a fast ferry at 19:30 to Malta. We will arrive in Malta at 21:15 and transfer to our hotel for check-in. Overnight stay at our hotel.
6th Day MALTA | Rabat & Mdina & Valletta
After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a panoramic city tour of three cities. Sit back and discover Vittoriosa, Cospicua, and Senglea, also known as Cottonera and built and supported by the Knights of Malta. After our bus tour in Cospicua, we will walk through the mystical and mysterious narrow streets of Vittoriosa, where we will see historical churches and palaces. Finally, Senglea awaits us with its lookout tower positioned in the heart of the Grand Harbor, offering magnificent harbor views. Guests who wish to can join an optional tour to Rabat, Mdina, and Valletta (50 Euro). Our first stop will be Rabat with its historical narrow streets that date back to 700 B.C. After exploring Rabat, we will visit Mdina, Malta’s ancient capital, which served as the natural set for several scenes of the famous series Game of Thrones. As we stroll through this medieval city known as the Silent City, we will see the magnificent St. Paul Cathedral, the Falson Palace built by Maltese noble families in the 13th century, the Carmelite Monastery built in the 17th century in Baroque style, and the old houses of Mdina. After some free time, we will head toward Valletta and carry out our Valletta city tour. During the tour, we will have the chance to view this magnificent city surrounded by defensive walls from the outside. After the bus tour, we will explore Valletta's vibrant streets with our guide. Our first stop will be the Barracca Gardens, located on the upper section of the defensive walls that surround this magnificent city. These gardens, built by the Knights of St. John, also offer stunning views of the Grand Harbor and the three ancient cities surrounded by walls. After our break in Valletta, we will return to our hotel for accommodation.
7th Day MALTA | Gozo Island
After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a full day of free time. Guests who wish to can join an optional Gozo Island Tour organized by our guide (70 Euro). We will proceed to Cirkewwa port to take a ferry to Gozo. Gozo Island is greener and seems to have a slower pace of life compared to Malta. First, we will see the Inland Sea and Mushroom Rock. Gozo Island has been a filming location for famous movies like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Troy. Next, we will visit the T’pino Church, which began as a small chapel but is now a massive sanctuary. We will also observe the historical salt pans of Marsalforn, which still produce salt naturally. For free time, we will go to Victoria Rabat. After the tour, we will return to Malta and head to our hotels for accommodation.
8th Day MALTA - Istanbul | Popeye’s Village & Sliema & Marsaxlokk
After breakfast at the hotel, we will return our room keys to the reception. The rest of the day will be free time. Guests who wish to can join an optional tour to Popeye Village, Sliema, and the fishing village of Marsaxlokk organized by our guide (65 Euro). We will first arrive at Popeye Village, where the movie "Popeye" was filmed in 1980. Here, we can explore the village and watch shows featuring Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Bluto. In Sliema, known as the new face of Malta, we will have time to stroll along the promenade and visit shopping stores. Sliema is lively and features many restaurants and cafes. After our Sliema tour, we will continue to visit the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, where you shouldn’t miss the view of the small fishing boats called Luzzo, which are known for their unique colors and designs. There will also be an open market where you can enjoy some fresh fish and seafood during your free time. After the tour, we will transfer to the airport. After ticket and baggage procedures, we will depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK1372 at 19:45. We will arrive in Istanbul at 00:10 local time, marking the end of our tour.
□ Turkish Airlines scheduled flight from Istanbul - Palermo // Malta - Istanbul round-trip economy class flight ticket
□ 2 nights accommodation with breakfast in 3* and 4* star hotels in Palermo, 2 nights in Catania, and 3 nights in Malta
□ Airport-hotel-airport transfers
□ Ferry ticket between Catania and Malta
□ Panoramic city tours in Palermo, Catania, and Malta.
□ Transfer from Palermo to Catania
□ Professional Turkish guiding services
□ Travel health insurance covering the duration of the trip. A 100% surcharge applies for those over 70 years old. 25€
□ Visa fee, service charge
□ Lunch and dinner not included in the program
□ All personal expenses and hotel extras
□ Exit fee for traveling abroad
□ Extra tours
□ Driver tips 5 Euro per person (optional)
□ In Malta, a nightly Eco Tax of 2 Euro per person will be collected at the reception, in Catania 3 Euro per person, and in Palermo 4 Euro per person city taxes
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ACCOMMODATION AND FLIGHT NOTES |
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MLA IST 19:25 – 22:55 – TK1372 |
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation of 40 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved for the trip, the cancellation notification deadline is 20 days before the tour departure. The tour canceled due to insufficient participation will be communicated to you through your agency.
- In cases where only the category information is provided without specifying names in the tour program and/or when there are options for the same destination, the hotel(s) will be notified by your agency 48 hours before the tour departure.
- During periods like fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., the hotels may be located farther than the specified distances. In such cases, your agency will provide information 15 days before the tour departure.
- Triple rooms may be provided depending on hotel availability, and the bed assigned to the 3rd person in these types of rooms is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are of the type that can be opened and closed (known as coach beds), the participants (3rd person and/or children) in triple room bookings accept the tightness and bed type that may occur in rooms. Child discounts apply for one child in the appropriate age group staying with 2 adult companions.
- The breakfast included in the tour services is provided according to the breakfast culture of the country and usually consists of a limited menu called continental breakfast including butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee, and may be served in a separate hall designated for groups.
- The panoramic city tours included in the tour package are organized for the general introduction of cities and consist of a maximum of 2-3 hours of panoramic tours conducted inside a vehicle with guided commentary, excluding museum and ancient site entrances. Fly Express is not responsible for the inability to conduct those tours in case they are not permitted by local authorities on the specific days and times of the tours, or if they cannot be realized due to closed roads or adverse weather conditions. Some tours may be done using public transport or on foot, as appropriate, in places where vehicle access is not allowed.
- Extra tours are organized by the local agency from which we receive services with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people. If sufficient numbers are not met, the tours may not occur or extra tour prices, content, and the vehicle to be used may vary based on the number of participants. Additionally, the days and times of the tours may change at the discretion of the guide depending on the open or closed status of museums and ancient sites at the destinations and weather conditions.
- Participation in extra tours is optional and not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to participate in extra tours organized during the trip accept that they will wait at a suitable rest facility along the way. These passengers will be dropped off at the rest facility before the extra tour starts and will be picked up from the point they were dropped off after the completion of the tour.
- In cases where only category information is provided and/or alternative information is available for the same destination, you can learn about the hotel(s) where you will be staying 48 hours before the trip departure.
- In promotional and early booking tours, cancellations and changes cannot be made by the guest.
- Fly Express serves as an intermediary between the airline and the passengers and is subject to the Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delays in scheduled and special flights, or the times may change before the existing trip and flight. Fly Express is obliged to inform you of these changes as soon as possible. Our passengers have purchased the tour knowing and accepting that the flight details may change. Infants aged 0-2 do not pay airport taxes and service fees.
VISA
- There is a visa application for Turkish citizens. For the visa application, it is required to apply with a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip along with the documents listed in our agency's “Documents Required for Visa”.
- Guests traveling with a Turkish green passport must renew their passports if the date of issue of their passports is older than 10 years; otherwise, they may be refused entry into the country they are visiting and/or the airline may not carry out their flights. In this case, the responsibility lies with the passenger.
- There is no visa application for green passport holders, and a passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip is sufficient.
- Having a visa does not guarantee entry into the country, as passport police have the authority to deny entry. Fly Express is not responsible for this situation; the responsibility lies with the passenger.
- To avoid issues with customs police at the border of the destination country due to torn, worn, wet, or otherwise damaged passports, it is necessary to renew those passports, and if a country applying for visa for Turkish citizens is involved, the relevant visa must be on the new passport. Otherwise, responsibility lies with the passenger.
- Travelers under 18 years old may be asked for a document showing joint consent from both parents when traveling alone or with only one parent; therefore, we recommend that minors and their parents be sensitive to this issue.