Discover the Secrets of Sardinia, Sicily & Malta
Over twelve days, our small group journey moves from Sardinia to Sicily to Malta, tracing a shared Mediterranean story and bringing together everything that makes travel across this region so endlessly luring. Ancient civilizations layered one atop another, islands shaped by the sea and by fire, vineyards rooted in volcanic soil, harbor cities, fortified towns, and coastlines that feel both timeless and alive all invite you to experience the journey of a lifetime.
In Sardinia, you begin with prehistoric stone fortresses, coastal lagoons alive with flamingos, and long meals that reflect deep local traditions. Sicily follows, dramatic and generous, where Mount Etna rises above vineyards and ancient theaters overlook the sea, and towns like Taormina and Siracusa reveal layers of Greek, Roman, medieval, and Baroque history in constant conversation. The journey concludes in Malta, a crossroads of faith, empire, and maritime power, where fortified cities, early Christian sites, and luminous coastal waters come together with warmth and grace.
Throughout the journey, days are thoughtfully paced and richly experienced, balancing guided insight with time to absorb each place fully. Wine tastings, boat cruises, shared meals, and moments of quiet discovery are woven seamlessly into the itinerary, creating an experience that is immersive without ever feeling rushed. Mediterranean Treasures invites you to understand more, move slowly, and explore the region’s most remarkable landscapes with care, depth, and joy.
Upcoming Tour Dates 12 Days/ 11 Nights
Last Minute
Pricing: € 6,000
Price is per person based on double room occupancy.
Single supplement available at the cost of € 1900
Experience the beauty
Tour Highlights
- More than 15 sightseeing tours & cultural experiences
- Hands-on culinary workshops
- Olive oil tasting at a family-run estate
- Cannonau wine experience
- Guided visits to ancient Nuragic archaeological sites
- Private harbor cruise around the three cities
- Explore the Grand Masters Palace in Valletta
- A tour of the majestic Greek Theatre in Taormina
- Wine tasting in a local winery near Mount Etna
- Guided tour of Ortiga Island and the archaeological site of Neapolis
- Guided tour of the ancient city of Nora
- Tour the UNESCO World Heritage site Su Nuraxi
Tour Itinerary
Arrive in Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, and settle into your boutique hotel near the historic center. With four nights ahead, the pace is unhurried, allowing time to arrive, unpack, and get oriented. In the evening, gather with your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a traditional Sardinian restaurant, featuring regional dishes and local wine, an easy introduction to the journey ahead.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch on your own, dinner included
Accommodations: Overnight in Cagliari
Begin the day with a guided walk through Cagliari’s historic Castello district, exploring its medieval towers, cathedral, and elevated terraces with sweeping views over the sea. After lunch, follow the coast south to the ancient site of Nora, once a Phoenician and later Roman city set directly on the water, where theaters, temples, mosaics, and bath remain reveal layers of Mediterranean history. Return to Cagliari in the late afternoon, with an evening to explore the city and dine at a restaurant of your own choosing.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Cagliari
Travel inland through Sardinia to the UNESCO-listed Su Nuraxi di Barumini, a remarkably preserved Nuragic stone complex that offers rare insight into the island’s prehistoric civilization and social structure, dating back more than three thousand years. Continue to a family-run agriturismo for a traditional Sardinian lunch featuring homemade pasta, roast suckling pig, local cheeses, and Cannonau wine, before returning to Cagliari through small countryside villages.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch included, dinner on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Cagliari
Spend the morning exploring the coast of southern Sardinia near Cagliari, beginning at the flamingo lagoon in Molentargius Nature Park and continuing to one of the island’s celebrated beaches, such as Chia or Tuerredda, known for their clear waters and open stretches of sand. The afternoon is free for shopping, time at a café, or an optional boat excursion, before gathering in the evening for a farewell dinner to conclude your time in Sardinia.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner included, lunch on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Cagliari
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight from Cagliari to Catania. On arrival, travel north along the Ionian coast, passing citrus groves and lava stone villages set against the slopes of Mount Etna. Arrive in Taormina, Sicily’s most elegant seaside town, perched high above the Mediterranean, and settle into your hotel before an orientation walk through Corso Umberto, Piazza IX Aprile, and the Cathedral of San Nicola. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner featuring Etna wines, with views stretching out over the sea.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner included, lunch on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Taormina
Travel up the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, where lava fields, extinct cones, and the Silvestri Craters reveal a landscape shaped by fire and time, with sweeping views across the Ionian Sea. Continue into Etna’s fertile wine region for a visit to a boutique vineyard, where volcanic soils produce distinctive wines, followed by a relaxed winery lunch. Return to Taormina by mid-afternoon, with the evening free to explore the town and enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your own choice.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included, dinner on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Taormina
Begin the day with a guided tour of Taormina, exploring its Greek Theatre, Palazzo Corvaja, ancient Odeon, and the length of Corso Umberto, where layers of ancient and medieval history unfold against a dramatic coastal setting. After lunch, travel up to the hill village of Castelmola, perched above Taormina, to enjoy almond wine and expansive views across Mount Etna and the coastline below. Return to Taormina in the late afternoon, with the evening free to explore and dine at your own pace.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Taormina
Travel south along the Ionian coast to Siracusa, one of the most important cities of the ancient Greek world, where layers of history remain remarkably intact. With a local guide, explore the Neapolis Archaeological Park, including the Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, and the Ear of Dionysius, before continuing onto the island of Ortigia, the historic heart of the city. Walk through streets shaped by centuries of Greek, Roman, and Baroque influence, passing the Temple of Apollo, Cathedral Square, and the Fountain of Arethusa, with time to pause for lunch and explore along the waterfront. Return to Taormina early in the evening, having experienced one of the Mediterranean’s most enduring cultural landscapes.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Taormina
Arrive in Malta and transfer to your hotel overlooking the harbor, for the last three nights in this historic Mediterranean setting. Explore Valletta on a guided walk through its fortified streets, beginning with St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master’s Palace, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where the harbor unfolds below. This evening, gather for dinner at a traditional Maltese restaurant, a fitting close to a day rooted in the island’s living history.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner included, lunch on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Valletta
Visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens where sweeping views stretch across the Grand Harbor and reveal the timeless beauty of Malta’s waterfront. From here, sail across the water in a traditional Maltese gondola, a charming way to experience the harbor up close, if the weather allows. Arriving in Vittoriosa, one of the historic “Three Cities”, you’ll step into quiet streets that once housed the Knights of St. John. Highlights include the Inquisitor’s Palace, with its richly decorated apartments and stark underground cells, and the war museum, which houses an 18th-century army barracks. Returning to Valletta, the afternoon is free for your own explorations, whether wandering through cafés and boutiques or simply relaxing at your boutique hotel.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Valletta
Begin the day in Malta’s medieval heart, exploring Mdina, the Silent City, where fortified walls, limestone streets, and centuries of Christian heritage create a rare sense of stillness and continuity. Nearby in Rabat, visit St. Paul’s Catacombs, an early testament to the island’s deep spiritual history. Continue along the coast to the Blue Grotto for a boat ride beneath towering cliffs and luminous waters, weather permitting. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner accompanied by traditional Maltese folk music, a warm and celebratory close to a day that blends faith, history, and beauty with time to take it all in.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner included, lunch on your own
Accommodations: Overnight in Valletta
After breakfast, transfer to Malta International Airport for your onward journey. As the tour comes to a close, you leave carrying more than memories of beautiful places. You depart with a deeper understanding of the Mediterranean as a shared cultural world shaped by ancient civilizations, faith, art, and the sea itself.
Additional Information
- Small group tour of 12/15 participants
- Knowledgeable English-speaking local tour director
- Entrance fees for all sites
- Tour transportation in a private air-conditioned motor coach
- Local guides in the outlined cities and towns
- Hotel city and service taxes at all accommodations and restaurants are included
- All breakfasts, two lunches, and five dinners are covered. Main meals include wine, mineral water, espresso coffee with a set amount included
- Transfers from Cagliari/to Malta airport
- Flight from Cagliari to Catania & Ferry from Pozzallo to Malta
- Baggage transfers or porters
- Activity level: Light/Moderate
- Terms & Conditions/single supplement and FAQ
- Any charges for extras not listed in the itinerary
- Room services, telephone charges, laundry fees
- Gratuities for the tour director and local driver
- Single room supplement
- Terms & Conditions/single supplement and FAQ
Tour Reviews
Sardinia and Corsica
We have been on several group tours but this was our first with Secret Italia. It was our best group tour experience ever! Sardinia and Corsica have distinctly different cultures and both were enchanting. Seeing ruins from the Bronze Age, thousands of years BC, was amazing. We loved the medieval towns as well. There was a good balance of planned sightseeing and leisure time for us to explore on our own. Our hotel accommodations were superb – especially in Bastia where our view of the harbor was breathtaking and we were within the walls of the old bastion. Our group meals were fabulous – especially our first night when we had a dinner in a former convent. We wondered how Secret Italia could top that event! Our tour leader, Paola, was fabulous – very tuned into the demographics of our group and so knowledgeable about the islands. Our driver Tommi was also excellent, and our travel vehicle was very comfortable. I look forward to traveling with Secret Italia again soon.
What a trip of a lifetime!!!
Hi Manuela,
Our tour is over, and we have now returned to Sydney after extending our holiday in Paris. I just wanted to write to you to say how delighted we were with Secret Italia. The whole program was carefully put together so that we saw and did a lot, including some wonderful meals, but without over-stretching ourselves as happens on many tours. There was always enough time for us to enjoy exploring ourselves, or just to relax. Each local guide was excellent, and in particular, Paola was marvelous and kept everything going smoothly. Then, Sara at the wheel was a total delight and a great driver. We can’t recommend your company highly enough and noted that some of the other guests were repeat travellers with you.
Sardinia and Corsica- Magical Islands
I have just returned from a fabulous tour of Sardinia and Corsica with SECRET ITALIA TOURS – a small group tour company. The guide Paola and driver Sara were excellent and travelling with a small group of 16 was great. The itinerary was well thought out – a mixture of cultural, historical, and artistic activities, from pasta making to lunch in the vineyards, walking tours, visiting markets, museums etc. The meals that were included were of the highest quality. But the best thing was that every afternoon you were free to do whatever you want or just rest. There was no “having to do something every minute of the day.” I would recommend this tour company if you are considering a tour to these two wonderful places. I had the best time!
Sardinia and Corsica
We were on the tour in October, 2024, with the delightful and attentive Paola as our tour guide. We had a wonderful time. The boutique hotels were all lovely. The meals shared together were delicious and in unique spots. The local guides were all very knowledgeable and excited to share the history and stories of the sites, but sometimes were a little long-winded in their enthusiasm! They had so much to tell us in a short period of time, it’s understandable. We loved the wine tasting at the vineyard, the fregola lesson at the farm with the local food, and the pasta-making class. All were a lot of fun. I tell friends that ask that Sardinia and Corsica are really nothing like Italy and France. They are islands to visit when you have exhausted the major sites of the Italian and French mainland and are ready for something different, more undeveloped and off the beaten path. Secret Italia did not disappoint. This was our first tour with them and it will not be our last. Everything was so well organized, from pre-trip information to the driver to the airport on departure. Bravi to Aldo, Manuela and Paola!
The Mystery of Sardinia and Corsica
Dear Aldo,
Feel free to select any comments below if you want to include them anywhere. But please don’t change the wording!!We had a great time in Sardinia and Corsica. Some highlights were: Strolling round Santa Cristina, an amazing archaeological park in the countryside, with both prehistoric and early medieval buildings.Visiting a family farm and enjoying a home-cooked meal with local cheeses and wine.Meeting winemakers – one woman in her early twenties, and one man of about 90.Staying in some amazing hotels. In the Hotel Regina d’Arborea in Oristano, the four muses danced on the domed ceiling in a beautiful painting. (see enclosed photo) Learning the history of these strategically placed islands that have changed hands so often over the centuries.Discovering what experts look for in the perfect olive oil. And best of all – swimming in the clear salt water of the Gulf of Oristano near Tharros. It was also great to have you with us – your energy, intelligence, good humor, local knowledge and friendliness made everything flow so easily. See photo.
Experience the Best
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Authentic Travel Experiences
We believe in showcasing the true heart of the Mediterranean. Our meticulously crafted tours delve beyond the surface, immersing you in the local culture, cuisine, and hidden gems that only true insiders know.
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