Malta to Venice Tour

Package Overview

This new tour offers the opportunity to combine the pleasure of sailing through one of the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud II, with visits to a host of remarkable harbours on this journey from Valletta to Venice. In Valletta, explore prehistoric sites and the rich culture of the Maltese; cruise the stunning Dalmatian coast pausing in Dubrovnik, Korcula, and Zadar. The cruise ends in Venice, where we spend four days exploring this wondrous city and its extraordinary art and history.

Experience
The complex web of European and Eastern influences that have created the unique and distinctive cultures of Malta, Italy and Croatia
The 5,000 - year - old prehistoric civilizations on Malta
The Dalmatian coast, where rugged mountain ranges plunge down to the sea and hundreds of small islands dot the coastline
The exceptional art and architecture of Venice, visiting centuries - old sites and world - class museums
Stunning scenery from the decks of the Sea Cloud II, a traditionally crafted three - masted barque

HIGHLIGHTS
Nine nights cruising aboard the luxurious Sea Cloud II, a very different experience to mainstream cruising, with outstanding service, fine food and wine
The city - fortress of Valletta, constructed by the Knights of St John in the 16th century
The Neolithic temple complex at Tarxien, the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum and Ggantija Temples on Gozo
The beautiful resort town of Dubrovnik, known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”
Magnificent 5th and 6th - century Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna
See the splendour of St Mark’s, the private chapel of the Doges, lit up at night on a private, after - hours tourReturn international/domestic air travel unless those flights take place during the tour
Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart
Costs involved in obtaining visas for countries visited, where required
Travel insurance. We require all participants to have comprehensive travel insurance. A typical policy for one of our tours will cost from $160 upwards, depending on your age, pre-existing medical conditions, the countries you are visiting and the overall length of your trip
Lunches and dinners not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
Costs associated with any activity mentioned as “optional” in the itinerary, or any suggested free time activity

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Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive Valletta

  Meet your tour leader, Dr Kathleen Olive, at the hotel to take a short boat cruise of Valletta’s imposing harbour before a welcome drink and light dinner in our hotel. Overnight The Phoenicia Malta Hotel, Valletta (D)

• Day 2 : Valletta, Tarxien and Hal Saflieni

  This morning we visit the Neolithic temple complex at Tarxien, a site of extraordinary archaeological significance consisting of three temples built around 3000-2500 BC and a fourth dating from an earlier building phase. In small groups, we visit the recently reopened Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a complex underground burial chamber. After our welcome lunch at a local restaurant, we commence a walking tour of Valletta visiting the Upper Barracca Gardens, which command a breathtaking view of the Grand Harbour. We also visit St John’s Co-Cathedral which holds, amongst its treasures, two paintings by Caravaggio – St Jerome and the vast Beheading of St John, painted in 1608 while the artist was briefly serving as a novice of the Order of Saint John in Valletta. Overnight Valletta

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 3 : Gozo

  Today we travel by speed boat to the island of Gozo, Malta’s smaller and more relaxed neighbour. Our visit includes the Ggantija Temples, the most complete temple complex on the islands, part of which predates Stonehenge and the Pyramids. We also visit Calypso’s Cave and the Old Citadel in Victoria. After lunch together, we visit Xlendi Bay and Dwejra. In the later afternoon, we return to Valletta by boat. Overnight Valletta

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 4 : Mdina and San Anton Gardens

  Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city, with an extraordinary mix of medieval and baroque architecture. Archaeological evidence traces settlement back over 4000 years to the Phoenicians. Its strategic location on the highest point of the island has made it home to Arab, Norman, Sicilian and Spanish rulers and earned it the name of Citta Notabile, the noble city. Afterwards we visit San Anton Gardens, open to the public since 1882, it was built by Grand Master Antoine de Paule to complement his summer residence, San Anton Palace, which today is the residence of the Maltese President. In the later afternoon, we transfer to the port of Valletta to board Sea Cloud II. At sunset we make the breathtaking exit from Valletta harbour. Dinner is included every evening on board. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 5 : At Sea

  Our first day is spent at sea, with much of the day under sail. You will get to witness the crew setting sail and various technical aspects of the ship will be explained by staff. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 6 : Adriatic Sea

  This morning we cruise the Adriatic Sea, taking in the picturesque Italian coastline. There will be a background talk in preparation for our visit. We arrive early evening and venture ashore to stroll through the town. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 7 : Otranto

  This morning we take a guided tour of the seaside town of Otranto, once a leading port of trade with Asia Minor and Greece, and under the Byzantines an important foothold of the Eastern Roman Empire in Italy. It is home to a superb 12th-century Norman cathedral with spectacular medieval floor mosaics, and an Aragonese castle from the time when this Spanish dynasty ruled southern Italy. We return to Sea Cloud II for lunch and afternoon sailing. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 8 : Dubrovnik

  For centuries Dubrovnik maintained its independence as crusaders, pilgrims, travellers, adventurers and merchants passed through. This afternoon we explore the historical heart of this fascinating city. Despite being severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667 and again during the 1990’s conflict, the city has retained many of its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings and is the focus of a UNESCO-coordinated restoration program. Our walking tour includes the Rector’s Palace, cathedral, Franciscan and Dominican monasteries, and there is the option to walk the city’s impressive walls. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 9 : Korcula

  The town of Korcula is perched on a peninsula, surrounded by 13th-century walls, reinforced with towers and bastions by the Venetians after 1420. We explore the town’s main sites, including the 13th-century cathedral of St Mark, build in pale, honey-coloured stone. We return to Sea Cloud II for lunch and afternoon sailing. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 10 : Zadar

  Early afternoon we arrive in Zadar, a narrow peninsular that was the main base for the Byzantine fleet in the Middle Ages. We visit the Archaeological Museum, containing objects that date from prehistory to recent times. We tour the historic centre of the Old Town, including the fortifications and the unique 9th-century church of St Donat, one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Dalmatia. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 11 : Porec

  After lunch we sail into the port of Rovinj. We make the short journey to Poreč to take a walking tour of the town. We visit the remarkable 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica which, with its UNESCO World Heritage listing, is acknowledged as one of the best examples of early Byzantine art in the region. We also visit the adjacent museum, the former Bishop’s Palace, housing a small collection of mosaics, sculpture and vestments. Earlier churches on the site are visible from the Bishop’s Palace Museums. The climb to the top of the belltower is not for the fainthearted but offers superb views across the old town. We return to Sea Cloud II for dinner and evening sailing. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 12 : Ravenna

  This morning Sea Cloud II arrives in Ravenna, the Byzantine capital of Italy in the 5th-8th centuries. It is in Ravenna, after the fall of the Roman Empire, that the Byzantine visual style of gold-ground mosaics first developed. Here we view the UNESCO World Heritage-listed churches of San Vitale and Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. We also examine evidence of the Gothic kingdom in Italy in the late 5th and early 6th century, including the Palace and Mausoleum of Theodoric and the Neonian baptistery. We return to Sea Cloud II in the late afternoon. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 13 : Rialto and Palazzo Ducale

  Our arrival into Venice harbour marks the end of our cruise but the beginning of our exploration of Venice. We start in the Rialto area, once Europe’s premier trade and finance hub. We walk the bridge, tour the lively markets, and head to Fondaco dei Tedeschi, a warehouse for Turkish traders in the 17th-19th centuries. It is now a luxury shopping complex with a panoramic rooftop view. After a break for lunch we continue on to Palazzo Ducale. Once the home to Venice’s rulers and the offices of state, the Doge’s Palace is a triumph of Gothic architecture. Our guided tour continues to St Mark’s Basilica, constructed between the 10th and 14th centuries. Our program includes the illumination of the basilica’s interiors, to see the bejewelled Pala d’Oro (golden altarpiece) and the loggia at the front of the church, where one can admire the bronze horses brought from Constantinople. Overnight Hotel Al Codega, Venice

  • Hotspots : Shopping, AREA
  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 14 : San Marco and the Trading Empire

  Today we venture beyond what the average tourist sees of Venice, starting with a vaporetto to the Castello district where we visit the historic Arsenal of Venice and the church of San Zaccaria, with its extraordinary altarpiece by Bellini. We visit the confraternal headquarters of the Greek and Dalmatian communities in Venice, including the stunning Icon Museum. After a leisurely break for lunch, we take a private tour of Venice’s ghetto district and its synagogues. The Jews of Venice played an important role in the city and the ghetto has a fascinating history. Overnight Venice

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast

• Day 15 : Venetian fine Art

  This morning we visit the Galleria dell’Accademia, the main museum of Venetian painting from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, displaying important works by Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Tiepolo and others. The afternoon is at leisure, with the option of a visit to the startlingly modern Punta della Dogana Museum, renovated by Tadeo Ando, highly recommended. Overnight Venice

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast

• Day 16 : Venice and the Lagoon

  Today we gain a sense of the geography of the Venetian lagoon and the city’s appearance in its earliest days. We travel by ferry to the peaceful lagoon island of Torcello. On Torcello we view the 6th-century basilica with its mosaics and Byzantine decorations, as well as the small museum of the Venetian lagoon. We then enjoy a relaxed welcome lunch at the legendary Locanda Cipriani on Torcello before returning to our hotel. Overnight Venice

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 17 : Departure

  The tour ends after breakfast. Departing group members transfer by private launch to Venice’s Marco Polo airport for outgoing flights.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast

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Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing
• Any flights mentioned in the itinerary that take place during a tour
• Land travel by private air-conditioned coach. Where appropriate public transport is also used for short distance travel on some tours
• All accommodation in hotels or apartments as stated in the itinerary
• Breakfasts, lunches and dinners specifically stated as included in the itinerary
• Drinks at welcome and farewell meals. Other meals may not have drinks included
• Background talks on tour, site notes and online resources
• Services of tour leader throughout tour
• All entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary
• Local guides at some sites
• Tips for drivers, local guides and restaurants for included meals
• Airport Transfers
• Tours begin either at the arrival airport or the first hotel, depending on the itinerary. If you have booked your international flights with Academy Travel and arrive before the tour commences, we will provide airport to hotel transfers to the closest main city on your arrival, and to the closest airport at the end of the tour. These may be either individual or group transfers.

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Exclusions

• Return international/domestic air travel unless those flights take place during the tour
• Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart
• Costs involved in obtaining visas for countries visited, where required
• Travel insurance. We require all participants to have comprehensive travel insurance. A typical policy for one of our tours will cost from $160 upwards, depending on your age, pre-existing medical conditions, the countries you are visiting and the overall length of your trip
• Lunches and dinners not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
• Costs associated with any activity mentioned as “optional” in the itinerary, or any suggested free time activity

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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This Tour is Offered by

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