MALTA, SARDINIA & CORSICA

Day 1 | Wednesday 1 September
Arrive Valletta
The tour begins this afternoon at our hotel in Valletta, Malta’s fortified capital, dramatically set on a peninsula between two natural harbours. After meeting our tour leader, we take a short orientation walk through the surrounding streets before an evening at leisure. Overnight Valletta

Day 2 | Thursday 2 September
Valletta
Built by the Knights of the Order of St John after their victory over the Turks in 1565, the UNESCO-listed city of Valletta features massive bastion walls, designed to discourage any further invasion. Our half-day guided walking tour will take you to the Upper Barracca Gardens and St John’s Co-Cathedral, which holds, amongst its treasures, two paintings by Caravaggio – St Jerome and the vast Beheading of St John. Later, we visit the Neolithic temple complex at Tarxien, a site of extraordinary archaeological significance before journeying, in small groups, through an underground burial chamber at the Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner together in a local restaurant. Overnight Valletta (B, D)

Day 3 | Friday 3 September
Gozo
Today we travel by ferry to the small island of Gozo to marvel at the ancient and awe-inspiring Ggantija Temples. The UNESCO World-Heritage listed site is home to a complete megalithic temple complex, part of which predates Stonehenge and the Pyramids. We also visit the fortified Citadella at Victoria, the pilgrimage site of Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary, and admire Gozo’s natural beauty at Xlendi Bay and Dwejra. Lunch is enjoyed right on the edge of the Marsalforn seafront before returning to Valletta by ferry, with the evening at leisure on arrival. Overnight Valletta (B, L)

Day 4 | Saturday 4 September
Ghar Dalam
Travelling south today, we spend the morning exploring Malta’s oldest prehistoric site, Ghar Dalam. The cave and museum contain the skeletal remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became extinct in Malta at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. We continue to the traditional fishing village of Marsaxlokk, where we enjoy lunch before making our way to the beautiful ‘Three Cities’ – Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua – where we take in the Inquisitor’s Palace and St Lawrence Church. We conclude our day with a short cruise around the Grand Harbour, offering stunning views of the fortified cities from the water. Overnight Valletta (B, L)

Day 5 | Sunday 5 September
Mdina & Mosta
Today we visit two of Malta’s most iconic towns, Mdina and Mosta. En route we stop at the picturesque Dingli Cliffs, providing stunning vistas of the Mediterranean Sea and the uninhabited islet of Filfla, before arriving in Mdina. Founded over 4,000 years ago, it is the oldest fortified medieval town in Malta, perched high on a hill in the heart of the island. As we make our way around the labyrinthine streets of the city, we’ll pause to enjoy lunch in a local trattoria. In the afternoon we continue to Mosta, famous for a spectacular dome which dominates the skyline. Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, it is one of the largest unsupported domes in the world. On return to our hotel in Valletta, we stop by the Grand Master’s Palace. Newly restored and proudly dominating St George’s Square, its stern exterior conceals a sumptuous interior that we’ll explore. The evening is then at leisure. Overnight Valletta (B, L)

Day 6 | Monday 6 September
To Sardinia
This morning we depart Malta and take a flight to Sardinia’s southernmost tip. Upon arrival in the colourful capital, Cagliari, there is time to relax before a light evening dinner in our hotel. Overnight Cagliari (B, D)

Day 7 | Tuesday 7 September
The Castello District
The ancient port city of Cagliari straddles a long bay between turquoise-blue waters and rolling ocher fields, rising in a picturesque jumble of golden-hued palazzi, domes and facades up to its rocky centrepiece, Il Castello. We begin our day on this historic hilltop, entering through the ancient doors of the defensive walls that have protected it for centuries. Castello is filled with fascinating landmarks that provide a vivid journey through Cagliari’s layered past. These include the Bastione di Saint Remy, a monumental staircase and terrace that offer panoramic views over the city and sea, the Torre dell’Elefante, built by the Pisans in 1307 as a defence against the threatening Aragonese, and the 13th-century Cattedrale di Santa Maria. After a break for lunch, we spend the afternoon exploring the vast collection of artefacts housed in the National Archaeological Museum, including the important Stele di Nora, the most ancient written document of western civilisation. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Cagliari (B)

Day 8 | Wednesday 8 September
Nora
Our destination today is the ancient city of Nora, located in the Pula Archaeological Park. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BCE, the settlement was a crucial exchange point for merchants who wanted to sell their goods to Sardinia. After the Punic Wars, Romans colonised the Phoenician cities and Nora grew in prominence under their rule. Thanks to its strategic position and sheltered harbour, it grew to become the island’s most important city before being abandoned due to frequent pirate invasions. After exploring Nora and enjoying lunch at a beachfront restaurant, we will visit the idyllic village of Pula before returning to Cagliari. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Cagliari (B, L)

Day 9 | Thursday 9 September
Su Nuraxi
This morning we depart Cagliari and travel north through the Campidano plain. Our first stop is the Romanesque sanctuary church of Santa Maria di Sibiola, built in the Pisan style and reflecting Pisa’s medieval influence in Sardinia. Nearby, we visit San Sperate, known for its public murals and sculptural installations. After lunch, we visit Casa Zapata, the former residence of the Aragonese Zapata family. We then continue to Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Sardinia’s largest Bronze Age fortified settlement and a UNESCO World-Heritage site. Here we join a guided visit exploring the complex system of towers, walls and dwellings that formed the centre of Nuragic political and social life. Later in the afternoon we visit the church of San Pietro Apostolo to view the important Retablo del Maestro di Castelsardo, a major surviving work of late medieval Sardinian painting, before continuing to Oristano. Dinner this evening is in our hotel. Overnight Oristano (B, L, D)

Day 10 | Friday 10 September
Tharros & Cabras
Today we venture west to the Sinis Peninsula, an area that preserves some of Sardinia’s most significant evidence of Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman settlement. We begin at Tharros, dramatically positioned between land and sea near the modern town of Cabras. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BCE, Tharros later flourished under Carthaginian and Roman rule, developing into a major Mediterranean port city. A guided visit explores the remains of temples, baths, streets and necropoleis, as well as the enigmatic Tophet – a sacred precinct associated with ritual practice and long-distance trade networks. After time to explore the site, we take a break for lunch overlooking the coast at San Giovanni di Sinis. We then continue to Cabras to visit the town’s excellent archaeological museum. Its collection focuses on discoveries from the Sinis Peninsula, including the extraordinary Giants of Mont’e Prama, monumental stone sculptures that have transformed scholarly understanding of Nuragic society. We return to Oristano later in the afternoon, with the evening at leisure. Overnight Oristano (B)

Day 11 | Saturday 11 September
To Alghero
Departing Oristano this morning, our destination is Alghero on Sardinia’s northwest coast. En route, we stop at the preserved sacred well at Santa Cristina, where we enjoy a guided visit to one of the finest surviving ritual complexes of the Nuragic period. Dating to the Bronze Age, the remarkable sanctuary reflects the sophistication of Sardinia’s prehistoric cultures and their advanced stone construction techniques. We then continue along a charming country road to Bosa, perhaps Sardinia’s prettiest riverside town, where there is free time to wander the ancient streets and enjoy the colourful architecture. This afternoon we follow the isolated western coastal road to Alghero, with views that rival Italy’s famed Amalfi Coast. After checking into our hotel on arrival, we enjoy a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Alghero (B, D)

Day 12 | Sunday 12 September
Alghero
The historic city of Alghero retains a strong Spanish character, and a form of Catalan dialect is still spoken here today. Our walking tour this morning explores the winding cobbled streets of the fortified old town, with its lively piazzas and historic churches set within imposing sea walls. We then travel a short distance outside the city to visit the ancient burial chambers of Anghelu Ruju. Discovered by accident in 1903 during vineyard works, this important necropolis contains more than 35 rock-cut tombs carved directly into the soft sandstone, offering insight into Sardinia’s prehistoric cultures. We return to Alghero in the afternoon, with the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight Alghero (B)

Day 13 | Monday 13 September
The Costa Smeralda & Corsica
Leaving Alghero behind, we travel across Sardinia towards the island’s northern tip, with our sights ultimately set on Bonifacio in southern Corsica. En route, we stop at the striking Romanesque basilica of Santissima Trinità di Saccargia, renowned for its alternating bands of black basalt and white limestone, before continuing to the nearby church of Santa Maria del Regno, celebrated for its richly coloured medieval frescoes. We then continue to Baia Sardinia, where we enjoy a leisurely lunch and time to stroll along the waterfront. In the afternoon, our journey takes us inland to the Nuragic sites near Arzachena, including the ‘Giants’ Tomb’ of Coddu Vecchiu, a monumental Bronze Age burial structure framed by imposing stone monoliths. By late afternoon, we reach Santa Teresa di Gallura, where we board the ferry for Corsica. Approaching Bonifacio by sea offers a dramatic introduction, as the town’s fortified walls rise directly from the limestone cliffs above the harbour. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel and gather for a relaxed dinner. Overnight Bonifacio (B, D)

Day 14 | Tuesday 14 September
Bonifacio
This morning we discover the highlights of this picturesque capital, named after Boniface II of Tuscany who arrived in 828 CE. Due to its strategic position, the settlement faced attack from Saracens, as well as fighting Pisan, Genoese and Spanish forces, all wanting to control the port and town perched atop the limestone cliffs. Our walking tour takes in the 15th-century bastion, offering panoramic views of the marina, sea and the fortified ramparts. After our tour, there is time to explore the town at your own pace before meeting in the hotel for a talk from our tour leader. The rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Bonifacio (B)

Day 15 | Wednesday 15 September
Sartene & Filitosa
Departing Bonifacio, today we traverse the rugged south-west corner of Corsica as we make our way to its vibrant captial, Ajaccio. Our first stop en route is the medieval stronghold of Sartène, famous for its turbulent past saturated with stories of bloody vendettas, fierce banditry and recurrent conflict. After wandering the labyrinthine alleyways of its oldest quarter, we enjoy a guided tour through the Prehistory Museum and its fabulous collection of statues-menhirs – carved standing stones from the Bronze Age, adorned with stylised human features and weaponry. We then see examples of these menhirs insitu at the captivating prehistoric site of Filitosa, situated in the picturesque Taravo Valley. One of the most significant megalithic sites in the Mediterranean, dating back 8,000 years, it boasts over 20 menhirs with some reaching up to three metres in height. In the late afternoon we arrive in Ajaccio, with time to freshen up before dinner together in a local restaurant. Overnight Ajaccio (B, D)

Day 16 | Thursday 16 September
Napoleon & Ajaccio
Napoleon Bonaparte is Ajaccio’s most famous son, and the city makes the most of the connection. Our morning walking tour brings us to the 16th-century cathedral where Napoleon was baptised, before visiting Maison Bonaparte, his childhood home and now a museum dedicated to the Bonaparte family. We also visit the fine arts museum at nearby Palais Fesch, which was once home to Napoleon’s uncle, Cardinal Joseph Fesch. The cardinal was a major art collector, and many of his paintings are now to be found in the Louvre. The remaining collection includes many Italian masterpieces, such as works by Titian and Botticelli. After viewing the artworks we will venture into the Palace’s Chapelle Imperiale, containing the tombs of several members of the Bonaparte family. On return to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Ajaccio (B)

Day 17 | Friday 17 September
Scandola Nature Reserve
This morning we travel north along Corsica’s west coast, tracing one of the island’s most dramatic stretches of shoreline. Our first stop is the Calanche de Piana, where towering red granite formations plunge into the Gulf of Porto, shaped over millennia by wind and sea into striking sculptural forms. Continuing to Porto, a small harbour settlement framed by mountains and water, we enjoy lunch overlooking the marina. In the afternoon, we board a boat to explore the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World-Heritage site accessible only by sea. Protected for its exceptional volcanic geology, the reserve is characterised by sheer cliffs, sea caves and rich marine ecosystems, offering a vivid insight into Corsica’s natural history. During the cruise, we pause at Girolata, a former Genoese stronghold now a tiny, isolated settlement reachable only by boat or footpath. We return to Porto later in the afternoon before travelling back to Ajaccio, where the evening is at leisure. Overnight Ajaccio (B, L)

Day 18 | Saturday 18 September
Corte & The Central Mountains
Today we make our final journey north, as our spectacular drive cuts through the Vizzavona Forest on the way to Bastia – our final base on tour. Our first stop is the historic town of Corte, long associated with Corsica’s 18th-century struggle for independence and its enduring cultural identity. From the town centre we take a small tourist train up to the citadel for a guided visit of the Musée de la Corse. Housed in the former barracks, the museum explores Corsican anthropology and rural life, illuminating the island’s distinctive traditions and regional identity. Lunch is enjoyed at a local restaurant before we continue towards Bastia, pausing at Ponte Novu to view the Genoese bridge and reflect on its role in Corsica’s history. We arrive at our hotel in Bastia in the late afternoon, with the remainder of the evening at leisure. Overnight Bastia (B, L)

Day 19 | Sunday 19 September
Bastia
Named after its Genoese bastion, the traditional town of Bastia features a lovely old port and elegant city squares. This morning we take a walking tour of the historic centre, with visits to the Church of St Jean-Baptiste and the Palais des Gouverneurs, today home to the city museum. We then travel to the nearby Roman site of Mariana to visit the Cathedral of La Canonica, one of Corsica’s most important medieval churches, before continuing to the coastal town of Saint-Florent, where there is time for a stroll along the harbour. Our route then leads us through the vineyards of Patrimonio, renowned for producing some of the island’s finest wines. In the afternoon we ascend to the Col de Teghime, a panoramic mountain pass and important World War II memorial site, before arriving at the striking Romanesque church of San Michele de Murato, distinguished by its distinctive polychrome stonework. Returning to our hotel in the late afternoon, we gather again in the evening for a farewell dinner overlooking Bastia’s old port. Overnight Bastia (B, D)

Day 20 | Monday 20 September
Depart Bastia
Our tour concludes this morning after breakfast in our hotel. There will be a group transfer to Bastia Airport to meet onward flights. (B)