Bunnik small group tour – 23 days
Various departures available from April – October 2017 including airfares, taxes, tips, all breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners.
Cost twin share from $10,145 p/p.

Sightseeing – La Dolce Vita

• Explore Imperial Rome including the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, the Capitol and the Colosseum.
• Discover the opulent Vatican City and visit the amazing museum, the Sistine Chapel and St Peters Basilica.
• Visit the famous ruins of Pompeii which lay buried for hundreds of years after the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in the year 79AD – it’s one of the most significant examples of Roman civilisation.
• Pizza originated in the Naples region so it’s only fitting that you take a pizza-making class in Sorrento.
• Explore the beautiful Isle of Capri and visit the cheerful village of Anacapri.
• Enjoy a half day excursion along the stunning Amalfi Coast. Enjoy the views at a stop over Positano, and wander the streets of Amalfi.
• Stop to visit the UNESCO Heritage-listed fortress of Castel del Monte on the way to Apulia.
• Take a walking tour of the picturesque town of Alberobello, which is famous for its unique trulli – whitewashed dry stone circular houses with conical roofs.
• Spend 2 nights in a heritage-listed Trulli.
• Enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent Grotto di Castellana with its stalactites, stalagmites, fossils and cavities that stretch 3 kilometres in distance and 72 metres below ground.
• Enjoy some time in the pretty seaside town of Polignano a Mare.
• Discover the remarkable baroque town of Lecce, located in the heel of ‘Italy’s boot’.
• Visit Ostuni, a charming, fortified hill town known as La Città Bianca (The White City).
• Spend 2 nights in the amazing ‘Sassi’ cave residences in Matera.
• Enjoy a walking tour of Matera to learn more about this subterranean city.
• Visit Mt Etna – Europe’s largest active volcano, approximately 3,350 metres high.
• Explore the hillside town of Taormina, walking the narrow streets and seeing the picturesque Duomo that dates back to the 13th century.
• Spend some time in Cefalù and visit its beautiful Basilica.
• Tour the city of Palermo, including the red-domed church of St John the Hermit, the Norman Cathedral (Palermo Cathedral), the Royal Palace, once the seat of power for Italy’s Kings during the Norman domination, and the Monreale Cathedral which was commissioned by William II in 1174, the Norman ruler of Sicily.
• Visit the well-preserved Greek Doric temple in Segesta.
• Discover the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, one of Sicily’s most historical attractions. The archaeological park is made up of 8 temples – Hera, Concordia, Heracles, Olympian Zeus, Castor and Pollux, Hephaestos, Demeter and Asclepius.
• Enjoy some time to explore this fascinating town of Ragusa.
• Taste the specialty of the Ragusa region “Cioccolato di Modica” characterised by a grainy texture and aromatic flavour.

The Jewel of the Mediterranean

• Tour the city of Valletta including the Upper Barracca Gardens, St John Co-Cathedral and Grand Masters’s Palace.
• Enjoy a cruise of the Grand Harbour on a traditional dghajsa.
• On the island of Gozo see the prehistoric Temples of Ggantija in Xaghra, the capital – Victoria, and see the Citadel and the lovely Bay of Xlendi.
• Visit Ta’Mena Estate and taste some local Gozitan wine and produce over a light lunch.
• See the Azure Window, an impressive rock arch where the sea has crashed against the cliffs and has formed a hole. From certain points on the cliffs, the arch gives the appearance of looking through a window with a view of the ocean – hence the name.
• Tour the medieval city of Mdina, which reveals its charm especially at night when the narrow streets are empty and lit by old lanterns. An evening tour will familiarise you with the secrets of the city and its nocturnal residents.

For more information contact us on 03 9600 1482 or email us at contact@transotwaytravel.com.au

Full itinerary:

Day 1. Depart Australia

Day 2. Arrive in Rome
Welcome to vibrant Italy and the beautiful Eternal City of Rome. Meet your fellow travellers and tour director for a welcome cocktail this evening.

Day 3. Rome
This morning we explore Imperial Rome. Highlights include the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, the Capitol and the Colosseum (fast-track entry), where gladiatorial contests and games were held along with mock sea battles and executions. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before tonight’s group welcome dinner. [B,D]

Day 4. Rome
Discover majestic Vatican City this morning (fast-track entry). We’ll visit the amazing Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica – all containing works of art and sculptures by Michelangelo. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore at your own pace. [B]

Day 5. Rome – Pompeii – Sorrento
We travel to the stunning Bay of Naples and the town of Sorrento via the ancient city of Pompeii (fast-track entry). Buried under ash for centuries after the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79AD, it is one of the best-preserved examples of Roman civilisation. [B,D]

Special Experience: Naples is the birthplace of Pizza so tonight we’ll enjoy an authentic Italian pizza-making class.

Day 6. Isle of Capri Excursion
After breakfast we take the ferry to the Isle of Capri, known for its rugged seascape, café culture and brilliant bougainvillea. We tour the hilltop town of Anacapri and have some time at leisure before returning to Sorrento in the late afternoon. [B]

Day 7. Sorrento
Special Experience: We’ll travel along the famous Amalfi Coast, through the stunning towns of Positano, Praiano and Amalfi, making several photo stops along the way!

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax in Sorrento. [B]

Day 8. Sorrento – Alberobello
We stop to visit the 13th century UNESCO World Heritage-listed Castel del Monte in Andria on our way to Alberobello, a heritage-listed town famous for its unique limestone dwellings. When we arrive we’ll explore the town on a walking tour. [B]

Special Experience: For the next two nights we’ll stay in one of the heritage-listed ‘Trulli’.

Day 9. Alberobello
The Grotte di Castellana began to form some 90 million years ago and is more than 3km long. We take a guided tour of this natural wonder to admire the incredible stalactites and stalagmites, fossils and canyons. We’ll also have some free time to explore the seaside town of Polignano a Mare, home of the famous cave restaurant overlooking the sea. [B]

Day 10. Alberobello – Lecce – Ostuni – Matera
From Alberobello, we explore the ornate town of Lecce, characterised by its abundance of baroque architecture. This afternoon we discover the beautiful ‘White City’ of Ostuni, spread high on a hill just 8km from the coast. For the next two nights we’ll be staying in one of Matera’s impressive cave residences known as ‘Sassi’. [B]

Day 11. Matera
We begin the day with a walking tour of Matera to learn more about this subterranean city before enjoying an afternoon at leisure. [B]

Day 12. Matera – Giardini Naxos
This morning we travel to Villa San Giovanni, where we board a ferry across the Strait of Messina to Sicily. Once we arrive in Sicily, we make our way along the coast to the charming resort town of Giardini Naxos on the coast of the Ionian Sea. [B]

Day 13. Mt Etna & Taormina Excursion
Today we visit Mt Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano at approximately 3,350 metres high. In the afternoon, we visit the famous hillside town of Taormina, where we’ll stroll along the narrow streets, explore the 13th century Duomo and enjoy sweeping views over the Gulf of Naxos. [B]

Day 14. Giardini Naxos – Palermo
Travelling to Palermo, we stop in the seaside village of Cefalù and visit the beautiful Norman Basilica. [B]

Day 15. Palermo
Palermo, the capital of Sicily, has been invaded many times and this is evident in the many architectural styles that can be seen. We’ll visit the Moorish St John the Hermit Church, the Norman Palace, and the Cathedral, characterised by its fusion of romanesque, baroque and gothic styles. [B]

Day 16. Palermo – Agrigento
Today we travel to Agrigento via Segesta, where we’ll visit its well-preserved 5th century Greek Doric temple. After lunch we’ll explore Agrigento’s ‘Valley of the Temples’, one of Sicily’s most historical attractions. The archaeological park is made up of 8 temples – Hera, Concordia, Heracles, Olympian Zeus, Castor and Pollux, Hephaestos, Demeter and Asclepius. [B]

Day 17. Agrigento – Malta
We make our way along the coast, stopping to explore in the beautiful Ragusa region.

Special Experience: Try the speciality of the region, “Cioccolato di Modica”, characterised by a grainy texture and aromatic flavour.

This evening we cross the Mediterranean to the island of Malta. [B,D]

Day 18. Malta
Today we explore Malta’s capital, Valletta. Highlights include the Upper Barracca Gardens, St John Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master’s Palace, and the Malta 5D Show. We’ll then board a traditional dghajsa for a cruise around Valletta’s Grand Harbour. [B]

Day 19. Gozo
We discover the tiny island of Gozo today. Marvel at the rugged terrain, spectacular coastline and the famous Azure Window, a natural limestone arch formation, created after the collapse of two sea caves. We’ll also see the prehistoric Temples of Ggantija in Xaghra, Victoria – the island’s capital, and the Citadel and lovely Bay of Xlendi. [B,L]

Special Experience: We visit an organic vineyard for wine tastings and a light lunch.

Day 20. Malta
We have a full day at leisure to enjoy the delightful island of Malta. This evening we explore Mdina. The city is at its most charming at dusk. Our guide will share tales as we wander the narrow streets, lit by old lanterns. Tonight we enjoy a group farewell dinner. [B,D]

Day 21. Depart Malta
Today we bid farewell to Malta and begin our journey home. [B]

Day 22. In Transit
Day 23. Arrive in Australia