Day 1 | Mar. 1, 2018 | TORONTO—MALTA
Air Canada flight 872 departs Toronto at 5:05 p.m. arrives in Frankfurt at 6:30 a.m. the following day. Connecting with Lufthansa flight 1276 departs Frankfurt at 9:45 a.m. arrives in Malta at 12:15 p.m.

Day 2 | Mar. 2, 2018 | MALTA
Upon arrival, proceed to collect your luggage and follow the exit signs. Your local representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
Accommodations (28 nights): The George Hotel, St Julians
Address: Triq Paceville Ave, Swieqi, Malta Majjistral STJ3103
Phone: +356 2011 1000

Days 3-29 | Mar. 3-Mar. 29, 2018 | MALTA (B)
Enjoy your days at leisure in Malta. Daily breakfast can be enjoyed in the breakfast room located in the Mezannine level of the hotel. Your Merit Travel tour host will be available for suggestions on optional excursions. The following five excursions are included with the option to add more excursions locally:

MAR. 4, 2018 | FULL-DAY TOUR OF VALLETTA CAPITAL CITY: We drive to the city built by the Knights of St. John. During the walking tour of Valletta, we will visit the main streets and monuments and St. john’s Cathedral, housing Caravaggio paintings. From Barrakka gardens,
we will enjoy a panoramic view of the grand harbour of Malta.

Situated at the lower part of Valletta, we will be visiting Casa rocca Piccola, one of the first houses of the aristocracy which was opened for the public. Time at leisure for lunch and to enjoy the city before returning to hotel.

MAR. 7, 2018 | HALF-DAY TOUR OF THE SOUTH OF MALTA: After breakfast take part in a half-day tour of the south of Malta. We drive to the cozy fishing village of Marsaxlokk, situated in the south east of Malta. Anchored in the harbor, you can’t miss the Maltes ‘Luzzu’, a typical fishing boat with a pair of eyes placed in front by the fishermen to ward off evil spirits.

Weather permitting, you will have the option to take a boat ride to the Blue grotto (boat trip to the Blue Grotto not included), a natural arch with a 40 m cave in the cliff surrounded with crystal clear blue sea.

In the archeological park of Hagar Qim, a UNESCO World Heritage site, we will discover the most ancient history of Malta; the megalithic temples, built with massive stones and overlooking the blue mediterranean sea, dates back to 3600 BC.

MAR. 10, 2018 | FULL-DAY TOUR OF MDINA: Spend a full day in the city of Mdina. Mdina is the old capital city of Malta, built 200 m above sea level. During excavations, remains from the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines and Arab period were unearthed. Today it is referred to as the silent city where only 230 people live. Outside the walls of the city, one finds the town of Rabat were we will visit St. Paul’s catacombs, underground burial chambers dug during the roman period and Casa Bernard, a typical Maltese townhouse full of antiques. At the end, we will visit Mosta's majestic Dome, one of the largest in Europe.

MAR. 13, 2018 | HALF-DAY TOUR OF VITTORIOSA, COSPICUA AND SENGLEA: Vittoriosa is the original city of the knights of St.John, who settled there in 1530. We will be visiting the Collachio district, the medieval part of the city with narrow winding streets. The inquisitor’s
palace (65 inquisitors were elected from 1575 to 1798) is the only one in the world open to the public. Here, we will see the piano nobile, the torture chamber and the main prison cells.

We will end with a short harbour cruise on a traditional Maltese dghajsa boat, with fantastic views from the sea of the three cities and Valletta. MAR. 20, 2018 | FULL-DAY EXCURSION TO GOZO (L): The sister island of Gozo is reachable in 20 minutes by ferry from Malta. A laid-back lifestyle defines the small island, with a population of no more than 25,000 people.
In the heart of the island, we can find Ggantija temples, considered the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Not to be missed is dwejra azure window and the citadel, the old capital city were only six people live today.

Lunch is included today and we will have time to feel the calm atmosphere and relaxing landscape of the island, as well as have a look at Gozo’s well-known crafts.

Day 30 | Mar. 30, 2018 | MALTA—TORONTO (B)
Transfer to airport for your flight home. Lufthansa flight 1277 departs Malta at 12:25 p.m. arrives Frankfurt 3:05 p.m. Connecting with Air Canada flight 877 departs Frankfurt at 5:15 p.m. arrives Toronto at 7:30p.m.

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