Malta, Sicily & Greece on Star Clipper

This morning we will head to the seaside village of Marsaxlokk (try sounding it out before you say it out loud), in the southeast of the island. This quaint village is the epitome of traditional Mediterranean life.

Life here is slow-paced. From the waterfront cafes and restaurants, you can watch the fishermen painting their boats, fixing their nets and selling their fish. The echoing hum of chattering voices drifts from elderly men gathered on benches along the esplanade, smoking cigarettes and telling stories.

After a short drive we will then visit Malta's old Capital City Mdina or, also known as the Silent City after Valletta became the new capital of Malta – we will walk through the fortified city with its narrow streets and beautiful palaces - home to the Maltese nobility.

Our next stop is Valletta, built on a rocky peninsula surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, sits one of Europe's smallest capital cities. Tucked away behind towering bastion walls, we'll tour the honey-glow limestone streets of Valletta beneath painted wooden balconies, baroque columns and curlicues. From the five-millennia-old "Fat Ladies" (fertility figures, not a scathing indictment of the local diet) to tunnels from WWII, there's plenty of history here.  During time at leisure, you could visit St John's Cathedral with arguably one of the most dazzling baroque interiors - intricate marble floors, gold leaf carved walls and fine paintings (and don’t miss the two Caravaggio paintings in its oratory). 

Packed into this tiny city are several Michelin-starred restaurants, rooftop venues with panoramic views, shabby-chic bars spilling out onto limestone stairways (some with live music) and specialists in Mediterranean and Maltese cooking. 

As you enjoy lunch independently, you can people-watch in the cafés that line the narrow streets and squares.

Did you know that Malta is actually part of an archipelago? (Don't worry, not many people do.) Today, we'll cross the sea to the sister island of Gozo – also known as the Island of Calypso - taking us back in time with its natural landscape, hills and valleys.

Gozo has a long history for such a small island- it's thought to have been inhabited since prehistoric times. Today, we'll tour the island and visit two prehistoric Ggantija temples. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is thought to be one of the oldest free-standing monuments in the world - it's older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

In Victoria, the capital of Gozo, you can't miss the citadel. Like it's been plucked from a fantasy novel, its imposing walls stand several stories high above the roofs of the surrounding city. It's so big it's visible from all over the island. As we wander through the warren of streets with houses that were abandoned after an earthquake, we'll see the Cathedral of Gozo dedicated to Santa Marija, as well as the Law Courts and the Bishop’s Palace.

Then, get your cameras ready for Dwejra Bay, these wave-cut rock formations are famously beautiful - even an amateur photographer is bound to get a great shot. You'll have time to scout out the best spot to see Fungus Rock and the inland sea of Dwerja. Once you’ve spent time channelling your inner Ansel Adams, we’ll head back to the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Whatever your tastebuds desire this evening, you’re likely to satisfy them in Malta’s restaurant scene – it's an exciting mix of hole-in-the-wall traditional Maltese restaurants and sleek gastronomic bistros.

We'll take a trip to the southern coast to see the mesmerising waters of the Blue Grotto. Between the sunlight, the gin-clear waters, and the craggy arches, the views of the jaw-dropping landscape from above are a highlight of the trip – since words fail to adequately describe its beauty, snap a quick picture here to send home to your friends.

On a nearby cliff stands a lonely temple looking out over the Mediterranean. Hagar Qim will be our next destination. Built from rough cut, limestone blocks - not unlike children's building blocks - these impressive megalithic temples have stood the test of time. As you stand in this UNESCO-protected site, it's hard to fathom how neolithic builders could have created this complex without the use of modern science and tech. One of the chambers even has an elliptical hole carved out to align with the sunrise of the summer solstice. This allows the sun's rays to pass through and illuminate a stone slab within the chamber.

After we will head to the Three Cities. The fortified cities sit directly across the Grand Harbour of Valetta, and we stop for a short walking tour of the fortified medieval city Vittoriosa, which was crowned "Citta' Vittoriosa" to commemorate the Great Siege victory of 1565. Here we will walk through the winding streets of this medieval city past the Church of St. Lawrence, the Inquisitor’s Palace and the Maritime Museum. Free time here is the perfect opportunity to wander the low-rise houses and narrow streets in search of the perfect place for lunch and a spot of people watching. Look across towards Valetta and you will see the Star Clipper in the harbour!

This afternoon, we'll transfer to the port and embark our home away from home for the next six nights.

After our first night on board Star Clipper, enjoy time to get to know the ship as we sail to  another golden-hued city in the Mediterranean Sea. Called "the greatest and most beautiful of all Grecian cities" by Cicero in the ancient world, Syracuse rivalled Athens and Carthage in size and status. Much of the old city has crumbled since Cicero's time, but you can still explore the ruins in Syracuse's Neapolis Archaeological Park - which we'll visit on our tour. This UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a Greek theatre, ancient stone quarries and the Ear of Dionysius - which looks like the inside of a giant's ear. (Be warned: Mind your words here - the structure's acoustics make it easy to eavesdrop.) The crowning glory of this site is the 16,000-capacity amphitheatre which is still used for performances today.

The city itself is a web of narrow streets tangled between Greek, Roman and Baroque buildings. We'll experience the buzz of Syracuse in the old town on Ortygia Island. As we explore, we'll stumble out into glistening Piazzas, like Piazza Archimedes (named after the city's most famous resident mathematician) with the beautiful Fountain of Diana, the Roman goddess. Alternatively you might choose to visit a typical Sicilian winery for lunch and tastings accompanied by a walking tour of the UNESCO heritage site of Noto on our optional excursion.

Experience life at sea today with a full day on board. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or just finding your sea legs, we think you'll agree – nothing beats life on the high seas.

You'll wake up slowly to the hypnotic murmur of the waves and enjoy a leisurely breakfast, watching the scenery change as we sail. The sun loungers on the deck are the perfect place to crack open that book you've been meaning to read, and you can always cool off with a dip in one of the saltwater pools. When it's time to rehydrate, you'll be in great company at our open-air Tropical Bar. It's the social hub of the ship. And lunch on board is the opportune moment to swap highlights with your fellow explorers. You might even have a chance to climb the crow's nest for a birds-eye view of the ocean (pun intended) - all with a harness, of course!

While the rest of the holiday may be a whistlestop tour of the greatest archaeological and architectural finds in the Med, today we give you permission to be blissfully idle. So, you can put your feet up - there's no formality here - and enjoy the balmy summer breeze as it breathes life into the canvas above on our adventure through the Mediterranean.

Revived  from our time on board the day before, we'll arrive at the seaside town of Pylos around lunchtime. Located in the south of the Peloponnese peninsular, it's historically known by its Italian name, Navarino. Rich in olive groves, pine forests, little-known beaches and archaeological treasures, it offers the perfect blend of leisure and culture. Spread across gentle slopes, Pylos town and harbour is peaceful with cobblestone streets, trees, sidewalk cafés and little boutiques. But don't let Pylos's laid-back charm fool you, it was once the stage for a bloody battle and there are endless exciting places to visit while we're here.

In mythology, Pylos was the home of the son of Poseidon - Neleus, and his son Nestor, a leader in the Trojan Wars. Our tour takes us to the ruins of Nestor's palace high on the bleached hilltop of Ano Englianos. Although it was destroyed by fire, it's still considered to be one of the best-preserved Mycenaean palaces in Greece (a testament to the building quality). As if the views of the coastline here weren’t impressive enough, hundreds of clay tablets bearing inscriptions were found with a rare text - known as Linear B - at the site preserving knowledge almost lost to the fire.

*Ship is expected to anchor at Pylos port and guests will be tendered ashore.

After a leisurely breakfast take to the deck to maybe catch up on some reading whilst the Star Clippers gracefully sails towards our next destination, Monemvasia, nestled between a craggy cliff face and the sea. Known as the "Gibraltar of the East", it was once described by Greek poet - and famous Monemvasian - Yannis Ritsos as a "stone ship". Its vast bulk juts out of the mountainous coastline of the Peloponnese.

The town reached its peak in the Medieval period with a population of 40,000 when it was known for its excellent wine - legend has it that Richard III's brother died in a vat of it (a terrible waste of wine if you ask us).

Wander through the labyrinth of winding cobblestoned streets passing medieval buildings - tall, slim, earthy-stone houses with arched doorways and vaulted rooms. The town has been sympathetically restored and many of the old buildings in the lower town have been converted into hotels, artisan shops, boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Top Tip: If you want to know how old a building is, look at the width. The narrower buildings have older foundations, while the wider buildings date back to the 18th or 19th centuries and feature modern touches, such as wrought-iron balconies.

We have plenty of time to wander the town or - if you're feeling energetic - follow the steep path up to the ruins of the Upper Town. On a clear day, you might catch a glimpse of the mountains of Crete from across the sea.

*Ship is expected to anchor at Monemvasia port and guests will be tendered ashore.

Famously one of the most romantic places in Greece, Nafplion is a beautiful seaside town with two Venetian castles.

From Nafplion, we head to Epidaurus on our guided tour. Unlike the Acropolis in Athens (which we'll see later in the trip), or the Greek remains in Sicily - which seem designed to make a bold statement for miles around - Epidaurus hides itself away, almost seductively, enticing you to discover the ruins for yourself. It's so well hidden that it was only rediscovered and excavated a century ago.

It's only up close that you get a true feeling of its grand scale. Buried in a hillside and set amongst dense perfumed groves of trees, we'll see the site of a shrine devoted to Aesculapius, the Greek God of Medicine. It consists of a sanctuary where illnesses were cured, as well as a 14,000-seat theatre. The theatre is so well-preserved, that it's still used in summer for performances of the ancient classics.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure in Nafplion.   

Or, if you haven't had your fill of archaeological wonders yet, don't worry - you can join an optional tour of Mycenae. Aptly described by Homer as "rich in gold", the ruins here reflect a prosperous, well-built citadel. While there's evidence it was looted prior to excavation, there's still lots to uncover here.

According to mythology, this was the home of King Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks during the Trojan War and the site of many ancient Greek tragedies. Legend has it the large stone walls surrounding the site were built by Cyclops - and, standing amongst them, that somehow seems plausible. Great boulders piled high from the maze of ruins - the echo of the ancient citadel. The crown jewel here is the Treasury of Atreus (also called the Tomb of Agamemnon). While it's wonderfully misnamed - as archaeologists believe it had nothing to do with either Atreus or Agamemnon - the interior is a spectacular example of a domed tholos (or beehive tomb).

Back on board - head for the deck with your favourite aperitif and enjoy the spectacle of the sail away for the last time on this cruise as we head for our final port. 

*Ship is expected to anchor at Nafplion port and guests will be tendered ashore.

We say goodbye to our home on the high sea this morning as we disembark the Star Clipper for your choice of excursion.

On our way to Athens, you can choose to visit Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. Built on the highest point of the hill, the temple was a beacon for weary sailors as the first spot of Attica they could see on their journey home (and the last they saw as they sailed the Aegean). The temple was erected to honour Poseidon, god of the sea, to ensure the safe return of their ships.

While the original structure was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC, it was reconstructed 40 years later, and the remnants of the temple can still be seen today. Just under half of the columns still stand. We hope you keep your camera to hand - famous names, including Lord Byron, have marvelled at views of the Aegean and Saronic Gulf here.

Alternatively, you could continue to Athens to see the Acropolis. Synonymous with Greek mythology, the ancient ruins stand as a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage. As you wander up the slope towards the complex, the Parthenon dominates the skyline. Even throughout the rest of the city, there's almost no getting away from it. But nothing compares to seeing it up close. Its blindingly white columns and perfect symmetry are world-renowned. Throughout the Acropolis, there's so much to see, from the Porch of Maidens - which supports the southern part of the Erechtheion - to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Then take a look at artefacts found in the Parthenon and surrounding temples in the Acropolis Museum. Watch where you step - the glass floor displays the ruins of ancient houses and streets below (a window into history, if you will).

Whichever you choose, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure in Athens. After checking in to your hotel later this afternoon, you could wander through the narrow streets of Plaka, soaking in the traditional charm and indulging in authentic Greek cuisine at cosy tavernas. Or lose yourself in the labyrinth of narrow alleys while on the hunt for unique souvenirs in Monastiraki Flea Market. In Anafiotika, at the foot of the Acropolis, you'll feel transported to one of the Greek Islands, as you explore the winding streets of whitewashed buildings with colourful shutters. Here ancient history meets modern life.