At a glance
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Our group trips are a great chance to travel with others. We also recommend adding in a few extra nights tailor-made to ensure you build the perfect itinerary.
Two islands and three thousand years of Mediterranean history, brought together in ten days. This LGBTQ+ group trip moves from the volcanic baroque of Catania and the slopes of Mount Etna, through the old island city of Ortigia in Siracusa, and across the sea from Sicily to Malta, one of the most progressive countries in Europe for LGBTQ+ travelers.
You begin with four nights in Catania at a boutique hotel in a 19th-century building at the heart of the old town. The city was rebuilt in dark volcanic stone after the earthquake of 1693, and that stone gives every church and palazzo its color. A guided walk traces Catania‘s LGBTQ+ history alongside its baroque landmarks. A full day by 4×4 takes you up among the craters of Etna. Then comes a day in Taormina, the hilltop town where gay writers and artists found a haven more than a century ago.
Next, you spend two nights on the Ortigia seafront, a short walk from Piazza Duomo. Siracusa once rivaled Athens, and its cathedral still stands on the columns of a Greek temple. The second day is yours. You can take a guided tour of the Baroque towns of Noto and Ragusa, or you can simply enjoy the market, the sea, and a long aperitivo.
The trip closes with three nights in Malta at a hotel and spa in Sliema, facing Valletta across the harbor. You will explore the Silent City of Mdina, the catacombs of Rabat, and the Dingli Cliffs. You will also cruise the harbor and share a final evening with the group before your journey home.
More Information
The legal picture in Italy is more mixed than elsewhere in Western Europe. Civil unions have been legal since 2016 and provide most of the practical rights associated with marriage, including inheritance and hospital visitation, though Italy is one of the few Western European countries that hasn’t yet legalized full same-sex marriage. Anti-discrimination laws cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, education, and services.
In practice, LGBTQ+ travelers will find the destinations on most luxury itineraries entirely comfortable. The cities, the lake regions, the coastlines, and the major islands all welcome same-sex couples as standard. Italian luxury hospitality is unbothered, and the staff at the kind of hotels we book have been welcoming same-sex couples for decades.
Italy also has one of the most interesting LGBTQ+ cultural histories in the world. Michelangelo’s love poetry, Leonardo da Vinci’s biography, the writing of Pier Paolo Pasolini, and the films of Luchino Visconti are part of how the country has thought about sexuality for centuries. The legal framework may lag behind the rest of Western Europe, but the cultural ease that comes from that history is real, and it’s what travelers notice on the ground.
01 Jun, 2027- SOLD OUT- 22 Jun, 2027
13 Sep, 2027- SOLD OUT- 24 Sep, 2027
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In detail
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Don't forget that most of our itineraries can be totally customized. Our expert team will be able to talk you through all the options.
Days 1–2: Catania
Your Sicilian journey begins in Catania. A private transfer takes you to Etna Suite, a boutique hotel in the heart of the old town. In the evening, you meet the group over a welcome apericena, where an aperitivo runs into a generous spread of small plates.
The next morning, a local guide traces Catania’s LGBTQ+ history alongside its baroque landmarks, built in dark volcanic stone after the earthquake of 1693. The tour ends at La Pescheria fish market. The afternoon is yours for arancini, cannoli, and granita.
Day 3: Mount Etna
Today is spent on Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano. A full-day 4×4 excursion takes you up among the craters and old lava flows, with views that reach down to the sea. The landscape is unlike anything else on the trip.
The air is much cooler and often windy at altitude, so bring a warm layer and long pants, however warm Catania feels when you leave. The volcanic soils on these slopes also produce some of Sicily’s most admired red wines.
Day 4: Taormina and Giardini Naxos
A private coach takes you north to Taormina, perched high above the Ionian Sea. Its ancient Greek theater frames Etna behind the stage. Taormina became a haven for gay artists and writers at the turn of the twentieth century. More recently, it was the setting for the second season of The White Lotus.
After a guided tour, you head down to Giardini Naxos for a two-hour boat trip along the coast, with a light lunch on board. You then return to Catania for your final night.
Days 5–6: Siracusa
A private coach takes you south to Hotel Livingston on the Ortigia seafront. A walking tour follows through a city that once rivaled Athens, including its Greek Theater and a cathedral built on the columns of a Greek temple.
The second day is yours. You can take an optional tour of the Baroque Noto and Ragusa, or you can stay on Ortigia for the market, a swim from the rocks, and a long aperitivo.
Days 7–8: Malta
A ferry from Pozzallo carries you to Malta and 1926 Le Soleil Hotel & Spa on the Sliema seafront. The rest of the day is free.
The next morning, you explore Mdina, the car-free Silent City, and the early Christian catacombs of Rabat beneath it. The morning ends at the Dingli Cliffs, where the island drops more than 250 meters into the sea. On a clear day, you can see Sicily from here.
Days 9–10: Valletta
Your final full day begins with a morning cruise around Valletta’s harbor. After that, the time is yours. You can visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral and its Caravaggio, cross to the Three Cities by ferry, or take a boat to the Blue Lagoon. In the evening, the group gathers once more for a final dinner.
On day ten, a private transfer takes you to the airport. If you would like to linger, we can help you extend your stay in Malta, with a few nights on Gozo.
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