
The seas between Malta and Greece offer access to a wealth of ancient sites, unspoiled islands and traditional towns. Join us aboard the all-suite MS Hebridean Sky as we set sail from Valletta’s Grand Harbour to the ancient sites of Sicily and on to the storied landscapes of mainland Greece as we discover some of the Mediterranean’s most evocative classical sites.
Our voyage begins with four days of exploration in Sicily during which we will be able to appreciate the island’s rich legacy of so many invading civilisations. Explore the remarkable Valley of the Temples at Agrigento which reveals some of the finest surviving Greek remains outside of Greece. Inland, the exquisite mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale offer a vivid glimpse into Roman life, while Catania’s striking Baroque architecture, hewn from volcanic stone, stands in the shadow of Mount Etna. In Syracuse, once one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, we will explore atmospheric archaeological sites and enjoy the experience of a private concert in an elegant palazzo.
Continuing to Greece and the Peloponnese we will walk among the ruins where the Olympic Games were born before exploring the Byzantine splendours of Mystras or the rugged beauty of the Mani Peninsula from Gythio. In Crete, the legendary Palace of Knossos brings to life the myths of King Minos and the Minotaur, and our penultimate port of Nafplio, one of the most beautiful towns on mainland Greece, provides a charming base from which to explore the great sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nemea, each rich in history and myth.
Our custom-made itinerary focuses on many places that the mega cruise ships cannot access and, in addition to our included guided excursions and the magnificent sites we will explore, there will be ample time at leisure for some independent exploration in addition to opportunities to savour regional cuisine and local wines.
Hebridean Sky
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Itinerary
Day 1 London to Valletta, Malta.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner. Sail this evening.
Day 2 Agrigento for Valley of the Temples, Sicily.
Although handsome in its own right and awash with Medieval atmosphere, Agrigento is not our main reason for calling at this southern coast port. Close by is the Valle dei Templi, a series of Doric temples and the most captivating of Sicilian Greek remains, a grouping unique outside Greece. Surrounded in greenery of olive and almond trees, admire the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Dioscuri Temple, the Temple of Olympic Jove and the Temple of Hercules. After lunch on board the afternoon is free to explore Agrigento and shuttles will run from the port to the town and the excellent archaeological museum which you can explore at leisure. This evening we will sail for Licata where we will moor overnight.
Day 3 Licata for Piazza Armerina.
From the port of Licata we travel inland to what is regarded as the finest Roman site in Sicily, the Imperial Roman Villa of Casale, which is located close to Piazza Armerina amidst wooded rolling countryside. This huge villa was built in the 3rd century and has some stunning floor mosaics. Our return drive takes us through the province of Caltanissetta, recognised today as one of the best winemaking regions in Italy thanks above all to its production of high quality, prestigious red wines including Nero D’Avola. We will break our journey at one of these vineyards and enjoy the opportunity to sample some wine over a Sicilian lunch before returning to the ship.
Day 4 Catania.
This morning we arrive in Catania. The architecture here is particularly impressive but a little forbidding being mainly constructed from black lava stone from Mount Etna. During our morning walking tour we will see the magnificent Piazza del Duomo which is a World Heritage Site, St Agatha’s Cathedral and the imposing 13th century Castello Ursino. Alternatively join a tour to the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. Our drive will take us through scenic countryside, small towns and vineyards before arriving at the Silvestri Craters that were created in the eruption of 1892.
Day 5 Syracuse.
Syracuse was founded by the Greeks in 734 BC and by the 5th century was a political and military power throughout the Mediterranean which rivalled Athens as the largest and most beautiful city in the Greek world. On leaving the vessel we visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park where we will find a well preserved Greek theatre with seats carved from limestone. Paradise Quarry, now an attractive garden and orange grove, was the primary source of that limestone and is the site of the curious ‘Ear of Dionysius’ a vast grotto with an amplifying resonance. We will continue to explore the island of Ortigia where we will find the Temple of Apollo, considered to be Sicily’s most ancient Doric temple and the Baroque Cathedral, erected over the remains of the Temple of Minerva. After lunch on board, the afternoon is free to explore independently before we meet this evening for a private concert in one of the town’s palazzos accompanied by local food and wine.
Day 6 At Sea.
Spend a relaxing day at sea as we make our way to Greece.
Day 7 Katakolon for Olympia, Greece.
The port of Katakolon will be our base today for our excursion to Olympia. Pastoral and lush, Olympia’s plentiful ruins are shaded by Aleppo pines and olive trees. The fame of Olympia rests upon the Olympic Games. During the celebrations that accompanied the Games, competitors, while not forgetting that they were Athenians, Spartans or from other city states, remembered that they were Greeks and regarded an Olympic victory as the highest honour. We will see the gymnasium, the stadium and the palestra or wrestling school. We will also explore the Altis, or sacred precinct of Zeus, which houses structures including the Temple of Zeus, one of the largest temples on the Greek mainland and the Archaeological Museum which houses some fine sculptures and artefacts from the site. This afternoon is free to explore Katakolon at your own pace before we sail this evening.
Day 8 Gythio.
Arrive this morning at the picturesque port of Gythio from where we have a choice of tours. Perhaps head inland to Mystras, a remarkably intact Byzantine hillside town that once housed a population of 20,000. Here we visit the Cathedral of Agios Dimitrios, where the two-headed eagle which is the symbol of the Palaeologos Dynasty is carved into a plaque on the floor. Strolling through the narrow lanes of the dead city, we will also visit the Church of Agia Sophia, the Palace of the Despots and the Monastery of Pantanassa, with its brilliant frescoes. Alternatively, join a scenic drive to the Mani Peninsula visiting the villages and enjoying the wonderful views along the coast. Visit Aeropoli, named after Ares, the God of War, for its role in the War of Independence. Here we find tower houses, constructed with field stones, that are distinct from the traditional blue and white buildings that characterise many Greek villages. Following lunch on board, enjoy a leisurely afternoon to explore Gythio at your own pace, maybe take a walk on the promenade, visit the lighthouse or people watch from a waterfront taverna.
Day 9 Heraklion.
From our berth in Heraklion on the island of Crete, it is a short distance to the Palace of Knossos, the legendary home of the Minotaur. Wander around the site impressively excavated by Sir Arthur Evans, seeing some of the 1300 rooms adorned with lively frescoes where King Minos held court. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure in the town, maybe visit the archaeological museum which holds the world’s largest collection of Minoan artefacts.
Days 10 & 11 Nafplio.
We have a day and a half in the picturesque port of Nafplio. During our time here we will offer visits to the famous citadel of Mycenae which is located high above the confluence of two boulder-strewn ravines and accessed by way of the Lion Gate. Once inside the gate, we will explore the Royal Palace, the shaft graves and the remains of the city walls. An archaeological briefing within the Treasury of Atreus (also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon) will add to our understanding and appreciation of the sights. We also visit one of Greece’s most renowned ancient sites, Epidaurus, which situated on the slopes of a beautiful and wooded valley was known throughout the Hellenic world for its unique medical facilities and healing treatments. Dedicated to Asclepius, the god of healing, the city was filled with curative spas and baths and only priests had access to certain secret sites. Most of the ruins of Epidaurus have been reduced to their foundations, except for the astonishing theatre. Still used for special performances, the theatre is in an admirable state of preservation. Also see Nemea, the site of a religious sanctuary which hosted the pan-Hellenic athletic games every two years from 573 BC until 271 BC. The mythical origin of the Games is sometimes ascribed to Hercules who, after his first labour in which he had to kill the Nemean lion living in the caves of Mount Tritos above the site, established the athletic games in honour of his father, Zeus. Nemea was not a town or settlement but a venue where festivities were held during the games and our tour will include the Temple of Zeus, the bathhouse and the stadium before spending time in the small but excellent onsite museum. Nemea is also famous for its red wines and we will enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard before returning to the ship. As we moor overnight there will be time at leisure in Nafplio in the evening to wander the atmospheric, twisting labyrinthine streets and admire the Venetian and Turkish architecture of this charming town.
Day 12 Athens to London.
Disembark this morning in Piraeus and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Dates and Prices
| 20 to 31 March 2028 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
| Amundsen Deck Standard Suite | £8295 | £7795 |
| Byrd Deck Superior Suite | £8495 | £7995 |
| Mawson Deck Premium Suite | £8795 | £8295 |
| Mawson Deck Corner Suite | £9295 | £8795 |
| Scott Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | £10295 | £9795 |
| Shackleton Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £10995 | £10495 |
| Shackleton Deck Hebridean Suite | £11495 | £10995 |
| Amundsen Deck Standard for sole use | £9995 | £9495 |
| Byrd Deck Superior for sole use | £10395 | £9895 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHKS200528
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 11 nights aboard the MS Hebridean Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia onboard team including Guest Speaker • Gratuities • Transfers • Shore excursions • Airport taxes • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
Please be aware that our website does not display real-time availability. As a result, the categories and prices listed above are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please call us at 020 7752 0000 and speak with one of our experienced Travel Consultants.
Hebridean Sky
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Skys Video Tour
Travelling with You
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David Stuttard
With a degree in Classics from St Andrews University followed by three years of postgraduate research, David taught for eleven years in Edinburgh, St Andrews and York. To date he has written 19 books on classical history and literature including A History of Ancient Greece in 50 Lives (Thames and Hudson) and Nemesis: Alcibiades and the Fall of Athens (Harvard University Press), and his translations of Greek drama are published in Bloomsbury Press’ Looking at series, for which he is series editor. David also has a long background in drama, having toured his own productions of Greek plays throughout the UK as well as to Graeco-Roman theatres including Ephesus and Butrint. His Women and Troy (with Dame Siân Phillips and Rachel Donovan) and It’s All Greek (with Dame Siân Phillips, Robert Powell and Alex Jennings) are currently being staged in London and the South of England. David lives near Lewes in Sussex and is a fellow of Goodenough College.
Tour Extensions
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If you would like to spend some time in Valletta before embarking the MS Hebridean Sky, we are offering a two night extension including a tour of Valletta and Mdina.
Valletta
The Itinerary
Day 1 London to Valletta, Malta.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to our hotel and check in for a two night stay. After some time at leisure we will meet for dinner this evening. (D)
Day 2 Valletta.
Enjoy a morning walking tour of Valletta, the 16th century “Fortress City” built by the Knights of St John. Our morning tour will include the highlights of Valletta with its stunning views across the harbour from the Barakka Gardens. We will explore Merchants Street, containing the surviving auberges built by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, together with the palace where Napoleon Bonaparte is believed to have stayed in 1798. Our final stop will be at St John’s Cathedral. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (B)
Day 3 Mdina.
This morning we will tour the city of Mdina. Known as the “Silent City” at the heart of the island, Mdina was the fortified capital of the island before the arrival of the Knights. Enjoy a local lunch before transferring to the MS Hebridean Sky moored in Valletta. (B, L)
Prices per person based on double occupancy
18 to 20 March 2028 Category Price Twin £895 Single £1295 Price Includes: Two nights hotel accommodation, meals as indicated (B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner), house wine, beer and soft drinks with lunches and dinners included, tours as described, Noble Caledonia Tour Manager, gratuities, transfers.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000







