French Riviera, Amalfi Coast & Malta Discovery - Cruise & Land Journey: 15 days Nice to Valletta

Welcome to Nice, one of the most celebrated ports on the Côte d'Azur in France. A popular tourist destination since the 1700s, this vibrant city offers an intriguing blend of French and Italian cultures, thanks to its proximity to Italy.

Scenic Eclipse will be waiting for you alongside the multi-million-dollar superyachts in the marina. Be welcomed on board by your expert crew, meet your butler and take some time to settle into your spacious verandah suite. Join your fellow guests on the Sky Deck to watch the sun set over this picturesque waterfront city, as you set sail.

In the evening, arrive for an overnight in Monaco in style, unwind with a drink, and enjoy the stunning views from your private verandah or the open deck.

Please book your flight to arrive into Nice prior to 02:00 PM.

Monte Carlo is the epitome of luxury and elegance, nestled within the principality of Monaco. Renowned for its iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo, this glamorous enclave offers a wealth of indulgent experiences. Explore opulent streets lined with designer boutiques and stroll along the picturesque coastline. From world-class entertainment and exclusive clubs to prestigious events like the Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo captivates visitors with its timeless allure and sophistication. Whether you're seeking excitement at the casino or refined relaxation, Monte Carlo promises an unforgettable day.

Arrival in Saint-Florent reveals a picturesque harbour framed by pastel façades, an elegant marina, and a centuries-old citadel overlooking the sea. Set along Corsica’s northern coast, the town combines refined simplicity with untamed natural beauty, offering leisurely waterfront walks, boutique shopping, and a distinctly authentic Corsican atmosphere.

Tonight, on board, indulge in refined French cuisine at Lumière+, where elegance meets exceptional culinary craftsmanship. Enjoy exquisite dishes paired with fine wines in a sophisticated atmosphere, perfect for a special evening.

Livorno is a vibrant port city shaped by centuries of maritime trade, offering a distinctly cosmopolitan character. Explore the 17th-century canals of the Venezia Nuova district, browse the lively Central Market, or stroll along the Terrazza Mascagni, where checkerboard paving frames sweeping sea views. Beyond the city, Livorno serves as a gateway to Tuscany’s celebrated landscapes and culinary traditions, with convenient access to the artistic treasures of Florence and the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Discover Porto Santo Stefano, a coastal paradise on the Tuscan Riviera where history meets Mediterranean beauty. Wander through its charming streets, uncover the 16th-century Spanish Fortress, and soak in the vibrant harbour views. Delight in exquisite fresh seafood, paired with local wines and olive oils, at seaside eateries.

Set on a peninsula along the Tyrrhenian Sea, Gaeta is an understated coastal town known for its natural beauty and historic charm. Its picturesque old town cascades towards the water, revealing narrow medieval streets, golden sandy beaches, and clear blue seas. Long favoured by Italians as a seaside retreat, Gaeta remains refreshingly low-key. The town is also celebrated for its cuisine, with inviting trattorias and restaurants tucked throughout the atmospheric historic centre.

Perched on cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples, Sorrento is a town of natural beauty and relaxed elegance. Surrounded by lemon and orange groves and known as the birthplace of limoncello liqueur, it offers a distinctly local character. Wander peaceful alleyways lined with pastel buildings, grand villas, and inviting cafés. Sorrento also serves as a gateway to the Amalfi Coast, as well as the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the island of Capri.

The World Heritage-listed Aeolian Islands are seven volcanic outcrops set off the north coast of Sicily with a rich history dating back to 5000BC. As you sail into the islands, look out for the dramatic rock formations that rise majestically from the water. Lipari is the largest and most populated of the islands, known for its pebbled beaches, hiking trails and historic harbour. From its panoramic position, a castle overlooks the seafront of pastel-coloured townhouses, with windswept highlands and steep cliffs in the distance.

Taormina has captivated visitors since the 18th-century as one of Sicily's most beloved destinations. Dominated by Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, this elegant town perches above the Ionian Sea with a rich artistic, historical, and cultural heritage. Discover its stunning ancient theatre, charming piazzas, and local specialities including arancini — Sicily's famous rice balls. With Scenic Eclipse remaining in port until late this evening, you'll have ample time to explore at your leisure.

This morning, sail into the spectacular harbour of Valletta for an overnight call, the fortified capital of Malta and one of the most impressive natural harbours in the world. Founded by the Knights of St. John in the 1500s, this World Heritage–listed city is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture, grand bastions, and golden limestone buildings that glow in the sunlight. Valletta may be small, but it’s rich in treasures — ornate churches, grand palaces, charming piazzas, and narrow streets opening to sweeping sea views. Highlights include St. John’s Co-Cathedral with its famed Caravaggio works, the panoramic Upper Barrakka Gardens, and the historic auberges of the Knights.

As your Scenic Eclipse voyage draws to a close in historic Valletta, savour a final unhurried breakfast on board, watching the honey-coloured bastions of Grand Harbour glow in the morning light and reflecting on the journey behind you before stepping ashore. Welcome to Valletta, Malta’s capital and one of Europe’s most concentrated expressions of Baroque ambition, founded in 1566 by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege; a World Heritage city where every street, palace and fortified wall reveals a distinct chapter of its past to those who wander without hurry. You will spend four nights here, with many of the island’s most remarkable experiences unfolding in the days ahead, from the silent city of Mdina to rock-cut catacombs and prehistoric temple sites. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow guests for a welcome dinner at a Scenic-selected restaurant in Valletta, your first introduction to Maltese flavours and hospitality that will set the tone for the days to come.

This morning your Tour Director leads you on a guided exploration of Valletta, beginning at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, whose arcaded terraces frame one of the Mediterranean's great panoramas – the Grand Harbour below, the fortified peninsulas of the Three Cities rising across the water. From here, you visit St John's Co-Cathedral, built by the Knights between 1573 and 1577, its austere exterior giving no hint of the richly ornamented interior within.

The afternoon takes you across the harbour to the Three Cities – Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua – fortified peninsulas that predate Valletta and carry the island's deepest memories. You close the day on the water, boarding a traditional Maltese dghajsa for a harbour cruise, taking in Valletta's golden limestone façades from the perspective they were built to be seen from.

This morning you venture into the Maltese interior, beginning at the Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar before continuing to Rabat, where St Paul's Catacombs reveal the island's early Christian story through an atmospheric underground burial complex. A short walk leads to Mdina – the Silent City, Malta's medieval former capital – where your Tour Director leads you through narrow lanes and past the cathedral to the ancient bastions, with views stretching across the breadth of the island. The journey continues to Mosta, home to the Rotunda, whose unsupported dome ranks among the largest in Europe.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.

Today takes you to the prehistoric south of Malta, beginning at the Tarxien Temples – part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Megalithic Temples of Malta, constructed during the 4th and 3rd millennia BC and among the earliest free-standing stone buildings in the world. Each complex is a unique architectural masterpiece, its decorated chambers bearing bas-relief panels of spirals, plants, and animals that speak to a highly organised society of remarkable skill and sophistication.

Your journey continues to Hagar Qim, a temple complex of the same era set on a coastal plateau, its monumental limestone slabs framed by an open sweep of Mediterranean sea.

From here you descend to the sheltered inlet of Wied iz-Zurrieq and the Blue Grotto – a sequence of sea caves carved into the dramatic limestone cliffs of Malta's southern coast. Subject to weather conditions, a small boat excursion carries you through the caves, where the clarity and colour of the water below have drawn visitors for generations.

Bid farewell as you transfer to the airport, taking stories for life with you.

#Spa treatments and services at additional cost. Daily activities may be subject to change; please consult your Daily Wonder for updates.
+All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. Specialty restaurants require a reservation, enquire on board.
^Experiences on board our helicopters and submersible are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather conditions.

Submersible not operational on this voyage.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the journey will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information. Hotels are indicative and subject to change.