HIGHLIGHTS
- Relaxed pace with one hotel stay for duration of visit
- Welcome lunch in the vibrant fishing town, Marsaxlokk
- Tour of Ħaġar Qim megalithic temple
- Full-day tour of Valletta and The Three Cities
- Visit to Mosta Dome
- Explore Mdina
- Tour of Rabat
- Visit / boat ride Blue Grotto
- Tour of Mnajdra temples
- Visit to Tarxien temples
- Experience and historic Maltese brewery
- Visit Gozo including an overnight stay
- Gozo cooking class and market visit
- Local lunches that savour local cuisine
- Highlight farewell dinner
PRE TOUR STAY
Consider arriving a day before the tour starts or staying on after the tour ends. You can relax and refresh after your flight and there’s time to make other local discoveries. Also provides a buffer in case of unexpected flight delays. The cost of the additional night/s of stay applies. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional costs.
DAY 1
Marsaxlokk & Ancient Malta
Welcome to Malta! Enjoy a morning at leisure before meeting with the group and your guide at lunchtime at the hotel.
We make our way to Marsaxlokk this afteroon, a picturesque fishing village in the south of the island. The bright colours of the "luzzu," the typical boats of local fishermen moored in the harbour, will immediately catch your eye. We have a welcome lunch together and afterwards, continue with a visit to Ħaġar Qim. Hagar Qim is one of Malta's UNESCO‐listed megalithic temples and dates back to between 3600 BC and 3200 BC. Ħaġar Qim is a single temple that stands dramatically on a cliff edge, although it may once have been part of a larger complex. After a delightful afternoon of exploration, we return to our seaside hotel with the evening at leisure. Dining options are plentiful at your resort hotel.
Meals: Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Lunch in the seaside town of Marsaxlokk
- Afternoon tour of Ħaġar Qim
- Evening at leisure
DAY 2
Valletta's Grandeur and Three Cities
After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, embark on a full day adventure exploring the majestic city of Valletta and the picturesque Three Cities.
Valletta, the capital of Malta and a UNESCO heritage city, is an open-air museum with buildings dating back to the 16th century. We visit the Baracca Gardens and take in the beautiful view of the Grand Harbour of Valletta. The tour includes a visit to the beautiful Co-Cathedral of St. John, where you can admire an original Caravaggio painting. You will also enjoy a 5D immersive experience about the thousand year history of Malta.
Today's tour includes The Three Cities - a collective term for the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa, and Senglea. We drive past Cospicua, a double-fortified harbour city and the largest of the three. Then we arrive in Vittoriosa, ideally situated for safe anchorage and with a long history of maritime, mercantile, and military activities. The third city, Senglea, also known as Civitas Invicta, managed to resist the Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of 1565. The island on which Senglea lies was joined by a land bridge to Cospicua during the time of the Knights of St. John, becoming a peninsula.
During this tour, you will walk through the various narrow streets shaded by many historic churches and buildings. Return at the end of the day to our hotel with the evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A full-day tour
- Visit to Valletta
- Lunch in Valletta
- See the Three Cities
- Evening at leisure
DAY 3
Mosta, Mdina, and Rabat
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some free time before we depart to explore the medieval town of Mdina, visit the iconic Mosta Dome, and wander the charming streets of Rabat.
First, we drive to the city of Mosta. Inspired by Rome’s Pantheon, the church in the city centre was built in the 18th century. It became famous throughout the country in 1942 when, during World War II, a dropped bomb failed to explode, sparing the lives of some 300 people. This church has the third-largest unsupported dome in the world.
After Mosta, we visit Mdina and Rabat. Although Mdina takes centre stage, Rabat offers its own charm with narrow streets, historic houses, and a rich medieval vibe. We then continue to Mdina, Malta’s ancient capital. Mdina sits hilltop right at the centre of the island. It is also called ‘The Silent City’ because of its quiet and narrow streets that give off a quaint yet very homely atmosphere. Mdina is considered one of Malta’s precious jewels, and this ancient walled city is one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications. You will see magnificent views of the entire Maltese landscape. In Mdina, you will have some time to relax and enjoy the area, and we will have an early dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A full-day tour including the towns of Mosta, Mdina, and Rabat
- Group dinner in Mdina with a glass of wine
DAY 4
Coastal Wonders and Ancient Secrets
Fuel up with a scrumptious breakfast at your hotel before venturing to the Blue Grotto and visiting ancient temple sites.
Our day will start with a visit to the Blue Grotto, a unique location known for its colours and scenery. Take a typical local boat to visit the bays and caves that characterise this area (weather permitting).
We continue to the Mnajdra temples, which consist of three buildings constructed in both globigerina and coralline limestone. Next, we visit Tarxien. The Tarxien temples are the most complex of all the temple sites in Malta. They represent the peak of the temple-building civilisation. After a day out, we return to the hotel for some free time before dinner.
Tonight, a unique evening experience at a historic Maltese brewery, combining a guided visit through a beautifully restored site with insights into one of Malta’s most iconic beverage brands ‘Kinnie’. The evening includes a curated beer tasting, street food pairings infused with local brews, and a scenic rooftop setting to take in the atmosphere.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A full-day tour
- Visiting the Blue Grotto
- Visit Mnajdra temple, and Tarxien temple
- Brewery visit with tastings and 'street' food
DAY 5
Malta to Gozo
Today is dedicated to the enchanting island of Gozo. After breakfast, board a ferry to Gozo for a full-day excursion.
This morning we head towards the northern end of the island – Cirkewwa –to take the ferry towards Gozo. After a short crossing arrive to Gozo, an island that is part of the Maltese archipelago.
Your visit starts with an immersive experience through the Gozitan food tradition. You will prepare some Maltese delicacies and you will be escorted for a market visit through Independence and St. George square. At the end you'll also visit a local cheesemonger and then back to the kitchen to prepare your own Gozitan meal.
There will be some time at leisure after lunch and this evening to discover Gozo’s charm.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transfer to Gozo by ferry
- Gozo cooking class
- Lunch
- Free time to explore the town of Victoria, Gozo
DAY 6
Explore Gozo
After breakfast at the hotel, the day begins with the discovery of Gozo, the little sister of the Maltese archipelago, an island that enchants with its rural landscapes, spectacular cliffs and picturesque villages. Gozo looks different than Malta, greener, quieter and full of authentic charm. The first stop is the capital, Victoria, the beating heart of Gozitan life. Stroll through the historic centre until you reach the Cittadella, a majestic fortification that dominates the island from above. From its walls you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of Gozo, with the hilly landscape that extends to the sea. Today we explore some of the most iconic places on the island. These include the picturesque bay of Xlendi, a small fishing village nestled between steep cliffs, and the spectacular Wied il‐Mielaħ, a natural formation similar to the famous Azure Window, which collapsed in 2017. In the afternoon, the tour continues to Dwejra, one of the most fascinating places in Gozo. This area is famous for the Inland Sea, a lagoon connected to the open sea by a natural tunnel dug into the rock, and for the imposing Fungus Rock, a limestone formation once considered precious by the Knights of Malta for its supposed medicinal properties. Before returning to the port, you will pass through the charming rural villages of Gozo, where time seems to have stopped. Here you can admire the traditional limestone houses, the baroque churches and the typical agricultural terraces that characterize the landscape. In the late afternoon, return by ferry to Malta and transfer back to our hotel in Malta.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A day of discovery on Gozo
- Highlight farewell dinner with a glass of wine
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
DAY 7
Farewell to Malta
As your memorable journey comes to an end, savour a final breakfast at the hotel. Take a moment to reflect on the treasures of Malta before you depart, carrying cherished memories with you.
Meals: Breakfast
SPECIAL NOTES:
Travellers connecting to Wonders of Sicily will depart hotel prior to breakfast with a group transfer to the airport to meet flight departing for Sicily. Hotel breakfast is forfeited.
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
