INCLUSIONS

Accommodation & Meals

• 6 nights superior hotel accommodation;
  5 nights Malta & 1 night Gozo
• 6 breakfasts
• 3 group lunches
• 3 group dinners
• A glass of wine included with group lunches & dinners

Sightseeing & Guides

• English-speaking local guide throughout touring days 1 - 6
• All sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary;
  including a special Gozo cooking class and market experience

Transport

• Private group transportation throughout touring
• Return public ferry crossing between Malta and Gozo
• Airport arrival transfer*
• Airport departure transfer*

*Subject to Encounter Travel transfer conditions.

Additional Inclusions

• Small group touring, maximum 14 travellers
• Eco tax

Notes
Tipping Fund Euro35 payable on day 1
Comprehensive travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for joining this tour and is in addition to the package price.

Not included: 

• Airfares to/from destination
• Tips for group tour guide
• Porterage
• Travel insurance
• Excess baggage
• Visa fees if applicable
• Meals and beverages not specified on itinerary
• Items of a personal nature such as laundry & medical expenses
• Incidental expenses such as taxi fares, telecommunication

Itinerary

ACCOMMODATION

MALTA HOTELS

Hotels may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. Should this occur, a hotel of a similar standard will be provided.

All or most hotels will provide wi-fi complimentary or otherwise in some cases a fee may apply.

Comfort room with partial sea view, AX Odycy Hotel

Deluxe room with partial seaview, AX Odycy Hotel

Double room with view, Reef Hotel, Gozo

Comfort room with partial sea view, AX Odycy Hotel

Deluxe room with partial seaview, AX Odycy Hotel

Pool @ Reef Hotel, Gozo

Comfort room bathroom, AX Odycy Hotel

Deluxe room bathroom with partial seaview, AX Odycy Hotel

GETTING THERE

Arrive & Depart from Malta International Airport

First Day
The tour commences shortly prior to lunch time, Day 1.

Most travellers travelling from Australia, New Zealand and many international gateways will require a pre-tour overnight stay in Malta in order to arrive in time for the commencement of the tor.

We strongly recommend arriving at least one day prior to the start of the tour. This not only provides sufficient time to reach the group hotel before the tour begins but also provides a valuable buffer should there be any unexpected airline delays or disruptions.

Pre-tour accommodation is available at the group hotel, subject to availability and additional cost.

Final Day
There are no scheduled touring activities on the final day. Following breakfast, travellers are free to depart at their leisure according to their flight arrangements.

Hotel Check-In / Check-Out Times
Please consider hotel check-in and check-out times when making your travel arrangements.

If you arrive prior to check-in, the hotel can generally store your luggage until your room becomes available. Likewise, luggage storage is usually available following check-out should you have a later departure.

Typical hotel check-in: From 3:00pm
Typical hotel check-out: By 11:00am

Airport Transfers

Arrival and departure airport transfers are included provided that:

• You arrive on Day 1 of the tour and depart on the final day of the tour, or
• You have booked pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation through Encounter Travel at the designated group hotel as part of your package.

Transfer Conditions

• Transfers are linked to the official group hotel.
• If you choose to stay at alternative accommodation before or after the tour, airport transfers are not included and will be your own responsibility.
• Flight itineraries are required no later than 45 days prior to departure.
• If airport transfers form part of your arrangements and flight details are not supplied within the required timeframe, additional charges may apply or transfer services may be forfeited. 

Flight Itineraries
If you are arranging your own flights, we require a copy of your flight itinerary no later than 45 days prior to departure.

Even if you are not booking airport transfers through us, we ask all travellers to provide their flight itinerary. This assists us in monitoring arrival schedules, managing operational requirements, and providing support should unexpected travel disruptions occur.

Flight Information
We are able to provide flight advice and booking services for flights originating within Australia.

A service fee may apply.

If joining the tour from outside Australia, we recommend making your own flight arrangements or consulting a travel advisor based in your country of residence who may have access to the most suitable fares and routing options.

Connecting with Wonders of Sicily
This tour has been designed to connect with our Wonders of Sicily tour.

Travellers continuing to Sicily will receive separate transfer information relevant to the connecting arrangements between the two tours. The travel cost to connect between the tours is additional.

Additional accommodation requirements and flight schedules may influence the recommended arrival and departure dates for travellers undertaking both journeys.

DETAILS

Trip Availability

If this trip seems right for you, we encourage you to book early and secure your place with a deposit. As a small group tour, space is limited. To ensure your place, please check trip availability at your earliest convenience.

Fellow Travellers
This is a 'Solos Only' tour, designed exclusively for solo travellers. Couples do not join this group.

The age range for this trip is 40 years & over. Enjoy premium small group touring with a maximum group size of 16 travellers. Most departures typically operate with around 10 to 14 travellers.

Fit To Travel - The Pace

This tour is rated 2 out of 5.

The itinerary has been designed for travellers who enjoy an easier-paced tour, with a balance of sightseeing, local experiences and free time. While the pace is less demanding than some of our more active holidays, travellers should still have a good level of general mobility. You should be comfortable walking through historic towns and villages, navigating uneven surfaces, and managing occasional stairs at attractions and hotels. For more information about pace ratings and fitness expectations, please refer to our Fit To Travel page.

Group Leader & Guides

This is a privately operated small group tour with a professional local tour guide throughout the touring program.

Your tour guide is responsible for the day-to-day arrangements of the tour, coordinating services and assisting the group throughout the journey.

The role of your tour guide is to help ensure the trip runs smoothly, while bringing the history, culture and stories of Malta and Gozo to life through local knowledge and insight.

As with all travel, occasional changes can occur due to weather conditions, local events, transport delays or other unforeseen circumstances. Should this happen, your touring team will always work to provide the best possible alternative arrangements.

Meals & Dining

We include a mix of group dining experiences and opportunities to enjoy meals at your own leisure, allowing for both shared experiences and personal choice along the way.

This holiday includes welcome dining experiences, local lunches showcasing regional flavours, a traditional Gozitan cooking experience, and highlight dinners that bring the group together throughout the journey.

There is nothing better than sharing a meal with new friends while reflecting on the day's adventures.

Dietary Requirements & Flexitarians

If you have dietary requirements, please advise whether these are due to allergies, medical reasons or personal preferences, and whether you are flexible with your choices.

Dietary requirements can sometimes limit available meal choices, particularly in smaller destinations and regional areas.

If you consider yourself a flexitarian, for example you generally eat vegetarian meals but may still eat fish or chicken, please let us know. Providing accurate dietary information helps us and our suppliers offer the best possible dining experiences throughout your holiday.

Tipping

Tipping is not included in your tour package.

In Malta, tipping is a customary way of recognising good service within the tourism industry. To make things simple, a tipping fund is used for the group to cover some of the tipping arrangements throughout the tour The Tipping Fund
At the beginning of your tour, a tipping fund is collected by your Tour Director and managed on behalf of the group. The fund is used throughout the journey to tip drivers, local guides, restaurant staff and other service personnel included as part of the tour. Your Tour Director
As the Tour Director manages the tipping fund on behalf of the group, their gratuity is not included within the fund. If you would like to recognise their care, professionalism and support throughout your holiday, it is customary to offer a personal tip at the end of the tour. While any gratuity remains entirely at your discretion, we understand that many travellers appreciate some guidance. A tip of approximately €5-€7 per person, per day is generally considered appropriate for a Tour Director in Malta.

Transport

Transport throughout the itinerary is provided by private vehicle and ferry services.

The itinerary features:

• Private touring vehicle throughout Malta and Gozo
  • Return ferry crossings between Malta and Gozo
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure (subject to transfer conditions)

Vehicle size will be determined by final group numbers.

Luggage

Checked Luggage: 1 suitcase up to 23kg
Hand Luggage: 1 carry-on bag up to 7kg plus one small personal item such as a handbag or small daypack.

Please also consider any luggage restrictions imposed by your airline.

Mobile & Connectivity

Most hotels offer complimentary Wi-Fi access. When travelling internationally, many travellers now choose to use an eSIM for mobile data access. eSIMs can be a convenient and cost-effective way to stay connected throughout your travels.

A WhatsApp group may be used during the tour to assist with group communication and day-to-day updates while travelling.

MORE INFORMATION

• Visa / Entry Requirements >
• Airport >
• Currency >
• Weather >
• Disclaimer >

TRAVELLER REVIEWS

'I would highly recommend a holiday with Encounter Travel. My trip was well organised and the co-ordinator was fun and helpful and full of energy. I met some great people of all walks of life. There is a good mix of organised activities and free time. I had a blast.'

Linda, Victoria

'Thank you for your organisation of a great holiday. As a first time traveller with Encounter, I didn't know what to expect. The Red Centre is indescribably beautiful and should be on every Australians' bucket list. We saw every sensational attraction in just the right order - each new experience was more incredible than the last. Thank you for recruiting such a great group of people for my travelling companions. The hotels were clean and very comfortable and it was a pleasure to be transported across such an amazing landscape so comfortably. I learnt so much about our wonderful country and wished I had done such a trip years earlier.'

Sarah, 52 years, Sydney, Australia

'Did a Red Centre solo 7 day tour absolutely fantastic, Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), Kings Canyon, Palm Valley you have to see it and experience it. The coach drivers were professional, excellent knowledge and with a great sense of humor.'

David, Eschol Park, Sydne, New South Wales

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