Highlights of Malta & Gozo

Highlights of Malta & Gozo

532 Views
7 Days From

$2560

Highlights of Malta & Gozo

7 Days Starting and ending in Sliema

Visiting: Valletta, Malta / Gozo, Gozo, Gozo / Valletta

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

ZLSM

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

15-99 years

Interests:

Cultural

From: $2560

NB: Prices correct on 22-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Malta may be one of the world’s smallest countries, but it’s big on ancient history, natural beauty and vibrant culture. Uncover the highlights and hidden treasures of Malta and Gozo on this seven-day adventure with an expert leader to help you see the country through the eyes of a local. Discover what makes Valletta so special during an in-depth walking tour, go back in time at the ancient site of Hagar Qim and learn about a local trade at the Xwejni Salt Pans. Ferry across to neighbouring Gozo and hike along the coastline, then kayak across the water to Comino Island. One thing’s for sure – big things come in small packages.

Highlights

  • Get to really know Valletta during a walking tour with a local guide, then join your leader for explorations of the historic Three Cities, Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa.

  • Experience Malta’s tangible history during a visit to the Hagar Qim archaeological site. Dating back as far as 3600 BC, this is one of the oldest religious sites in the world.

  • Meet a local family at the Xwejni Salt Pans, dating back to Roman times, and learn how they have been harvesting salt from here for more than 160 years.

  • Enjoy a wine tasting with delicious nibbles at a family-ran winery in Gozo, with the most incredible views, where the owners themselves will tell you all about the wine-making process.

  • Explore the fortified city of Victoria, Gozo’s capital, paying visits to the medieval citadel, the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, Gran Castello Historic House and Gozo Nature Museum.

  • Meet a local family at the Xwejni Salt Pans, which have been in use since Roman times, and discover how they have been harvesting salt here for over 160 years.

  • Get to know Gozo from the water during a kayak excursion, where you’ll visit Comino Island and stop off at the aptly named Blue Lagoon for a swim.

  • Learn about Valletta – one of the smallest European capitals that’s packed with a wealth of historical landmarks – during a walking tour where you’ll explore historic districts like Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa.

  • Experience Malta’s history at the Hagar Qim Archaeological Site. Dating back as far as 3600 BC, this is one of the oldest religious sites in the world.

  • Explore the fortified city of Victoria, Gozo’s capital, with visits to the medieval citadel, the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, Gran Castello Historic House and the Gozo Nature Museum. m.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Valletta

Location: Valletta

Accommodation: Hotel

Merhba! Welcome to Malta. Your adventure starts in Valletta – this little Mediterranean island packs a real punch when it comes to historical sights and attractions. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at your hotel, where you’ll meet your local leader and the other members of your group. If you arrive early, you may like to visit the National Museum of Archaeology or take a stroll along the restaurant-lined waterfront. After your meeting, why not get to know your group over dinner in town – your leader will be able to recommend some great spots. Aljotta (fish soup) and gbejniet (Maltese cheese) are particularly delicious!

Day 2: Valletta

Location: Valletta

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

This morning, head out on a leader-led walking tour of Valletta. Stop by a traditional cafe to sample some tasty Maltese pour-over coffee. Once you’re energised, make your way to the St. John's Co-Cathedral to learn about the city’s fascinating connection to the Order of the Knights of St. John. Then, swing by the Upper Barrakka Gardens – a public space with a history stretching back to the 16th century. From the gardens, ride a large elevator down to the Grand Harbour – taking in the views as you descend – and hop aboard a ferry to explore the rest of the city. Take a step back in time as you walk the winding streets and find remnants of Malta’s turbulent past, before returning to Valletta to enjoy the rest of the afternoon as you wish.

Included Activities:
-Valletta - Visit to St John's Co-Cathedral
-Valletta - City Walking Tour Leader led
-Valletta - Traditional Maltese Pour-Over Coffee at Local Cafe

Day 3: Malta / Gozo

Location: Malta / Gozo

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

Get to know more of Malta today on a daytrip around the island. Stop in the fishing town of Marsaxlokk first to check out the local market and the colourful fishing boats. Then, continue to the archaeological site of Hagar Qim – it’s one of the world’s oldest religious sites, dating as far back as 3600 BC, exploring the remains of the ancient temple. After building up an appetite, head to a local restaurant housed in an 18th-century Baroque building, renowned for its local ingredients, for an authentic farm-to-table experience. Your next stop is the fortified city of Mdina, where your leader will explain centuries of Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine and Arab history. Since it served as the island’s capital until the medieval period, there’s lots to learn as you walk around the walls. Continue to Cirkewwa and board a ferry bound for Mgarr – a harbour town on the neighbouring island of Gozo. You’ll then hop on the public bus to Marsalforn, your final destination for the day and your base for your time in Gozo. This evening, take a well-deserved break and soak up the laidback atmosphere of this seaside resort town.

Included Activities:
-Marsaxlokk - Town & Harbour Visit
-Malta - Island Highlights Tour
-Mdina - Town Visit
-Hagar Qim - Archaeological Site Visit
-Mdina - Lunch at Local Restaurant
-Malta - Blue Grotto boat trip

Day 4: Gozo

Location: Gozo

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Start your day with a coastal hike from Xlendi to the Ta Cenc Cliffs. The trail runs close to the cliff’s edge, giving you unparalleled views of the Mediterranean. As you near the end, follow a country road to a little town called Sannat and refuel with a pastry from a local bakery. Then, hop on a public bus back to Marsalforn and, walk to the Salt Pans in Xwejni, which date back to Roman times. Learn how the land is designed to extract salt from saltwater from a local family who has been harvesting from these pans for over 150 years. In summer, you might even witness the harvesting for yourself! After, embark on a hike along Gozo’s North coast to Wied il-Ghasri, known for its high cliffs and crystal-clear waters. Cool down with a swim in a secluded inlet before walking back to Marsalforn for the evening.

Included Activities:
-Gozo - Xlendi Coastal Cliff Hike
-Gozo - Village Bakery Visit & Snack
-Victoria - Citadel walking tour and museums visit

Day 5: Gozo

Location: Gozo

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Today, walk to the Salt Pans in Xwejni, which date back to Roman times. Learn how the land is designed to extract salt from saltwater from a local family who has been harvesting from these pans for over 150 years. In summer, you might even witness the harvesting for yourself! After, embark on a hike along Gozo’s North coast to Wied al-Ghasri, known for its high cliffs and crystal-clear waters. Cool down with a swim in a secluded inlet before returning to Marsalforn. Later it is time to visit a family run local winery where you will taste some of the local wines. Tonight, don’t forget to ask your leader for recommendations on the best bars and restaurants in the area.

Included Activities:
-Gozo - Xwejni Salt Pans Visit
-Gozo - Wied al-Ghasri Coastal Hike
-Gozo - Local winery visit & wine tasting

Day 6: Gozo / Valletta

Location: Gozo / Valletta

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

The day is yours to discover more of what Gozo has to offer. With something to suit every interest, be sure to ask your local leader for tips on how to get the most out of your free time. You may like to head to one of the island’s beautiful beaches, stretch out with a good book, or cool down with frequent dips in the Mediterranean. Or, if you prefer to stay active, you could hike to more ancient ruins and medieval villages. However you decide to spend your time here, it’s sure to be a day to remember! In the afternoon, get back together with your group to bid farewell to Gozo and take a ferry back to Valletta. Upon arrival, perhaps go out with your fellow travelers for one last dinner together.

Optional Activities:
-Comino Island - Kayaking Excursion & Visit to Blue Lagoon

Day 7: Valletta

Location: Valletta

Meals Included: breaksfast

With no activities planned, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (6 nights)

  • Valletta - Three Cities Walking Tour

  • Valletta - Visit to St John's Co-Cathedral

  • Valletta - City Walking Tour with Local Guide

  • Valletta - Traditional Maltese Pour-Over Coffee at Local Cafe

  • Marsaxlokk - Town & Harbour Visit

  • Malta - Island Highlights Tour

  • Mdina - Town Visit

  • Hagar Qim - Archaeological Site Visit

  • Mdina - Lunch at Local Restaurant

  • Gozo - Blue Grotto boat trip

show more

What's Not Included

  • International Travel

  • Tipping and Gratuities

Transport

TRANSPORT IN EUROPEHalf the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Important Information

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Mode of Transport

TRANSPORT IN EUROPEHalf the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONThe style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.TWIN SHARE BASISAccommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.CHECK-IN TIMEThroughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATIONIf you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.FACILITIESYour accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you’ll be expected to carry your own bag. Although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient, although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you’ll likely encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a daypack/bag to carry water and a camera for daytrips.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

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Prices last published on 22-Dec-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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