Malta & Gozo Discovery

8 Days Malta to Sliema
Malta & Gozo Discovery
Malta & Gozo Discovery
Malta & Gozo Discovery
Adventure Small Group Off The Beaten Track

Overview

Read 4 reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Explore's 8 Day Malta & Gozo Discovery. Explore two Mediterranean gems on this trip spanning Malta and Gozo. Uncover Gozo's ancient history and breathtaking landscapes, travelling across the island and stopping for dips in secluded bays. Then, hop across to Malta to tour its fortified capital, fascinating temples and quaint harbours littered with colourful fishing boats. Along the way, indulge the senses, tasting Maltese dishes and local wines.
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US$1,872 per person
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Trip Length
Trip Length

8 Days

Trip Starts
Trip Starts

Malta

Trip Ends
Trip Ends

Sliema

Countries Visited
Countries Visited:
Trip Reviews
4 Trip Reviews
Avg. Rating: 4.3/5
Trip Style
Trip Style

Discovery

Accommodation
Accommodation

Comfortable

Budget
Budget

Affordable

Age Range
Age Range

16-99 Years

Max. Group Size
Max. Group Size

16

Pace
Pace

Moderate

Guide Style
Guiding Style

Fully Guided

Tour Code
Tour Code

MLA

Itinerary

Our trip begins at Malta International Airport (MLA).

There will be two complimentary transfers from the airport today, one at midday and one at 4.30pm. If you'd like to join the midday departure, the latest your flight can arrive is 11.30am and if you plan to join the 4.30pm transfer, the latest your flight can arrive is 4pm. We'll book you on the transfer which is closest to your flight arrival time, however, if you're arriving early and would prefer to join the 4.30pm transfer, please inform us at the time of booking.

We'll travel from the airport to our hotel as a group, driving for one hour to Cirkewwa where we'll catch a 25-minute ferry to the island. It's then a short 15-minute drive to our hotel. This evening, there'll be the opportunity to go for dinner as a group and our tour leader will lead a welcome meeting at the restaurant.

Located in the Maltese archipelago and surrounded by the azure Mediterranean Sea, Gozo is a picturesque spot to get to grips with island life. Only 15 kilometres in length and seven kilometres wide, it's incredibly easily accessible, with stunning scenery stretching from coast to coast. The island's history weaves back through the Romans and Phoenicians and remnants from its rich past are scattered across it today - we'll spend the next week digging deeper. Stay: Hotel Calypso (or similar) (Comfortable)

Our exploration starts today in Xlendi, on the south coast, where we'll make a short photo stop and walk along the promenade before heading to the island's capital, Victoria.

Although it's known locally as Rabat, Gozo's capital was named after Queen Victoria in 1887. We'll climb up to the city's imposing Citadel for a bird's eye view across the island. Continuing our exploration, we'll drop by the old prison where the Knights of Saint John would send their rowdier members to cool off. The graffitied walls give a fascinating insight into the lives of those who were incarcerated here. Descending to the central square, It Tokk, we'll have time to wander the cobweb of narrow streets and grab some lunch.

After lunch, we'll head to the town of Xaghra to discover Ggantija. This megalithic temple complex dates back to 3600 BC and was thus named as it was believed only giants could have moved the stones. Some of the colossal rocks measure over five meters long and weigh over 20 tons - the temple itself reaches up to seven metres tall. Predating the Pyramids, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is believed to be the world's oldest free-standing structure. Once we've marvelled at the stone temple, we'll continue to the remains of Calypsos Cave, alleged to be the cave referred to by Homer in The Odyssey.

This afternoon we'll stretch our legs with a walk from the area of Calypso's Cave to Ramla Bay where we can enjoy a refreshing dip at the beautiful red sandy beach, if the weather permits, before heading back to the hotel.

Please note that the Maltese bird hunting season runs from September until the end of January and during these months hunting activity may regrettably be seen on some of our excursions into rural areas of Gozo and Malta. Stay: Hotel Calypso (or similar) (Comfortable) (B)

Today, we'll take in the landscape of Dwejra, perhaps Gozo's most spectacular natural landmark. Here, geology, time and sea have worked together to produce some of the most remarkable scenery on the island. We'll see Fungus Rock, notable as the habitat of a rare fungus which was highly prized by the Knights of Saint John for its medicinal properties. You'll then have the option to take a boat ride along the coast from the Inland Sea (weather permitting) - a shallow inland lagoon linked to the sea via a 30-metre tunnel.

From Dwejra, we'll continue to the Ta Pinu Basilica, renowned for the miraculous cures reported by its supplicants. We'll drive past well-tended fields with their dry-stone walls and enjoy glorious views on our way to Zebbug; perched on a hilltop above the patchwork of green fields below. As with all these fortified hilltop villages, the far-reaching views across the island and beyond are spectacular on a clear day.

From Zebbug, we'll take a walk to nearby Xwejni Bay. The coastal scenery along the way is varied - at times, we'll pass limestone outcrops eroded into unusual shapes by the wind and sea, where traditional salt pans dominate the view. This section of the coast is one of the most remote and rugged on the island and our walk will be relatively steep downhill. Weather permitting, we might have the chance to swim before we return to the seaside resort of Marsalforn, our chosen location for lunch.

This afternoon, we'll head back to Mgarr (via Nadur for a brief photo stop of Comino and the Blue Lagoon) to catch the ferry to Malta and transfer to our hotel, northwest of the capital. The capital stretches west from Valletta along scenic bays with busy marinas. Our hotel is in Sliema, and you can find plenty of local restaurants and bars in the area. Stay: Plaza Hotel (or similar) (Comfortable) (B)

This morning, we'll drive from the hotel to the fortified Old City, where we'll have a walking tour. Originally built by the Knights of the Order of Saint John in the 16th Century, Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is built on the steep slopes of the Sceberas Peninsula. It's surrounded by two huge natural harbours which have helped to make it such an important strategic port at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Fort Saint Elmo guards the entrance to the harbours. Walking down Triq ir Republika - the main thoroughfare in the centre of the city, we'll visit the elaborately decorated Saint John's Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster`s Palace State Rooms. During the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, over 400 knights perished and as a sign of remembrance, the floor of St John's Co-Cathedral is covered in skeleton tombstones. We'll also admire the views across the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

The afternoon is free for you to explore more at your own pace. Stay: Plaza Hotel (or similar) (Comfortable) (B)

This morning, we'll visit the historic Three Cities of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua, considered to be 'the cradle of Maltese history' as settlers and rulers from the Phoenicians to the British all made use of the defences here. The Knights of the Order of Saint John settled in Vittoriosa in 1530 and used the city as their headquarters. The Three Cities have retained much of their romantic medieval charm, and we'll see the Inquisitor's Palace in Vittoriosa and admire the views from the Gardjola Gardens - a lookout post to guard the harbour entrance - in Senglea.

Driving on to Marsaxlokk, we'll have some free time for lunch and exploration. This charming town is Malta's largest fishing port, and the harbour is littered with colourful boats and excellent fish restaurants.

The best way to explore the creeks and dockyards in this area is by boat, so, after lunch, we'll transfer to Sliema for a harbour cruise. Only by travelling across the water can you appreciate the sheer magnitude of the ramparts and forts that protect the city. Stay: Plaza Hotel (or similar) (Comfortable) (B)

A short drive this morning brings us to Hagar Qim and Mnajdra; another incredible Megalithic temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site. For three millennia, from around 3600 to 3200 BC, the Maltese archipelago was home to a unique, temple-building civilisation. The discovery of many fat lady statuettes in the vicinity of Hagar Qim has shown it to have been built to worship the Venus of Malta, the sleeping goddess of fertility. Mnajdra is probably the most atmospheric of all of Malta's temples, occupying an isolated position overlooking the rocky coastline. We'll walk between the two temple groups along a short, well-laid path before continuing a short distance along a rough country path to the Tal Hamrija coastal 17th-century tower to enjoy breathtaking scenery as the cliffs rise out of the blue Mediterranean Sea.

We'll return to our bus and drive down to the Blue Grotto where we'll have the option of taking a boat trip (weather permitting) to see a series of natural caverns that glow with corals and sea sponges. We'll then spend the afternoon sampling a range of local food specialities. We visit a local producer whose family have been farmers for many years and will take a short walk to the greenhouses to see what is growing now before visiting his wine cellar. Along the way, we'll learn how sun-dried tomatoes and the local wine are produced and then get to sample these along with a selection of other vegetables farmed in the region as well as delicious Maltese bread and olive oil. Stay: Plaza Hotel (or similar) (Comfortable) (B/L)

We'll start today with a short transfer to Malta's Medieval old capital, Mdina, where we'll have a walking tour of the preserved city. Its warren of winding, narrow alleys and fortified walls contain a number of impressive buildings such as the Palazzo Falzon and the cathedral dedicated to the Conversion of Saint Paul. We'll also take time to see Domus Romana (a townhouse usually belonging to Roman dignitaries) and Saint Paul's eerie catacombs (underground). After we visit Mdina, we'll drive to Mosta Dome and San Anton Botanical Gardens, the private residence of the President of Malta Stay: Plaza Hotel (or similar) (Comfortable) (B)

Our trip ends after breakfast this morning at our hotel in Sliema.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Sliema at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Malta International Airport (MLA), which is about a 35-minute drive from our hotel. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Highlights tour of Malta and Gozo exploring these Mediterranean islands
  • Explore Malta's capital of Valetta and its fortifications, churches, Grand Harbour
  • Discover the oldest freestanding structures in the world including the temple of Ggantija

  • Moderate pace tours are ideal if you want a holiday which combines exciting activities and experiences with plenty of time to relax and unwind. Typically you'll be active and busy for part of the day but then also have time to rest and recharge your batteries.

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included

Operator

Explore
 (207) Reviews
Total No. of Adventures329
Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for almost 40 years. The expert team, at home and overseas, works together to create itineraries that leave you feeling that you’ve really explored a destination rather than just visited. You’ll see the highlights, the must-sees, of course. But more you’ll also get away from the beaten track, and get a different perspective on your destination. You’ll get closer to a place, its people and cultures.

Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences.

We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
About Explore!
About Explore!

Launching in 1981, Explore Worldwide offer trips from over 130 countries - from classic small group tours. Read more

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Explore Leaders

Explore's leaders are more than just your typical guide. They're your local expert are are passionate about sharing their expertise with you. Read more

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Where do we Stay?

The places Explore stay are every bit as important as the sights they visit and the things you do. Read more

Trip Reviews (4)

Explore Worldwide Reviews
Reviews 4 Reviews
Average Rating 4.3 out of 5
5 Star
75%
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
25%
1 Star
Fabulous tour 2 , NSW, Australia, May 2024
This tour was a dream from beginning to end. Our guide, Chantelle, was truely inspirational. Chantelle has a comprehensive knowledge of the history of Malta and Gozo. She shared her knowledge clearly and in a way that held our interest. We were so fortunate to be able to hear about the country through the eyes of a local. Thank you so much Chantelle! read more You really made this tour for me.

The program was comprehensive and well paced and it allowed time for us to enjoy the delights of the local foods, and to relax and socialise with the rest of the group. The megalithic temples of Gozo and Malta were astounding and so well preserved. And the tour finished on what was a highlight for me - the old city of Mdina!

The accommodation was comfortable and we had the beach and restaurants close by. Excellent locations. Thanks for a delightful experience.
Malta and Gozo   3 , VIC, Australia, Mar 2024
The trip lasted 7 days. For the first 4 days which included 3 days on Gozo and the 1st day in Malta was an absolute shambles. We were not met from the ferry in Gozo, the guide was too busy talking in the bus with the driver and didn’t notice this very big ferry had docked. One of our group decided to do a car park search after waiting for 3/4 an hour read more and found them ! The guide was not interested and did it because she had to. A very unpleasant experience. Arriving Malta and checked in to our hotel. A guide took us out to dinner but never saw her again. The next day was a public holiday which saw the group waiting in the lobby with no idea who, what or when we were being met. Phone call made to the local office to enquire what were the plans and that person was spoken to in such a condescending manner and the attitude was unbelievable which prompted another of the group to phone and email the head office in UK and made a complaint.

A guide was produced at 10 am who also did not want to be there, our entire ‘tour’ of Valletta took 2 hours only and then we were told to take the local bus home as the tour bus was leaving at 1pm!! After the complaint was made to the UK office, the next 3 days we had marvellous guides and the best driver ever who virtually saved the trip from total disaster. The accommodation was 3 star at best, however, was clean and breakfast provided. The group was made up of people from USA, UK and AUS. We all rubbed along quite well. From this experience, I have also emailed the UK head office with a more detailed description of the total lack of communication and attitude from the local Maltese office. Would I go on another Explore trip…. I would really have to think about it but at the moment, no.
Put Malta and Gozo onto your travel list!   3 , NSW, Australia, Apr 2023
This was a fantastic trip and I could not recommend it highly enough! Good quality hotels, great and varied itinerary with the opportunity to have some free time as well. The highlights included a farm visit and luncheon, a visit to St Johns co-cathedral in Valetta, the coastal scenery and visits to neolithic temples! In addition to those highlights, read more the trip was memorable because of the opportunity to travel with like minded people and to be guided by a wonderful and enthusiastic guide (Lisa). We were also able to enjoy some high quality local seafood. You must put Malta and Gozo on your travel list!
Underated destination. 1 , Australia, Jan 2019
Underated destination. You have to visit Malta. Many thanks to our Tour Guide for making this trip so enjoyable and memorable for us.
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Dates & Pricing USD USD

Saturday 28 Feb 2026 28 Feb 26 Malta
Saturday 07 Mar 2026 07 Mar 26 Sliema
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,930
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Explore. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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