Malta & Gozo Walking

Our trip begins at Malta International Airport (MLA) at 4.30pm. If you would like to join this complimentary airport transfer, the latest your flight can arrive is 4pm. We will then drive together as a group for about an hour to catch the ferry to the island of Gozo, followed by a 30-minute drive to our hotel located in Marsalforn. Gozo features more rugged terrain than the main island, is picturesque and has retained much of its traditional rural character with more agriculture.

If your flight arrives earlier, there will be another complimentary transfer from the airport departing at midday. If you would like to join this transfer, please mention while booking, the latest your flight can arrive is 11.30am. Explore will add you onto whichever of these two transfers is best for your flight arrival time. The Tour Leader will conduct the introductory briefing, followed by the opportunity to get better acquainted with your fellow guests over dinner. Stay: Hotel Calypso (Comfortable)

After breakfast this morning we start our exploration of Gozo. Only 15 kilometres/9.30 mile in length and 7 kilometres/4.40 mile wide, it is quick to get around the island and on our drive to the start of today's walk we will stop to visit a couple of places of interest. The island's capital, Victoria is a tiny city named after Queen Victoria in 1887 but locally known as Rabat. The ancient Citadel sits guard over Victoria and has been aptly called the crown of Gozo. A visit to the Citadel is a must and offers a superb view of the whole island with a patchwork of tiny fields.

We start today's walk from Gharb, joining the northern coast around and back to our hotel in Marsalforn. From San Dimitri chapel we follow the coastal footpath towards Wied il- Mielah - a limestone natural arch. At Wied il Ghasri we encounter a secluded inlet with a tiny pebble beach wedged between high cliffs whose clear turquoise waters are popular with divers exploring the surrounding underwater caves. From a cave at the water's edge a shaft has been dug to reach the top of the steep cliffs above. In times gone by ropes and buckets were rigged up so they could pull up sea water to fill the neighbouring saltpans. At Xwejni and Qbajjar Bay you can see many salt pans that are still harvested today in the height of summer. Finally the Marsalforn Valley comes into view and we walk the final stretch back to our hotel. You may fancy a dip in the sea at the end of this rewarding first day.

Today's moderate-graded walk will take approximately 5-6 hours and will cover a distance of 10 kilometres/6.20 mile with a total ascent of 20 metres/66 feet and descent of 140 metres/459 feet. Stay: Hotel Calypso (Comfortable) (B)

We check out of the hotel this morning and your main luggage will be taken directly to the hotel on Malta. Driving south across the island we soon reach Xlendi, a small seaside village where we commence our walk. Following the coastal path on the south on the island we encounter Xlendi Tower. Built in 1650 to keep watch and raise the alarm against the threat of raiding parties, this is the oldest of four surviving watchtowers on Gozo. Proceeding to Sannat village the terrain becomes more rugged with very high cliffs, particularly Sanap Cliffs & Ta` Cenc, and near the village evidence of ancient cultures can be found in the temples, dolmen and ancient cart ruts. The cliffs finally give way to the small but picturesque bay of Mgarr ix-Xini, whose protected waters served as a small harbour for galleys during the rule of the Order. Nowadays it remains perfectly secluded as it cannot be reached by car and the crystal clear waters make it popular with divers. Rounding the final headland, we walk past Fort Chambray - a bastioned fort built in the mid-18th century - before reaching Mgarr Harbour and the end of our walk. We hop on a ferry and cross back to Malta mainland, then drive to our hotel in Sliema, near the capital. Urban development stretches along the coast from the historic capital of Valletta along various bays with busy marinas. A seafront promenade skirts all the way along this coastline and is great for people watching, and the area near our hotel offers many restaurants and bars.

Today's moderate-graded walk will take approximately 5 hours and will cover a distance of 14 kilometres/8.70 mile with a total ascent of 190 metres/623 feet and descent of 160 metres/525 feet. Stay: Plaza Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

After breakfast we drive inland to Mdina - a fine example of an ancient walled city with a mix of medieval and baroque architecture. After a walk around the ancient city we continue to neighbouring Rabat to visit St. Catald`s Catacombs - one of the best-preserved sites of roman and early Christian burial on the island. We drive a short distance to the start of today's shorter walk at Dingli Cliffs which lie on a plateau some 240 metres/787 feet above sea level, one of the highest points of Malta, with sea views over the tiny uninhabited isle of Filfla and a good vantage point over Malta itself. We can see evidence of Bronze Age settlements in Fawwara and Lapsi. Our charter bus drives us the final section to Hagar Qim - an incredible Megalithic temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site. For three millennia, from around 3600 - 3200 BC, the Maltese archipelago was home to a unique, temple-building civilisation and these ancient temples are considered to be mankind's first great architecture. Finally we drive back to our hotel with a stop at the viewpoint above the Blue Grotto.

Today's easy-graded walk will take approximately 4 hours and will cover a distance of 10 kilometres/6.20 mile with a total ascent of 60 metres/197 feet and descent of 200 meter/656 feet. Stay: Plaza Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

The historic Three Cities of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua are considered to be 'the cradle of Maltese history' as settlers, traders and rulers from the Phoenicians to the British all made use of the natural defences and deep harbour here. The Three Cities have retained much of their medieval charm and, while it's possible to spend the whole day exploring, we focus our visit on Vittoriosa where the Knights of the Order of Saint John settled in 1530. After admiring views from the Gardjola Gardens we board a typical 'Dghajsa' boat for a short cruise of the Grand Harbour, crossing to Valletta. Following the Great Siege of 1565 and defeat of the Ottoman invaders, the modern-day capital of Valletta was built on a promontory of land across from the 3 Cities. No expense was spared and the Knights Hospitaller constructed a fine city, mainly Baroque in character, which remained the Order's capital until French invasion in 1798 marked the end of their rule. Officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, we discover the beauty of its palaces, gardens and churches and the rest of the afternoon is left free to explore and visit any museums or sites of personal interest. Stay: Plaza Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

After a short drive we start our walk from Lippija Tower which was built in 1637 on the edge of Wardija Ridge overlooking Gnejna Bay on the North West coast of Malta. The tower has Ghajn Tuffieha and Nadur Towers in its line of sight and we walk in this direction soon reaching Golden Bay. In Majjistral Nature Park we hike through a garigue landscape with aromatic shrubs such as thyme, heath and spurges; one of the few remaining natural habitats of this type in Malta, it appears at first quite barren but is rich in indigenous flora, perhaps best seen in spring bloom. We pass Popeye Village, a purpose-built film set village that is now an attraction park. Crossing the island to Mellieha we make our way to Imgiebah Bay before heading up the valley towards Selmun Palace also known as Selmun Tower, built in the 18th century, where our walk ends. We drive back to our hotel.

Today's moderate-graded walk will take approximately 6 hours and will cover a distance of 16 kilometres/9.90 mile with an ascent and descent of 160 metres/525 feet. Stay: Plaza Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

For our final walk we head to Marsaskala - a sea-side town in the southeast of the island with origins as a fishing village. Our walk starts here and mainly follows the coast that has in parts been beautifully sculpted by the wind and waves. Starting along the promenade towards St. Thomas Bay we head along the limestone cliffs to St. Peter's Pool - a popular natural swimming pool in a scenic inlet with crystal clear waters. Around the Delimara headland we reach the small, traditional fishing village of Marsaxlokk where you can still see some of the old typical fishing 'luzzu' boats alongside modern vessels. From Marsaxlokk Bay we then proceed to the aptly named Pretty Bay, finally reaching the end of the walk in Birzebbuga which means 'well of olives' in the Maltese language and is also a seaside town. We drive back to our hotel and can reflect on our week spent walking on Gozo and Malta over dinner.

Today's moderate-graded walk will take approximately 6 hours and will cover a distance of 15 kilometres/9.30 mile with a total ascent of 80 metres/262 feet and descent of 60 metres/197 feet. Stay: Plaza Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

The trip ends after breakfast in Sliema.

There are no activities planned today, so you are 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 would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Malta International Airport (MLA), which is about 25 minutes' drive from our hotel. (B)