The itinerary is filled with walks in beautiful seaside settings
and visits to fascinating historical sites. Keep in mind you don't have
to participate every day. If you would like a more leisurely pace you are free
to take a day off, sit in the sun, dabble your toes in the
Mediterranean, visit museums or explore quaint villages.
Day 1
Transfer from Malta Airport by private bus and by ferry to the
island of Gozo (about 90 minutes). The remainder of the day is free to
relax. Before dinner there will be a welcome briefing by the guides.
Day 2 Choose between
An 8 km walk along the south coast of Gozo with dramatic views and
passing the 17th century Xlendi Tower which was built in 1650 to protect
against pirates, smugglers and quarantine evaders. The Knights
Hospitaller who ruled Malta for two hundred years were accomplished medics and had a strict quarantine policy
and watched carefully for for ships arriving from diseased areas. As
we walk, we see beautiful fossil embedded
limestone formations and our walk ends at the pretty seaside village of Xlendi
where there is usually an ice-cream shop or pastry shop open. Try some
prickly-pear icecream or a pastizza, the traditional Maltese pastry.
OR
A 12 km walk starting from the hotel on the coastal paths in a
remote area of Gozo to the inlet of Mgarr-ix-Xini .Today, the bay is
quiet and pretty but it has a violent history. In 1551 the invading
Turks used this location as a place to load the conquered Gozans and
take them away in slavery. A watch tower, built in 1660,to repel
invaders and to guard knights' galleys, still stands overlooking the
bay.
Day 3
Choose between
A 10 km walk starting at the sanctuary church of Ta Pinu. Dating back to
the 1500's, the shrine of Ta Pinu attracts visitors due to its legend as
a place of miracles. We then head
for the coast via the village of Ghasri. On reaching the coast we see
the beautiful inlet of Ghar il Quamh, fascinating salt pans and weather
sculpted cliffs. The walk ends at the town of Marsalforn which in Roman times
was a major port.
OR
A 12.5 km walk starting at the Ta Pinu
sanctuary church and heading uphill to Ta Ghammer and then to the
village of Gharb with its spectacular basilica then ending at the town
of Marsalforn.Day 4
Choose between
A 9km walk starting from Ramla Beach and along the rugged coastline into
Weid Ilfern and ending at Ta Pinu.
OR
A14 km walk starting at San Blas Garden and then along the northern
coast past Tal Mixta Cave.
Day 5
Free day to explore town of Victoria (Rabat as it is known to the
locals) with its fascinating Citadella. This area is believed to have
been inhabited since the Bronze Age and was an acropolis under
Roman rule. The castle was built in medieval times and changed hands
many times over the centuries. Today it has been restored and contains
four museums; the folklore museum, the old prison, the museum of
archaeology and the nature museum. After exploring the Citadella you can
wander through a street market and a labyrinth of narrow streets.
Perhaps have a
coffee in Independence Square and wander through the public gardens.
Visit galleries that display replicas of Neolithic pottery. See the WWII
bomb shelters and the gunpowder magazine.
Another possible activity is to take a cruise to the Blue Lagoon and see
the uninhabited island of Comino where the spice cumin grows wild.
Another possible excursion is to the lovely Ta Mena Estate where
you find a fruit garden including orange trees, an olive grove, ten
hectares of vineyard and a winery. There are gardens with strawberries
and melons. Strawberry season here last from November to May. Sometimes
there is entertainment with a local folk group playing traditional
Maltese instruments.
Or
just relax at the hotel and perhaps enjoy the indoor pool and spa.
Day 6
Choose between
A 9.5km walk starting at Fungus Rock, In medieval times the rock was
covered in a fungus that was said to have valuable medicinal properties
that were only available to the nobles and carefully guarded to keep
away thieves (later scientific investigation determined that the fungus
had no medicinal value). From here we walk to Dwejra to see the watch tower
built in 1632 and then circle the Inland Sea before heading for
Victoria.
OR
A14.5km walk starting at the village of Munxar and following a dramatic
coastal path to Xlendi. After a spectacular ascent to the cliff tops we
then join the other group walking to Victoria.
Day 7
Choose between
An 11 km walk starting at Qala and following a path to St Anthonys Gun Battery
built in 1731 to guard the channel between Gozo and Comino. We continue
walking in a fertile valley with gardens and wildflowers to Nadur and
back to our hotel.
OR
A 16km walk. We walk the northeast coast with fantastic views, visit St
Anthonys Gun Battery which was constructed in 1770 and armed with canons
to protect the channel between Malta and Gozo. In WW II it was
again used as a watch tower. We continue on to Dahlet Qarrott Beach before returning to
the hotel via Nadur.
Day 8
Transfer by private bus and ferry to the island of Malta and the village
of Mellieha,
Day 9
Choose between
An 8 km walk starting at the pretty seaside village of Mellieha along
the coast and perhaps visiting a nature reserve then past the Red Tower
that was built in 1647 by the Knights Hospitaller and was used for
island defence under both French and British rule. The walk
continues on the coast and ends at Ramla Bay.
OR
A 13 km walk starting at Mellieha, heading for the Selmun Palace and
then along the coast to Xemxija before heading back to Mellieha on what
was once a
Roman road.
Day 10
Our 8 km walk is through Maltese history, Starting at the old
hunting grounds of Buskett Gardens we walk towards the
coast and the Ghar-il-Kbir cave dwellings that is thought to have been
inhabited by troglodytes. There are also mysterious cart ruts that are
unexplained. We reach Rabat in time for lunch and explore 4th century
catacombs and the Museum of Roman antiquities. The day ends at the
silent city of M'dina.
OR
A 13 km walk Starting in the old hunting grounds of Buskett Gardens we
walk towards the coast and the Ghar il-Kbir cave dwellings. We then
descend to the undercliff, reach Ghar Lapsi in time for lunch and then
head through more rugged terrain to the large temple complex of Haggar
Qim. We finish at Wied ir Zurrieq.
Day 11
Free day - Perhaps hop on a time machine and relive the grandeur of
prehistoric Maltese monuments like the Tarxien Tamples, Mnajdra and
Hagar Qim. Believed to be older than the Egyptian pyramids or than
Stonehenge, these brilliant man-made marvels are worth seeing and are
shrounded in mystery. Audio guides are available that will tell you
about the questions that are captivating archaeologists and historians.
Why did the temple-building population disappear and later be replaced
by people with bronze age skills? How could blocks of stone that size be
moved?
If ancient history doesn't interest you there are excursions by boat to
the Blue Grotto, a natural wonder made up of sea-front caves. If visited
in sunny weather, colourful pink, orange, turquoise and green hotspots
can be seen reflecting magically off the water onto the limestone walls
of the caves.
Day 12
Valetta sightseeing
The walking tour introduces you to the highlights of the city with its
UNESCO listed sites plus gives
you time to explore on your own. Visit the Grand Masters Palace built in
the 1600's by the Order of the Knights Hospitallers, the National War
Museum that takes you back through warfare from WWII back to ancient
times, the Sacra Infermia where you can experience medicine as it was
practised in the Middle Ages, the Lascarris War Rooms to see the secret
tunnels where the defence of the island was conducted in WWII, St Johns
Co-Cathedral. At noon we watch the traditional Grand Harbour ceremony
where history is brought to life. For almost 5oo years cannons protected
Malta Harbour and the impressive tradition of firing the cannons at noon
has been maintained. When you are overwhelmed with history you can explore the
narrow streets and sample Maltese food which has been influenced by many
cultures, Sicilian, North African, and French.
Day 13
Choose from
A 9.5 km walk starting in the pretty fishing village of Marsaxlokk and
then crossing the Delimara Peninsula where we observe rock sculptures.
We then head north finishing at the village of Marsascala
OR
A 14.5 km walk Starting at Pretty Bay we head to Marsaxlokk and then
follow the same route as the easier walkers to Marsascala.
Day 14 Choose from
A 9.5 km walk starting at Milleha and heading for the beach at Ghadira
Bay. The walk the continues along the coast to Popeye Village and
Majistral Nature park and the Golden Bay.
OR
A 12 km walk starting at Milleha we go to Ghadira Bay and from there
ascend to the Red Tower. We then descend and follow the same route as
the easier group.
Day 15
Depart - or perhaps stay a few more days?
Click below for further details: |