Tour Description

Day One - 5.5/6 hours duration, starting at 0930hrs
Tour to Birgu, Grand Harbour & Valletta

Our tour starts with a visit to the oldest city of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. Here will be visiting old city of Birgu. In 1532 the Knights of St. John first settled in this area and we will give you an insight to an era dominated by the Knights of St. John. Our walking tour will take us to the heart of the city, the narrow streets and quaint alleys known as the 'collacchio', an area of old Palazzo's which were the original Auberges occupied by the Knights. We end our walking tour of Birgu on the stunning waterfront, the very place where the Knights' berthed their magnificent galleys.

We will stop for a light lunch at a local eatery before making our way down to the harbour to board a Dghajsa, a traditional Maltese boat used for centuries taxying people around the Grand Harbour. This boat trip will end on the Valletta shoreline. On arrival in Valletta, we will take the Barraka Lift (elevator) to the upper level of the city, and the magnificent Upper Barraka Gardens.

Note! If you do not want to do the traditional Dghajsa boat trip we can cross the harbour by regular ferry.

Upon our arrival in the gardens, which offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and magnificent fortifications, we will then start our Valletta walking tour. En route, we pass by Castille Palace, Jean de Valette square, Merchants street – housing the Auberge d’Italie and Castellania, and then into St. John’s co-Cathedral for an internal visit. This was the Conventual Church of the Order of St. Johns/Knights of St. John and historically one of the most important buildings built by the Knights. Here you can also admire the Carravaggio masterpiece 'The Beheading of St. John', considered as his most important work south of Rome. We continue along Republic Street, the main commercial hub of the city. Here you can admire more stunning architecture, large open piazza's, the Bibliotheca, Law Courts, and the imposing Grand Masters Palace. Our tour will end in Palace Square, and then we will make our way back to your hotel.


Day Two - 5 hours duration, starting at 0830hrs
Tour to Blue Grotto, Scenic drive via Dingli Cliffs, Mdina Medieval City & Mosta

We start our tour with a visit to the beautiful Wied iz-Zurrieq, famous for the magnificent Blue Grotto. This tiny hamlet sits in a valley and has a very picturesque harbour. You will have some free time to enjoy an optional boat trip to the grotto and neighbouring system of sea caves which are home to brilliant phosphorescent marine life. The sun's rays refract through the arch in the water creating a turquoise blue effect. One can also admire the orange and purple algae which developed just beneath the surface of the water all along the walls of the cave. At least 5 caves are visited on this 25-minute boat trip. (Boats operate weather permitting).

As you travel during the next part of this tour, your guide will explain the importance of the Girgenti Valley. Girgenti is a shaded fertile valley renowned for its orchards and cultivated fields. The eco system here is maquis, so it is green all year round. Citrus and other fruit trees thrive in the valley beneath the surrounding ridge. The old picturesque farmsteads are the homes of the local farming community who still work the fields and cultivate the orchards. On a spur overlooking the valley stands the summer palace of the Inquisitors built by Monsignor Visconti in 1625. Nowadays it is the official residence of our Prime Minister. Our journey via Girgenti will take us the west cost of the island.

Stretching for some 4km along the west coast are the Dingli Cliffs. These cliffs have vertical or near-vertical rock faces rising from the sea to heights of up to 200m above sea level. Some of the steep slopes are terraced and this unique feature together with the expanse of the deep blue Mediterranean sea provide stunning views. Here will stop at the small 18th-century chapel which sits on the cliffs for a superb view and an ideal photo opportunity.

Our tour proceeds to the Medieval city of Mdina. Mdina is a unique city, built in the 9th century, it was built on a plateau in the centre of the island and from the high bastion walls you can admire stunning views of the island. This medieval city is a maze of narrow alleys and magnificent architecture, the only way to appreciate this special city is to stroll through it and admire the living history.

Our final stop is a visit to one of Malta's most famous churches, the Mosta Basilica. Housing a spectacular unsupported dome, the Basilica is also popular with visitors as it was at this church where a World War II bomb pierced the dome, fell inside the church during a service and failed to explode, and thus being hailed by locals as a miracle.


Day Three - 8/9 hours duration, starting at TBA (depending which ferry we use)
Tour to Gozo Island

We travel to Gozo by ferry and the charm of this island is apparent the moment you arrive at the pretty harbour of Mgarr. Greener, more rural and smaller than Malta. Our tour is a combination of scenic spots, historical sites, local culture and food.

We feature most of the main highlights during our tour. The first stop is at Ggantija temples, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be amongst the oldest free standing megalithic monuments in the world dating back over 5500 years. The adjoining visitor's centre boasts artefacts from the temple site and also from the Xaghra Circle (4100BC), studies of samples and results from which are still emerging.

A scenic drive will pass through quaint sleepy villages that characterise Gozo's unique charm. The drive also highlights the north coast. A brief stop at the Calypso Cave Belvedere, offers magnificent views over the red sands of Ramla Bay and the lush fertile valley which leads down to it. The drive takes us to Xwejni bay with its salt pans and the natural feature of Qolla l-Bajda.

We continue on to one of the most photographed sites on Gozo: Dwejra. This is a site of ecological and geological importance. The General's Rock and Inland Sea will be pointed out. One can take an optional boat trip out to the different caves (optional and operates weather permitting).

We proceed to Xlendi Bay for a lunch break. Xlendi is a very picturesque colourful bay, with a small sandy beach and restaurants lining the waterfront.

After lunch we will visit one of Gozo's most prominent sites, 'The Citadel', This small fortified town dominates the heights above Victoria, Gozo's capital. This site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age period. Walking through this historical gem one can admire the medieval layout with interesting features and some excellent examples of domestic medieval architecture, blending with buildings of the Knights of St John. Once at the top, a stunning panorama of the whole island and even Malta's northern coast enfolds.