Tour Description

We will be touring the south of the island during this tour starting at the Blue Grotto. This picturesque grotto and its neighbouring system of sea caverns mirror the brilliant phosphorescent colours of underwater flora. Boat trips, which take around 25 minutes allow you to explore these grottoes and sea caverns along this stretch of coast (the boat trip is not included in the overall price as it operates subject to weather conditions, allow €10).

We continue with our tour to the Hagar Qim temple site. Set in a rural area this ancient temple is particularly interesting as it has the largest and heaviest megaliths out of all the temple sites around the Maltese Islands, some slabs weighing a staggering 20 tons. Our guide will unfold the history related to this temple which dates back to 3300BC.

Our next stop includes a visit to Marsaxlokk. This quaint fishing village on the south coast is characterized by low lying buildings and the colourful traditional fishing boats known as the 'luzzu'. A small local market lines the seafront and for those that enjoy fresh fish, there are plenty of good quality restaurants to choose from. You will have free time for lunch.

In the afternoon we continue with our tour and our first stop includes a visit to Tarxien. Tarxien was the first temple site to be excavated scientifically and it offers a unique collection of circa. 3000 BC sanctuaries. Stone idols and tablets, domestic animals carved in relief, altars and screens decorated with spiral designs and other patterns, oracular chambers and riches enhance the attractions of these temples.

Our next stop is at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum. This unique ancient underground monument is 12 metres below street level. It consists of a network of passages, chambers and caves cut on three levels, similar to the interior of a megalithic temple. The most impressive part of the temple is the "Holy of Holies" and one of the most important prehistoric masterpieces known as the "Sleeping Lady" was also found here.

Our tour continues to Ghar Dalam. The Ghar Dalam Cave is a highly important site as it was here that the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta dating back 7,000 years, was discovered. This huge cavern is 144 metres deep, but only the first 80 metres are open to visitors. The different layers contained the fossil bones of dwarf elephants, hippopotami, red deer, fox, wolf, micro-mammals and birds which date back to the Pleistocene Age (180,000 years ago) and the end of the last Ice Age(16,000 years ago). Our tour ends here and we make our way back.

PLEASE NOTE
Full day Megalithic Temples tour is not available during July & August due to the intense heat. A half day/4 hour is possible mornings only.