ALLA SCOPERTA DI MALTA - 7 NOTTI

Day 1: ARRIVAL - On arrival at Malta International airport, guests will be met by our Hospitality Team and transferred to the accommodation. Check-in and overnight

Day 2: HALF DAY PUBLIC TOUR (Marsaxlokk and Blue Grotto) - After breakfast, guests will be transferred to Marsaxlokk, situated in the South Eastern Region of Malta. The idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its colourful luzzus and unique character make the unrivalled setting for the local market. This is the perfect place to spend a Sunday morning, where you can rub your shoulders with the locals as you browse through the various stalls. The tour continues with a visit to the Blue Grotto (weather permitting - boat price not included) and the nearby caves. Admire the whole expanse of the blue Mediterranean and the islet of Filfla. Later our guide will help you explore one of Malta’s unspoilt villages. From the main square, the hub of the village with its parish church and band club, you will be led through a maze of winding narrow streets that all have a story to be told. At the end of tour, guests will be transferred back to the hotel. Afternoon, evening and dinner at leisure. Overnight

Day 3: FULL DAY PUBLIC TOUR (Gozo) - After breakfast, guests will be transferred to Cirkewwa, which is in the North of the Island, from where they will board the ferry to Gozo for a full day tour. After a short twenty-minute crossing guests will reach Mgarr harbour, which immediately sets the pace to Gozo’s unique atmosphere. The guide will lead guests around the Megalithic temples of Ggantija, the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, pre-dating the Pyramids of Egypt. This will be followed by visits to the medieval citadel in Victoria, the fjord-like bay at Xlendi and Dwejra. Gozo is well-known for its crafts, particularly handmade lace and knitted garments. Gests cannot fail to be impressed by the island’s lush countryside, its serene atmosphere and how different it is from the larger island of Malta. At the end of the tour, guests will be transferred to the Gozo Harbour for the ferry back to Malta and the transfer to the hotel. Evening and dinner at leisure. Overnight

Day 4: HALF DAY PUBLIC TOUR (Mdina) - After breakfast, guests will be transferred to Mdina, for a half day tour of Malta’s medieval city of Mdina, Malta’s former capital. The narrow, winding streets, dating back to the Arab period, lead to the imposing bastions, commanding a panoramic view of the islands. On the way there, you will discover different styles of architecture, including the medieval Siculo-Norman palaces, and other baroque buildings of great historical importance. Time stands still in this ‘Silent City’ which is a film-maker’s paradise. Leaving Mdina through Greek’s Gate, we proceed to the cliffs at Dingli. The tour ends with a visit to the San Anton botanical gardens situated near the Presidential Palace, which you will be able to admire from outside. At the end of the tour, guests will be transferred back to the hotel. Afternoon, evening, and dinner at leisure. Overnight

Day 5: HALF DAY PUBLIC TOUR (Three Cities) - After breakfast, guests will be transferred to Cospicua, to discover the Grand Harbour area opposite Valletta known as the Three Cities – Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, where the Knights of St. John first settled in 1530. Driving past Cospicua guests will reach Vittoriosa for a walking tour through the narrow streets in the shade of historic buildings, including the first auberges of the various langue's of the Order. At the Vittoriosa waterfront guests will take a typical harbour boat (dghajsa) for a tour of the colourful harbour creeks. From the Senglea Garden, situated at the tip of the peninsula, enjoy a stunning 360° view of the Grand Harbour, including the impressive Fort Sant Angelo from where Grand Master La Valette led the defence of the island during the Great Siege of 1565. At the end of the tour guests will be transferred back to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure and overnight.

Day 6: DAY AT LEISURE to visit and enjoy Valletta, which is Malta’s capital City, a World Heritage site and is nothing short of an open-air museum. It is a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago. Throughout the years, Valletta has welcomed emperors, heads of state, artists and poets and is now the permanent seat at of the Maltese government. Dotted with quaint cafes and wine bars, the city is today one of Malta’s main tourist attractions, hosting among others, the majestic St John’s co-cathedral, the imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. It also provides a stunning snapshot of Malta’s Grand Harbour, often described as the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Overnight

Day 7: HALF DAY PUBLIC TOUR (Temples and Limestone Heritage) - After breakfast, guests will be transferred to Qrendi, for the guided visit of the Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples. The tour starts with a visit to one of Malta’s oldest quarries which has been transformed into an attraction for tourists and locals alike and which provides a vivid account of one of Malta’s leading skills – the use of limestone for building purposes, a skill that goes back thousands of years. The magic of Malta’s antiquity will be explained at Hagar Qim, Malta’s main pre-historic site, overlooking the wide expanse of the blue Mediterranean and the islet of Filfla. From Hagar Qim you will proceed to Wied iz-Zurrieq where (weather permitting - boat price not included) you can take a boat trip to the Blue Grotto, renowned for its crystal clear waters. At the end of the tour, guests will be transferred back to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure and overnight.

Day 8: DEPARTURE - After breakfast and the check out, guests will be transferred to the airport for their flight back home.