MALTA
8 DAYS
LAND ONLY

For travel agents and companions

Departs every Saturday 2024

Saturday    Arrive Malta  
WELCOME TO MALTA !!!  
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
     Overnight PRELUNA HOTEL, Sliema                

Sunday     MARSAXLOKK / BLUE GROTTO
The idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its colorful luzzus and unique character make the setting unrivaled for the local market.  This is the perfect place to spend a Sunday morning, where you can rub shoulders with the locals as your browse through the various stalls. 

Continue our tour 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 unspoiled 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 narrow streets that all have a story to be told. (b)
       Overnight PRELUNA HOTEL, Sliema

Monday     VALLETTA - Half day (Afternoon: from October to June Morning: from July to September)
Our guided tour through the vibrant streets of Valletta will allow you to discover the beauty and charm of the fortified city built by the Knights in 1566.  The Order of St John ruled over the islands for 268 years and left a unique cultural legacy of which Valletta is the prime example. 

 Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Grand Harbour from the upper Barrakka gardens. 

Then visit St John’s co-cathedral, including the Caravaggio masterpieces in the Oratory, the Flemish tapestries and the church museum. The co-cathedral houses one of the most beautiful marble inlaid floors in the world. 

Going down Republic street you will walk past the Grand Master’s Palace and the recently restored St George’s Square before watching the Malta Experience, an audio visual show where Malta’s history through the centuries is brought back to life. (b)
          Overnight PRELUNA HOTEL, Sliema

Tuesday     MDINA   Full day including lunch
Today’s excursion takes us to the central part of Malta denominated by the medieval fortified city of Mdina, Malta’s former capital city.  The narrow winding streets, dating back to medieval times, lead to the imposing bastions, commanding a magnificent panorama of the island.

On the way there, you will discover different styles of architecture, including 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, stop at the early Christian catacombs in Rabat before proceeding to the cliffs at Dingli.

After lunch, you will visit the San Anton botanical gardens situated near the Presidential Palace which you will be able to admire from outside.  You will also spend time at the crafts centre at Ta’ qali.

 At the end of the tour, view Mosta’s majestic dome, which is one of Europe’s largest. (b,l)    
        Overnight PRELUNA HOTEL, Sliema

 Wednesday   THREE CITIES - Half day
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, reach Vittoriosa for a walking tour through the narrow streets in the shade of the historic buildings, including the first aubergines of the various languages of the Order.   At the Vittoriosa waterfront, you will take a typical harbor boat (dghajsa) for a tour of the colorful harbor creeks. 

From the Senglea garden, situated at the tip of the peninsula, enjoy a stunning 360 degrees view of the Grand Harbour including the impressive Fort Sant Angelo from where Grand Master La Valette led the defense of the island during the Great Siege of 1565.

The rest of the day at leisure.

OPTIONAL Afternoon Harbor cruise - to be booked with a local agent
This boat trip will discover the beauty of Valletta’s two natural harbors; Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour.  Both have played a vital role in Malta’s history.

Seen from the sea, Valletta appears in all its grandeur, providing photographers with the best opportunity for original pictures.

After the cruise you will have time to stroll along Sliema’s main shopping area, where you can also relax in one of the many cafés. 
          Overnight PRELUNA HOTEL, Sliema

Thursday   GOZO     Full day including lunch
After a twenty-minute ferry crossing you will reach Mgarr harbor which immediately sets the pace to Gozo’s unique atmosphere.

Your guide will lead you 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, and the fjord-like bay at Xlendi.

Gozo is well known for its crafts, particularly handmade lace and knitted garments.  Visitors 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.

Return to Sliema. (b,l)  
       Overnight PRELUNA HOTEL, Sliema        

Friday    LIMESTONE HERITAGE and HAGEAR QIM TEMPLE - Half day
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.

Afternoon at leisure.
     Overnight PRELUNA HOTEL, Sliema

Saturday     Malta / departure
Transfer to airport for departure.

INCLUSIVE FEATURES
- All transfers
- Sightseeing by multilingual motor coach day trips
- Four-star hotel (or similar), standard room as per itinerary
- Daily breakfast and two lunches
- All taxes and service charges

COSTS PER PERSON - LAND ONLY 
Based on double occupancy
2024 - low season
Travel agent rate from $ 950.00 (US)
Companion rate from $1050.00 (US)

UPGRADE standard room to Sea View room with balcony available

NOTE: You will be traveling with regular passengers, but paying travel agent rates
EXTENSIONS and UPGRADES AVAILABLE