Tour overview

This 8-day small-group tour explores Malta and its sister island Gozo in depth, from Neolithic temples older than the Pyramids to the Baroque splendour of the Knights of St John. Groups have between 4 and 18 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader throughout and local guides at key sites. You stay seven nights in two comfortable bases: two at the Hotel Calypso on Gozo and five at the Plaza Hotel in Sliema. Breakfast is included daily, with a lunch of local food and wine, and group transfers from the airport run at midday and 4.30pm on the first day.

The trip begins with the ferry to Gozo. After a stop at the little bay of Xlendi, you explore the island's capital, Victoria, with its hilltop Citadel and Old Prison, and visit the Ġgantija temples at Xagħra, among the oldest free-standing structures in the world. At Dwejra you see Gozo's most dramatic coastal scenery before a walk to Xwejni Bay and its salt pans, then the ferry back to Malta.

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In Valletta, built by the Knights of St John in the 16th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a walking tour takes you to St John's Co-Cathedral and the National Museum of Archaeology. Across the Grand Harbour you visit the Three Cities of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua, the cradle of Maltese history, and cruise the harbour by boat.

The clifftop temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, built between around 3600 and 3200 BC, are followed by a tasting of local food and wine. On the last full day you walk through the narrow lanes and fortified walls of Mdina, the medieval former capital, and visit the San Anton Gardens and the great Mosta Dome.

The physical rating is medium, with plenty of walking on uneven ground and steps. This tour suits active travellers who want to understand Malta's remarkable 7,000-year history with a small group. Two nights on Gozo, where many tours spend only a day, give you time to enjoy the island's quieter villages and dramatic coastline, and the small group means you can visit sites at a comfortable pace. For a longer journey, the trip can be extended with eight more days in Sicily.

Trip highlights

  • Victoria's Citadel and the Ġgantija temples (Day 2)
  • Dwejra and the walk to Xwejni Bay (Day 3)
  • Valletta and St John's Co-Cathedral (Day 4)
  • The Three Cities and a Grand Harbour cruise (Day 5)
  • Ħaġar Qim with a food and wine tasting (Day 6)
  • Mdina, San Anton Gardens and the Mosta Dome (Day 7)

Your route

9 stops from Cirkewwa to Mdina

8-day route: Gozo – Victoria – Dwejra – Valletta – Three Cities – Ħaġar Qim – Mdina – Sliema
  1. Cirkewwa Day 1
  2. Gozo (Marsalforn) Days 1–2
  3. Ggantija Temples Day 2
  4. Dwejra Day 3
  5. Sliema Days 3–8
  6. Valletta Day 4
  7. Vittoriosa Day 5
  8. Ħaġar Qim Temples Day 6
  9. Mdina Day 7

Why choose this tour

Two nights on Gozo as well as Malta, with a small group. Malta's prehistoric temples and Baroque cities with expert guides.

Best suited to

  • History and archaeology lovers
  • Active travellers
  • Solo travellers looking for a small group
  • First-time visitors to Malta
Prehistoric stones at the Ġgantija temples

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Malta International Airport to Sliema, Malta

  1. Day 1 · Malta International Airport, Gozo Arrive and ferry to Gozo

    Group transfers at midday or 4.30pm, then the ferry to Gozo.

    Hotel
    Hotel Calypso or similar
  2. Day 2 · Xlendi, Victoria, Ġgantija Victoria and Ġgantija

    Walk Victoria's Citadel and visit the Ġgantija temples.

    Hotel
    Hotel Calypso or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Dwejra, Xwejni Bay, Sliema Dwejra to Malta

    See Dwejra, walk to Xwejni Bay and take the ferry to Malta.

    Hotel
    Plaza Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Valletta, St John's Co-Cathedral Valletta

    A walking tour of Valletta and its cathedral.

    Hotel
    Plaza Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Senglea, Vittoriosa, Grand Harbour The Three Cities

    Explore the Three Cities and cruise the Grand Harbour.

    Hotel
    Plaza Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra Temples and tasting

    Visit the clifftop temples, then a food and wine tasting.

    Hotel
    Plaza Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Mdina, San Anton Gardens, Mosta Mdina

    Walk Mdina, then visit San Anton Gardens and the Mosta Dome.

    Hotel
    Plaza Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Sliema Trip ends in Sliema

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The fortifications of the Citadel in Victoria, Gozo

Where you stay

  • Gozo (2 nights) Hotel Calypso or similar
  • Sliema (5 nights) Plaza Hotel or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 7 nights in comfortable hotels
  • Meals 7 breakfasts and 1 lunch
  • Group airport transfers on Day 1, ferries and transport for sightseeing
  • Victoria Citadel, Old Prison and the Ġgantija temples
  • Dwejra and a coastal walk to Xwejni Bay
  • Valletta, St John's Co-Cathedral and the National Museum of Archaeology
  • The Three Cities, a Grand Harbour cruise, Ħaġar Qim and Mdina
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights to Malta
  • Meals not listed
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a beach holiday — this is a touring trip
  • You want many meals included — most are free to choose
  • You want to sit back on a coach — there is plenty of walking
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Malta and Gozo
Vittoriosa marina in the Three Cities

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,420 per person, twin share, tour only. 32 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Are airport transfers included?

Yes, group transfers from Malta airport on Day 1 at midday and 4.30pm.

How much walking is there?

Plenty, on cobbles, steps and uneven ground at the temple sites.

How old are Malta's temples?

Ġgantija and Ħaġar Qim date from around 3600 to 3200 BC, older than the Pyramids of Giza.

Is the Gozo ferry included?

Yes, both crossings are included.

Can I add Sicily?

Yes, an extended version continues for eight more days in Sicily.

How many people travel together?

Between 4 and 18 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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