Upon arrival into Valletta Airport you will be met at the Arrivals Hall and will then be privately transferred to your hotel 15 minute journey.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to relax by the hotel pool, or stroll into town and the waterfront.

Preferred Valletta Hotel Partners: Your choice of hotel category x2 nights
La Falconiera 4* / Hotel’s St. Paul’s 4*/ The Phoenicia Hotel 5*

Walk out of your historical hotel this morning to enjoy a privately guided tour of Valletta. Valletta is the capital city of the island, located half way down the northern coastline. It was designed to be a fortress for the Knights of St John and built from scratch in the 16th century. Today it is a thriving and beautiful city, offering magnificent buildings, glorious views and architectural evidence of the different eras in its history. Latterly, the entrance to the city has been entirely re-designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano.

The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only capital city in the world to have this honour. The jewel in the crown is the fabulous church of the Knights, today known as St John’s Co-Cathedral, which offers unsurpassed craftsmanship and stunning artworks of every type including two fine works of art by Caravaggio. The floor contains 369 inlaid marble tombstones of the Knights, and is often described as the most beautiful floor in the world.

Visit the Grand Master’s Palace and the State rooms which housed the administrative center of Malta for almost three and a half centuries. Originally the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of St John, today it is home to the office of the President of the Republic of Malta. The palace is built around two courtyards and is home to an array of magnificent halls displaying many artefacts and portraits of the Grand Masters of the Order of The Order of the Knights of St. John. Inside also discover the famous Council Chamber home to a rare collection of exotic French-woven Gobelin tapestries depicting hunting scenes from different continents. Despite being almost 300 years old, these tapestries have been perfectly preserved over the years.

Another unmissable sight is the Upper Barrakka Garden which boasts a beautiful panoramic view of the famous Grand Harbour, one of the largest natural and most picturesque harbours in the Mediterranean and scene of the Great Siege of 1565.

Enjoy a 5 minute ferry from Marsaxett Harbour across to the bustling town of Sliema. From Sliema Harbour to catch the afternoon harbour cruise of The Grand Harbour of Valletta and the surrounding creeks. One can really appreciate the bastions and fortifications surrounding the coastline of the harbour.

Between visiting all these wonders your guide will give you free time for lunch.

While in Malta, you will visit one of the country’s main attractions, Popeye Village, the film set of the 1980 musical production Popeye. The film set was constructed in Anchor Bay during the last 7 months of 1979.  To construct this authentic wooden village, tree trunk logs were trailered overland from Holland, and wood shingles, used in the construction of the roof tops, were imported all the way from Canada.

A 165 international construction crew consumed eight tons of nails and two thousand gallons of paint to finish off this massive Set.  No less than 20 wooden structures had to be built. Before construction could begin, an access road leading to the Set had to be constructed. Also, Anchor Bay needed a 200-250 foot Breakwater at its mouth, to protect the Set from high seas during the shooting months of the Film Production. Filming commenced on the 23rd of January, 1980.

Once you walk into this captivating, over 30 year old village, you will be greeted and Popeye the sailor and his friends, who will be your hosts and entertain you all trough out your visit. The whole family can be part of a unique filming experience with the animation crew and giving you the opportunity to see yourself on the big screen.

One can enjoy a number of other attractions including the ever so popular Santa’s toy town; a unique attraction of its sort in Malta where you can get a glimpse of Santa’s elves preparing toys for the festive season, boat rides, water trampolines, sun bathing decks, beach lido, silver smith demonstrations, food outlets and a winery offering free wine tasting. Children can have a blast in Malta’s largest jump around found at the upper part of the complex.

After your tour, you will be privately transferred to your hotel in St. Julians.

Preferred St. Julians Hotel Partners: Your choice of hotel x3 nights
Hotel Juliani 4*/ Hotel Golden Tulip Vivaldi 4*/ St George 4*
Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa 5*/ Hotel Westin Dragonara 5* /Hotel Hilton Malta 5*

Pippa Mattei is a cook, food writer and teacher. For 35 years her kitchen has been a place where she has shared many meals with friends and those passionate about food and learning about it.

Pippa has written several cookbooks, namely bestselling ‘25 Years in a Maltese Kitchen,’ and ‘Pippa’s Festa’ which won an International award with GOURMAND in Paris. She has featured on American Life TV, and on Greek and Gibraltarian television and was a guest chef on a weekly local prime viewing television show.

Pippa Mattei hosts lunch for her guests in her Mediterranean garden, weather permitting and failing that in her dining room and her state of the art kitchen, overlooking the garden. Pippa and her husband John will prepare a typical Maltese/Mediterranean lunch using local and seasonal ingredients which are sourced from local markets. The meal will be accompanied by the best Maltese wine from the nearby wine estate, and will finish with coffee and Pippa’s homemade mandarin or lemon liquor.

Held throughout the year, except in August, Pippa shares and instructs on various types of cuisine, always with the use of the freshest Maltese ingredients, to all levels of students. Lessons held in the late morning end with coffee and dessert, or lunch. Pippa also accompanies her clients to local markets, since it is a Tuesday it will be the Farmers’ Market.

Today you will be transferred by private vehicle to the Mediterraneo Marine Park. The Park is a great way for adults and children to understand more about the marine life and its inhabitants through edutainment. Spend a fantastic and unforgettable day at the Marine Park in Malta where you can swim with dolphins, see sea lions, exotic birds, reptiles and more.

As Malta’s only marine park, The ‘Mediterraneo’ is a leading island attraction with tourists and locals alike. Boasting an enviable coastal location, the park promotes interactive participation with a varied selection of marine mammals including dolphins and sea lions; parrots and reptiles. Part of the Costa Edutainment group (since July 2012), The Mediterraneo Marine Park advocates animal welfare through an interactive learning environment inspired by their motto “Education, Emotion and FUN”. Visitors may participate in various animal interaction programmes which provide superb entertainment whilst increasing awareness and conservation responsibilities.

The park has three main programmes which are held daily: The Dolphin Presentation, The Sea Lion Presentation and the Parrot Presentation. All of these presentations offer an amazing experience to aid a better understanding of the animals and an appreciation of their individual characteristics.

The highlight of any visit to The Mediterraneo Marine Park has to be the Dolphin SWIM programme – a truly unique and once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed! Some of the other species that visitors can also expect to see include green wing Macaw, Amazons, Snakes, Tortoises, Turtles, Frogs, Toads, Spiders, Scorpions and Lizards.

Depart your hotel this morning for a 45 minute drive along the scenic coastal road to the port of Cirkewwa to board the ferry to Gozo. After a 30 minute ferry ride you will arrive at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.

The day is at your leisure to enjoy the facilities at your hotel.

Preferred Gozo Hotel Partners: Your choice of hotel x2 nights
Cornucopia hotel 4*/ Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Malta 5*

Today you will visit the island of Gozo on board of a jeep. Get comfortable in your vehicle and set off to discover the beauty and legends of the island. See and photograph spectacular scenery like Calypso Cave, Marsalforn Bay, Xweijni Salt Pans and Sannap Cliffs.

Swim at Ramla Bay, taste local products at Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village, and stop at the Bronze Age Ggantija Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the capital city of Victoria with its towering Citadel, and savour a local lunch.

Return to your hotel in the afternoon.

Today you will be met at your hotel by your English-speaking driver and privately transferred to Valetta airport for your departure flight.