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

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure.

Preferred Hotel Partners: Your choice of hotel category and location x4 Nights
Valletta: La Falconiera 4* / Hotel St. Paul’s 4* /Hotel Phoenicia 5*
St. Julians: Hotel Juliani 4*/ Hotel Golden Tulip Vivaldi 4*/ St George 4* /Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa 5*/ Hotel Westin Dragonara 5* /Hotel Hilton Malta 5*

Depart your 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.

Between visiting all these wonders your guide will give you free time for lunch. We recommend lunch at The Malata Restaurant which overlooks the Palace square (payable locally).

Enjoy a half day tour including the tour of the great Hypogeum, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back 3,500 BC. The Hypogeum is one of the greatest remaining structures from prehistory. When discovered it contained the bodies of over 7,000 people. It is at least three storeys deep, and contains rock-cut features such as a ‘speaking chamber’, trilithons, lintelled doorways, a large cistern and a ‘holy of holies’ surrounded by ’embryonic’ chambers.

Afterwards visit the prehistoric temples of Hagar Qim which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to 3,200 B.C. This temple stands on a hilltop overlooking the sea and the islet of Fifla. The surrounding landscape is typical Mediterranean garigue and spectacular in its starkness and isolation. Also visit Mnajdra Temple, just 500metres away from Hagar Qim. This temple is especially special as the South Temple at Mnajdra is aligned in a manner that it marks the position of sunrise on the first day of each season; the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes and the Summer and Winter Solstices.

Take a 5 minute drive down to the Blue Grotto in Zurrieq where you will take a 30 minute trip on a small fishing boat to visit the structure and surrounding caves (weather permitting). (It’s possible to visit the Tarxien Temples instead of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim)

Depart your hotel this morning for a 30 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 island is only approx. 9miles x 7 miles with a population of less than 30,000. The sensation once in Gozo is as if you have travelled back in time. The Island has a more relaxed and laid back feel.

Your first stop will be in Xaghra for a visit of the Ggantijia (Giant) prehistoric temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples date back to circa 3,500 BC and are considered the oldest man made free standing structures in the World – 1,000 years older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids! Some of the stones used in their construction weigh over 30 tons and were carried for long distances, lifted and placed high up without modern technology. Malta has many prehistoric sites and has been mentioned that the island may have been part of Atlantis!

Afterwards, visit the fortified Citadel situated in the main town of Victoria. Recently restored, the Citadel boasts views of most of the Island and is one of the most interesting sites on Gozo. You will then drive to panoramic Dwerja and where your guide will allow you some time at leisure to soak up the sun and explore the caves and beach. Stop for lunch (payable locally) at one of the quaint seaside restaurants for lunch. Time permitting you can also visit the pretty bay of Xlendi or the seaside town of Marsalforn.

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