Overview
An eight day, self-guided adventure walking in Malta and the island of Gozo, both islands boasting a dramatic duo of cultural and natural heritage. For such a small archipelago, Malta is mega, as you discover on trails that take you to the likes of Dingli and Clay Cliffs or the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hagar Qim on Malta. Then, after taking a ferry to Gozo on day three, the coastal walks lead you to Mġarr ix-Xini and Dwejra Bays, the red sands of Ramla Beach and the island of Comino. Stay in small, locally-owned accommodation with luggage transfers on most days.
Please note that the ferry between Malta and Gozo, and Gozo to Comino are not included in the price of this tour. If you plan to visit Comino, please book your time slot in advance through this link.
- Rabat
- Hagar Qim UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Gozo
- Dwejra Bay
- Comino Island
- Ramla Beach
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Malta
After taking a bus (1h) or taxi (19km) from Malta International Airport to the northern town of Rabat, check in at your accommodation and take some time to explore all the major sights including the impressive Medina fortress, one of the best-preserved walled cities in Europe. Rabat is a historic city with evidence of Roman and Christian heritage and one of its main attractions is the Catacombs of St. Paul, underground tunnels where the saint took refuge during his stay in Malta.
- Accommodation: The Heritage or similar in Rabat
Day 2: Hagar Qim and Dingli Cliff | 8.5km
In the morning, a short transfer takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hagar Qim, a stone complex built between 3,600 and 3,200BC by Neolithic civilisations. Because of the temple’s excellent state of preservation, it is believed that it may have been covered by a stone vault that protected it from the sun and the elements. After the visit, start to walk towards Dingli Cliff along a coastal path and asphalt road. Then ascend through fields and vineyards to the famous Dingli Cliff viewpoint. From here, it’s possible to walk all the way back to Rabat, passing through Buskett area or taking the bus.
- Walking for the day: 8.5km, 3.5h ↑360m ↓290m
- Accommodation: The Heritage or similar in Rabat
Day 3: L-Imġarr- Popeye Village – Gozo | 10km
Start the day with a short transfer to L-Imġarr. Follow a coastal walk to Popeye Village, set of the 1980s Popeye musical, now a village with a theme park offering boat trips and dining options. Along the way, it’s possible to stop for a swim in Għajn Tuffieħa, a beach spot underneath Clay Cliffs. Finishing with a transfer to Cirkewwa, take a ferry to Gozo Island (not included). From here, a short transfer takes you to your accommodation in Għarb.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 4.5h ↑185m ↓260m
- Accommodation: Mood Farmhouse or similar in Għarb
Day 4: Għarb – Dwejra Bay | 10km
The walk from Għarb to the coast (Wied il Għasri) is along a combination of asphalt and secondary country roads, passing by Ta Pinu Abbey. Continue along the coast to Dwejra Bay. We recommend a short boat trip here (payable locally by cash) to visit the grottos. This is also a perfect spot to watch the sun set before taking a bus back to Għarb.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 5h ↑260m ↓360m
- Accommodation: Mood Farmhouse or similar in Għarb
Day 5: Xlendi – Mġarr | 12.5km
You are transferred to Xlendi, where you pick up a rural coastal trail with fantastic clifftop views. In Sannat there is a short section on asphalt road through the village before arriving at Mġarr ix-Xini Bay, perfect for lunch or a swim before taking on the last few kilometres of coast to the port. a nice stop for a swim and lunch just before the last few kilometres along the coast to Mġarr harbour. Once there, take the bus to Victoria, Gozo’s capital.
- Walking for the day: 12.5km, 6h ↑500m ↓500m
- Accommodation: The Duke Boutique Hotel or similar in Victoria
Day 6: Xlendi – Dwejra Bay | 6.5km
Take a short bus ride back to Xlendi and, from there, start a steep ascent to the top of the cliff following a beautiful rural trail. Continue as far as Dwejra Bay and then head back to Victoria by bus.
- Walking for the day: 6.5km, 3h ↑290m ↓280m
- Accommodation: The Duke Boutique Hotel or similar in Victoria
Day 7: Comino Island circular walk or Marsalforn – Ramla Beach | 3-6km
Today is a more relaxed day, with two optional walks to choose from:
Option A: take a bus to Mġarr harbour and board a ferry to Comino, the small, uninhabited island between Malta and Gozo for a short circular walk of the island that takes in the Blue Lagoon. Return to Gozo and take a or taxi back to Victoria. (Please note that during winter months, ferries to Comino are weather dependent.)
Option B: a short walk along the coast from Marsalforn to take in more coastal views including the famous red sands of Ramla Beach.
- Walking for the day: option A – 3km, 2h ↑140m ↓140m. Option B – 6km, 3h ↑100m ↓100m
- Accommodation: The Duke Boutique Hotel or similar in Victoria
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast, or extend your trip.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. The standard rooms in Victoria are with an internal view. Room upgrade is possible with a supplement.
Click to view default hotels
- The Heritage (Rabat)
- B&B Mood Farmhouse (Għarb)
- The Duke Boutique Hotel (Victoria)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate, with daily walking distances ranging between 6-10km and daily maximum elevation gains of between 100-360m. The walks are along rocky coast, uneven footpaths, mule tracks and small asphalt roads. Some sections are quite steep and on loose terrain, trekking shoes are required. The trails sometimes have red markings (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
This trip is available from January to May and from September to December. Temperatures range from highs of 15C in winter to 23C in May, so it’s pleasant throughout all these seasons. However, Malta’s weather is unpredictable in winter, with more rain and wind, so always be prepared with layers. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season. For more information, see our blog, Best time to visit Malta.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Malta International Airport (MLA).
Arrival in Rabat:
- From Malta International Airport, you can take the X3 bus service to Rabat, for more information visit Malta Public Transport.
- Shuttle services to different locations on the island are available at the airport.
- If arriving by ferry to Valletta from Sicily, you can bus number 50 or 53 to Rabat, for more information visit Malta Public Transport.
- Alternatively, you can book a private transfer with us
Departure from Gozo:
- From Gozo take the ferry to Cirkewwa, for times and tickets visit Gozo Channel. From there, the X1 bus service connects the port with the airport. For more information visit Malta Public Transport.
- From Gozo, there are high-speed ferries to Valletta, for times and tickets visit Gozo Highspeed, from there, the X4 bus service connects Valletta with the airport. For more information visit Malta Public Transport.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Transfer from Rabat to Hagar Qim on day two
- Transfer from Rabat to L-Imġarr on day three
- Transfer (with luggage, one piece per person up to 20kg) from Popeye Village to Cirkewwa Harbour on day three
- Transfer (with luggage, one piece per person up to 20kg) from Mġarr harbour (Gozo) to Għarb on day three
- Transfer from Għarb to Wied Il-Għasri on day four
- Transfer (with luggage, one piece per person up to 20kg) from Għarb to Xlendi on day five
- Detailed digital holiday information pack and navigation app, including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the information pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided locally
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Ferry tickets to/from Gozo
- Ferry tickets to/from Comino
- Any public bus tickets
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entry fees (payable locally)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights
- Private transfer from the airport to Rabat
- Printed copy of tour materials
- Upgrade to garden view rooms in Victoria with a supplement and on request
