Holiday to Malta and Gozo
“An eight-day small group tour of Malta and Gozo, two Mediterranean islands that share a bounty of historic, cultural and natural attractions.”
Highlights
Malta | Gozo | Xlendi | Victoria | Ggantija | Calypso’s Cave | Dwejra | Fungus Rock | Ta Pinu Basilica | Valletta Old City | Three Cities | Grand Harbour cruise | Sliema | Hagar Qim | Mnajdra | Blue Grotto | Domus Romana | Mdina | Mosta Dome | San Anton Botanic Gardens |Description of Holiday to Malta and Gozo
Malta might be one of the smallest countries in the world but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in character. A sun-drenched Mediterranean archipelago, Malta also boasts several truly ancient religious landmarks, and no fewer than three UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Valletta and the Neolithic temples of Ggantija.You’ll begin with a ferry transfer to spend a few days on the tiny island of Gozo, where you’ll explore the capital, Victoria, with your tour leader. Nearby highlights include the Ggantija, which pre-dates the pyramids of Egypt; Calypso’s Cave, which some believe is mentioned in Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ and a beautiful red sand beach.
Returning to Malta itself, see the historic glories of Valletta, its architecture and natural harbours, before continuing on to the ‘Three Cities’ of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua, considered the cradle of Maltese history and full of medieval charm.
In Sliema, you will embark on a cruise through the harbor, dockyards and surrounding creeks to appreciate the scale of the fortifications built to protect the city over the centuries, and the following day there’s the option of cruising out into the Med to see the incredible Blue Grotto.
Staying in small, often family-run accommodations and eating predominantly at local restaurants too, this tour allows you to get further than skin-deep into Maltese culture. Another aspect likely to prove particularly attractive to foodies is that you will learn about the production methods behind, and of course taste Maltese bread, olive oil and wine.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
Check dates, prices & availability
Date
Price per adult
Basis
Status
31 Aug 2019
£1499
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
07 Sep 2019
£1575
including UK flights
7 spaces left
14 Sep 2019
£1520
including UK flights
4 spaces left
05 Oct 2019
£1299
including UK flights
Full
12 Oct 2019
£1320
including UK flights
8 spaces left
21 Mar 2020
£1185
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
28 Mar 2020
£1299
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
11 Apr 2020
£1275
including UK flights
Available
18 Apr 2020
£1250
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
16 May 2020
£1299
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
30 May 2020
£1285
including UK flights
Available
05 Sep 2020
£1430
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
12 Sep 2020
£1430
including UK flights
Available
26 Sep 2020
£1430
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
03 Oct 2020
£1350
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
10 Oct 2020
£1350
including UK flights
Departure Guaranteed
Vouchers
Accepted
Holiday type
Small group holidays
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modelled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. If you’re heading off on a gap year your, perhaps – but for those with a two-week holiday, a small group tour will save valuable planning time.
The leaders are not guides – they’re not there to shepherd you around. Instead, they’ll let you know which local restaurant serves great value food – without running the risk of travellers’ tummy. They’ll allow you to avoid hour-long queues at train stations and attractions.
We like to think of small group travel as the Goldilocks option. It is independent travel without the fuss, worry and bunk beds – and organised travel without the coaches. And it’s cheaper than a tailor made tour. It’s sits somewhere in the middle – and we think it’s just about right.
What are the main benefits?
Big experiencesHave big, life-enriching experiences that would be impossible to organise without lots of time and insider knowledge.
Simplicity
Make the most of your holiday time by letting someone else do the hard work and boring logistics!
Peace of mind
Small group tours take care of the security aspects – and provide a safety net should anything unexpected happen.
Who is it ideal for?
Travellers who are short of timeIf you don’t have three months to spend exploring, small groups trips let you cover more ground in less time. Your days are not spent queuing for tickets or finding hotels – so you can squeeze more into your holiday.
Solo travellers who’d like company
Likeminded travel companions plus peace of mind for those travelling alone. Single supplements are usually available – providing privacy if you want it.
Less confident travellers
Stray from the tourist trail without worrying about getting lost, and meet local people without dealing with the language barrier.
Mythbuster
“I won’t get any privacy!”Couples and friends have private rooms, and you can choose to eat alone or not. Single supplements give solo travellers their own room.
“There won’t be any free time”
Free mornings or afternoons let you explore on your own, or just relax.
“The accommodation will be basic”
Trips are as high or low end as you like. Though off the beaten track destinations won’t have luxury hotels, this is all part of the adventure.
“I won’t like the other travellers!”
Tour operators try to create groups with a similar demographic – age, families, activity levels... Chances are, you’ll even make new friends.
“Will we be following an umbrella?”
No.
Meet a local guide
No matter how experienced your group leader, they can never make up for the knowledge gained from a lifetime in the destination. That’s why many of our trips work with local guides around the world – who invite you into their homeland with pleasure.
Responsible tourism
Holiday to Malta and Gozo
Carbon reduction
Your holiday will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO2. Learn about the CO2 emissions of this holiday and how to reduce them.
Environment
Whilst many visitors to Malta never stray far from the beach, this varied trip gives a real insight into the scenic and cultural wonders the Maltese Archipelago has to offer.
We work with a local operator and have a local Tour Leader to escort us who will be able to explain all about the history and culture, as well as local life on the islands. This makes our experience that much richer than travelling independently as we’ll be able to uncover all sorts of aspects of the islands not accessible to most visitors.
In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.
As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. Cool Earth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.
Community
Our trip benefits a wide range of people in the islands, from the small hotels we stay in, to the transport providers, restaurants and other small businesses.
Notable are local crafts such as baking, wine making and olive production that we are more than happy to support! The same goes for Sicily (for those combining the two trips). Our trips operate to a strict responsible tourism policy so that we are sure to minimise our impacts on the places we visit.
5 Reviews of Holiday to Malta and Gozo
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 01 Apr 2019 by Stephanie Hold
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hard to choose, I would have to say discovering beautiful Gozo and having beautiful lunches by the sea.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It can get quite windy, so make sure to bring something to deal with that possibility.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We did go and visit a local farmer, but I got the impression only one of the two hotels were helping a local business. The second one on the island of Malta was
quite standard, and they insisted on changing towels every day (no signs to say how one could avoid doing that). I would also recommend that they invest in
liquid soap dispensers in the bathroom, instead of having individual packets of liquid soap (which can create a lot of garbage).
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A beautiful trip with enough time to visit a lot of what the island has to offer, all while having some alone time if wanted.
Reviewed on 19 Sep 2018 by Mariam Conway
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking through the beautiful Sierra de Arcena.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It's a full on trip, although this is made clear in the trip notes. That suited us down to the ground as we were keen to see and experience as much as possible during our visit.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We travelled with a local (who is clearly passionate about the region); stayed in a small village (thus contributing to its economy); used public transport; and minimised plastic waste by drinking tap water throughout the trip.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic trip that packs lots in and really gives you a feel for the region. I recommend it to anyone who wants to get to know the history and culture of Andalucia.
Reviewed on 31 May 2018 by Rosie Ritchie
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Meeting my fellow travellers and our leader Maria. Loved the neolithic sites too.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring comfy sandals and a pair of trainers. No walking boots required.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We ate at local restaurants and visited various museums.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reviewed on 06 Oct 2018 by Diana Martin
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Valletta boat trip, Palatine Chapel, Mount Etna.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to be on the go most of the time.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Don't know.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Good.
Reviewed on 11 Sep 2018 by Elizabeth Drummond Young
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Time in Gozo - boat trips in Gozo and Harbour cruise in Malta. Visit to farm for lunch.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Sensible shoes and dress for extreme heat and humidity.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Plastic water bottles were everywhere because of Malta's water problem. Not sure that it did beyond any normal tourist benefits.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent guide and good experience.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your feedback. The benefits of choosing this tour is that we work with a local operator and have a local Tour Leader to escort us who will be able to explain all about the history and culture, as well as local life on the islands. This makes our experience that much richer than travelling independently as we’ll be able to uncover all sorts of aspects of the islands not accessible to most visitors. Our trip also benefits a wide range of people in the islands, from the small hotels we stay in, to the transport providers, restaurants and other small businesses.
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