Cultural Treasures of Malta & Gozo

Arrive in Malta and transfer to the Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana, a few minutes' walk from the centre of Valletta, Malta's picturesque capital city. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the hotel or begin discovering the city. Valletta is dotted with restaurants, cafes and bars, so in the evening, make sure you head out for dinner at one of the characterful eateries in the city's old town.

Stay: Phoenicia, Floriana

Spend this morning exploring Valletta with your guide as you visit Barraka Gardens, where you'll find magnificent views of the Grand Harbour and city fortifications. Next, take a walk along Triq Repubblika to admire the many historical buildings that include the Grand Master's Palace and St John's Co-Cathedral, a baroque masterpiece that houses a treasure trove of art works, including the beheading of St John the Baptist by Caravaggio.

Todays touring also includes Mdina, an ancient city with a spectacular location built on a plateau in the centre of the island that was Malta's capital until Valletta was built in 1565. You'll spend some time here before heading to Birgu, the oldest city of the Grand Harbour. A walking tour will allow you to discover some of Birgu's many sites including its multitude of narrow lanes and quaint alleys known as the "Collachio". At the end of the tour you'll have the chance to explore the harbour aboard a Dghajsa, a type of traditional gondola (not included)

Stay: Phoenicia, Floriana

Breakfast included

After breakfast at your hotel you'll embark on a full day touring some of southern Malta's main attractions, starting at the Blue Grotto and its neighbouring system of sea caverns before heading to Hagar Qim temple site, which dates back to 3300BC and is home to the island's most impressive megaliths with some slabs weighing as much as 20 tonnes. You'll then move on to the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk and the temple site at Tarxien.

Subject to pre booking, the next stop on the tour will be the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, an ancient underground monument consisting of a network of passages, chambers and caves, the most important part of which is the Holy of Holies and one of the most significant prehistoric masterpieces known as the Sleeping Lady.

Your tour finishes at the Ghar Dalam Cave, a 144 metre-deep cavern, some of which dates back 500,000 years and contains the fossilised remains of dwarf elephants, micro-mammals and birds.

Stay: Phoenicia, Floriana

Breakfast included

Today you'll take a 25-minute ferry crossing to the small island of Gozo. This charming island, located off Malta's north-west coast boasts a number of historic and scenic highlights including the oldest free-standing temples in the world, known as the Ggantija Temples. You'll also visit the stunning Calypso Cave that affords magnificent views across the red sands of Ramla Bay.

In the afternoon you'll visit the beautiful Inland Sea, before heading to the main town of Victoria and its impressive citadel from where you can see the whole island.

Stay: Phoenicia, Floriana

Breakfast included

Spend two days at your leisure, further exploring the island and relaxing at your hotel

Stay: Phoenicia, Floriana

Breakfast included

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board your flight home.

Breakfast included