Southern Malta
Marsaxlokk and Blue Grotto
Discover the fishing village, its colourful boats and the clear-water coast of Wied iz-Zurrieq.
Complete Malta — History, Heritage and Mediterranean Landscapes
8 days | 7 nights
Availability: Saturday departures, from 27/03/2027 to 25/03/2028
Malta International Airport, Luqa
Malta and the Island of Gozo
Overview
Complete Malta is an 8-day, 7-night cultural circuit through the Maltese archipelago, with a hotel base in Malta and a wide selection of regular excursions to fortified cities, megalithic sites, fishing villages and Mediterranean landscapes.
The itinerary combines walks through historic centres, two Grand Harbour cruises and a ferry crossing to Gozo. Excursions are shared and accompanied by multilingual guides; the language is subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
Operation: Saturday departures from 27 March 2027 to 25 March 2028. Accommodation: 7 nights with breakfast in 4★ or 5★ hotels, according to the selected category. Flights arriving in and departing from Malta are not included in the published price.
Route overview
Travel route
A base in Malta connects overland excursions, Grand Harbour cruises and the ferry crossing to the island of Gozo.
Route: arrival in Luqa → hotel base in Malta → Marsaxlokk and Blue Grotto → Valletta → Mdina, Rabat and Dingli → Three Cities and Grand Harbour cruises → ferry to Gozo → Hagar Qim and Limestone Heritage → departure via Luqa.
- Overland travel
- Sea crossing and boat trip
- Accommodation base in Malta
Memorable experiences
Journey highlights
Historic heritage, Mediterranean landscapes and island traditions on a comprehensive route through Malta and Gozo.
Valletta
Fortifications and Grand Harbour
Walk through the capital of the Knights of St John and admire the harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
Island of Gozo
Ggantija and the Citadel of Victoria
Visit megalithic temples, fortresses and rural landscapes linked to the island’s craft traditions.
Travel profile
Who we recommend this trip for
Especially suitable for travellers interested in history, archaeology, architecture and Mediterranean culture, who value an organised programme with regular excursions and a single hotel base.
- History and archaeology
- Active travellers aged 60+
- First trip to Malta
- Moderate pace
Important: the programme includes walks through historic centres, uneven surfaces, boarding and disembarking. Maritime activities depend on weather and safety conditions.
What's included
- 7 nights’ accommodation in Malta in a 4★ or 5★ hotel in the selected category, with breakfast.
- Shared arrival and departure transfers between Malta International Airport in Luqa and the hotel.
- Regular excursions with a multilingual guide to Marsaxlokk and Blue Grotto, Valletta, Mdina, Rabat and Dingli, the Three Cities, Gozo, Hagar Qim and Limestone Heritage, according to the itinerary.
- The Malta Experience audiovisual show.
- Mini-cruise in a dghajsa through the Grand Harbour creeks.
- Cruise through Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour.
- Two light lunches, excluding drinks: one on the Mdina, Rabat and Dingli excursion and one on the Gozo excursion.
- Value added tax applicable in Malta.
What's not included
- Flights arriving in and departing from Malta, airport taxes and ticketing charges.
- Municipal tourist tax charged by hotels.
- Boat trip to the Blue Grotto, not included and subject to weather conditions.
- Admission to monuments and attractions, unless expressly indicated as included.
- Meals and drinks not mentioned as included.
- Tips, porter service and personal expenses.
- Travel insurance and medical expenses.
- Any service not expressly listed under Inclusions.
Before you travel
Frequently asked questions about this trip
Important information to understand the operation, accommodation and services planned for this itinerary.
When does this itinerary operate?
There are regular Saturday departures between 27/03/2027 and 25/03/2028, according to the dates documented for each category and season.
Are flights included?
No. Flights arriving in and departing from Malta, airport taxes and ticketing charges are not included.
What language do the guides use?
Regular excursions have multilingual guides. The language used is subject to confirmation for each departure.
Are the excursions private?
No. The planned excursions and transfers are shared and may combine travellers with other participants.
Is the Blue Grotto boat trip included?
No. This excursion is optional, must be paid for locally and depends on weather conditions.
Which hotels are used?
Accommodation will be in a 4★ or 5★ hotel, according to the booked category, in a Standard room. The final hotel will be advised approximately 14 days before departure and may be replaced by a similar property in the same category.
Which meals are included?
Seven breakfasts and two light lunches, excluding drinks, are included: one on the Mdina, Rabat and Dingli excursion and one on Gozo.
Can the route change?
The order of visits and direction of the itinerary may change for operational reasons. Maritime activities also depend on weather and safety conditions, preserving the planned programme wherever possible.
What documents are required?
Passport, visa, vaccination and other entry requirements must be reconfirmed before travel according to the traveller’s nationality and current official rules.
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Itinerary
Day 1
Saturday | Arrival in Malta
Arrival at Malta International Airport in Luqa. Reception and shared transfer to the hotel. After settling in, rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Malta. Meals: not included.
Day 2
Sunday | Marsaxlokk and Blue Grotto
Breakfast. Depart for Marsaxlokk, a traditional fishing village known for its colourful Maltese boats called luzzus. On Sundays, the local market creates a particularly lively atmosphere for walking and observing the community’s everyday life.
Continue to Wied iz-Zurrieq, the departure point for the boat trip to the Blue Grotto, renowned for its crystal-clear waters. The boat trip is not included and depends on weather conditions.
Then visit a small Maltese village, exploring the main square, parish church and maze of historic lanes. Return to the hotel.
Accommodation: Malta. Meals: breakfast.
Day 3
Monday | Valletta
Breakfast. Walking tour through Valletta, a fortified city built by the Knights of St John from 1566 onwards and the main expression of their cultural legacy in the archipelago.
Visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens, overlooking the Grand Harbour, and continue to St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Oratory, which house works by Caravaggio. The route continues along Republic Street, passing the Grand Master’s Palace and St George’s Square.
Finish with The Malta Experience audiovisual show, devoted to the history of the islands through the centuries. Return to the hotel.
Accommodation: Malta. Meals: breakfast.
Day 4
Tuesday | Mdina, Rabat and Dingli
Breakfast. Excursion to central Malta, dominated by the medieval fortress of Mdina, the island’s former capital. Walk through the narrow streets of the so-called Silent City, with its Siculo-Norman and Baroque buildings and panoramic views from the bastions.
Leave Mdina through the Greek Gate and visit the Christian catacombs in Rabat. Continue to the Dingli cliffs.
After a light lunch, visit San Anton Gardens near the Presidential Palace, viewed from the outside. Return to the hotel.
Accommodation: Malta. Meals: breakfast and a light lunch, excluding drinks.
Day 5
Wednesday | Three Cities and harbour cruises
Breakfast. Visit the area of the Grand Harbour opposite Valletta, known as the Three Cities: Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, where the Knights of St John settled in 1530.
Walk through Vittoriosa’s historic streets and board a dghajsa, a traditional Maltese boat, for a mini-cruise through the Grand Harbour creeks. From Senglea Gardens, enjoy panoramic views of the harbour and Fort St Angelo.
In the afternoon, cruise through Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour. Afterwards, free time in Sliema’s shopping area, with return scheduled for 6 p.m.
Accommodation: Malta. Meals: breakfast.
Day 6
Thursday | Island of Gozo
Breakfast. Sea crossing of approximately 20 minutes to Mgarr harbour on the island of Gozo.
Visit the megalithic temples of Ggantija, among the world’s oldest monumental structures, followed by the Citadel of Victoria.
Time to discover Gozo’s rural landscape and craft traditions, especially lace and handicrafts. Return to Malta.
Accommodation: Malta. Meals: breakfast and a light lunch, excluding drinks.
Day 7
Friday | Hagar Qim and Limestone Heritage
Breakfast. Visit a former quarry transformed into a cultural attraction devoted to the importance of limestone in Malta’s history and architecture.
Continue to the prehistoric site of Hagar Qim, in an elevated position overlooking the Mediterranean and the islet of Filfla.
Rest of the day at leisure and return to the hotel.
Accommodation: Malta. Meals: breakfast.
Day 8
Saturday | Departure from Malta
Breakfast. At the scheduled time, shared transfer from the hotel to Malta International Airport in Luqa. End of services.
Meals: breakfast.
Prices and hotels
Prices per person
Regular rates per person, in US dollars (USD), for accommodation in a double room. The single supplement must be added to the double-room price. Prices are subject to availability and reconfirmation at the time of booking.
| Category | Season | Double room |
|---|---|---|
| 4★ | Low | US$ 2.231,65 |
| 4★ | Mid | US$ 2.893,71 |
| 4★ | High | US$ 2.960,66 |
| 4★ | Peak | US$ 3.049,93 |
| 5★ | Low | US$ 3.027,61 |
| 5★ | High | US$ 4.043,75 |
| 5★ | Peak | US$ 4.189,56 |
Single-room supplements
Additional charges per person, in US dollars (USD), which must be added to the double-room rate for the same category and season.
| Category | Season | Single supplement (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 4★ | Low | USD 1.383,62 |
| 4★ | Mid | USD 2.045,68 |
| 4★ | High | USD 2.082,88 |
| 4★ | Peak | USD 2.187,02 |
| 5★ | Low | USD 1.800,20 |
| 5★ | High | USD 2.734,52 |
| 5★ | Peak | USD 2.880,32 |
The single supplement is not the total price of single-room accommodation: it must be added to the double-room rate for the same category and season.
Operating dates by category and season
| Category and season | Saturday departures |
|---|---|
| 4★ · High | 27/03/2027; 03, 10, 17 and 24/04/2027; 01, 08, 15, 22 and 29/05/2027; 05 and 12/06/2027; 25/03/2028. |
| 4★ · Peak | 19 and 26/06/2027; 03, 10, 17, 24 and 31/07/2027; 07, 14, 21 and 28/08/2027; 04, 11, 18 and 25/09/2027; 18 and 25/12/2027; 01/01/2028. |
| 4★ · Mid | 02, 09, 16, 23 and 30/10/2027. |
| 4★ · Low | 06, 13, 20 and 27/11/2027; 04 and 11/12/2027; 08, 15, 22 and 29/01/2028; 05, 12, 19 and 26/02/2028; 04, 11 and 18/03/2028. |
| 5★ · High | 27/03/2027; 03, 10, 17 and 24/04/2027; 01, 08, 15, 22 and 29/05/2027; 05/06/2027; 02, 09, 16, 23 and 30/10/2027; 18 and 25/03/2028. |
| 5★ · Peak | 12, 19 and 26/06/2027; 03, 10, 17, 24 and 31/07/2027; 07, 14, 21 and 28/08/2027; 04, 11, 18 and 25/09/2027; 11, 18 and 25/12/2027; 01/01/2028. |
| 5★ · Low | 06, 13, 20 and 27/11/2027; 04/12/2027; 08, 15, 22 and 29/01/2028; 05, 12, 19 and 26/02/2028; 04 and 11/03/2028. |
Planned hotels
Accommodation in Malta for 7 nights in a Standard room, according to the booked category. The final hotel will be advised approximately 14 days before departure and may be replaced by another in the same category.
| Category | Planned hotels or similar | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 4★ | Preluna Hotel Official website ↗ Hotel Juliani Official website ↗ Hotel Vivaldi Official website ↗ or similar |
Standard |
| 5★ | Corinthia Palace Official website ↗ or similar |
Standard |
Confirmation: hotel classification follows local standards. The final hotel will be advised approximately 14 days before departure.