Valletta and the Hidden Gems of Malta

Today you fly to Malta. On arrival, we'll transfer to your hotel. A welcome meeting followed by dinner at the hotel, offers a chance to get to know your Holiday Director and travelling companions.

Today's tour of Valletta will unfold the history of this magnificent city which was built by the Knights of St John during the 16th and 17th centuries. Valletta is often referred to as 'one big open air museum', and this is evident as you start to explore and discover something different around every corner. Our walking tour of Valletta includes the Upper Barraka Gardens, which offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and its magnificent fortifications. You'll also enjoy the amazing experience of the saluting battery, which is fired every day at noon. A talk by enthusiastic, costumed guides who explain how the cannon is loaded and fired is not to be missed, and visitors may even get to help load the cannon. Walking down the main street lets us also admire numerous historical buildings built by the Knights of St John including the Auberges, Palazzos and St John's Co-Cathedral – home to Caravaggio's masterpiece 'Beheading of St John' amongst other treasures.

Today's tour takes us to the picturesque town of Naxxar, home to Palazzo Parisio. Touring this 18th century stately home offers a great insight to Malta's historic nobility and their enchanting way of life. We will also visit Mdina, Malta's ancient capital that sits majestically on the hilltop at the centre of the island and which is considered to be one of the jewels of Malta. This ancient walled city is one of the best examples of medieval fortifications, and the quiet, narrow streets are full of atmosphere and are great for exploring. The city provides some magnificent views of the entire Maltese landscape. A light snack is included in this tour where you will taste the delicious 'Pastizzi', a traditional savoury pastry. And then, to round off our Historical visits, we will stop in at the city of Mosta, home to the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, that boasts one of the largest unsupported dome roofs in the world. A small stop at The Buskett Gardens will be made along the way, which is located in the fertile valley of Wied il-Luq, Siggiewi.

After a free day to explore and relax at your leisure, we head out for an evening of folklore dancing & dinner, featuring six dancers who lure you into a jovial story of Maltese history told through dance. At some point, you may be hand-picked to join them on the dancefloor - a truly unforgettable night!

Our first stop on today's tour includes a visit to Wied iz-Zurrieq (Valley of Zurrieq) and a visit to the Blue Grotto. Further on, we will arrive into the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk, characterised by its low lying buildings and colourful traditional fishing boats known as 'luzzu'. Today's lunch is in Dingli, where you'll have a unique opportunity to be guests at a restaurant of the Diar Il-Bniet Estate, a third generation family-run agrifarm of 600 acres. On the way home, we will be visiting the San Anton Botanical Garden near the presidential palace before heading back to the hotel.

Today is free for you to explore at your leisure. Alternatively, there is an optional excursion available. In the morning, we'll travel to Cirkewwa in the north of Malta where you'll board a ferry for a short crossing to the island of Gozo. You'll notice that Gozo is much greener than Malta and has certain differing characteristics. On arrival, we will be met by a Local Guide and start our tour that includes a visit to shrine of Ta' Pinu. This important church is set in a stunning location on the edge of a ridge in open countryside, and provides beautiful views of the surrounding area. Another stop is the area known as 'Dewjra'. Here, you'll explore interesting geological sites including Dwejra Bay and the Inland Sea – a lagoon of seawater accessible to the open sea via a small tunnel through the cliff. Another of Dwejra's geological delights is the Admiral's Rock or as it is better known, Fungus Rock, a special plant is said to grow here which has various medical cures. We will be stopping off along the journey for lunch and to spend time wandering through the Craft villages on the island. where you can view local handmade pottery, mouth-blown glass, Gozo lace and silver filigree. Ideal if you want to pick up a souvenir. There will be a short walk through the busy little city of Victoria, known locally as Rabat and the Cittadellla - a small walled city within the city, where only a small number of families still live. Upon return to the ferry port of Gozo, we will pass through some small villages, and if time allows, stop at Qala Belvedere where there is an amazing scenic view of the landscape cascading down to the coast, with the smallest island of Comino in the distance. Our tour will then head back to the ferry for our return to Malta and transfer back to the hotel.

Today choose to enjoy the hotel facilities or why not join our optional excursion to The Three Cities of Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa, located to the south of Valletta, which form part of the magnificent Grand Harbour.

Today we'll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.