Essence of Malta and Gozo

(8 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Valletta with Mdina & Rabat, Gozo

This exclusive Malta tour features stays in the dynamic capital city of Valletta and on the scenic island of Gozo, with private touring and exclusive experiences throughout.

Begin in the capital city of Valletta, the perfect base for exploring the highlights of Malta. Positioned between two harbors, Valletta has been at the center of Maltese cultural life for centuries. Its unusually diverse architecture provides a visual palimpsest of Maltese history, with overlapping layers of Arabic, Renaissance, Baroque, neoclassical, modern and contemporary design. With your private guide, explore the city’s alleys, overhung with traditional Maltese enclosed balconies, and learn about Valletta’s many notable buildings, such as the Palace Armoury, the National Library of Malta, the Grand Master’s Palace and more. Also enjoy after-hours access to St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Tour the Upper Barrakka Gardens, visit notable museums such as the Lascaris War Rooms or National Museum of Archaeology, and sample traditional Maltese cuisine.

One day, enjoy a full-day private excursion outside of Valletta. Take a cruise on a traditional Maltese dghajsa boat across Grand Harbour, tour Birgu (Vittoriosa), one of the Three Cities, and visit Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, an ancient necropolis and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the coast, take in the dramatic scenery of the Dingli Cliffs and St. Peter’s Pool, explore the UNESCO-listed megalithic temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra and visit the charming fishing village of Marsaxlokk.

Venture to idyllic Gozo, Malta’s second-largest island, by private motorboat. Cruise along the coasts of Gozo and nearby Comino, a small island known for its beautiful Blue Lagoon. On Gozo, explore highlights such as the imposing Cittadella fortress in the town of Victoria; ancient Roman salt pans along the coast; Ggantija, the largest and oldest megalithic temples in Malta; and the rugged cliffs and inlets of dramatic Dwejra Bay. Also enjoy a private picnic and a wine tasting at a local boutique winery.

Next, tour the highlights of northern and central Malta, including Mdina, an ancient fortified hill town and former capital of Malta. Explore winding medieval alleyways, see the Baroque interiors of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and take a tour of a Maltese noble family’s private palace. Also tour Roman catacombs and browse for upscale glassware in the town of Rabat and explore other notable cultural and scenic sights.

Return to Valletta to enjoy some time at leisure for last-minute shopping and sightseeing.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional activities around Malta such as meetings with local artisans, private tours of local palazzos filled with beautiful interiors, private food and wine touring, decorative arts tours, hiking and biking, World War II touring, private yacht excursions, behind-the-scenes tours and more.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world