The Maltese Islands: Positively Mythic

Malta’s countryside is strewn with megalithic temples, which pre-date the pyramids of Egypt and are believed to have been built to venerate the Great Mother Goddess. Discover Malta’s intriguing ancient past as we explore local lore, Homeric epics, ancient temples, and a Roman villa. Meander narrow streets of villages and medieval citadels crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces, which tell of Malta’s fascinating history from the Fatimid conquest & the rule of the Knights of St. John to British colonial times.

This tour begins and ends at Malta International Airport (MLA)
Join us on this exclusive journey, limited to 10 participants, with a private visit to the Hypogeum.

Dates 7-14 September 2023
Tour Price: $3799*
Price is per person based on double occupancy, for reservations received by 10 April 2023.  After this date add $100 per person.
Single Supplement: $1100 or NO single supplement if you prefer to share accommodations with another solo traveler.

ROOMMATES ARRANGED FOR SOLO TRAVELERS WISHING TO SHARE ACCOMMODATIONS

Malta travel itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival at the Malta International Airport in Valletta

Upon arrival at Valetta Airport (MLA) you will be met by your WanderWoman® tour escort and transferred to our hotel, a Maltese 5-star property with views of the harbor, located just outside the city walls of Valletta and within walking distance to points of interest and wonderful local restaurants. After an opportunity to rest and freshen up, we will venture out with our local guide for an introduction to Maltese cuisine & culture and to get acquainted with fellow travelers. Travel by boat, aboard a ‘Dghajsa’, a small traditional Maltese boat, across the harbor to Vittoriosa. At the tip of this city is the oldest fortification on the Island, Fort St. Angelo. A walking tour of the city brings us through narrow streets with typical Maltese houses, band clubs, and churches that make up this ‘Victorious’ city. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2: Walking Tour of Valletta

Explore Valletta, Malta’s capital city, founded by the Knights of St. John Order of Malta in 1566.  At the National Archaeological Museum you will learn about   Malta’s prehistoric past. Here we find the famed “Sleeping Goddess” figurine dating back 5,000 years. Enjoy views of the harbor from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.  Tour St. John’s Cathedral, where the floor is paved with marble slabs, each the tomb of a knight, bearing his coat of arms in intricate inlay and visit the Cathedral’s Oratory to view Caravaggio’s masterpiece “The Beheading of St. John.”  Next to the Grand Master’s Palace, once the headquarters of the Order of St. John, as well as the formal court of the Grand Master.  Plaques and paintings, decoration and furnishings give us a glimpse into the history of the Order, British colonial rule, and the Republic of Malta.  Enjoy lunch at one of Valletta’s lively piazzas. Afternoon at leisure to rest or to explore. (B, L)

Day 3: Unveiling Malta’s Neolithic Temples

The prehistoric temples of the islands of Malta are the oldest man-made freestanding stone structures in the world and are listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  Many of these megalithic temples and Malta’s subterranean complexes pre-date the Great Pyramid of Giza by 1000 years!  Scholars believe Malta’s temple complexes to have been built as sanctuaries for the worship of an ancient Great Mother Goddess.

We begin our exploration of these fascinating temple sites with an exclusive private visit (limited to 10 people) to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum. This unique subterranean complex has been given an individual UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.   It consists of three levels, the oldest of which dates to 3600 BCE. Originally the site was a sanctuary, perhaps an oracle, then it appears to have been transformed into an ossuary, as is evident by the remains of more than 7,000 individuals discovered during excavation. Next we will walk to the nearby Tarxien Temple Complex.  This freestanding megalithic temple was built between 3000 and 2500 BCE.  It is known for its elaborate spiral carvings, which resemble those at New Grange in Ireland (3100 to 2900 BCE). After lunch at a typical village restaurant, visit the Hagar Qim Temples on the southern coast. These temples were built around the fourth millennium. Less than 1km downhill from the Hagar Qim Temples lie the Mnajdra Temples. Thanks to its good state of preservation and spectacular location, the Mnajdra is the most atmospheric of Malta’s many ancient sites and consists of three temples that radiate from an oval forecourt.  (B, L)

Day 4: Gozo’s Ancient Past

Morning transfer to Cirkewwa from where we travel by ferry (approx 20 minutes) to Gozo harbor. Gozo is an island rich with myths, folklore, and traditional crafts.

We begin our adventure on Gozo with a tour of the Ggantija Temples, which consist of two megalithic temples surrounded by a massive common boundary wall and dating to between 3600 and 3200 BCE. Archaeologists believe the temples to have been the site of a fertility cult.  According to local folklore, these temples were constructed by a giantess as places of worship. Next visit the site of “Calyso’s Cave.” This cave is alleged to be the cave referred to by Homer in “The Odyssey” and Gozo to be the island of Ogygia where the beautiful nymph Calypso kept Odysseus as a “prisoner of love” for seven years. Drive to the sweet coastal town of  Xlendi and check in at our hotel overlooking the sea. Enjoy an optional late afternoon hike with our local guide.  (B)

Day 5: Jeep Safari and Wine Tasting

Discover hidden Gozo by 4 x 4 Jeeps and explore places which are even unknown to the people of Gozo themselves.  Highlights of places to be visited include the capital city Victoria with its walled city citadel, driving dirt roads through small towns, and the Salt Pans.

We will have lunch and a wine-tasting at a local restaurant specializing in fresh local products such as ‘Gbejniet’, Gozitan cheeslets. After lunch enjoy a fun demonstration on  how to prepare the Gozitan ‘Gbejniet’. (B, L)

Day 6: Medieval Mdina, the First Capital of Malta

Morning transfer to the ferry and back to the island of Malta and to her first capital city, Mdina. Our hotel is 5-star boutique property, which was built in the 17th Century as a residence for the noble family Moscati Parisio.  After a chance to have lunch, we will tour this beautifully preserved fortified medieval city on foot with our local guide. Just outside the city walls in Rabat, visit the Catacombs of St Paul, where we find Christian, Jewish and pagan burials side by side. Evening at leisure. (B)

Day 7 : Explore the Southern Coast

Enjoy a morning hike along the island’s dramatic western coast along the Dingli cliffs perched 250 meters above the sea. Our hiking route offers stunning views of the sea and panoramic vistas of Malta as we walk through fields of wildflowers and small farms. We’ll stop in a small village to purchase lunch before returning to our hotel. In the evening, we will gather for a farewell gala dinner at one the island’s finest restaurants. (B, D)

Day 8: Bid Farewell to Malta

After breakfast transfer to the airport (B)