On day 2, follow the north Malta headland often called the island’s “fish tail”. The path undulates over garigue and Aleppo pines, with dramatic sea cliffs and sweeping views across shimmering channels to Comino and Gozo. A salt-laced breeze and the cry of gulls accompany you towards Mellieha’s countryside and the Cirkewwa straits.

Breaks are well-spent at St Agatha’s Red Tower, a 17th-century lookout that once guarded the channels. This landscape tells a story of coastal vigilance and seafaring routes, and the elevated viewpoints invite you to pause for photos and reflection. The route can be lengthened or shortened using your included bus ticket for flexible transfers.

Discover UNESCO-listed Valletta on day 3 with a coastal-cum-city walk that threads beneath honey-coloured bastions and along balconies-lined streets. From the Upper Barrakka Gardens, gaze across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities; time it around noon to hear the Saluting Battery boom over the water.

As you wander by Fort St Elmo and harbour viewpoints, your route reveals how the Knights of St John shaped this compact capital after the Great Siege of 1565. Valletta’s limestone glows in the sun, side streets fall away to the sea, and there’s space to enjoy a free afternoon exploring museums, churches, and quiet cafés perched over Marsamxett Harbour.

On day 4, trace Malta’s south-east coast from Marsascala past the turquoise sweep of St Thomas Bay and the wave-carved Munxar cliffs. Skirt the rocky coves of Delimara Peninsula and detour to the sun-sparkled ledges of St Peter’s Pool, a favourite local swim spot with luminous, clear water.

Continue into Marsaxlokk, the island’s picturesque fishing village where luzzu boats bob beneath painted eyes. If your walk falls on Sunday, the fish market spills along the quay with the scent of the day’s catch, olives, and capers. It’s a scenic finish that blends coastal geology with living maritime tradition.

On day 5, a morning taxi brings you to the terminal for the included Gozo Channel ferry. The crossing sweeps between Malta and Comino, where the Blue Lagoon glows and the stark silhouette of St Mary’s Tower crowns the islet. Glide into Mgarr Harbour and continue by taxi to Victoria, Gozo’s hilltop capital.

As evening falls, take a short orientation stroll through Victoria’s lanes to the fortified Cittadella. From the ramparts, terraced fields and domed churches fan out to the coast, a tranquil panorama that sets the scene for Gozo’s slower tempo. It’s the perfect vantage point to enjoy a free evening planning tomorrow’s walk.

On day 6, strike west across narrow, stone-walled lanes towards Wardija Point, where a Punic-era burial site hints at Gozo’s deep past. Continue to Dwejra Bay, an otherworldly amphitheatre of limestone where Fungus Rock rises from the surf and the Inland Sea laps at fishermen’s sheds.

The Knights once prized the rare plant on Fungus Rock for supposed medicinal powers, and wave action here still sculpts the coast into ledges and pools. Though the Azure Window collapsed in 2017, the setting remains elemental—wind, spray, and stratified rock creating misty mountain passes in stone. It’s a day for cliff-edge vistas and unhurried coastal pauses.

On day 7, begin in Qala and wander to the tiny harbour of Dahlet Qorrot, lined with brightly painted boathouses. Climb gently past groves of lemons and figs towards Isopu Tower, one of Gozo’s coastal watchtowers, with views that sweep over rocky headlands and the channel.

Continue to San Blas Bay, its ochre-coloured sand edged by terraced fields, then ascend to Nadur. If time allows, detour to Ta’ Kenuna Tower for a far-reaching panorama over Gozo’s patchwork valleys. The mellow gradients and varied scenery make this a satisfying finale, with plenty of chances to pause for photos and reflection before your last evening.

On day 5 (afternoon), opt for a serene walk through Gozo’s north-west, threading easy farm tracks and ravine-like wieds to the national shrine of Ta’ Pinu. The neo-Romanesque basilica rises solitary amid fields, a place of devotion associated with reported miracles and pilgrim votives that line the chapels.

Continue towards Gharb, a village of traditional stone houses anchored by a 17th-century baroque church, before skirting the north coast’s salt pans. This optional route uses your included bus ticket and mapping—no additional cost. Simply let your local agent know on tour if you’d like to follow this variant, and set off at your own pace.

Enhance your day 3 in Valletta (or any evening while based in St Julian’s) with a narrated Grand Harbour cruise. Glide past the Houses of the Knights’ auberges, beneath towering bastions, and into the creeks of the Three Cities as the fortress skyline warms to sunset hues.

From the water, the city’s story—from the Great Siege of 1565 to British naval might—unfurls in striking perspective. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour through your local agent, with frequent departures from the Sliema Ferries waterfront.

While exploring Dwejra on day 6, you can join local boatmen for a short Inland Sea boat ride through the limestone tunnel to the open Mediterranean. Emerge beneath cliff walls streaked with fossils and iron-rich hues, as swells echo through sea caves and gulls wheel overhead.

The skippers share anecdotes of fishing and storms, adding a living thread to Dwejra’s storied geology. This add-on is at additional cost and bookable on tour directly at the jetty, weather and sea conditions permitting.

Prefer gentler distances or a later start? On day 2, day 3, day 4 and day 5, your notes include shorter optional routes that keep the spirit of each walk while trimming gradients and mileage. Use your included bus ticket to tailor start or end points and enjoy a free afternoon by the sea or in a village café.

These variations highlight the same core landscapes—coastal cliffs, harbour panoramas, and characterful villages—at an easier pace. They are self-guided alternatives with no additional cost; simply choose the variant in the Headwater app or ask the local agent for pointers on tour.

Ease into Malta on day 1 with a gentle orientation stroll from St Julian’s to Balluta Bay. Trace the seafront promenade where limestone steps meet the Mediterranean, and watch the evening light catch the bay’s ripples. Pause by the elegant Balluta Buildings and the domed Carmelite Church, then continue past café terraces as locals gather for a passeggiata to soak in the lakeside atmosphere.

Along the way, your Tour Notes point out architectural quirks and viewpoints so you can enjoy a free evening confident about the area’s layout. The walk sets the tone for the week: coastal air, warm stone, and a relaxed rhythm that makes St Julian’s an inviting base for your first nights on Malta.