Day 4 unfolds with a steady climb above Xemxija to survey St Paul’s Bay, before descending to the jade arc of Mistra Bay. Follow the shoreline to the breezy Selmun headland, where terraced fields and thyme-dotted paths lead to panoramic viewpoints over the St Paul’s Islands.

History punctuates the route: the 18th-century Mistra Battery watches the bay, while Selmun Palace, once a hunting lodge, presides over open countryside. Tradition holds that St Paul was shipwrecked on the nearby islets in AD 60, a story echoed in the parish statues and coastal chapels you pass. Expect a tranquil afternoon of scenic viewing and photography along the peninsula.

On day 5, trace a self-guided circuit through Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage city. From the Upper Barrakka Gardens, watch the Grand Harbour and Saluting Battery, then wander past the austere auberges of the Knights and down Strait Street, once Valletta’s bohemian nightlife lane. Pause for photos and reflection at bastion walls that drop sheer to the sea.

Conceived in 1566 by Francesco Laparelli and built by Girolamo Cassar, Valletta’s star-shaped fortifications embody the island’s military past. Consider stepping inside St John’s Co-Cathedral to glimpse Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro masterpieces and the echoing cathedral nave. A shorter route is available, leaving time to enjoy a free afternoon at a cafe on Republic Street.

On day 6, explore historic Rabat before entering the walled ‘Silent City’ of Mdina, where narrow alleys, sun-warmed stone and wrought-iron balconies set a contemplative mood. Exit the bastions for a country trail threading past fields and woodland edges toward the island’s dramatic west coast.

The route culminates atop the Dingli Cliffs, Malta’s highest point at 253m, where the tiny clifftop chapel and misty mountain passes of sea and sky create an airy horizon. The Knights’ former hunting woods at Buskett and Verdala’s silhouette recall the island’s layered past. It’s a day for scenic viewing and photography before returning by bus to the bay.

On day 7, set out from the seaside promenade of Marsascala, rounding St Thomas Bay beneath its 17th-century watchtower. The path crosses the Delimara headland, where pale sandstone shelves meet sapphire water at St Peter’s Pool, a natural lido carved by waves.

Arrive in Marsaxlokk as luzzu fishing boats bob in the harbour, their painted “eyes” watching the wake. On Sundays, the Fish Market overflows with the day’s catch—try seasonal lampuki when available. A shorter route is possible if you prefer to linger over lunch and soak in the lakeside atmosphere on the quayside.

Enhance your day 5 evening with a classic cruise of the Grand Harbour and the inlets around the Three Cities. Glide beneath the bastions past Fort St Angelo and Fort Ricasoli, as floodlit limestone reveals creeks, palaces and former dockyards that once provisioned a Mediterranean empire.

Hear how the Great Siege of 1565 shaped this fortified seascape and spot the gridded streets of Valletta rising above the waterline. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; it’s a relaxed way to absorb the harbour’s theatre from the best vantage point—on the water.

From Sliema or the northern ferries, sail to the Blue Lagoon on Comino, where milky-turquoise water laps pale rocks. Cruise sea caves, pass the clifftop Santa Marija Tower and, time permitting, continue to Gozo for a taste of its rural pace and ochre farmsteads.

Seeing these islands from the sea completes the perspective you gained on day 2 when you looked across to them from the Red Tower. Swim stops are common in calm weather. This optional excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour; schedules are weather-dependent.

Near Mdina, visit a working estate to sample Maltese wines shaped by limestone soils and sea breezes. Learn how local Girgentina and Gellewza grapes express a distinct island character as you tour vineyards or cellars and discuss modern techniques preserving traditional varieties.

Tastings often pair with gbejna cheese, sun-ripened tomatoes or bigilla broad-bean dip, linking glass to terroir. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, and pairs beautifully with day 6’s visit to Rabat and Mdina.

During day 5’s exploration, step inside St John’s Co-Cathedral to admire Caravaggio’s Beheading of Saint John, gilded vaults and a floor inlaid with marble tombs of the Knights. The contrast between the austere exterior and the soaring dome and sumptuous Baroque interior is striking.

Built in the 1570s by Girolamo Cassar, the cathedral’s chapels reflect the Order’s European langues. An audio guide brings its patrons, artists and patrons to life amid the echoing cathedral nave. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

On day 2, take the bus north and join a self-guided coastal walk tracing the Marfa peninsula—Malta’s so-called “fish tail”. Traverse thyme-scented garigue and pause for photos and reflection at the commanding St Agatha’s (Red) Tower as views open across Comino and Gozo. The route weaves between wind-brushed headlands and clear, sheltered bays.

Built in 1649 by the Knights of St John, the Red Tower guarded the channels you can see from its ramparts. The peninsula’s shallow coves and rocky shelves reveal Malta’s geological story in honeyed limestone layers. A shorter route is available if you prefer to enjoy a free afternoon by the sea.

On day 3, begin in Xemxija and step onto the Xemxija Heritage Trail, encountering a 1,000-year-old carob tree, ancient Punic tombs, cart ruts and a Roman apiary. Continue west to the Majjistral Nature and History Park, Malta’s first national park, where coastal garigue, Aleppo pine and sea cliff habitats frame the Mediterranean.

Majjistral (established 2007) protects a sweep of headlands facing the prevailing maistral wind. As you traverse limestone terraces above Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha, you’ll sense how the Knights’ watchtowers once stitched this coast together. Expect the scent of wild thyme, the cry of gulls and misty mountain passes of rock leading to sweeping sea vistas.

On day 1 in the quieter lanes behind Balluta Bay, meet your local representative to fine-tune the week’s plans. You’ll collect your 7-day bus ticket, trip notes and maps, review trail safety and waymarking, and get personalised dining tips for nearby waterfront restaurants. The session ensures you’re confident with timings, transfers and alternative route options.

Afterward, stroll past Art Nouveau townhouses and the neo-Gothic church that frames Balluta Bay, and enjoy a free evening to settle in. If the mood takes you, head to the hotel’s rooftop to soak in the lakeside atmosphere as the limestone facades glow at dusk.

On a calm morning, head to Wied iz-Zurrieq where boatmen steer beneath the Blue Grotto arches, lighting the water with reflected cobalt. Afterwards, continue to the clifftop Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples, megaliths older than Stonehenge overlooking the open sea.

These sites form part of the UNESCO-listed Megalithic Temples of Malta, illuminating ritual life on the islands five millennia ago. This optional excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour; seas and boat operations are weather-dependent.