Malta in Depth

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

This comprehensive tour of Malta includes the best of Malta and Gozo. Stay at the best luxury hotels in Valletta, Mdina and on Gozo, and enjoy private touring of the country’s highlights and exclusive experiences throughout, including private wine tastings, yacht charters, meetings with local artisans, after-hours access and more.

The capital city of Valletta is 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 historic palaces, the Palace Armoury, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the National Library of Malta, the Grand Master’s Palace and more. Enjoy exclusive after-hours access to St. John’s Co-Cathedral to see its intricate frescoes and renowned Caravaggio paintings in private, and learn about the history of a local noble family during a private tour of their palazzo with the owner. Also stroll through the city’s historic gardens, visit notable museums, and sample traditional Maltese cuisine.

One day, take a full-day excursion around southern Malta. 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, visit the charming fishing village of Marsaxlokk, and enjoy a private cruise in the beautiful Blue Grotto.

Spend one night in the atmospheric medieval hilltop town and former capital city of Mdina. Explore winding medieval alleyways, see the Baroque interiors of St. Paul’s Cathedral, admire open views over the rolling countryside from high atop the impressive walls, and stay at a charming Relais & Chateaux hotel housed in a 17th-century palazzo in the ancient city walls. Also tour Roman catacombs and browse for upscale glassware in the town of Rabat, take in views over the pretty bay of Ghajn Tuffieha (with the option to hike to hidden beaches), and explore other notable cultural and scenic sights. Artisans of Leisure will arrange for you to meet with a master clockmaker in Rabat to learn about his custom-made timepieces, which are highly decorated and gilded.

Continue to idyllic Gozo, Malta’s second-largest island. Explore highlights such as the imposing Cittadella fortress in the town of Victoria, ancient Roman salt pans along the coast, and the rugged cliffs and inlets of dramatic Dwejra Bay. Also enjoy a private wine tasting at a local boutique winery, and take a private yacht excursion along the coasts of Gozo and nearby Comino, a small island known for its beautiful Blue Lagoon.

Return to Valletta to enjoy a half-day of flexible touring with the option to visit the Three Cities, a trio of charming fortified towns across the harbor from Valletta with quiet residential streets perfect for strolling. Also enjoy some time at leisure for last-minute shopping and sightseeing.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional activities around Malta such as private food touring, decorative arts tours, hiking and biking, World War II touring, 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