MALTA HIGHLIGHTS Blue-Roads | Europe

Explore the wonders of Malta on this incredible tour - from the capital, Valletta, to the historically rich towns of Vittoriosa and Mdina, and the villages of Gozo. Along the way you'll see picturesque harbours and indulge in cheese and wine tastings, with plenty of time to visit the hidden coves and beaches of this charming archipelago.

TOUR CODE:

BEHMHJJ-0 Thank You for Choosing Blue-Roads

Thank you for choosing to travel with Back-Roads Touring. We can’t wait for you to join us on the mini-coach!

About Your Tour Notes THE BLUE-ROADS DIFFERENCE Try your hand at making your own pizza at a traditional pizzeria in These tour notes contain everything you need to know Valletta before your tour departs – including where to meet, Enjoy a 90-minute cruise around two what to bring with you and what you can expect to do of the most beautiful harbours in on each day of your itinerary. You can also print this Europe document out, use it as a checklist and bring it with you Savour local wine and cheeses at the on tour. Meridiana Wine Estate

Please Note: We recommend that you refresh TOUR CURRENCIES this document one week before your tour departs to ensure you have the most up-to-date + Malta - EUR accommodation list and itinerary information available. Your Itinerary

DAY 1 | ST JULIAN'S - VALLETTA - ST JULIAN'S

After meeting the group we’ll get straight down to business on a guided tour of the picturesque city of St Julian’s - with included visits to the Upper Barracca Gardens and St John’s Co-Cathedral lined up for us. For lunch, we’ll unleash our inner chefs at a pizza making class on the waterfront in Valletta before sitting down to enjoy our creations. Then: onwards to the hotel, where we’ll celebrate our first night together with a welcome dinner. Accommodation: The Argento Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Lunch Dinner

DAY 2 | ST JULIAN'S - VITTORIOSA - SENGLEA - SLIEMA - ST JULIAN'S

Today we’ll shift our focus back in time as we explore the historic cities of Vittoriosa (where we’ll visit the Inquisitor’s Palace) and the lesser-explored Senglea. With time to visit the Senglea Gardens (not to mention a stop at the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk),you can rest assured that there will be plenty of visual gems to feast your eyes on! After an eventful morning, we’ll take some time to relax on a harbour cruise around the ports of St Julian’s - a natural treasure trove for photographers. Accommodation: The Argento Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 3 | ST JULIAN'S - MOSTA - RABAT - MDINA - ST JULIAN'S

We’ll begin our third day together with a visit to the stunning Mosta Church (and a short photo stop at the Dingli Cliffs) before we move on to the beautiful wilderness of the Buskett Gardens. After that, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Malta’s old capital: Mdina, also known as the ‘silent city’. And on this afternoon’s agenda? An indulgent wine tasting accompanied by local cheese and biscuits at the Meridiana Wine Estate. Leave some space - tonight, we’ve a dinner reservation at a local restaurant. Accommodation: The Argento Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner DAY 4 | ST JULIAN'S - QRENDI - CIRKEWWA - XAGHRA

After a stop at Hamrija Tower and the Hagar Qim temples, we’ll journey onwards through the village of Birzebbuga towards the Blue Grotto: where an included boat trip awaits. Afterwards, we’ll travel to the ferry point at Cirkewwa (via a photo stop at Popeye’s Village), where we’ll take a short speedboat transfer to Gozo. We’ll round off a busy day with a visit to the Dreams of Horses Farm, where we’ll have the opportunity to interact with the animals. Accommodation: The Cornucopia Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 5 | XAGHRA - GHARB - VICTORIA - XAGHRA

Today we’ll visit the spectacular megalithic temple complex of Ggantija - the most ancient temples in Malta. After moving on to the imposing Old Citadel in Victoria (which can be seen from almost anywhere on Gozo), we’ll roll up our sleeves for a hands-on cheesemaking experience at Ta’ Rikardu Farm. An evening of leisure time is in store for us back at the hotel - but not before we’ve stopped off for a photo or two at the peaceful village of Sannat. Accommodation: The Cornucopia Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 6 | XAGHRA - SAN LAWRENCE - MARSALFORN - XAGHRA

We may be nearing the end of our journey, but there’s still plenty to explore! After visiting Fungus Rock, we’ll move on to the unusual saltpans of Xwejni Bay - and then, it’s time for a treat at the famous Mekren Bakery. Here, we’ll sample some ftira while taking in the superb views over Ramla Bay. Later on, we’ll come together for one last dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: The Cornucopia Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

DAY 7 | XAGHRA - ST JULIAN'S

After a final breakfast and leisurely morning, we’ll catch the ferry back to St Julian’s - where our tour will end later on this afternoon.

MEALS: Breakfast Tour Information

Meals Blue-Roads Travel App INCLUDED MEALS

Breakfast (B) is included daily. Why not check in for your tour using the Back- Some of your lunches and dinners are also Roads app? included, either in hotels or local restaurants. This handy tool allows you to view your These are indicated by (L) and (D) in the bookings, check your itinerary, see tour maps itinerary. and more – making it the perfect travel Please note that drinks will not always be companion for your Back-Roads trip. included. How to Download the Back-Roads app We will do our best to accommodate any specific dietary requirements you may have. 1. Launch the App Store or Google Play on Please ensure to make these clear to us your device before your tour begins so we can 2. Search ‘Back-Roads’ and click ‘OK’ communicate them to our hotels, restaurants 3. Select the Back-Roads app in the search and suppliers. results 4. Click the download/install button 5. The app should be installed in your device’s applications page

Other Information

Finances

CHANGING MONEY SPENDING MONEY CASH: Foreign money can be changed at Naturally, everyone’s spending varies. Many of banks, airports, railway and tube stations, and your meals are included in the price of your at major hotels (though at a less favourable tour, so this just leaves a few meals and your rate) personal spending to budget for. CREDIT CARDS: Visa and MasterCard are widely Tips for the Tour Leader and Driver are not accepted. American Express is only accepted in included. Tipping is entirely at your some larger establishments discretion; however, if you feel you have CASH MACHINES: ATMS are widely available received exceptional service, it is recommended that you tip £1-2/€ per day for Drivers and £4-5/€ per day for Tour Leaders.

Insurance Passports and Visas

You will need to take out full travel insurance We advise you either to carry a photocopy of before travelling with Back-Roads Touring. your passport (and visa, if applicable) with you Please ensure that you have adequate medical, while abroad, or to ensure that you leave a personal effects and cancellation cover. copy with relatives back at home. We recommend that you carry your insurance This will enable the local embassy or high details with you at all times. You may be asked commission to arrange a replacement if the to provide details of your medical insurance or original should be lost or stolen. a payment guarantee in some countries before If you do take copies with you on your trip, medical assistance can be provided. please ensure that you keep these separate Your insurance company may not assist you from your original documents. with your claim if the instructions given in the It is your responsibility to obtain any visas policy have not been followed. necessary to enable you to travel in Europe or Asia. Contact your local consular office for more information. Transport

We travel in premium mini-coaches equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning and large windows for enjoying the view. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we’re able to take the scenic route – winding through beautiful countryside to the heart of tiny villages and coastal towns. What to Bring

Suggested Packing List Wondering what to take with you on tour? Our packing list can be used as a guide. Please Note: What you pack will depend on the countries you’re visiting and the time of year you plan to travel. The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience:

Sun hat Sunglasses Shorts/skirts Long-sleeved tops Short-sleeved tops Trousers Light jacket Waterproof jacket and Warm jacket umbrella Walking shoes/comfortable shoes Smart casual evening Sleepwear Swimwear and towel wear

Other things to pack:

Multi-use travel adapter Camera Batteries Phone Personal medication Sunscreen Paracetamol or aspirin

OPTIONALS TO CONSIDER:

Motion sickness tablets Anti-diarrhoea tablets Sewing kit Lip balm

That's it!

We look forward to seeing you on tour.