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Download Trip Notes Discover Open Water Malta Trip Notes TRIP OVERVIEW Explore more of what outdoor swimming has to offer with our Discover Open Water Swimming experience in Malta and Gozo. Warm, gentle turquoise seas, fantastic underwater visibility and gorgeous coastlines make this an ideal way to experience the best of what open water swimming in the south of the Mediterranean has to offer. The Maltese archipelago features three main inhabited islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino. We’ll spend most of our time on and around Gozo, enjoying its laid back lifestyle. We’ll be based at the Duke Boutique Hotel where you can relax in comfort in the island’s capital Victoria (aka Rabat), and enjoy the views of its medieval citadel and the Gozo Cathedral. Situated in the centre of the island, the capital is the perfect starting point for our numerous swims around the island. WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR? SwimTrek’s Discover Open Water Malta experience is designed for anyone looking to get a taste of open water swimming. It’s suited for capable pool swimmers looking to experience open water swimming, or for anyone who has tried open water swimming already but would like to build their confidence. Our highly qualified swim guides will be there at all times to lead and support you in making the most of your open water swimming experience. Swimmers do not require open water experience to take part, but should be capable of completing the average swim distance of 1½ km prior to the start of the trip. The average daily swim distance is around 2-3km (split over a minimum of two swims). We have given this trip a ‘Beginner’ grading designed for people new to open water swimming. It aims to build your confidence and develop open water swimming skills. There is no formal coaching. TAILORMADE SWIMTREK TRIPS This trip can also be offered as tailor-made experience. The date of travel and itinerary can be adjusted to suit you. For more information contact us with the dates you'd like and number of people taking part. We'll be in touch to chat about putting together your dream swimming experience. LOCATION SUMMARIES Gozo With its own distinctive style and pace, the island offers great walking routes, superb coastal scenery and fabulous cliff swimming. As the trip is primarily based in Gozo, it is here that you will do the majority of your swimming. Victoria Victoria (aka Rabat) is not just the geographic heart of Gozo, it is also the centre of everyday activity. Bars, restaurants and opera theatres dominate the centre while the Citadel rises majestically above. SwimTrek Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 739 713 | E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.swimtrek.com Page 1 Discover Open Water Malta Trip Notes Victoria also boasts the Villa Rundle Public Gardens, a sweet green escape in the middle of the city. Comino Home of the picturesque Blue Lagoon, Comino is a small island between Gozo and Malta. Its shallow reef causes a beautiful gradient of different blue water hues, with the lightest aquamarines making the boats appear as if they are floating in the air. TRIP SCHEDULE The Duke Boutique Hotel, Victoria, Gozo Start Point www.thedukehotelgozo.com Start Time 16:00 on Day 1 Finish Point The Duke Boutique Hotel, Victoria, Gozo Finish Time 14:00 on Day 4 Daily Itineraries Please note that the below daily itineraries are an example of the swims that may take place during the course of your trip, however, actual swim locations and distances will vary according to local weather and sea conditions. Your SwimTrek guides and local boat pilot will determine the most suitable swim locations each day and will communicate the plan with all guests as soon as possible. Day 1 We meet at the open air terrace at the Duke Boutique Hotel in Victoria for a pre-trip briefing, where you will meet your guides and fellow swimmers. You’ll enjoy stunning views over Gozo’s north coast from here and the sight of the citadel illuminated as night falls. After the safety briefing, there’s time to enjoy a group dinner together before we start our swimming programme the following morning. Day 2 On our first morning of swimming, we head down to the sandy beach at Ramla in the north of Gozo. Known for its reddish coloured sand it is an ideal beach to start our Discover Open Water Swimming trip, due to its size and accessible coastline. We carry out an initial acclimatisation swim where you have an opportunity to get used to the conditions. From here we make our way north up to the headland at Rdum-il-Kbir before returning back to Ramla. We then head back to our accommodation where a lunch is waiting for us. There is an opportunity to relax and maybe take in the sites of Victoria, the island’s capital before we head out for our second swim. The afternoon takes us to the west coast and the port village of Xlendi, where SwimTrek has been going to for over 12 years. This stretch of coastline offers a mix of caves and steep cliffs which plunge to the ocean floor below and is an ideal next swim in your trip progression. SwimTrek Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 739 713 | E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.swimtrek.com Page 2 Discover Open Water Malta Trip Notes On returning back to the beach, you will have some time to explore this traditional Gozitan fishing village before we return to the capital and a chance to relax at our hotel and make use of the facilities before we head out for a meal at one of the local restaurants. Day 3 As yesterday was a day of Gozo swims, today is given over to discovering its smaller neighbour, Comino. Named after the plentiful cumin that grows on the island, Comino is a wildlife sanctuary sitting upon a rocky wilderness featuring cliffs, coves, creeks and a coastline dotted with deep caves. It really is a swimmer’s paradise and that is why we will be spending the full day here. On first arriving on Comino we walk across the southern section of the island before reaching Santa Maria. From here we swim north towards Ghemieri headland and then follow the coastline round until we arrive at a series of caves, which is ripe for exploration before we make our way back to the beach. It is a stunning first swim of the day. There is time for you to explore around Comino and take in the sights such as Saint Mary’s tower, before we meet up for lunch together. Following time to relax we then carry out our second swim of the day, which is our first circumnavigation as we swim around the small island of Cominotto. Between Comino and Cominotto we will swim through the iconic Blue Lagoon with its pure white sand in an almost swimming pool environment. It is a great last swim of our time on Comino. At the end of our swim we then take a boat back to Gozo before heading back to the Duke Hotel. Day 4 The final day of our trip involves a single swim, but what a swim it is! We journey directly west to Gozo’s own Inland Sea, an enclosed lagoon at Dwejra which is linked to the Mediterranean through an impressive tunnel stretching 80m in length. On exiting the tunnel, we head south along sheer cliffs and through the site of the now collapsed Azure Window which formed a limestone arch. After this we arrive at the Blue Hole, one of Malta’s premier dive sites, which is a 10m wide pool populated with bream, lobster, octopus and many more aquatic species. It’s a stunning swim with variety in buckets. On swimming back to the Inland Sea there is a chance to relax and explore before we head back to Victoria, where the trip comes to an end. TRIP INFORMATION Equipment Checklist In addition to your daily non-swimming clothes, we also recommend that you bring the following items: SwimTrek Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 739 713 | E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.swimtrek.com Page 3 Discover Open Water Malta Trip Notes ✓ ITEM ✓ ITEM ❒ Swimming Costume (x 2) ❒ Towel ❒ Swimming Goggles (x 2)* ❒ Sweater / Fleece ❒ Sun Hat and Sunglasses ❒ Waterproof Jacket ❒ Waterproof Sun Cream ❒ Trainers / Sandals / Aqua Shoes ❒ Small Daypack ❒ Personal Drink Bottle (x2) *Try to bring one clear lens and one tinted lens for different light conditions. SwimTrek will supply swim hats, water and electrolyte drinks. The guides will not distribute shared drinks bottles but will fill your personal drink bottles. Please ensure these are clearly marked to help our guides identify yours. If you would like to use a wetsuit, rash vest or fins during your swims, please ensure that you bring these with you. For more information please check out our Covid-19 guidance. Group Size and Boat Support This trip has a maximum group size of 14. The group will be split into a maximum of three groups, based on speed, with each group being accompanied by their own safety vessel/escort. Boat support on this trip includes two support watercraft piloted by your SwimTrek guides. Please note that this boat support is subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed. TRIP GRADING We have given this trip a ‘Beginner’ grading designed for people new to open water swimming. It aims to build your confidence and develop open water swimming skills.
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