The Maltese archipelago, a cherished gem in the Mediterranean, needs no introduction to those who love its sunny shores and rich history. However, have you ever wondered if there’s a way to connect with Malta more deeply, beyond just visiting the popular tourist attractions? Wonder no more – a walking holiday will do just that.
How does a walking holiday work?
A walking holiday is exactly what it sounds like – a trip where all of the exploring happens on foot. You may receive a transfer or get on a ferry where it’s impossible to walk but, other than that, you will be discovering Malta’s varying landscape one step at a time. You can expect to cover anywhere between 10-20 kilometers a day, depending on your chosen route.
These holidays are usually self-guided, although it doesn’t mean you’re left to handle all of the logistics by yourself. There are specialist travel agencies, such as Orbis Ways, who take care of everything behind the scenes, from planning the itinerary and pre-booking hotel rooms for each night, to organising transportation and arranging luggage transfers. The goal is for you to simply focus on enjoying your walk, with the peace of mind that the rest has been sorted out.
Exploring Malta and Gozo on foot
Amongst the many destinations that Orbis Ways cover, Malta is one of them. There are a few different options, including a holiday that covers both the main island of Malta and Gozo in one. It’s a 60-kilometer route that takes 8 days to complete, starting at Naxxar in Malta and finishing at Xaghra in Gozo.
During this trip, you will visit the best that both of these isles got to offer, including the infamous cities of Valletta and Mdina, the Bay of Ramla with its red-coloured beaches, the Calypso Cave famed for Homer’s stories in “The Odyssey”, the fascinating Qbajjar salt flats, the Blue Lagoon at Comino and so much more.
The beauty of slowing down
So, why is a walking holiday so different to any other visit to Malta? Well, exploring on foot allows you to discover the destination at a much slower pace, really appreciating the subtle details that are so often missed. There’s no rush to fit in as many museums in a single day as possible. Instead, you’re placing one foot in front of the other, breathing in the Mediterranean air, feeling the ancient ground beneath you, listening to the chirping sound of the birds…
Along the way, you stumble across a prehistoric temple or a breathtaking coastal viewpoint, where you can linger for a while, taking it all in. You also get to observe the daily life of Malta’s residents, comparing the busy cities and towns with historic countryside villages. As such, this way of travelling creates a much deeper connection with your surroundings than a conventional holiday ever could.
A sense of reward
Once you’ve completed your trip, you will undoubtedly feel tired from all that walking. However, the sense of achievement and the newly-found appreciation for Malta will make it all worth it. A walking holiday is a type of holiday that doesn’t just go past – it stays with you forever.
