Mellieha
Verdala Palace, Buskett
Dingli Cliffs
Blue Grotto
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Landscapes & Villages tour
Visiting Mellieha, Manikata, Mgarr,
Bingemma Gap, Dingli Cliffs, Siggiewi Village & Blue Grotto
Tour
Duration: 4/5 hours
Operating on Sunday
(Available All Year)
A superb tour taking you off the beaten track to some of the more
secluded areas which most visitors do not have the opportunity of
exploring. We start with a drive to the north east of the island, en
route you will pass St. Paul's and Xemxija Bay. Our first stop is
the town of Mellieha, a hilltop town which overlooks the beautiful
Ghadira Bay (Mellieha Bay), the islands longest sandy beach. Here
you can admire the old church which is one of the oldest parishes,
visit the sanctuary (if permitted) which is said to have been blessed by St. Paul
and enjoy the extensive panoramas from the village.
We continue onto the small town of Manikata which is set in a rural area, the
scenery surrounding is beautiful. We pass en route ‘Il-Grotta ta' San
Martin’, a small sacred cave on the way to the villages of Zebbiegh and Mgarr.
The village of Mgarr is a farmer’s village and very popular with the locals that
flock here to dine at one of the many local speciality restaurants.
At this stage we will be crossing from the north to the west via
Bingemma Gap, a great opportunity for a photo stop..the view of the
north of Malta and Gozo Island in the distance is stunning.
As we drive to the west side of the island we pass Rabat and Buskett
Forrest.
This forest was
created
in the 17th century by the Grandmaster whom resided in the magnificent Verdala
Castle
(not open to the public). The castle
overlooks the Buskett
Forrest woodland area on one side and Girgenti on the other. We
drive through
Girgenti which is a shaded fertile valley renowned for its
orchards and cultivated fields. Citrus and other fruit trees thrive in
the valley beneath the surrounding ridge. The old picturesque farmsteads, are
the homes of the farming community who till the fields and cultivate the
orchards. On a spur overlooking the valley stands the summer palace of the
Inquisitors built by Monsignor Visconti in 1625 (not open to the public),
nowadays it is the summer residence of our Prime Minister. We continue
with our scenic drive through the rustic countryside to Dingli Cliffs.
These
cliffs
are
characterised by vertical or near-vertical rock faces rising from the sea to
heights of up to 70-130m above sea level.
Some of the steep slopes are terraced and this unique feature
together with the expanse of the deep blue Mediterranean sea provide
stunning views. We will have time for a short break in the
typical local village of Siggiewi,
here we visit the piazza which surrounded by small local shops, tavernas...a
typical village scene. You can also try out a local savoury called pastizzi (these
are
filled with peas or ricotta cheese). The final stop of our tour is a
visit to the Blue Grotto.
This picturesque grotto and its neighbouring system of sea caverns mirrors the brilliant
phosphorescent colours of underwater flora. Boat trip (which are
optional) which takes you to along the coast lasts around 25 minutes
and it will allow you to explore these stunning grottoes and
sea caverns... The boat trip is not included in the overall
price as it operates subject to weather conditions, EUR7.50 paid on
the day).
This
tour is accompanied by English speaking driver as there are no
historical sites included in the itinerary and therefore a Licensed
Tour Guide is not required.
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Tour
Details
Price
is €49.50 per person
Includes:
Maximum Group Size of 12
Mercedes Van/Mini Coach Transport
English Speaking Driver
Entrance Fees (not applicable on this tour)
Hotel or Residence Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Click to Book/Make an Enquiry
Not Included
Blue Grotto boat trips are optional and operate subject to weather
conditions and are additional. Allow approx. EUR7.50pp
Select a different Small Group Tour
Malta Classic
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Grand Harbour Cities & Cruise
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more..>
Gozo Experience
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Multi Day Tours
This tour can be combined with other Small Group Tours to create a
multi day itinerary
read more..>
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