Malta & Gozo Self-Launched Walking Week
8 days · Malta
Explore! charges £1,350
No-markup version: ~£700 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day independent walking week covering the same route as Explore!'s guided Malta & Gozo tour: two coastal walks on Gozo from a base in Marsalforn, the Xlendi-to-Mgarr cliff walk with the ferry crossing to Malta, Mdina/Rabat/Dingli Cliffs/Hagar Qim, the Three Cities and Valletta, the Majjistral Nature Park hike to Selmun Palace, and the south-east coast walk from Marsaskala to Birzebbuga. Instead of a guide and group hotels you use Malta's excellent public buses and ferries, self-guided GPX routes on the marked coastal trails, and hostel/guesthouse stays in Marsalforn and Sliema. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Malta, ferry to Gozo, settle in Marsalforn
Malta Airport → Marsalforn, Gozo
Land at Malta International Airport (Luqa) and take the X1 or X2 bus to Cirkewwa ferry terminal in the north of Malta (about 1h15, €2 summer / €1.50 winter day ticket). The Gozo Channel ferry to Mgarr is a foot-passenger crossing of about 25 minutes and is free for walkers in both directions. From Mgarr take bus 301/303/306 towards Victoria and change for Marsalforn (or a 15-minute taxi, ~€15). Check into a guesthouse in Marsalforn, buy a 7-day Tallinja Explore card (€25) for unlimited Malta buses, and pick up supplies. Evening stroll along Qbajjar Bay and an early dinner of Gozitan ftira.
🚌Airport bus X1/X2 to Cirkewwa (~€2), free Gozo Channel ferry, local bus to Marsalforn
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room in Marsalforn (~£28–35/night)
- →Gozo Channel ferry crossing
- →Marsalforn & Qbajjar Bay evening walk
- →Buy Tallinja Explore 7-day bus card
Gozo coastal walk: Gharb to Marsalforn via Wied il-Mielah
Gharb – Wied il-Mielah – Wied il-Ghasri – Xwejni Salt Pans – Marsalforn
Self-guided version of the tour's Day 2. Bus 311 or 312 from Marsalforn to Victoria, then a short hop to Gharb. Follow the marked coastal path (download the Gozo coastal trail GPX from Wikiloc or the Malta Tourism Authority trail notes) past San Dimitri Chapel, the dramatic sea arch at Wied il-Mielah, the fjord-like Wied il-Ghasri inlet, the Xwejni Salt Pans and Qbajjar Bay into Marsalforn — roughly 10 km, 5–6 hours with stops. Before walking, spend 45 minutes in Victoria: the Citadel (free to enter, small charge for the cathedral museum) and the daily market in Independence Square. Swim at Marsalforn at the end of the day.
🚌Local buses 311/312 to Gharb (~€1.50 with day ticket within Explore card)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room in Marsalforn (~£28–35/night)
- →Self-guided Gharb–Marsalforn coastal walk (10 km)
- →Victoria (Rabat) and the Citadel
- →Wied il-Mielah sea arch and Wied il-Ghasri
- →Xwejni Salt Pans
- →Swim at Marsalforn
Xlendi to Mgarr cliff walk, ferry to Malta, base in Sliema
Xlendi – Ta' Cenc – Mgarr ix-Xini – Mgarr Harbour → Sliema
Bus to Xlendi, then walk the south Gozo coast: Xlendi Tower, the Sannat cliffs and Ta' Cenc plateau, the Sanap Cliffs viewpoints, the gorge at Mgarr ix-Xini and Fort Chambray down to Mgarr Harbour — about 14 km, 5 hours. There is limited shade and few water points, so start early and carry 2 litres. Ferry from Mgarr to Cirkewwa (free on foot), then bus 41/42/222 to Sliema and check into a hostel or budget hotel near the ferries. If you'd rather shorten the walk, bus 305/306 links Xlendi back to Victoria.
🚌Local buses, free Gozo Channel ferry, bus 41/42/222 to Sliema
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Sliema (~£25–40/night)
- →Self-guided Xlendi–Mgarr coastal walk (14 km)
- →Xlendi Tower and Ta' Cenc cliffs
- →Mgarr ix-Xini and Fort Chambray
- →Gozo–Malta ferry crossing
Mdina, Rabat catacombs, Dingli Cliffs and Hagar Qim
Mdina – Rabat – Dingli – Hagar Qim – Blue Grotto
Bus 51, 52 or 53 from Sliema/Valletta to Mdina. Wander the silent city walls and narrow lanes on foot (free; audio guide ~€5 if wanted), then walk 15 minutes downhill to Rabat and St Cataldo's Catacombs (~€6). Bus 52 to Dingli and follow the clifftop path along Fawwara and Lapsi toward Hagar Qim — around 10 km, 3.5–4 hours with big sea views and Filfla on the horizon. Enter the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra megalithic temple complex (UNESCO, ~€10 timed ticket, book on Heritage Malta's site). Finish with the Blue Grotto viewpoint from the roadside or a boat trip (~€10) if the sea is calm. Bus back to Sliema or eat in Valletta.
🚌Bus 51/52/53 to Mdina, bus 52 to Dingli, bus 201 back toward Valletta
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Sliema (~£25–40/night)
- →Mdina old city on foot
- →St Cataldo's Catacombs, Rabat (~€6)
- →Dingli Cliffs & Fawwara walk (10 km)
- →Hagar Qim & Mnajdra temples (~€10)
- →Blue Grotto viewpoint or boat (~€10)
Three Cities and Valletta by dghajsa and on foot
Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua – Valletta
Bus to the Cottonera area and explore Birgu (Vittoriosa) on foot — the Fort St Angelo exterior, the Inquisitor's Palace (~€6) and the Gardjola Gardens on Senglea with their harbour watchtower views. Take a traditional dghajsa water taxi across the Grand Harbour (shared ~€2–3 with the Valletta ferry, or a private 30-minute harbour cruise ~€30 for the boat — split it with fellow travellers from the hostel). In Valletta, do the free self-guided walk: Upper Barrakka Gardens and the saluting battery, St John's Co-Cathedral (~€15), the National Museum of Archaeology (~€10) and the Triton Fountain. Cheapest food is pastizzi from a hole-in-the-wall bakery (~€1 each).
🚌Buses to Cottonera; Valletta ferry or dghajsa across Grand Harbour (~€3)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Sliema (~£25–40/night)
- →Birgu (Vittoriosa) and Senglea walking tour
- →Gardjola Gardens
- →Dghajsa / harbour crossing
- →Valletta: Barrakka Gardens, St John's Co-Cathedral (~€15)
- →Optional National Museum of Archaeology (~€10)
Majjistral Nature Park hike: Lippija Tower to Selmun Palace
Gnejna Bay – Lippija Tower – Ghajn Tuffieha – Golden Bay – Selmun
Bus 44/45/225 toward Gnejna Bay and start at Lippija Tower, walking the Wardija Ridge and clay slopes through Majjistral Nature Park past Ghajn Tuffieha Tower, Golden Bay, Imgiebah Bay and on to Selmun Palace — roughly 16 km, 5–6 hours, exposed and rough underfoot in places. Carry all your water; there are no shops in the park. Finish at Mellieha with a swim and a bus back. Optional extras: the Popeye Village viewpoint or the short boat to the Blue Lagoon on Comino from Cirkewwa if you have energy left.
🚌Bus 44/45/225 to Gnejna; bus back from Mellieha or Selmun
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Sliema (~£25–40/night)
- →Self-guided Majjistral Nature Park hike (16 km)
- →Lippija Tower and Ghajn Tuffieha Tower
- →Golden Bay swim
- →Selmun Palace
- →Optional Popeye Village viewpoint
Southeast coastal walk: Marsaskala to Birzebbuga
Marsaskala – St Thomas Bay – Delimara – Marsaxlokk – Birzebbuga
Bus 91 or 92 from Valletta/Sliema to Marsaskala. Walk the south-east coast past St Thomas Bay, the Delimara headland and St Peter's Pool (a great swim stop if the sea is calm), then into Marsaxlokk fishing village for the luzzu boats and a cheap grilled fish lunch at the market stalls, finishing around Pretty Bay in Birzebbuga — about 15 km, 5–6 hours. Bus back in the evening. Treat yourself to a self-organised 'reflection dinner' in Valletta or Sliema — a plate of rabbit stew or fresh fish with local wine runs ~£18–22.
🚌Bus 91/92 to Marsaskala and back from Birzebbuga
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Sliema (~£25–40/night)
- →Self-guided Marsaskala–Birzebbuga coastal walk (15 km)
- →Swim at St Peter's Pool
- →Marsaxlokk fishing village and fish lunch
- →Delimara headland and Pretty Bay
- →Celebration dinner in Valletta or Sliema
Departure from Malta International Airport
Sliema → Malta International Airport
Bus X2 or X3 from Sliema/Valletta to the airport takes around 45–55 minutes; the airport express runs more frequently and costs a few euros more. If your flight is late, squeeze in a final swim at Balluta or St George's Bay or a last pastizz. Note: the 7-day Tallinja Explore card covers airport buses too.
🚌Bus X2/X3 to Malta International Airport (~€1.50–3)
🛏—
- →Optional final swim at Balluta Bay
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Explore!
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Explore! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£700 | £1,350 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £650 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Explore!-style trips? Check them out here.~£700
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Malta & Gozo Self-Launched Walking Week cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £700 per person for 8 days in Malta. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Explore!?+
Yes — Explore! charges around £1,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £700 — a saving of roughly £650 (48%) per person.
How long is the Malta trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Malta.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, culture, adventure trip through Malta, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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