Walking on Gozo - Calypso's Isle

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5 Days from

CAD 1,595

Incl. taxes Excl. flights

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays, Short Breaks

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

W04GO

Enjoy self-guided walking on the island of Gozo

Gozo is the second largest of the Maltese islands, yet at only 14km by 7km at its widest point, nowhere in Gozo is too far away, making it the ideal choice for a walking holiday. The slow pace of life along with the air of tranquillity also makes Gozo the perfect place to relax. Rich in history and culture you must visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ggantija Tombs at Xaghra, the oldest freestanding temples in the world dating back to 3500BC, and the Ta' Pinu sanctuary.

The walks guide you around the island's impressive coastline and through the cobbled streets of the traditional towns and villages and you'll have plenty of time for exploring, swimming and just soaking up Gozo's tranquil atmosphere. Its rugged landscape ensures spectacular views including Fungus Rock, a natural stone outcrop in the centre of Dwejra Bay, and the Inland Sea. Between autumn and late spring, the countryside bursts into life, revealing an incredible wealth of flora and fauna, with colourful wild flowers and scented herbs.

Highlights

Unspoilt Mediterranean island, temperate year round climate, perfect for exploring on foot
Secluded 5 star hotel: private rocky cove, swimming pools, tranquil gardens
Magnificent coastal paths, breathtaking views, colourful fishing villages
Exotic Mediterranean flora: lemons, figs, peaches, poppies

Key Information

4 nights 5-star Hotel Ta'Cenc, all rooms en suite
3 days centre-based walking
Walk as little or as much as you like
Low altitude throughout
Self-guided holiday. Min age 12 yrs

Countries visited: Malta

What's Included

All buffet breakfast and 4 dinners
All accommodation (see accommodation)
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
Arrival & departure transfers (for flight inclusive bookings) - subject to 2 people traveling
Route notes and maps

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request) - compulsory single supplement
Visas or vaccinations

3 Days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Leisurely: 3-4km/2-3miles an hour

Terrain:

Low altitude; good paths

Day 2

7 km / 4.3 miles

Day 3

14 km / 8.7 miles

Day 4

12 km / 7.5 miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Arrive at your hotel in Sannat. The evening is at your leisure to settle in, unpack and enjoy your first dinner.

Meals Included: Dinner

Mgarr is Gozo's port, full of traditional and colourful luzzu fishing boats and dominated by the 18th Century Fort Chambray, built by the Knights of St John. The path from here hugs the coast as far as the narrow creek of Mgarr ix-Xini, where Turkish raiders landed in 1551 - the perfect place for a picnic and swim. From here you follow an old mule track up through the hotel's rocky grounds with fine views across to Malta, stopping to explore the remains of a Copper Age temple and Neolithic dolmen.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

The north-western corner of the island is only accessible on foot, along easy farm tracks. The first stop is the remarkable neo-Romanesque basilica Ta' Pinu, a huge national shrine built on the site of a miracle in 1923. Your route then leads through unique ravine-like wieds to Gharb with its stunning Baroque church (1699) and traditional stone houses. The final stretch takes you along the striking cliffs of the north coast where you are rewarded with fantastic views across Gozo's famous salt pans.

Two walking options: 3.5hr, distance 12km/7.5mi or 4hr, distance 14km/9mi.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

The walk today takes you to the west coast and the fascinating Punic burial site at Wardija Point. There's a mythical feeling here, like being on the edge of the world. Narrow stone-walled lanes lead down to bamboo groves and to Fungus Rock (named after the 'magic' plant which grew there) and the Inland Sea.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Depart Gozo after breakfast.

Essential Info

Visa

Malta

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Malta. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

Malta

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All buffet breakfasts and 4 dinners are included.

Meals are usually served in the restaurant or al fresco on the patio under a 200-year-old carob tree. Breakfast is an enormous hot and cold buffet and dinner is a 4-course affair offering a mouth watering selection of Gozitan and Italian specialities.

Please be aware that, as Gozo has no rivers, lakes or reservoirs, the majority of drinking water is produced via reverse osmosis – essentially, the desalination and filtration of sea water. Tap water is perfectly safe and drinkable, although you may notice it has a very slightly salty aftertaste which can vary between hotels, restaurants and cafes depending whether they have additional filtration systems in place. If you still have concerns, or are put off by the taste, bottled water is widely available although please consider the environmental impact of buying and disposing of plastic bottles.

Weather

Malta and Gozo are blessed with a subtropical Mediterranean climate; summers are generally hot and dry, winters mild, and autumns warm and sporadically wet. Malta’s average annual temperature of 18-19°C is amongst the highest in Europe, and significant temperature fluctuations are rare. Being islands however, they can face strong winds coming off the sea, particularly in the springtime, which can make it feel a little chilly.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This holiday offers leisurely walking with occasional short climbs and descents to sea level. The terrain is moderate with some small hills and the walking is often along ancient roads and old farm tracks. There are some steep descents down to the coast and the occasional rough, stony section. The walking is suitable for anyone who is reasonably fit and healthy, enjoys the occasional weekend walk and can walk 2-5 hrs per day.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. You are provided with route notes for each day, which begin with an overview of the walk and advice on lunch, followed by detailed instructions. The route notes contain a 24 hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotel is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

You may find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference: http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdf