Self-Launched Discovering the Maltese Islands: Malta & Gozo Walking Adventure
8 days · Malta & Gozo
Exodus charges £1,580
No-markup version: ~£352 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore two of the Mediterranean's most characterful islands entirely on your own terms. This self-launched version of Exodus's popular Maltese Islands walking holiday swaps the managed package for independent hostel and guesthouse stays, public buses, and free/low-cost walking routes you can navigate yourself — saving you over £900 per person. You'll still walk Malta's dramatic fish-tail coastline, wander the UNESCO-listed streets of Valletta, and take the ferry across to Gozo for coastal walks past Fungus Rock, hidden beaches and medieval citadels. Malta's excellent public bus network (a 7-day pass costs around £18) makes every trailhead accessible without a guide. Estimated costs are approximate and based on mid-2025 budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrival in St Julian's, Malta
St Julian's, Malta
Fly into Malta International Airport (MLA). Take the public bus (routes X2 or 13) from the airport directly to St Julian's — journey takes around 35–45 minutes and costs approximately £1.50. Check into your guesthouse or budget hotel in Balluta Bay area. Spend the afternoon getting your bearings: wander the Spinola Bay promenade, grab a pastizzi (flaky savoury pastry) from a local bakery, and scout restaurants for the week ahead. Pick up a 7-day bus pass from a Tallinja card agent or the airport — around £18 — as this will be your key to all walking transfers this week.
🚌Public bus from airport to St Julian's, routes X2 or 13 — ~£1.50 with your Tallinja card
🛏Juliani's Guesthouse or similar budget guesthouse in St Julian's — ~£30–40/night B&B
- →Arrive at Malta International Airport and take public bus X2/13 to St Julian's (~£1.50)
- →Purchase a 7-day Tallinja bus pass (~£18) from the airport or a local agent
- →Explore Spinola Bay and Balluta Bay on foot
- →Try local street food — pastizzi and ftira bread from a village bakery
Malta's Fish Tail Coastal Walk
Ħamrija to Għajn Tuffieħa, Malta
Take the public bus towards the south-western tip of Malta to begin the famous 'fish tail' coastal walk — approximately 15 km / 9.3 miles. The route follows dramatic sandstone cliffs, past ancient watchtowers and hidden coves, with breathtaking views across to Comino and Gozo. Use the Malta Tourism Authority's free downloadable walking maps or the AllTrails app to navigate — the route is well-marked. Pack a packed lunch or stop at a clifftop kiosk. Return to St Julian's by bus in the afternoon. Free to walk; just pay your bus fare.
🚌Public bus from St Julian's to walk start, and return — covered by 7-day Tallinja pass
🛏Juliani's Guesthouse or similar, St Julian's
- →Download Malta Tourism Authority free walking maps or use AllTrails for the fish tail coastal route
- →Walk 15 km along Malta's south-western coast past watchtowers and dramatic cliffs
- →Spot views across to Comino and Gozo from the headland
- →Visit Għajn Tuffieħa Bay beach at the end of the walk
- →Return to St Julian's by public bus
Valletta — UNESCO World Heritage Capital
Valletta, Malta
Take the bus from St Julian's to Valletta (around 20 minutes, covered by your pass). Spend the morning on the 10 km coastal walking loop around Europe's smallest capital — taking in the Grand Harbour, the Upper Barrakka Gardens with their cannon salute, and the City Gate area. In the afternoon, dive into the UNESCO-listed old city: explore St John's Co-Cathedral (entry ~£12), walk the narrow Baroque streets, and browse the covered market. End with sundowners looking out over the Grand Harbour from a café terrace. Valletta is easily walkable and most streets are free to explore.
🚌Public bus St Julian's to Valletta — covered by Tallinja 7-day pass
🛏Juliani's Guesthouse or similar, St Julian's
- →Bus from St Julian's to Valletta (~20 min, covered by Tallinja pass)
- →Walk the 10 km coastal circuit around Valletta's harbours and city walls
- →Visit Upper Barrakka Gardens and watch the Noon Canon Salute (free)
- →Explore St John's Co-Cathedral — book direct online ~£12
- →Wander the Baroque streets and visit the covered market
- →Sunset drinks overlooking the Grand Harbour
Marsascala to Marsaxlokk Coastal Walk
Marsascala to Marsaxlokk, Malta
Bus to Marsascala (around 45 minutes from St Julian's) and begin the 15 km coastal walk south along dramatic sandstone cliffs to Marsaxlokk Bay. This is one of Malta's most scenic stretches of coastline, passing the St Thomas Bay sea caves and ending at the colourful fishing village of Marsaxlokk — famous for its Sunday fish market, though the market stalls and fresh fish restaurants are lively throughout the week. Have a long lunch at a quayside restaurant watching the luzzu fishing boats bob in the harbour. Catch the bus back to St Julian's from Marsaxlokk.
🚌Public bus both ways — covered by Tallinja pass
🛏Juliani's Guesthouse or similar, St Julian's
- →Bus from St Julian's to Marsascala (~45 min, Tallinja pass)
- →Walk 15 km along the coastal path to Marsaxlokk, passing sea caves and sandstone cliffs
- →Explore Marsaxlokk fishing village and its famous colourful luzzu boats
- →Lunch at a quayside seafood restaurant (budget ~£12–15 for fish of the day)
- →Browse the daily market stalls at Marsaxlokk harbour
- →Bus back to St Julian's (Tallinja pass)
Ferry to Gozo & Ta' Pinu Sanctuary Walk
Gozo (arriving Victoria)
Take the public bus from St Julian's to Ċirkewwa ferry terminal in the north of Malta (routes 41/42, ~1 hour, covered by your Tallinja pass). The Gozo Channel ferry crossing takes around 25 minutes and costs approximately £5 return (buy at the terminal — return ticket valid for your stay). On arrival at Mġarr harbour, take the public bus to Victoria/Rabat (Gozo's capital). Check into your guesthouse, then in the afternoon take the optional walk to the magnificent neo-Romanesque Ta' Pinu Basilica and on through ravine-like wied valleys to the Baroque village of Gharb. The walking route is free — use the Visit Gozo free maps or AllTrails.
🚌Public bus to Ċirkewwa (Tallinja pass) + Gozo Channel ferry (~£5 return) + Gozo public bus to Victoria
🛏Gozo B&B or guesthouse in Victoria — e.g. St Patrick's Hotel or similar ~£35–45/night B&B
- →Public bus from St Julian's to Ċirkewwa ferry terminal (~1 hr, Tallinja pass)
- →Gozo Channel Line ferry Ċirkewwa to Mġarr, Gozo (~25 min, ~£5 return)
- →Public bus from Mġarr to Victoria/Rabat, Gozo
- →Check into guesthouse in Victoria
- →Afternoon walk to Ta' Pinu Basilica (free entry) and through wieds to Gharb village (~15 km optional)
- →Explore Gharb's 17th-century Baroque church and traditional stone houses
Fungus Rock & the Inland Sea Walk
Dwejra, Gozo
Take the Gozo public bus towards Dwejra on the west coast (route 311 from Victoria, ~20 minutes). Begin the 13 km walk exploring one of Gozo's most dramatic landscapes. Pass the Punic burial site at Wardija Point before descending narrow stone-walled lanes through bamboo groves to Dwejra Bay. See the iconic Fungus Rock — a natural monolith named after the rare plant harvested there for medicinal use by the Knights of St John — and the enigmatic Inland Sea, a lagoon connected to the open ocean by a rock tunnel. Boat trips through the tunnel are available locally for ~£5. The former site of the collapsed Azure Window is also here. Return by bus to Victoria.
🚌Gozo public bus routes from Victoria to Dwejra and return — ~£2 each way
🛏St Patrick's Hotel or guesthouse in Victoria, Gozo
- →Public bus from Victoria to Dwejra (~20 min, Gozo bus network)
- →Walk 13 km through Wardija Point Punic burial site and stone-walled countryside lanes
- →Visit Fungus Rock and the Inland Sea at Dwejra Bay (free)
- →Optional short boat trip through the sea tunnel at Inland Sea (~£5, book with local boatmen at the waterfront)
- →Explore the former site of the Azure Window
- →Return by public bus to Victoria
Bays & Towers Walk — Qala to Nadur
Qala to Nadur, Gozo
Bus from Victoria to Qala village (eastern Gozo) and begin the 13 km Bays and Towers walk — a wonderful finale to the week. An easy coastal stroll brings you to the tiny harbour at Dahlet Qorrot with its brightly painted boathouses. Continue through fragrant lemon groves, vineyards and fig orchards before descending to San Blas Bay — a hidden gem with gorgeous ochre-red sand and crystal-clear water. Finish at Nadur hilltop village where panoramic views sweep across to Malta and Comino. Reward yourself with dinner back in Victoria at one of the town's excellent traditional Maltese restaurants.
🚌Gozo public bus from Victoria to Qala (~15 min, ~£1.50); walk to Nadur; bus back to Victoria
🛏St Patrick's Hotel or guesthouse in Victoria, Gozo
- →Public bus from Victoria to Qala village
- →Walk 13 km: Qala → Dahlet Qorrot harbour → lemon groves → San Blas Bay → Nadur
- →Swim at San Blas Bay — one of Gozo's most secluded beaches (free)
- →Explore Nadur hilltop village with panoramic island views
- →Celebratory dinner in Victoria — try fenkata (rabbit stew) at a local trattoria (~£12–18)
Departure — Leave Gozo
Gozo to Malta Airport
After breakfast, check out and take the public bus from Victoria to Mġarr ferry terminal. Catch the Gozo Channel Line ferry back to Ċirkewwa on Malta (included in your return ferry ticket purchased on Day 5). From Ċirkewwa, take the public bus (routes 41/42) towards Malta Airport, or change at Valletta bus station. Allow at least 2–2.5 hours from Victoria to the airport to be safe. Your 7-day Tallinja bus pass covers the Malta bus legs. Safe travels!
🚌Gozo bus to Mġarr + Gozo Channel ferry (return ticket) + Malta public bus to airport — all covered/pre-purchased
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Checkout after breakfast
- →Public bus from Victoria to Mġarr ferry terminal
- →Gozo Channel Line ferry back to Ċirkewwa, Malta (return ticket already purchased)
- →Public bus from Ċirkewwa via Valletta to Malta International Airport (~1.5 hrs, Tallinja pass)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£352 | £1,580 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,228 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£352
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 Self-Launched Discovering the Maltese Islands: Malta & Gozo Walking Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £352 per person for 8 days in Malta & Gozo. 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,580 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £352 — a saving of roughly £1,228 (78%) per person.
How long is the Malta & Gozo trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Malta & Gozo.
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, slow-travel trip through Malta & Gozo, 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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