Malta Self-Launched: Valletta, the Blue Grotto & Gozo Island
8 days · Malta
G Adventures charges £2,690
No-markup version: ~£1,130 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Geluxe Malta trip — same islands, same sea caves, same cliff walks and village kitchens, but booked independently. Base yourself in a Gozo guesthouse for three nights, then a Valletta hostel or budget hotel, using Malta's cheap and frequent public buses and the Gozo Channel ferry to hop between sights. Swap the guided tuk-tuk tour for a Gozo quad or e-bike rental, the private coach for Arriva buses, and included group meals for market stalls, village bakeries and the famous Maltese pastizzi. Costs are rough budget-traveller estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Malta, ferry to Gozo
Valletta to Gozo (Sannat/Xlendi)
Land at Malta International Airport and catch the X1 or X4 Arriva bus into Valletta, then the X1 direct shuttle toward Ċirkewwa ferry terminal (about 1h15, £2 for a day ticket). The Gozo Channel ferry crossing to Mġarr takes 25 minutes and is free for foot passengers — you only pay on the return leg. Bus 305/312 from Mġarr up to Sannat or Xlendi, where you'll check into a village guesthouse near the Ta' Cenc cliffs. Evening: walk to the cliff edge for sunset over the sea towards Filfla.
🚌Arriva buses X4/X1 (~£2 day ticket) + Gozo Channel ferry (free outbound)
🛏Family-run guesthouse or hostel private room in Sannat or Xlendi (£45-70/night)
- →Arriva bus from airport to Ċirkewwa
- →Gozo Channel ferry crossing
- →Sunset walk along the Ta' Cenc cliffs
Victoria, the Citadel and Gozo's artisan food scene
Victoria (Rabat), Gozo
Bus 305 or 306 into Victoria, Gozo's capital. Wander the narrow lanes of the old town, then climb to the Citadel for free rooftop views over the whole island and the Cathedral of the Assumption. Lunch at the It-Tokk morning market on Independence Square — fresh ġbejna cheese, bigilla bean dip, Maltese bread and a pastizz for under £6. In the afternoon, do a self-booked tasting visit to a farm producer like Gozo Cottage or Ta' Mena Estate (about £18-25 for a tour plus tasting of estate DOK wine, liqueurs, jams and balsamic). Back to the guesthouse by bus.
🚌Arriva buses 305/306 (~£2 day ticket)
🛏Guesthouse in Sannat or Xlendi
- →Victoria old town and Citadel (free entry to the streets and bastions)
- →It-Tokk market food crawl
- →Self-booked farm estate tasting and tour (~£20)
Ta' Cenc cliff hike or coastal kayaking
Ta' Cenc and Hondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo
Pick your own adventure. Option A: the Ta' Cenc to Mġarr ix-Xini coastal trail — roughly 2-3 hours on limestone clifftops past abandoned quarries, prehistoric cart ruts and quiet bays (free, bring water and a hat). Option B: rent a kayak at Hondoq ir-Rummien and paddle out to the Blue Lagoon and the sea caves of Comino (£25-35 for a half-day rental, cheaper shared). Lunch of ftira sandwiches by the water at Hondoq. Afternoon at leisure — swim, nap, or catch the bus up to Xlendi for a beer by the bay.
🚌Arriva buses 305/311, or on foot from Sannat
🛏Guesthouse in Sannat or Xlendi
- →Ta' Cenc to Mġarr ix-Xini coastal walk (free)
- →Self-booked kayak rental at Hondoq ir-Rummien (~£30)
- →Swim at Hondoq Bay
Ferry to Malta and a Valletta walking day
Gozo to Valletta
Morning ferry from Mġarr back to Ċirkewwa (about £4.50 foot passenger return), then the X1 bus down to Valletta. Check into your base in Valletta or nearby Floriana. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided walking route through the city: the Triton Fountain, the City Gate, the Barrakka Gardens, the bastions along the waterfront, and the steep streets of the grid plan. Pay a few euros to enter St John's Co-Cathedral if the Caravaggio appeal. Dinner at Is-Suq Tal-Belt, the restored Victorian market hall and street-food court — pastizzi, rabbit stew, Maltese platters, £8-12. Free, bookable free Valletta walking tours also run daily if you want a guide for a tip.
🚌Gozo Channel ferry (~£4.50) + Arriva bus X1 (~£2)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Valletta/Floriana (£30-55/night)
- →Gozo Channel ferry to Malta
- →Self-guided Valletta walking tour (or free tip-based walking tour)
- →Dinner at Is-Suq Tal-Belt food hall
Blue Grotto, Ħaġar Qim and Marsaxlokk
Southern Malta
Bus 74 from Valletta down to Wied iż-Żurrieq for the Blue Grotto. Shared small boats leave from the little jetty below the road, roughly £8-10 for a 20-minute harbour and cave trip through the sea arch. Walk or bus 74/201 to Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples — buy a Heritage Malta combined ticket (~£15) that also covers the Tarxien Temples and other sites. Continue by bus 81/85 to Marsaxlokk fishing village for the afternoon, where the painted luzzu boats line the harbour and seafood lunches go from about £12. Back to Valletta by bus in the evening.
🚌Arriva buses 74, 201, 81/85 (~£2 day ticket)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Valletta/Floriana
- →Blue Grotto shared boat trip (~£9)
- →Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra megalithic temples (Heritage Malta multi-site ticket ~£15)
- →Marsaxlokk fishing harbour stroll
Blue Lagoon and Comino by public ferry
Comino and northern Malta
Get an early bus to Ċirkewwa and take the Comino Ferries or Ebsons small boat across to Comino (£12-15 return). The Blue Lagoon lives up to the photos but gets crowded by midday — arrive before 10am, swim, snorkel and walk the 20 minutes over to the quieter Santa Marija Bay and the little chapel. Bring your own picnic as prices on the island are steep. Return to Ċirkewwa late afternoon and head back to Valletta. If you'd rather dive, several centres around Ċirkewwa and Cirkewwa run guided shore dives for £40-60 including kit.
🚌Arriva bus + Comino Ferries / Ebsons boat (~£14)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Valletta/Floriana
- →Public ferry to Comino (~£14 return)
- →Snorkelling and swimming at the Blue Lagoon (bring own mask/snorkel, or rent ~£8)
- →Optional guided shore dive (~£50)
Mdina, Rabat and the Dingli cliffs
Mdina, Rabat and Dingli, Malta
Bus 51/52/53 up to Mdina, the walled 'Silent City' — free to wander, small fee for the cathedral museum if you fancy it. Walk through the narrow golden-stone lanes, sip coffee on a terrace over the plain, then stroll downhill to Rabat to see St Paul's Catacombs (£6) and St Paul's Grotto. Pick up a picnic and local wine, then bus 201 out to Dingli Cliffs for a walk along Malta's highest sea cliffs — spectacular at golden hour. Dinner back in Valletta or Mdina: rabbit stew is the classic dish, £14-18.
🚌Arriva buses 51/52/53, 201 (~£2 day ticket)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Valletta/Floriana
- →Mdina old city walk (free)
- →St Paul's Catacombs, Rabat (~£6)
- →Dingli Cliffs sunset walk (free)
Last morning and departure
Valletta to Malta International Airport
Use your final morning for anything you missed — the Lascaris War Rooms (£12), the National Museum of Archaeology (£5), or one last wander through the Barrakka Gardens for the noon cannon salute. Grab pastizzi and a coffee for the road (under £3), then catch bus X4 or the direct X1 to the airport, allowing an hour and a half. Flights home.
🚌Arriva bus X4 to Malta International Airport (~£2)
🛏None — departure day
- →Barrakka Gardens and noon cannon (free)
- →Optional Lascaris War Rooms (~£12)
- →Airport transfer by Arriva bus
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,130 | £2,690 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,560 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,130
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 Self-Launched: Valletta, the Blue Grotto & Gozo Island cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,130 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,690 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,130 — a saving of roughly £1,560 (58%) 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 culture, beaches, hiking 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?
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