Secrets of Malta Walking — Self-Launched
8 days · Malta
Exodus charges £1,440
No-markup version: ~£355 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Base yourself in lively St Julian's and explore Malta's rich history and dramatic coastlines on this flexible self-launched walking week. Follow the golden sandstone trails past ancient Punic tombs, 1,000-year-old carob trees and staggering cliffs to the island's prettiest fishing villages, with a 7-day bus pass covering all your transfers. Wander the backstreets of Valletta, Europe's smallest capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, hike Malta's 'fish tail' with views to Gozo and Comino, and time your Marsaxlokk visit to coincide with the famous Sunday fish market. This is a do-it-at-your-own-pace week — walk where you want, when you want, and enjoy a cold beer by the bay afterwards.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Malta
St Julian's
Fly into Malta International Airport and take the X2 express bus (~€3, ~30 min) to St Julian's, the lively resort area that's your base for the whole week. Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in the quieter part of St Julian's, then grab an early dinner at one of the many seafront restaurants along Spinola Bay watching the traditional colourful luzzu boats bob in the harbour.
- →Arrive at Malta International Airport
- →Take the X2 airport bus to St Julian's (~€3)
- →Evening stroll along Spinola Bay
Malta's 'fish tail' coastal walk
Golden Bay / NW Malta
Catch a bus towards Golden Bay or the northern coast and walk Malta's 'fish tail' peninsula. Follow clifftop paths with breathtaking views across the azure Mediterranean towards Gozo and Comino, passing watchtowers that speak to the island's strategic naval history. Stop for a swim at one of the beautiful beaches en route. A shorter optional version is easy to arrange by cutting inland at one of the bus stops back to St Julian's.
- →Bus to Golden Bay start point
- →Hike the 'fish tail' coastal path (~15 km)
- →Swim at a beach along the way
- →Return bus to St Julian's
Xemxija Trail to Majjistral Nature Park
Xemxija / Majjistral Park
Take the bus to Xemxija and pick up the scenic trail westwards. Explore ancient cave dwellings, Punic tombs carved into the rock and pass a celebrated 1,000-year-old carob tree before entering the ecologically diverse Majjistral Nature and History Park on Malta's northwestern tip, where pristine coastline and rare flora await. ~12 km of undulating Mediterranean walking.
- →Bus to Xemxija
- →Visit ancient tombs and cave relics
- →Hike the Xemxija–Majjistral trail (~12 km)
- →Explore Majjistral Nature Park
- →Return bus to St Julian's
Xemxija Hill, Mistra and Selmun
Mistra Bay / Selmun
A shorter and gentler walking day (~6 km) that rewards you with superb views over Mistra Bay, Xemxija and St Paul's Bay. Follow the coastline out to the Selmun peninsula, where the silhouette of the Selmun Palace dominates, and enjoy a relaxed afternoon. Make the most of the spare time to swim at Mistra Bay or linger over a long lunch with sea views.
- →Bus to Xemxija Hill
- →Coastal hike to Mistra and Selmun (~6 km)
- →Swim at Mistra Bay
- →Lunch with sea views
- →Return bus to St Julian's
Valletta city walk
Valletta
Take the bus to Valletta, Europe's smallest capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, for a self-guided ~10 km walking circuit. Start at the Triton Fountain by City Gate, wander the steep grid of narrow streets with their honey-coloured limestone architecture, and walk the Saluting Battery and Upper Barrakka Gardens for stunning views across the Grand Harbour. Dip into St John's Co-Cathedral (entry ~€15) to see Caravaggio's masterpieces.
- →Bus to Valletta (7-day pass covers it)
- →Self-guided city walk through Valletta
- →Visit St John's Co-Cathedral (~€15 entry)
- →Upper Barrakka Gardens & Saluting Battery views
- →Explore the Lower Barrakka Gardens and fortifications
- →Return bus to St Julian's
Rabat and Mdina
Rabat / Mdina
Bus to Rabat, one of Malta's oldest settlements, and walk the ~13 km loop encompassing the silent walled city of Mdina (the 'Silent City'), its fortified bastions and dramatic coastal cliffs beyond. Explore Mdina's narrow atmospheric lanes and cathedral, then descend through Rabat's catacombs. The coastal leg offers some of the island's finest cliff scenery.
- →Bus to Rabat
- →Visit Mdina, the medieval 'Silent City'
- →Explore Rabat's early Christian catacombs (~€5)
- →Coastal cliff walk (~13 km)
- →Return bus to St Julian's
Marsascala to Marsaxlokk Bay
Marsascala / Marsaxlokk
Time this walk for a Sunday to catch Marsaxlokk's legendary fish market. Take the bus to the fishing town of Marsascala and walk the ~8 km coastal path to Marsaxlokk Bay, passing dramatic sandstone cliffs and magnificent sea views. Arrive at Marsaxlokk to explore the colourful traditional luzzu fleet and browse the bustling market. Follow with grilled fresh fish at a harbourfront restaurant before bussing back to St Julian's.
- →Bus to Marsascala
- →Coastal hike to Marsaxlokk (~8 km)
- →Explore Marsaxlokk harbour & luzzu boats
- →Visit the Sunday fish market
- →Fresh seafood lunch by the bay
- →Return bus to St Julian's
Depart Malta
St Julian's
Enjoy one last Maltese breakfast and a morning swim or stroll before catching the X2 bus back to Malta International Airport for your flight home.
- →Final breakfast in St Julian's
- →Take X2 airport bus (~€3) to the airport
- →Depart Malta
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£355 | £1,440 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,085 per person (75%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£355
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 Secrets of Malta Walking — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £355 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,440 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £355 — a saving of roughly £1,085 (75%) 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, city-breaks 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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