Overview: Versatile and Vibrant, this small country has much to offer.  Intensely religious and politically savvy, the Maltese are known for socializing and spending many hours out of doors.  They enjoy meeting tourists who respect their traditional culture.  Local wine bars are always packed with people savoring the fruits of their labor. 

There’s a lot going on in Malta for an island that’s only about 30 kilometers long!  And its lessons are very accessible as English is an official language.  The British were the islands’ last colonial rulers.  Malta only became an independent democratic republic in 1974.  Even so, it has a geographic and cultural history reaching back 4000 years.  Plentiful evidence of Neolithic temples, Moorish forts, Ottoman mosques and Templar defenses make this a paradise for historical fact and fiction.  The island nation is unique in one aspect – it was once ruled by the Maltese Knights of St. John, the only rulers who did not have a “home country” outside of Malta.

Day 1: Meet your tour escort for the airport transfer to Frankfurt, or join the group at Frankfurt airport for evening check-in.  Direct flight to Valletta.  Meet the local representative and transfer to the 4-star resort hotel.

Day 2: After breakfast (included), depart for a whole day excursion in Valletta, the only world capitol completely under UNESCO World Heritage protection.  Visit the Barracca Gardens for a breathtaking view of the Grand Harbor and appreciate the entire history of Malta in a multi-vision show, the “Malta Experience”.  The tour encompasses many of Valletta’s architectural gems and significant collections.  See the facade of the Grand Master’s Palace, which anchors the landscape of downtown Valletta.  Visit the Archeological Museum for an understanding of Malta’s place as an island in the crossroads of the Mediterranean.  Explore St. John’s Co-cathedral to find the huge Caravaggio masterpiece, “The Beheading of John the Baptist”.   Round out the first day with a lunch (included) at a downtown restaurant and a stroll through the shopping market for the first taste of Maltese wares.  Return at about 5 p.m. to the hotel, with time to freshen up before your hotel buffet dinner.  The night is still young!  Take a stroll along the ocean front boardwalk or into town for a sampling of some Maltese wine bars and local atmosphere.

Day 3: After breakfast (included), enjoy a whole day excursion to Gozo.  Your Maltese adventure would not be complete without a visit to Malta’s sister island of Gozo (bus and ferry).  With scenery and culture very different from that of Malta, the capitol city of Victoria will amaze you with its Citadel, the imposing ruins of Ggantija and the panoramic wonders of Fungus Rock, the Inland Sea and the Azur Window.  Your lunch on Gozitanic specialties (included) will tickle your taste buds with local cheese in various forms (fresh, dried and marinated in pepper, vinegar and oil), fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, onions, capers, olives and oil, the flavorful Maltese bread and local wines, and a wonderful dessert – a MUST for every visitor! Return at about 5:30 p.m. to your resort hotel.  Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant with Maltese specialties, just a short walk away from the hotel. 

Day 4: 

After breakfast (included), depart your hotel for a whole day outing to Mdina and Rabat.  Included in the day are visits to the interesting botanical gardens of San Anton and the handiwork center at Ta Qali (shopping!).  Mdina was the former capitol of the 30 mile-long island and remains a mecca for lovers of beautiful scenery and winding old-town streets.  Visit the St. Paul’s Cathedral and maybe take in a special exhibition of copperplate engravings and woodcuts by the German master, Albrecht Dürer.  Take your time and stroll through the narrow winding streets.  With its abbeys and palaces, Mdina resembles more a fortress than a town.  Nearby see the town of Rabat and visit St. Paul’s church.  Lunch opportunities are provided (not included). Return to the resort hotel at about 5:30 p.m. for the hotel buffet dinner. After dinner take the opportunity to sample more of the Maltese night scenery with a trip by bus to downtown Valletta, or along the local boardwalk.

Day 5:  Breakfast (included) at the hotel and check out.  Transfer to the airport and return flight to Germany.