Valletta Tours in Spring

I appreciated that there was a lots of free time after the tours that allowed you to explore on your own. The tours pretty much covered all of the main attractions. The hotel was 1st class and you were well catered for. The tour manager was very helpful and worked hard to ensure everyone was looked after. The local guide we had on the tours was very knowledgeable and ensured we understood the history of the islands. This was my first experience being part of a tour. I think because it was a small friendly group I had a wonderful time and will definitely do another Insight tour.

Discovery is the key ... and with Chantelle as our guide we certainly did that. A local who gave us personal insights to now as well as expansive history across the ages. Such a breadth of knowledge made it easy to Explore the different flavours of Gozo and Malta; food, drink, religion from neolithic via the Knights and Popes to current worship, political changes, wars across the ages, transportation, climate, enviroment, farming, architecture and nature ... and the odd boat trip or dip to cool down too. A full on 6 days of fun and so lucky to enjoy it with an amazing group that started as strangers, that ended up as buddies.

What an amazing country, great group - a good trip with a comprehensive itinerary - the guide Althea was so enthusiastic and knew the answer to all of our history questions. I'd recommend staying an extra day in Valletta at the end.

We have not travelled with Explore before but we would do so again. The itinerary was quite full and well organised. It was tight to fit in pool relaxation time! Our local Malta and Gozo guide, Althea, was excellent.

A fascinating trip into the heart of ancient and modern Malta and Gozo with a guide who was unfailingly considerate, humorous and informative about cuisine, culture and history and provided an insight into the thoughts and opinions of the island's inhabitants, as well as being well organised and efficient. Hotels were clean and comfortable, people generally friendly and courteous. Even the weather cooperated, bringing spring sunshine with cooling breezes

Fantastic, busy, varied and very enjoyable week with a great group of people and a fantastic guide. I chose to go during Holy Week as I knew it would be a bit special and I wasn’t disappointed. It was particularly good to be based in just 2 hotels, one in Gozo and one in Malta. The islands are small so travel distances were short. Spring is a good time to go as the weather is good, not too hot for sightseeing, the countryside is green and the wild flowers were out. We had a few spots of rain on one day but that’s all and no one expected it to rain again until October. Quite windy though so boat trips were not always available. A couple of short walks by the coast were included with arrangements made for those who didn’t want to walk to still be able to see some of the main points. I particularly loved walking round the tiny streets in the old towns. Chantelle was an excellent guide, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and energetic. She made sure we saw as much as possible, rearranging the order to get round weather difficulties and closures during Holy Week, and organised for us to see the Good Friday procession in Zebbug. I would have preferred to have been given time with a meeting point in such places as the Citadel in Gozo and in particular the second archeological museum of the trip, where we were guided round even though the explanation boards were detailed and in English. Tips: If you value being able to make a tea or coffee in your room, take a kettle and supplies, or buy the supplies at the Spar in Sliema, as there are facilities in the room in the Gozo hotel but not the Malta one. I had read The Kapillan of Malta by Nicholas Monsarrat before going and thoroughly recommend this as it gives an insight into the overall history of the islands in the context of a novel. Notes for Explore: There really should be a separate set of trip notes for Holy Week as the churches were not available on Palm Sunday at the time we were there, museums are all closed on Good Friday and the Good Friday procession should be included as standard. The Essential Information section of the trip notes should be reviewed to make it trip specific as references to Polar and UK trips make it look like a slapdash job and make one wonder what else might have been done in a hurry with little research.