Malta and Gozo Discovery

Excellent guide and well organised tour. Local food very good

Excellent trip and very knowledgeable guide

Wonderful adventure, excellent tour leader. Dreadful online customer service from London office.

Overall, a great experience and very good introduction to Malta and Gozo. Having a small group of nine was a plus. Our tour leader Chantelle was outstanding, very experienced, organized, friendly and knowledgeable. She even kept going with only a brief delay after being bitten by a dog during a free time break! She organized an evening outing for some of the group to a religious festival one night on Gozo, which was a great bonus. One suggestion would be to get an hour earlier start on the last day to spend more time in Mdina.

With Explore everything is arranged for you, you just need to turn up. It's easy travelling, with someone on-hand throughout if you need anything. Malta & Gozo Discovery trip was a full itinerary visiting some interesting sites. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, at times providing information overload. Staying in the old towns of Malta would have been preferable but was a good busy location with lots of restaurants etc. Overall a good trip.

I have been on several Explore tours and they have always been good. This tour to Malta and Gozo, however, was exceptional. The hotels were good, the size of the party just right. However, the success of the tour was primarily due to our brilliant guide who had the local knowledge and skills to ensure that we visited each site at the premium time for our visit. Chantelle was superbly knowledgeable regarding the Island and its history, communicated this at just the right level and engaged brilliantly with all the guests with such dedication that we were assured of a great trip. Full marks to Explore.

I did not enjoy this trip. Far too much time was spent in museums etc, and there was not enough free time. The guide was very knowledgeable, but unfortunately talked far too much. It felt more like a school trip than a holiday.

Scorching heat notwithstanding, I really enjoyed the Gozo and Malta trip. So much history! Beautiful sea caves! Excellent food! Itinerary was packed but well-paced, with some free time as well. I feel I got a thorough taste of the country. The thing that really made the trip unforgettable was our amazing guide Chantelle, with her encyclopedic knowledge, great organization, fun demeanor, and ready smile.

This was a great experience with an absolutely outstanding guide (Anthea Mifsud) and friendly and helpful drivers. The itinerary was strenuous and packed though rewarding. We felt the omission of the Grand Master's Palace in Valetta was a shame (but we went back under our own steam after the tour).

A week exploring Malta and Gozo has been nothing short of remarkable. From the grandeur of Valletta’s harbour and fortifications to the architectural wonder of Mosta’s dome and the timeless streets of Mdina, every stop revealed layers of rich history and culture. But the standout element? Our tour leader, Chantelle. Exceptionally well-informed, effortlessly witty, and full of infectious enthusiasm, she brought every destination to life. Her choice of local restaurants was impeccable—authentic, welcoming, and always delicious. Gozo offered tranquil contrast, with breathtaking coastlines and quiet charm. A superbly curated journey, made unforgettable by Chantelle’s expertise and warmth. A true highlight.

This was one of the best trips I’ve done with Explore-there have been many. A bit of a new experience for me though as it was my first as a single Explorer. Any anxiety I felt soon disappeared. Explore trips are great for single travellers and I made friends with others from day 1. Being centred in two hotels made this a more relaxing trip than I’ve experienced before. Even so, there was still a full and fascinating experience each day. Some might say a little too full on occasion as we had no time to enjoy the hotel facilities or linger in some places like Mdina which needed more than 2 hours. We were out from 9 until 5 most days which was quite tiring. However there was a lot to pack in. All this was made possible by wall to wall sunshine and our outstanding guide, Althea. Much of Malta’s attractions and history is complex and not immediately obvious and it pays to have a good guide. Althea was very knowledgeable, excellent at making sense of the historical facts, and shared her love of her country with us so enthusiastically that we all want to return. Importantly she was also patient and kind with all of us, especially those needing a little extra help. Can’t speak more highly of her. She is a huge asset to Explore! I loved this trip and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.

This was one of the few organised tours that I have participated in. I thought that it was excellently managed and the the tour guide was superb with delivery of her knowledge of Maltas history. She kept all participants engaged regardless of hour tired they were.

An enjoyable week visiting the highlights of Malta and Gozo. Chantelle was an excellent guide and we all enjoyed her knowledge and passion for her country. We also loved her Malta cap so much that we had to get one too!

The guide was extremely knowledgeable and was determined to tell us as much as possible. However this meant we did not have time to absorb and reflect on everything. I feel we were rushed and would have liked to go just a bit slower.

Great group, great itinerary, Chantelle was a brilliant tour leader with amazing knowledge and passion about everything to do with the history of Malta. A fascinating trip

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.

Really great trip with outstanding leader. Lots to see, but time each day to wander on your own as well as being guided.

This is a packed trip. Lots to see in gloriously sunny weather. Malta and Gozo are both full of great sights, culture, buildings, history etc. I think the itenerary could do with a review. Would have been nice to have a free afternoon to lounge by the pool and to have had more time in Marshallslokk (sp?) which is a pretty fishing village. We visited that at the end of the day and it would be better to have seen it earlier that day and to lunch there. The tour leader (Althea) was fabulous. So knowledgeable. It was great to be in the same hotel in Gozo for 2 nights and the same hotel in Malta for 5 nights.

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.

Very good your leader who was very knowledgeable and helpful. Very long walks every day so pretty tiring. Very nice group of people and a very good holiday overall.

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

Chantelle our guide was terrific. Her knowledge of history was extraordinary. She was very helpful with restaurants she was charming

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.

Fantastic week. I really enjoyed my week away to Malta and Gozo. It was an interesting week of varied sights and trips. Our trip leader, Chantelle, was friendly, incredibly knowledgeable (but adjusted to cater for our varied interests) and adaptable. The two bus drivers were friendly and kind and transported us carefully to our destinations. Highlights for me were Valletta, the 3 towns and Marsalforn

An excellent itinerary presented well by an excellent guide

I have been a few Explore trips and found our tour guide Chantelle in Malta was well organised. Always took into account the different physical needs. Gave us detailed information on certain times making sure not to over do it. She also suggested restaurants but not left the choice to us.(Unlike some other guides who wanted to go to certain places) Also kept us updated to changes in itinerary due to weather. She is a true gem in tour guides

The Explore trip we had to Malta and Gozo was fantastic! The trip was very well run by our superb leader Chantelle Shaw. She excelled in every way. We were looked after so well during the trip with a wonderful flow of knowledge about Malta and Gozo from Chantelle. She is passionate about the islands and this came through on every day of the trip, from museum visits to walks and boat trips. Photo shows Chantelle with the Maltese star. (Star on a star).

This is a thorough and comprehensive trip. It was a lovely group and March is a good time to travel, at the start of the season. Chantal is an excellent and well organized tour leader. Highly recommended.

The itinerary was varied and interesting, the leader was brilliant, friendly, knowledgeable and endlessly helpful, and the members of our small group were all good company.

This is a really great trip if you love history. Malta is a fascinating place and the Explore tour covers most of it! Be prepared for sitting in Malta’s traffic for quite a while…the urban area around Valletta & the towns & villages it’s swallowed up, is very congested. Gozo is beautiful. Go in springtime when the landscape is green and weather pleasant.

A wonderful, well-planned itinerary packed full of gems including visits to Ancient sites, the Citadel, ancient temples, museums, the harbour at Valetta, Mdina, boat rides and much more! This is a busy schedule with not much down time (traffic can be heavy in Malta, which cuts into down time). We had a fantastic time as a group that really gelled together well and had a lot of laughs & fun thanks to my fellow 'trippers'. However, this trip was made a real standout by our superb Tour Leader Althea who is 'made' for her job. An absolute font of enthusiasm and knowledge, highly observant to guests' needs and moods, nothing was too much trouble for her. I hope she is nominated for Explore Tour Leader of the Year as she more than deserves it..an excellent Tour Leader who can make or break a trip & she certainly made ours a memorable one! I would recommend that you dont hesitate if youre thinking of booking!

First of all, our Tour guide Althea was outstanding. Explore is lucky to have such a first class guide. She was knowledgeable, caring and just brilliant in all respects. The trip was well thought out encompassing history, culture and nature. Good accommodation and excellent transport by wonderful drivers. A thoroughly enjoyable trip and memorable experience!

Our guide was excellent and I can thoroughly recommend Althea whose enthusiasm and knowledge couldn’t be faulted. This made the trip. It was a great group and we all enjoyed every aspect of the trip which had been well thought out and covered a very broad spectrum of interests from wild flowers to the history of World War II. The trip ran like clockwork mainly due to Althea and our drivers. The only disappointment was not being able to take the Blue Grotto boat trip because it was too windy. The other boat trips were very enjoyable. I would certainly recommend this trip which is busy but manages to take in many many sights and places of interest all over Malta and Gozo.

The trip was well organised and planned. The accommodation was pleasant and well located. The tourguide was nice, organised, very knowledgeable and keen to share her knowledge with us. I learned a lot about Malta and found it interesting. Gozo was beautiful. Although the tour packed a lot in, I would have preferred a little more quiet time to slow down, relax and enjoy it.

Chantel our group leader was outstanding! The smaller group size made things very manageable even in busy locations.

Needs a bit more flexibility when visiting some attractions, eg at a museum say we're here for an hour, those who want to be sown around by guide fine others meet outside in an hour. It doesn't need to be so regimented. Will use Explore again but sticking to walking tours.

Althea, our tour leader was the most knowledgeable, caring, professional young woman. She showcased Gozo and Malta through a local perspective. She is a tremendous asset to Explore. For travellers wanting to experience the history, culture and everyday life of Gozo and Malta, this is an excellent trip.