Photo: Land Rover Defender in Malta © iStock/William Attard McCarthy
Walking tours are so last year! This year it’s all about setting out on the undiscovered paths and discovering all the weird and wonderful locations that make Malta so unique. Hop onto a Segway and breeze through the capital city of Valletta, explore the island’s countryside on a quad bike or on a jeep safari, or reconnect with nature and take on a horse riding or kayaking tour along the coastline. Whatever your style, we’ve put a couple of recommendations together with the intention of transforming mundane sightseeing into an interactive experience worth remembering.
At the turn of the century, the Segway represented an ultramodern idea that was way ahead of its time. Today, the self-balancing vehicle has become a popular means of transportation during sightseeing, adding an edge to any traditional tour. Instead of walking around the city, why not speed through Valletta to appreciate the city’s historical highlights without breaking a sweat? Segway tours are offered in Valletta and in the rural cliff-side village of Dingli.
You can only get so far with a standard car, but if you’re interested in getting down and dirty in the Maltese countryside we strongly suggest hopping on to the back of a jeep. Jeep Safaris, operated by businesses such as Captain Morgan offer visitors the unique opportunity of visiting popular sites and off the beaten path trails. During the tour, guests can experience the thrill of cruising along Dingli’s impressive cliff edges, grazing the more secluded beaches found along Malta’s northern coast as well venturing off into remote areas. If looking for something more chilled out, chauffeur-driven Landrover Defender tours are also available through the same operator.
Ride a quad bike
Why settle for two wheels when you can have four? Quad biking tours offer fantastic opportunities to explore the islands while getting your adrenalin pumping, with various options that include an hourly rate as well as full day packages. Excursions generally include visiting several key sites such as the Red Tower, Popeye’s Village, Golden Bay, Mgarr, Mdina and the Blue Grotto amongst several others.
Horse riding
If this is your sort of thing, then you must already be aware that that every sightseeing tour is better on horseback! Local riding schools such as Bidnija Horse Riding and the Golden Bay Horse School offer various treks along the scenic routes of the northern coastline, and the untouched countryside of Bidnija, as well as tours of the charming villages of Mellieha and Wardija. Both rewarding and extremely relaxing, horse riding is definitely one of the unique ways of discovering everything the island has to offer.
Kayaking around the coastline
Admire Malta from a completely fresh perspective by embarking on a kayak tour around the island. Kayaking gives visitors the unique chance to discover the island’s remote caverns and secluded coves whilst working off those extra holiday calories. Gozo Adventures offers sea-kayaking tours of Golden Bay, L’Ahrax Point and St Paul’s islands, as well as the Xemxija Bay caves, famously employed as water entries to bunkers during the Second World War.
