MALTA-Live Like a Local – November 2 – 9, 2018
Malta? Have you hear of it? Malta is in fact a very old and popular destination for European vacationers and now many Asians, Americans, and people from the Middle East frequent it. It has been the location of choice for many Hollywood and international films, often depicted as other countries because of its architecture and ancient look which is very well curated.
Are you ready for a variety of sensory experiences only serves to broaden the mind, encouraging individual growth? if so, this unforgettable culinary immersion package including roundtrip flight, hotel, local culinary experiences and classes is for you!
Perfect learning experience for food enthusiasts- single travelers, multi-generational travel, couples, mother and daughter travel, families, and girls getaways!
8 Days / 6 nights – Mystical and glamorous, Malta is a jewel in the Mediterranean.
Malta , a pristine nation located only 58 miles off the coast of Sicily , blends sea, history, historic and modern culture, rich Mediterranean cuisine and warm people who welcome guests with open hearts and over 300 days of sun each year!
The Maltese know how to throw a party, and seem to have tapped into the secret of enjoying life to the fullest. In fact, Valetta was chosen to be the European Capital of Culture in 2018. It is no wonder the Knights of St. John so fiercely protected this Mediterranean jewel. Some of the oldest Megalith temples are here, dating back more than 7,000 years. A sense of well-being permeates the Maltese islands. Live like a local and choose your optional activities- food and wine immersion with hands on cooking classes, ancient historical temple visits, boating in a grotto, spa and wellness options, a jeep safari on the island of Gozo or enjoy a Game of Thrones experience. You will be treated like royalty during your stay at the five star Palace Hotel
Are you ready to experience Malta yourself?
What’s Included:
- Roundtrip Air from NYC
- Arrival & Departure transfer from Valetta
- Full Maltese Breakfast daily
- Dingli Cliffs and Farmhouse Lunch Including Wine
- 6 nights in a deluxe room at The Palace Hotel
- Live Like a Local Walking tour of Valetta
Flights:
Departure- November 2
Turkish Air #4 11/2 DEPART JFK 2:15pm/ARRIVE IST 7:05am 11/3
Turkish Air #1369 DEPART IST 8:05am/ARRIVE Malta 8:35am
Return- November 9
Turkish Air#1370 DEPART MLA 9:30am/ARRIVE IST 1:45pm
Turkish Air#1 DEPART IST 3:05pm/ARRIVE JFK 6:15pm
RATE: $1890 per person double shared / Single $2,290 inclusive of land and airfare out of JFK
Itinerary
DAY 1 – DEPARTURE DAY
Departure day! The excitement begins as you head to the beautiful sunny Maltese Islands.
DAY 2 -VALETTA – Welcome to Malta!
Valletta, Malta’s capital and a World Heritage site, is nothing short of an open-air museum and movie set. It is a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago.
Dotted with quaint cafés and wine bars, the city is today one of Malta’s main tourist attractions, hosting among others, the majestic St John’s Co- Cathedral, the imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. It also provides a stunning snapshot of Malta’s Grand Harbour, often described as the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Transfer upon arrival.
The Palace is a luxury city center hotel situated in the heart of Sliema, Malta. It is highly rated for its services, gastronomy, organization, professional level and surroundings and it has succeeded in creating a luxurious complex inside a city. The perfect location for your holiday in Malta. Note: Check-In is not guaranteed until 3PM. You may leave your luggage and use the hotel facilities or explore the beautiful city of Valetta. Enjoy a relaxing dinner on your own.
DAY 3 – VALETTA CITY TOUR-LIVE LIKE A LOCAL-OPTION: NENU THE ARTISAN BAKER
Live like a Local Orientation and City Tour
This morning, enjoy a Valletta Walking tour in the morning. Visit St. John Cathedral and the historical jewels of the city. Walk to Upper Baracca Gardens.
Your guide will point out the off the beaten path places in town where only the locals go to eat and shop. Make sure to try a Maltese passtizi, a traditional savory pastry. Free time before returning to your hotel. (B)
AFTERNOON OPTION: Nenu the Artisan Baker-Ftira Making Expereince-Private Tour- Nenu The Artisan Baker – $54 PP (Min 10 Participants)
An included lunch will be enjoyed at an old bakery turned iconic restaurant. Nenu the Baker is arguably the best restaurant within Valletta to try a variety of traditional Maltese dishes. Learn the key ingredients in making a traditional Maltese Ftira and then have your masterpiece cooked in the families original wood oven. (L)
DAY 4 – VALETTA – OPTION: HAGAR QIM TEMPLES AND BLUE GROTTO – Today enjoying living like a local exploring Malta independently. (B)
OPTIONAL- Hagar Qim Temples and Blue Grotto-Private Tour Hagar Qim & Blue Grotto (Min 10 Participants) – $75 PP – 9am-3pm
Step back some 5500 years with a visit to the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temple sites. The temples were excavated in 1839 and are thought to have been built to worship a type of fertility goddess. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Enjoy a boat ride through the Blue Grotto – a series of sea caverns that will highlight the beautiful waters in the area. It’s a very refreshing experience!
DAY 5 – VALETTA OR OPTIONAL TOURS:COMINO & BLUE LAGOON PUBLIC TOUR OR GAME OF THRONES EXPERIENCE
Today enjoying living like a local exploring Malta independently.
OPTIONAL Tours:
A. Comino & Blue Lagoon (Public Tour)-Full Day – Public Tour- $45 PP – 9AM–3PM
An excellent, fun filled, good value for money, full day cruise for the whole family on the Delfini!
We cruise directly to the Island of Comino where we spend the day soaking up the sun, swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Blue Lagoon, relaxing on the boat or lying on the beach. The boat will be anchored at the Blue Lagoon so you will have full use of the facilities on board such as bar (serving snacks and beverages), fresh water showers, toilet & air-conditioned area.
Step back some 5500 years with a visit to the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temple sites. The temples were excavated in 1839 and are thought to have been built to worship a type of fertility goddess. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Enjoy a boat ride through the Blue Grotto – a series of sea caverns that will highlight the beautiful waters in the area. It’s a very refreshing experience!
- B. Game of Thrones Private Experience (Min 6 Participants) – $150 PP
Relive the quest for power between the Houses of Stark, Baratheon, Lannister and Targaryen on the island where it all started.
Join local actors who took part in Season One of HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones as they unravel the secrets and adventures of your favorite characters including Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Joffrey Baratheon and Cersei Lannister.
Step back in time as you travel to idyllic locations such as those used in the first season as the Red Waste, the Tower of the Hand, the Stables, Maegor’s Holdfast, the Red Keep, Cobblers Square, The Street of Steel, Baelish Brothels (ext), Coppersmith’s Wynd, King’s Gate, King’s Square, the gardens of King’s Landing and the village of Lhazar (when accessible).
Highlights:
- The Gardens of King’s Landing, where Ned Stark and Petyr Baelish discuss allying with the Knights of the Vale
- The Tower of the Hand, where the Lannisters eradicate the Starks and where Arya commits her first kill with “Needle” Maegor’s Holdfast where Septa Mordane is decapitated and Sansa is taken hostage by
- The HoundThe Shadow Cliffs, along which the Khaleesi and her Dothrakis travel on their way West
- The Red Waste, where Daenerys stages Khal’s fiery burial and where she gives birth to the three dragons, which ends
Season 1
- The village of Lhazar, where the Dothrakis kill the Lamb Men and enslave Mirri Maz Duur (subject to access)
- King’s Gate, the main entrance to King’s LandingMain Square, where Catelyn Stark conspires with Ned against the Lannisters
Coppersmith’s Wynd, a typical long narrow winding lane in King’s Landing
- The Baelish Brothels, where the truth about the dagger used in the botched attempt on Bran Stark’s life is revealed
- Cobblers’ Square, where Jaime kills Jory and duals Ned Stark
- The Street of Steel, where Ned and Jory follow Jon Arryn’s last movements
- Tobho Mott’s Smithy, where Ned discovers Gendry
- The Red Keep, where Ned confronts Cersei about her carnal relationship with her twin brother Jaime and Joffrey’s right
DAY 6 – DINGLI CLIFFS AND FARMHOUSE LUNCH – Today enjoying living like a local exploring Malta . (B,L)
Dingli Cliffs and Farmhouse Lunch Including Wine
You will be treated to the spectacular views of Dingli Cliffs which are the highest point of the Maltese Islands at 253 metres above sea level. The Cliffs propose a majestic, overlooking the small terraced fields below, the open sea and Filfla & the small uninhabited island (used as target practice during the WWII). Nearby arrive at Clapham Junction to discover the mysterious cart ruts. These deep ruts, rilles, tracks, grooves, channels left in Malta’s limestone but in such numbers, variety and confusion that they leave more questions than answers.
Afternoon Farm to Table Lunch
Direct from the farmers and straight to your plate. Enjoy a wonderful farmer’s lunch coupled by an exploration of a farm. You’ll be in one of the most rural areas of Malta – in your own little oasis to enjoy a delectable array or food products and local wine.
DAY 7- VALETTA OR OPTIONAL GOZO JEEP SAFARI
Today you will enjoy a day at leisure or return to Valetta for and independent day of shopping and culture. (B.)
OPTION: Gozo Jeep Safari – Public Tour – $115 PP
This very popular Jeep Safari is an ideal excursion where one visits all the highlights but also experiences the outskirts leading to the hidden gems of Gozo. Your professional Safari Leader will guide you to laces that even some local people don’t know of their existence, unveiling scenic beauties and breathtaking views of the island including Xewkija Rotunda, Ggantija Temples, Ta’ Kola Windmill, Calypso’s Cave, Ramla Bay, Marsalforn and Xwejni Bays, the Salt Pans, Ghasri Valley, Gordan Lighthouse, Ta’ Pinu Basilica, Azure Window, Inland Sea, Fungus Rock, Victoria, the Citadel, Xlendi Bay and also Qala Belvedere.Make sure you bring your cameras with you!
Notes
Included: Return Transfers from the hotel, Lunch with Wine, Ferry Tickets, Private Power boat ride back to Malta via Comino.
DAY 8 – DEPARTURE
Today you will depart from beautiful Malta, taking with you a piece of history, culture and new friends.
Accommodations at your hotel
The Deluxe rooms at this hotel are designed for the flexible traveler. If you are a city enthusiast then these are the rooms that have been specifically designed to match your tastes, especially when you sit and admire the city views that will surely give you that holiday feeling. All rooms boast a pleasant balcony with seating, providing views of the city from different angles. Although Sliema is a European town, the quaint flat limestone roofs and ornate baroque churches adorned with limestone carving, make this place one-of-a-kind, with a touch of history and a slower pace of life.
Optional Tour Costs:
GOZO Jeep Tour – Public Tour – $115 PP
Comino & Blue Lagoon – Public Tour- $45 PP
Private Tours ( Minimum passanger requirements)
Hagar Qim & Blue Grotto (Min 10) – $75 PP
Game of Thrones Private Tour (Min 6 Pax) – $150 PP
Nenu The Artisan Baker – $54 PP (Min 10)
Perfect for Any Occasion
Looking to mark a special birthday or anniversary? Do a mother and daughter travel trip? Just get away on your own? Our trips are versatile and welcoming to everyone.
