Discover the Magic of Gozo & Malta

Discover the Magic of Gozo & Malta 2024

I’m excited to share my amazing and jam-packed adventure to Gozo, Malta’s enchanting sister island. Courtesy of the Malta Academy 2024 familiarisation trip, I had the pleasure of experiencing Gozo’s best bits, with a small taste of Valletta Malta, leaving me thirsty to return for more. Here’s a peek at what made this trip unforgettable.

Day 1: A Warm Welcome to Gozo

After a very smooth 3-hour flight from Heathrow, our adventure started with a seamless transport service, whisking us away to the charming island of Gozo. A journey by minibus took 45 minutes from the airport to the Gozo ferry which departs from Ċirkewwa, the northernmost point of Malta. From Ċirkewwa, you take a ferry to Imgarr Harbour which is the name of the port on the island of Gozo. The ferry is frequent every 30 to 45 mins, takes just 25 minutes, and operates 24/7.

Upon arrival, we checked into our accommodation. These were farmhouses of all different sizes with their pool (some just outside and some also had indoor pools). Perfectly located and if you were staying here, a car would be beneficial to get out and about. Each farmhouse had a full kitchen, lounge area, outside seating, utility room with washing machine, and separate bedrooms, some with ensuite. They drive on the same side of the road too, which is a bonus!

The views looked over the peaceful countryside and the village of Gharb, along with the beautiful Ta Pinu Church.

With some leisure time to unpack and freshen up for dinner, we got to know our housemates over a glass of Maltese wine, kindly left in our food hamper.

The evening set a wonderful tone for the days ahead, with a dinner hosted by the Malta Tourism Authority at Peppina, situated in a cosy corner of Xewkija, around 15 15-minute drive from the farmhouses, just the other side of the Capital Victoria. Plenty of shared starters, mains, deserts and free-flowing wine for everyone.

Day 2: A Taste of Adventure

Our day began with an in-house breakfast prepared from the welcome hamper, consisting of bread, cereal, jam, juice, eggs, bacon, cheese, cold meats, coffee and tea. An early pickup from the farmhouses with a quick coffee stop on the way for our morning of adventure at Dwejra.

Our group was split into equal numbers to have a taster of abseiling, boccia ball, segway and archery, courtesy of Gozo Adventures. An eco-friendly company, also offer activities like biking, climbing, hiking, and sea kayaking. I thoroughly enjoyed all the activities, especially the segway.

Our group in its entirety ducked out of the abseiling!

Dwejra, with its dramatic coastal formations, is beautiful. Here you can swim in the spectacular deep sea of the bay, in the calm shallows of the inland sea or the foamy waters around the Blue Hole – one of Gozo’s top dive sites.

For lunch, it was a drive of 30 minutes to one80 Kitchen at Mgarr Yacht Marina. Home to the ferry terminal and also the fast passenger ferry, the setting was great, and so was the food! A set menu was presented to us and was nothing short of a taste sensation!

We rolled onto the transfer bus to drive 5 minutes up the hill to Ta’ Philip. This was a restaurant where you could enjoy traditional Gozitan dishes slow cooked in a wood-burning oven, Also cold starters, Soups, Pasta, Grilled meat dishes, Fish cooked Al Sale (covered in Gozitan Rock Salt) and more. It is the place where LOCALS GO!! The entire group gathered for a cooking demonstration at Ta’ Philip, where we learned to prepare a traditional local dish with a modern twist.

As we gathered around his table in the restaurant, it was clear we needed to pay close attention, not only to the ingredients going into the dish but also to the method and quantities, as this was an inter-farmhouse challenge! Chef Philip was then coming to visit the houses to judge the best one before he was needed back in the restaurant!

All the ingredients were provided in our boxes…. Let battle commence to prepare the best stuffed Zucchini! The fun continued with a friendly cooking competition back at the farmhouse. The spirit of camaraderie and creativity was hilarious… Chef Philip visited the farmhouses to judge our culinary creations… the results were announced later that evening, back at his restaurant.

Day 3: Exploring Gozo’s Cultural and Natural Wonders

The third day promised a blend of culture and nature on a full-day tour, but not before a coffee, pastizzi or a croissant in Independence Square Victoria. A pastizzi is a savoury pastry, usually have a filling of ricotta or curried peas.

We walked after breakfast down to the port was a great way to see the narrow hidden streets in this historical town centre.

We set sail on a boat trip for a couple of hours to some of Gozo’s most beautiful swimming spots, soaking in the sun and crystal-clear waters. The Blue Grotto is a complex of seven caves found along the southern coast of the island.

Once back on dry land, our lunch was being kept secret for a short while

Heading up the coast, we pulled up outside a building, then led up a pathway to a stunning, recently renovated villa, overlooking the coast. We were greeted by Ana from Gozo picnics, (as featured on Ainsley Harriott Taste of Malta), and a lady from the company running the villa, called The Hive.

This is a unique wellness villa, where staying on-site will give you access to comprehensive treatments like yoga, massages, breath work, meditation and much more. I know for sure, that doing any of those programmes in the surroundings will have you feeling completely relaxed!

Spending a couple of hours here with one of Ana’s amazing picnics was bliss! Next, we visited the Ġgantija Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient megalithic structures were fascinating.

On our way back we stopped at the salt pans in Xwejni. Their formation is in a chequerboard pattern, and the shallow pools make for interesting viewing. A brief chill back at the farmhouse before going for dinner and even more food! Our day concluded with another beautiful dinner at Al Sale in the heart of Victoria Square, Xaghra.

Day 4: Farewell, Gozo

On our final day, we bid farewell to Gozo, heading back to Valletta via the Fast Ferry.

This leaves Mgarr Harbour to Valletta Grand Harbour taking just 45 minutes.

Arriving in Valletta, we were ready for a day of exploration in Malta’s historic capital

Firstly, we took the Upper Barrakka Lift, offering stunning views and a quick route to the city centre. Costing just 1 euro (March 2024), it takes 25 seconds and carries 800 passengers per hour, the doors open straight into the Upper Barrakka Gardens. These offer panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and the 3 cities.

At 12 pm and 4pm every day, the Saluting battery fires their gun salutes.

Our tour included a visit to St. John’s Co-Cathedral, renowned for its opulent interior and Caravaggio’s masterpiece, The Beheading of St. John.

A delightful lunch at Caffe Cordina, located in a historic palazzo, was the perfect way to wrap up our trip. Supposedly one of the oldest cafes in Europe, founded in 1837, the cafe serves not only coffee/tea etc but snacks, meals, cakes and of course the famous pastizzi. I could not resist a purchase for the return flight!

A Journey to Remember - My time with the Malta 2024 was a truly enriching experience. Gozo’s blend of adventure, gastronomy, culture, and natural beauty makes it a perfect destination for travellers seeking a unique and memorable getaway, whether it be for a city break or a longer duration. I look forward to sharing this incredible destination with my clients and helping them discover the magic of Gozo for themselves