DAY ONE

DEPARTURE

I flew with KM Malta Airlines from London Heathrow, travelling there easily via an LNER train from Durham to King's Cross, followed by a quick tube ride to Terminal 4. I stayed at the Premier Inn at Terminal 4 before and after the trip – a clean, spacious hotel just a 10-minute walk from the terminal, with a great meal deal option.

At the KM Malta Airlines check-in desk, I met the group and our friendly hosts, Jason from Travelsphere and Kirstie, our holiday director. Check-in and security were quick, and the flight ran smoothly.

On arrival in Malta, we transferred to Qawra and checked into the stunning AX ODYCY Hotel. This hotel is perfect for couples, solo travellers, or families, and the beach is just across the road.

That evening, we met our enthusiastic guide, Ivan. We enjoyed a delicious meal at the traditional Ta' Marija restaurant, stopping at the historic Mosta Rotunda. We tasted local dishes like rabbit and ricotta ravioli, soaked in the lively atmosphere, and even joined in with the folklore dancing!

DAY TWO

VALETTA

On our first full day, we visited Malta's capital, Valletta. I loved it here, as it was the perfect mixture of old and new, housing the same architecture that stood many moons ago, with the addition of shops, bars, and restaurants - if you travel to Malta, don't skip Valetta! Ivan summarised the history surrounding St John's Co-Cathedral as we explored inside.

Whilst in Valetta, we overlooked the Grand Harbour with a visit to the Upper Barrakka Gardens; we also witnessed a firing of one of the famous cannons at the Saluting Battery, which is worth seeing.

We drove through the Three Cities of the Grand Harbour area: Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa. Ivan was keen to tell us about the maritime history of these ancient areas. My favourite part of the visit to Valetta was the dgħajsa cruise through the harbour. It is definitely something I would do again!

After returning to AX ODYCY Hotel, we dined in their gastropub, Cheeky Monkey's, which offered various food and drink options.

DAY THREE

BLUE GROTTO

On day 3, we set off for the Blue Grotto, stopping at one of Ivan's viewpoints for a scenic view of the sea caves from above. One of the most exciting parts of my experience was the boat trip at the Blue Grotto, which was included in Travelsphere's guided tour. On its own, it costs €10 per adult and €5 per child.

Marsaxlokk was also on the roster for this day, a bustling fishing village with some amazing seafood, craft, souvenir, and sweet stalls (I treated myself to some Maltese almond and honey nougat, which

was 10/10!)

We were guests for dinner at the Diar II-Bniet Estate restaurant, a third-generation, family-run Agrifarm. I sampled locally produced food, including olive oils and cheese.

On our way back to the hotel, we visited San Anton Botanical Gardens, home to trees gifted by visiting royals!

I tried the accommodation's Side Street Bar, opting for a frozen mango daiquiri, before heading across the road to Ricardo's, the hotel's Italian restaurant. The pasta was my go-to!

DAY FOUR

GOZO

A short ferry ride and a day trip over in Gozo was the action plan for day 4. We grouped up bright and early, with an 8:15 am start, heading over to Cirkewwa to catch the ferry. With it being a public holiday, the ferry terminal was not too busy, and the journey across the sea only took around 20 minutes.

In Gozo, we investigated the Xwejni Salt Pans, getting a glimpse into the age-old tradition of salt harvesting; Ivan explained the process to us, and it was fascinating to hear about!

Today's lunch was at Fontana Cottage, with a fresh, farm-to-table meal. I enjoyed watching the hosts demonstrate how traditional sheep's cheese is made! Whilst making our way here, we stopped at the Shine of Ta' Pinu, marvelling at its colourful mosaics.

We spent the afternoon in Rabat (also known as Victoria), which had cute souvenir shops and plenty of places to stop off for a drink or a quick bite.

After our ferry ride back to our hotel in Malta, we ate at the Luzzu Mediterranean restaurant. Luzzu was my favourite restaurant in the hotel, as it had the most choices, ranging from salads to burgers to pizzas to pasta! I chose to have the carbonara, which might have been the best I've ever eaten!

DAY FIVE

MOSTA AND MDINA

Day 5 was our last full day of the tour. After AX ODYCY's buffet breakfast, we started the day with a trip to Naxxar, where we visited Palazzo Parisio, a palace with an incredible history that is now often used as a wedding venue! 

After this, we were off to Mosta, where we observed the Rotunda and learnt of its miraculous WWII survival.

Next, we drove to Mdina, a fortified city and the former capital of Malta. Ivan was eager for us to try another Maltese delicacy, Pastizzi, a traditional savoury pastry; I tried both a ricotta and a curried pea one—both were quite good snacks and tastier than I had initially anticipated (my favourite was the ricotta one).

We enjoyed some free time within Mdina and wandered to nearby Rabat, browsing their selection of souvenir shops.

On the drive back to the hotel, we stopped at a part of the Dingli Cliffs. It was an extremely windy day, but we braved it and walked along the cliff, which led to a stunning view and a tiny rock window overlooking the sea.

It was time to say goodbye to our tour guide, Ivan, after a week of increasing our knowledge of Malta. Jason and Kirstie explained that tipping is expected, with around €3 per day recommended — although it's ultimately up to each traveller. I decided to tip €20 because Ivan's service was brilliant!

That night, we ate at AX ODYCY's buffet restaurant. There was an assortment of food and something to meet everyone's dietary requirements. A few of us then headed up to the Medusa Sky Bar with Jason and Kirstie for a chat and a cocktail, where there were live dancers and an incredibly lively atmosphere!

DAY SIX

LAST DAY

The final day was mine to explore! After checking out of my room and having breakfast, I strolled over to St Paul's Bay. The walk is around 25 minutes (not including the stop to browse the impressive handmade glass creations in the shop just around the corner from the hotel).

On my wander back, I went into Malta's Classic Car Collection museum on Tourist Street; the entry fee was €10, but inside was much bigger than I had anticipated, with the contents spread across two floors. I'd say that this museum is worth a visit if you happen to be nearby!



It was then time for our group to transfer to the airport, ready for our flight home. We discussed the top moments of the journey and what we had enjoyed seeing and learning. We said our final goodbyes upon arriving at London Heathrow Airport and collecting our cases. The next day, after a good night's rest and with the memories of the fantastic experience, I headed off on my journey back home.