ESTER IN MALTA - 4 NIGHTS

Day 1: ARRIVAL - On arrival at Malta International airport, guests will be met by our Hospitality Team and transferred to the accommodation. Check-in and overnight

Day 2: FULL DAY PRIVATE TOUR (Gozo) - After breakfast, guests will meet the guide and will be transferred to Cirkewwa, which is in the North of the Island, from where they will board the ferry for the 20 minutes journey to Gozo. Compared to its south-eastern neighbour, Gozo is more rural and known for its scenic hills which are featured on its coat of arms. Ggantija, to visit the famous Megalithic Temples, which are the world's oldest free-standing structures and the world's oldest religious structures. Some of the megaliths of the Ġgantija Temples exceed five metres in length and weigh over fifty tons. Giants were believed to have constructed these prehistoric temples and that is from where their name originates. At the end of the visit, guests will be transferred to Victoria, also called ir-Rabat, for the visit of the Old Citadel. The Old Citadel also called Citadella, rises dramatically above ir-Rabat, was built at a perfect strategic vantage point and it defiantly dominates the skyline exactly as intended by the military architects who built it. The Citadella has been at the centre of activity on the island since possibly Neolithic times, and was certainly fortified during the Bronze Age around 1500 BC. It was later developed by the Phoenicians and in Roman times, it was a complex Acropolis. After the visit, lunch will be served in traditional restaurant, to taste some local products as such as the "Gozitan Platter" a combi-dish of olives, zalzett (coriander-flavoured Maltese sausage), bigilla (broad bean paste), chees (sheep or goat), Aljoli dip (local dip made of garlic, vinegar, kunserva, sundried tomatoes, tomatoes, onions, capers, and fresh herbs), and galletti (Maltese crackers) or crusty Maltese bread (drinks are included). After lunch, guests will re-board their transport for a panoramic tour of the Island, which includes: the famous Saltpans, which are situated on the north coast of Gozo and are 350-year-old, the Ta' Pinu Sanctuary, which today is dedicated to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, was built between 1920 and 193 and is an architectural masterpiece, especially inside with its superb sculptures and craftsmanship in Maltese stone and Dwejra Bay, with its dramatic coastal formations and sea spilling over the rocks, is a magical attraction. At the end of the tour, guests will be transferred to the Gozo Harbour for the ferry back to Malta. Evening at leisure and overnight

Day 3 (Easter): DAY AT LEISURE to visit and enjoy Valletta, which is Malta’s capital City, a World Heritage site and is nothing short of an open-air museum. It is a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago. Throughout the years, Valletta has welcomed emperors, heads of state, artists and poets and is now the permanent seat at of the Maltese government. Dotted with quaint cafes 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. Overnight

Day 4: PRIVATE HALF DAY TOUR (Mdina) - After breakfast, guests will meet their guide and be transferred to Mdina for a walking tour of the famous 'silent city'. Mdina is the ancient capital of Malta whose first settlements date back to 4000 BC and is approximately 10 km from Valletta. The walled city is known as the 'silent city' because of its quiet, narrow streets. Currently, only residents of the city are allowed to bring their cars inside the city gates, making Mdina a true paradise for pedestrians. Upon arrival in Mdina, guests will stop by the old city gate to enjoy a breathtaking view of the ancient bastions and enjoy Kinnie (local drink) or Cisk (national beer) and Ftira (traditional Maltese bread usually topped with anchovies, tuna, beans, fresh tomatoes, onions, capers and olives. This tour includes a visit to the Mdina Cathedral, which is commonly known as St Paul's Cathedral, was designed by avant-garde Baroque architect Lorenzo Gafà and is dedicated to St Paul the Apostle - the patron saint of Malta. Flanked by twin bell towers, the cathedral's imposing ochre façade opens out into a majestic space with marble, ornate masonry and richly decorated side chapels. The gilded arched vault inside depicts the shipwreck of St Paul in Malta, as described by Luke the Evangelist in the Acts of the Apostles, in a series of breathtaking paintings by the Manno brothers. At the end of the tour, guests will be transferred to their hotel. Afternoon, evening and dinner at leisure. Overnight

Day 5: DEPARTURE - After breakfast and the check out, guests will be transferred to the airport for their flight back home.