History and Prehistory of Malta & Gozo

Prehistoric, Roman and Crusader Jewels

Trip Scholar: Professor Caroline Malone

Emeritus Professor of Prehistory at Queen's University, Belfast and Affiliated Lecturer, University of Cambridge
Available to Alumni of Oxford and Cambridge, family and friends

7 day tour
Price from £2,650

Tour date 5 -11 October 2025

The small island of Malta stuns with its extraordinary historical and archaeological sites, with remains of a civilization capable of complex stone temple-building a thousand years before Egypt built its Great Pyramids. Its natural harbours and strategic Mediterranean location subsequently made Malta the irresistible object of occupation for every trading or invading force in the region, from Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs to the Sicilians, and most significantly, the Knights of St John, who held the island for over 200 years. The cultural and architectural legacy of these invaders is what makes the island such a joy to discover, as we unravel its rich and complex history.

Printer-friendly version of tour itinerary

Tour highlights

  • Explore Valetta, the compact and beautiful fortified Crusader capital of Malta, with its fascinating Archaeological museum
  • Visit Mdina, the island’s stunning ancient citadel, and see the Roman remains at Rabat
  • Marvel at Malta’s sophisticated prehistoric inhabitants, exploring the 4th century BC burial site Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Megalithic temples Haġar-Qim and Mnajdra, and elaborate Tarxien temple
  • Ferry to Gozo to see the Neolithic temple of Ggantija, one of the world’s oldest free-standing structures
  • Enjoy a boat trip to the beautiful Blue Grotto with dazzlingly azure waters and towering limestone cliffs
  • Two half-days of free time built-in to allow for your own exploration or relaxation

 

Malta - Neolithic Temples at Ggantija Gozo - Square - iStock-577955706 Credit Aksenovko

Itinerary at a glance (click on the itinerary tab for full details)

Day 1:    Tour starts in Valetta/Sliema |  Check into hotel from 15:00 |  Welcome dinner
Day 2:    National Museum of Archaeology  |  Walking tour of Valletta  |  Palace of Grand Masters |  Cathedral of St John
Day 3:    Medival citadel of Mdina  |  Visit village of Rabat and cart ruts  |  Afternoon at leisure
Day 4:    Ferry to Gozo  |  Discover the megalithic temples at Ġgantija  |  Xagħra Stone Circle  |  Victoria Archaeology Museum
Day 5:    Explore the Megalithic temples at Tarxien   |   Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum  |  Cave of Ghar Dalam  |  Boat trip to Blue Grotto
Day 6:    Scenic prehistoric sites of Ta’ Ħaġrat and Ta’ Skorba  |  Free time this afternoon / optional wine-tasting excursion
Day 7:    Free time until 12:00 for sightseeing/souvenir shopping  |  Cruise around Valletta’s harbour by Dghaisa |  Tour ends

Dates and Prices
Prices are in UK£, per person, based on double occupancy

5-11 October 2025
Room TypePriceSingle SupplementDirect flight from LondonAvailability
Standard£2,650£800£300-£400 returnGood availability

Inclusions
Twin or double bedded hotel room with ensuite bathroom (4* boutique), daily breakfast, lunches daily except Day 1 and Day 6, dinners every evening except Day 3 and day of departure, all excursions with local guides including entrance fees, vehicles, expert leader.   Also included are return group airport transfers if arriving/departing on Temple World’s recommended flights.

Single occupancy supplement for solo travellers in twin/double room £800

Exclusions
Transport to and from Malta (see optional flights below), dinner on day 3 and day of departure, lunch on arrival day and day 6, drinks,  private airport transfers if required, travel insurance,  tips to local guides/porters, items of a personal nature (ie souvenirs, snacks)

Optional flights
Temple World can arrange flights to co-ordinate with this tour.  As a guide the cost for return flights with BA/Malta Airlines is from £300 return from London, but airfares are subject to availability and pricing at the time of booking.  Our preferred flights will be added to this page in November (schedules for October 2025 are not yet available).

We will arrange a group transfer for all travellers arriving/departing on our recommended flights.  We can quote for private transfers at extra cost for arrivals/departures on any other flights.

Malta Airlines flies from London Heathrow and London Gatwick only.  Flights via low-cost carriers are also available from Manchester.

Should you wish to extend your stay in Malta with extra nights in Valletta or with a relaxing beach stay we would be delighted to recommend and quote our favorite tried and tested hotels.

As a price guide the return cost for the main group flights shown from London Heathrow is about £300-£500 return per person, with early booking most likely to result in fares at the lower end of this range.

Please contact us for assistance or advice regarding flights.

Booking your own travel
Clients who would like to travel using airmiles as payment for the ticket/upgrades, or who wish to fly on a low-cost carrier are advised to book their own flights as we are not able to book these types of tickets on behalf of clients.   If arriving/departing at a different time to the main group you will not be able to take part in the group transfer to/from the airports however we will be happy to arrange and quote for private transfers to meet any flight time if required.

VERY IMPORTANT! Those making their own arrangements should check with us before making any binding or non-refundable flight arrangements, firstly because the tour departure is not guaranteed until we reach minimum numbers, and secondly to obtain advice that the proposed flights will work with start/finish times of the tour. 

Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour will be at the same boutique 4* hotel throughout.

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Immunisations

No vaccinations are usually recommended for most straightforward touristic visits to Malta,  as long as travellers are up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine. See your GP or travel health professional at least 4-6 weeks before travel for advice tailored to your personal requirements, as some people may be recommended to have certain precautionary vaccinations depending on their personal health.

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Entry Regulations
Malta follows Schengen area rules.  UK passport holders can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Malta, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.  A European Visa Waiver scheme is due to be introduced in November 2025 and will mean UK passport holders need to apply online and pay a small fee, but at present this does not apply.  Other nationalities should check whether they need a visa via this link.     UK passports must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Malta/the Schengen region, and must have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive.  Any additional validity over 10 years will not be counted – check to see if you need to renew your passport in advance of travel.  If arriving from a country in the Yellow Fever zone (parts of Africa and South America) it is mandatory to show a Yellow Fever certificate on entry to Malta.

Fitness Guideline
We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate.

Further and more detailed information will be added shortly.

Trip Scholar
Professor Caroline Malone, Emeritus Professor of Prehistory at Queen’s University, Belfast/affiliated lecturer at the University of Cambridge
Professor Caroline Malone, Cantab, has undertaken research and fieldwork in Malta for over 30 years.  Most noteable is the FRAGSUS project excavating at the Neolithic temples sites of Ggantija, Santa Verna, Kordin III and Skorba as well as Tac Cawla.  FRAGSUS is a collaboration between the University of Malta, the University of Cambridge, Heritage Malta and Queen’s University Belfast. Outside of fieldwork, Professor Malone has been an editor of Antiquity, Keeper of the Department of Prehistory and Early Europe at the British Museum, and senior tutor of Hughes Hall, Cambridge. She is co-author of ‘Temple Places: Excavating cultural sustainability in prehistoric Malta’ with her husband, Cambridge Archaeologist Simon Stoddart.

Lectures during our tours
All our tours are accompanied by an academic ‘trip scholar’ as well as local guides. The local guide or guides provide the day-to-day guiding on our tours, whilst the trip lecturer will give regular lectures on his/her specialist subject throughout to provide an academic overview. Lectures/talks usually last 30-40 minutes including questions and answers (if applicable). These are generally held in the evenings before dinner and attendance is optional. We don’t usually specify before travel which days the lectures will be given (for operational reasons) but guests can expect them roughly every other day as a minimum, with some lecturers giving some kind of talk or presentation more frequently, especially on shorter tours.

Private extensions in Malta
For those who would like to explore the island further, or simply add a few days’ relaxation time after the tour, we would be delighted to quote for hotels and transfers to extend your stay.

The sea temperatures in early October in this part of the Mediterranian is still warm for swimming, and with air temperatures usually in the mid to high 20s with blue skies,  this means whether you’d like to explore or just relax by the sea this is the ideal time to go.

Radisson Blu Resort at Golden Sands
Why not end your stay on the coast, with a three night stay on Malta’s best beach.  The Rarisson Blu at Golden Sands (around 12 miles from Valletta) features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an excellent spa, and seven restaurants.  

Price: Around £320 per room per night including breakfast.

Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz
Just a short ferry ride from Malta on the island of Gozo, this low-rise five star hotel is an ideal place to relax after the tour. With extensive gardens, pools and an excellent spa, the hotel is on the edge of a village, not far from Dwejra, a marine conservation area. There is safe swimming at the Inland Sea, and boat trips through the gothic-ceilinged cave tunnel leading to the open sea.

Price: Rooms from around £300 per night, including breakfast. We can also quote for transfers and ferry to and from Gozo.

Corinthia Palace Hotel
For those not looking for a coastal stay but nevertheless looking to relax, we highly recommend the Corinthia Palace Hotel. Located in a 19th century villa in the village of San Anton, it is blissfully removed from the tourist trail. There is an exceptional spa, inviting gardens, large outdoor and indoor pools, and a superb range of dining choices onsite including a Michelin-starred restaurant. A hotel shuttle runs to and from Valletta for those using it as a base to explore.

Price: From around £340 per room per night including breakfast.

Please contact lia@templeworld.com  for advice or a quote on any private pre or post tour extensions.

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    OUR ALUMNI TOURS

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