Gozo

Walking on Gozo - Calypso's Isle - Short Break

Trip code: W04GO 4.8 (9 reviews)

Self-guided walking

4 nights,
single centre

Level: 1+
Leisurely plus

18.0Kg CO2e

Headwater
Navigation App

SUMMARY

  • Unspoilt Mediterranean island, temperate year-round climate, perfect for exploring on foot
  • Secluded hotel with swimming pools and tranquil gardens
  • Magnificent coastal paths, breathtaking views, colourful fishing villages
  • Masses of walking choices, route directions give maximum flexibility
  • Option to extend your stay with extra nights in Malta
  • Based on our popular 7 night, Walking on Gozo - Calypso's Isle

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • 4 nights accommodation
  • All buffet breakfasts and evening meals
  • Headwater navigation app

TRIP DESCRIPTION

Gozo, the second largest of the Maltese islands, offers an ideal setting for a walking holiday. Despite its modest size of 14km by 7km at its widest point, the island's compact nature ensures that nowhere is too far away, making exploration convenient and enjoyable. You stay at the centrally positioned Duke Boutique Hotel in Victoria, an ideal base from which to explore the entire island of Gozo. The compact capital of Victoria is the epicentre of everyday life on the island, and harmoniously blends the bustling activity of its markets and shops during the day, with a relaxed, sociable atmosphere in the evenings. Perfect for enjoying a drink or meal at one of the open-air cafes and restaurants scattered around its main square. Dominated by its recently restored medieval citadel, enjoy spectacular views over the whole island from the towering city walls. However, the real charm of Victoria lies in the maze of tiny back streets clustered around the Basilica, revealing a treasure trove of carved stone balconies, flower-decked doorways and statuettes of the Madonna in street-corner niches.

Gozo's slow pace of life and tranquil atmosphere provide a perfect backdrop for relaxation. Rich in history and culture, Gozo boasts several must-visit sites. One of the most notable is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ggantija Tombs at Xaghra. These ancient structures, dating back to 3500 BC, are the oldest freestanding temples in the world, offering a fascinating glimpse into the island's prehistoric past. Additionally, the Ta' Pinu sanctuary is another significant landmark worth visiting. This revered site is known for its stunning architecture and spiritual significance, adding to the cultural richness of your Gozo experience.

The walks guide you around the island's impressive coastline and through the cobbled streets of the traditional towns and villages and you'll have plenty of time for exploring, swimming and just soaking up Gozo's tranquil atmosphere. Its rugged landscape ensures spectacular views including Fungus Rock, a natural stone outcrop in the centre of Dwejra Bay, and the Inland Sea. Between autumn and late spring, the countryside bursts into life, revealing an incredible wealth of flora and fauna, with colourful wildflowers and scented herbs.

Terrain

The terrain is moderate with some small hills and the walking is often along ancient roads and old farm tracks. There are some steep descents to the coast and the occasional rough, stony section. Otherwise the walking is essentially 1-boot level.

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DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Arrival in Malta/Transfer to Gozo

Our taxi meets you in Malta and takes you to the ferry for the 25-minute trip across to Gozo.

You stay at Hotel Ta Cenc.

hotel details

 equivalent

Hotel Ta'Cenc, Sannat

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
AmEx
Pool
Hairdryer
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


The Hotel Ta'Cenc has an inimitable setting, scattered across the Ta'Cenc cliffs, just near the town of Sannat. This is the highest point on the island, and the views from the hotel's 400 acres of ground sweep across the entire island to the sea, even taking in Malta and Comino.

The hotel offers two enormous outdoor swimming pools and a heated indoor/outdoor pool in the spa area where treatments can be booked (payable locally). The hotel also offers a fitness centre and has tranquil gardens and the bar terrace overlooks the pool and surrounding countryside. The building itself has been built on one level to blend in sensitively with the natural surroundings, and guests are accommodated in air-conditioned single-storey stone buildings, each with its own terrace or small garden.

The standard double or twin rooms are spacious and have a private terrace or patio. The standard double rooms have a Super King size bed (75'' width) and the twin rooms have 2 x single beds (37'' width). Both are equipped with satellite television, minibar, safety deposit box, air conditioning/ heating, tea and coffee making facilities, a trouser press and en-suite bathrooms with hairdryers. Meals are usually served al fresco on the patio under a 200-year old carob tree or in the main restaurant.

Day 2: Mgarr and the Raiders' Cove (8km/5.0mi)

Mgarr is Gozo's port, full of traditional and colourful luzzu fishing boats, and dominated by the 18th century Fort Chambray, built by the Knights of St John. The path from here hugs the coast as far as the narrow creek of Mgarr ix-Xini where Turkish raiders landed in 1551 - the perfect place for a picnic and swim. From here, you follow an old mule track up through the hotel's rocky grounds with fine views across to Malta, stopping to explore the remains of a copper age temple and Neolithic dolmen.

elevation

Day 3: Ta'Pinu and Gharb (15km/9.3mi)

The north western corner of the island is only accessible on foot, along easy to navigate farm tracks. First stop is the remarkable neo-Romanesque basilica Ta' Pinu, a huge national shrine built on the site of a miracle in 1923. Your route then leads through unique ravine-like wieds (streams) to Gharb with a stunning Baroque church dating from 1699 and traditional stone houses. The final stretch takes you along the striking cliffs of the north coast where you are rewarded with fantastic views across Gozo's famous salt pans.

elevation

Day 4: Fungus Rock and the Inland Sea (13km/8.1mi)

To the west coast and the fascinating Punic burial site at Wardija Point. There's a mythical feeling here, like being on the edge of the world. Narrow stone-walled lanes lead down to bamboo groves and to Fungus Rock (named after the 'magic' plant which grew there) and the Inland Sea.

elevation

Day 5: Leave Gozo

Extending your holiday

If you'd like to extend your trip with extra hotel nights we recommend: Excelsior Grand Hotel Malta, Valletta; Hotel Phoenicia, Malta.

hotel details



Excelsior Grand Hotel Malta, Valletta

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
AmEx
Pool
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe
Tea/coffee


The 5 star Excelsior Grand Hotel Malta has magnificent views overlooking Marsamxett Harbour and Fort Manoel and is ideally placed just 2 minutes away from the walled old town centre of the Maltese capital of Valletta. It is a relaxing haven in the bustling city and its facilities boast both an indoor and outdoor pool, (pool towels available), gym, hairdressing salon, relaxing bar area with beautiful views, restaurant and impressive spa facilities.

There are a variety of rooms on offer, including the sea front rooms with amazing views, all rooms have satellite television with international channels, tea and coffee making facilities, mini bar, large safe and air conditioning and free wifi is available throughout the hotel.

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Hotel Phoenicia, Malta

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Pool
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe
Tea/coffee


The Hotel Phoenicia is a large, elegant hotel just outside the old city walls of Malta's capital, Valletta, and just 3 minutes walk from the city gate. It has retained its original architecture based on the grand style of the 1920's, with a luxurious classical decor and a blend of warm hospitality and old world service.

Unusually for a city hotel, it has extensive and quiet rear gardens with an open-air rotunda, mini golf course, gazebo, and outdoor swimming pool (heated in winter). A lovely place to stretch your legs or relax with a good book away from the hubbub of the city.

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These tour only prices are based on two people sharing. Single supplement from C$205.

TRAVEL DETAILS

Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.

REVIEWS

A very well organised holiday. Transport from the airport to the hotel was very easy. The hotel was lovely. Enjoyed all the walks and found the app easy to use.

Deborah Gorman, 18 May 2024

 

All five of us thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. We thought the combination of 4 nights on Gozo and then 2 nights in Valetta provided lots of variety with coastal walking on Gozo plus a visit to the citadel and then sightseeing in Valetta. Both hotels were excellent. We used taxis to get around on Gozo. We also enjoyed the pools and 2 of our group also went to the spa whilst on Gozo.

Gillian Bird, 30 Sep 2023

 

Absolutely fantastic holiday. Would highly recommend Headwater for their destinations and organisation. Have been with them a number of time now and they are always the first place I look at when going to book a holiday.

Ms Seaman, 21 Oct 2022

 

We booked our own hotel in Valletta as wanted it to be an old hotel in the old area – and would suggest you do offer that option to travellers on Malta. We were disappointed that at the 5 star Ta Cench hotel we were initially put into a room with clearly broken air-conditioning control and function, and workmen working on the roof from 7.0 a.m. onwards. This was not good for one of your customers, but one of the lovely customer managers was excellent at showing us replacement option rooms and upgrading us to a better room. We greatly enjoyed our stay on Gozo, and appreciated the detail of your walks. Over dinner in the beautiful restaurant on Gozo, we met several other headwater holiday travellers, who were all unanimous on their pleasure at the headwater holiday – as well we. We have limited funds, but if we can ever afford it, we should certainly travel with your company again and recommend it. Thank you



Ms Shewell, 18 Oct 2022

 

Holiday was good and as expected. Ta Cenc is excellent, and all transfers were on time etc. Would certainly recommend. Walks varied and easily accessible on Gozo. A relaxing, quiet place to stay!!

Mrs Barker, 13 Oct 2022

 

A great experience - we did regret that we hadn’t extended the 5 to a 7 night holiday . Gozo is a very special place. The hotel was excellent particularly the friendly service and the superb evening meals. The walks were delightful .The highlight was joining in a procession through a village streets as part of a local festival.

Mr John, 8 Oct 2022

 

This was our first trip to the Maltese Islands and we had a couple of days staying at the Pheonicia Hotel in Valetta, Malta before going over to our walking holiday in Gozo, which helped us to aclimatise to the area and understand its history a little. Both hotels we stayed in (the Pheonicia and Ta Cenc) were excellent, very comfortable, with great facilities and lovely food. The walks in Gozo were very interesting and helped us to see most of the island using the local bus service to take us to the start point for some walks. Our only criticism is that we needed larger scale maps and some of walk instructions need to be updated. We have done many Headwater Holidays and this was the first one where we struggled with some of the instructions, but a more detailed map would have made the difference. Otherwise it was a most enjoyable holiday- thank you!

Mrs Griffiths, 17 Sep 2022

 

Overall I can't grumble, the most significant pain was the airports, going and coming back, the walking holiday was fine.

Mr Harrison, 8 Jun 2022

 

Gozo was a quiet island, perfect for a relaxing walking holiday. As a self-guided holiday we could adjust each day's walks as we felt necessary which provided great flexibility. The Hotel Ta Cenc was excellent, and although some parts of the room décor were aging slightly, the bar and restaurant service were superb. We fully intend to return to Gozo and Ta Cenc to walk the parts of the island we couldn't reach in the short time we had booked.

Mr Simon, 8 Feb 2020

 


Self-guided walking

4 nights,
single centre

Level: 1+
Leisurely plus

18.0Kg CO2e

Headwater
Navigation App

4 nights from C$1020

CHOOSE A DEPARTURE

Call: +44 1606 720199

 

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