About this trip.
Malta is small, Gozo smaller still, and eight days on foot is enough to know both reasonably well. The archipelago sits in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast — limestone bones, terraced fields, harbours cut into honey-coloured cliffs, and the fingerprints of Phoenicians, Knights, Arabs, French and British layered one on top of the next. Walking here is not about distance or altitude. It's about the texture of the places you move through.
Two islands, two tempers
Malta, the larger island, is busy and built-up through its centre — Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's, the conurbation around Grand Harbour — but the western and southern edges open out into country lanes, coastal cliffs and stretches of deep prehistory. The Dingli cliffs drop sharply to the sea. The Neolithic temples at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra predate the Pyramids. You move from villages with rooftop domes to exposed headlands where the path is mostly you and the wind.
Gozo, a short ferry crossing from Ċirkewwa, is the quieter half. Terraced fields, small hilltop villages, the walled Citadella at Victoria. Walking on Gozo tends to feel more rural and more unhurried — the island is about a third the size of Malta and carries a fraction of the population. Coastal paths, inland tracks, and the limestone underfoot are the through-line.
The rhythm of the week
Eight days and seven nights works out as roughly five or six walking days, with arrival and departure taking the edges. The structure is an island-hopping route: time on Malta, the ferry across, a few days on Gozo, and the return. Distances are moderate rather than punishing — Malta's highest point is only 253 metres — and much of the terrain is minor roads and rural tracks rather than dedicated trails, which suits walkers who want the landscape without the climb.
The self-guided format
The holiday is self-guided. You're booked into hotels, given route notes and maps, and your luggage is moved between accommodations while you walk. There's no guide and no group — you set your own pace, start when you like, and linger where you want to. Prices begin at £915 per person. Malta and Gozo are best walked in the cooler months; high summer on exposed limestone is a different proposition.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for walking holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Hotel accommodation, double or twin en-suite rooms
- ✓Daily breakfast at each hotel
- ✓Luggage transfer between hotels on every walking day
- ✓Detailed route notes with maps and GPX files
- ✓24/7 support line in English for the duration of the trip
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the country of travel
- ×Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ×Lunches — typically a village picnic or café stop
- ×Some evening meals — depends on the specific itinerary
- ×Alcohol beyond any wine included with set dinners
- ×Optional room or transfer upgrades
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
Other walking holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
