If you love history and archeology, this tour is perfect for you or anyone who wants to learn more about this beautiful island.

Malta and Gozo are home to seven megalithic temples, all of which are designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These megalithic temples date back 5500 years and are the oldest, free-standing stone structures in the world, even older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids in Egypt. It is also home to more than thirty other temples, all of which reflect Malta’s rich past.

Your guided tour through this fascinating place will start with a drive to Ghar Dalam, the Cave of Darkness, a prehistoric site discovered in the latter half of the 19th Century with a series of excavations unearthing animal bones as well as human remains and artifacts. The cave is a highly relevant site for its paleontological, archaeological, and ecological communities. The history and timeframe of the cave and that of the Islands depend on Ghar Dalam’s stratigraphy. The lowermost layers, more than 500,000 years old, contained the fossilized skeletal remains of dwarf elephants, hippopotamus, micro-mammals, and birds among other species, providing researchers the data needed to approximate a timeframe.

After being amazed by the fantastic cave of Ghar Dalam, you will then visit Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples. The megalithic complex of Hagar Qim is located atop a hill on the southern edge of the Island, on a ridge capped in soft globigerina limestone. All exposed rock on the island was deposited during the Oligocene and Miocene periods. About 500 meters from Hagar Qim stood the Mnajdra megalithic temple and considered a Heritage Park.

Make sure to book this tour and prepare to be amazed by its fascinating history.

Mdina, once the capital of Malta, is a Medieval walled town situated on a hill in the center of the island.

Driving from Valletta, you will travel through the countryside to the town of Mdina, located approximately 30 minutes away. Mdina was inhabited and possibly first fortified by the Phoenicians around 700 B.C., and has been ruled over by Romans and Normans, as well as the Knights of Malta. Upon arrival, you will follow your guide on a walking tour of Mdina, Malta, the predominately pedestrian town with its narrow streets and alleys. The walking portion is approximately 60 minutes with stops along the way.

You will then drive to nearby Dingli, a village on the west coast at one of the highest points on Malta. The area provides sea views over the tiny, uninhabited isle of Filfla and a vantage point over the island.

Your last stop is at the San Anton Gardens in the shadow of the San Anton Palace, now the residence of the Maltese president. The public gardens are laid out in a formal manner, with graceful walkways, sculptures, ornamental ponds, and a small aviary. For many years it has been customary for visiting heads of state to plant a tree in memory of their stay. After approximately 30 minutes in the garden, you will return to the pier

Escape the 50+ person mob tours the cruise lines offer with this group tour of never more than 30 guests (and oftentimes less). Leaving the port, you will be driven to Mdina. Approximately 30 minutes away and Malta’s first capital, Mdina dates back to before Roman times. Together with the guide, you will stroll through the quaint winding streets, admire the beautiful palazzos still used as homes by Malta’s oldest families, and enjoy the view from the bastions of the ‘Silent City’. The total walking time with stops is approximately 45 minutes.

After leaving Mdina, you will have a short photo stop outside the Mosta Dome Church, the third largest dome in Europe. In 1942, the church had 300 people inside when a bomb pierced the dome and miraculously failed to explode.

Arriving in Valletta, you will begin your approximate 90 minute walking tour of the capital city of Malta. You will visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens for a panoramic view of Malta’s natural harbors and the historic cities of Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa in the distance.

Continuing through Valletta’s main streets, you will walk to St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the 16th century knight’s own church. Revealing a staggering display of Baroque art, it houses some of Malta’s finest art treasures. The two masterpieces by Caravaggio, “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” and “St. Jerome,” hang in the Oratory.

At the end of the tour, you will walk past various important buildings before reaching your transport, which will be waiting to return you to the port below. Guests wishing to remain in town may do so, but are responsible for getting themselves back to the cruise pier at their own expense.