Prehistoric Temples and Highlights of the South Full-Day Tour

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. The Limestone Heritage Park & Gardens

   Located in the traditional Maltese village of Siġġiewi, The Limestone Heritage Park & Gardens is a unique and innovative attraction which highlights the beauty of the Maltese stone and its incredible 22 million years of history, relish the opportunity to immerse yourselves in the islands’ eclectic history, through an engaging audio-visual presentation and a very informative audio guided walk-through, this attraction offers an immense insight into the islands’ compelling history and broad culture.

   60 minutes here · Admission included

2. Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Archaeological Park

   From here we will proceed to visit the megalithic temples complex of Ħaġar Qim, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, the complex is located on the southern edge of the island on a hilltop overlooking the sea and the islet of Filfa, these temples are amongst the most ancient religious sites on Earth and are described by the World Heritage Sites committee as “unique architectural masterpieces”, dating back to c. 3600-3200 BC they are over 5000 years old, pre-dating the pyramids of Egypt by approximately 1000 years! The site consists of a central building and the remains of at least two more structures. The large forecourt and the monumental façade of the central structure follow the pattern typical of Maltese Prehistoric Temples. Along the external wall, one may find some of the largest megaliths used in the building of these structures, such as a 5.2 meters high stone and a huge megalith estimated to weigh close to 20 tonnes.

   65 minutes here · Admission included

3. Blue Grotto Il-Hnejja

   Our next stop is Żurrieq Valley where we will visit the magnificent Blue Grotto and appreciate the fantastic scenery and breath-taking views surrounding the entire site. The Blue Grotto is a complex of seven caves found along the southern coast of the island, this complex comprises of a massive and very impressive main arch, which is approximately 30 meters in height, as well as a system of 6 other caves, amongst which you will find the Honeymoon Cave, the Cat’s Cave, and the beautiful Reflection Cave. Featured in numerous movies shot in Malta, owing to its natural beauty, enchanting structure, and perfect location, such as Cutthroat Island (1995), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) & Troy (2004), this extremely popular site attracts many visitors each year, with many opting to see the amazing grotto up-close, weather permitting you will also have the time and opportunity to visit the grotto and caves by taking one of the boat trips (boat trip is not included in the price).

   80 minutes here

4. Marsaxlokk

   Our next stop is at the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk. The village is the largest fishing harbour in Malta, and has been so since antiquity, today the greater part of fish sold on the islands are caught by fishermen coming from this village. Traditional “luzzu’s” (brightly coloured traditional fishing boats) and larger fishing vessels line the sheltered harbour in a colourful display that has been the subject of countless photoshoots.

   45 minutes here

5. Marsaxlokk is also popular for its many delightful restaurants and nice cafés huddled along its entire promenade and for it’s charming and large open-air market, selling a vast assortment of food and a wide array of durable goods, such as fish, locally produced honey and fruit jams, traditional sweets and other delicacies, local wines and liquors, souvenirs, clothes, shoes, traditional lacework and crafts, custom jewellery, accessories and many more.

   30 minutes here

6. Ghar Dalam

   We end our tour with a visit to Għar Dalam Cave; Malta’s oldest prehistoric site, dating back to c. 5200 BC, Għar Dalam (meaning Cave of Darkness) is a 144-metre-long phreatic tube and cave, or cul-de-sac, located in the outskirts of the village of Birżebbuġa. The cave contains the bone remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became extinct in Malta at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, such as the dwarf elephant, hippopotamus, giant swan, deer, and bear, which have not lived on the Maltese islands for thousands of years. It is also here that the earliest evidence of human settlement in Malta, some 7,400 years ago, was discovered. Due to its paleontological and archaeological significance this site is viewed as one of Malta's most important national monuments.

   65 minutes here · Admission included

7. Malta

   A lunch (fixed menu) with a glass of wine is included during one of our stops.

   80 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Options you can book

• With English-Speaking Guide

  Meeting Point/Pick-Up Time: Make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pickup location (meeting point) and pickup time. Pickup included

• With Italian-Speaking Guide

  Meeting Point/Pick-Up Time: Make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pickup location (meeting point) and pickup time. Pickup included

• With French-Speaking Guide

  Meeting Point/Pick-Up Time: Make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pickup location (meeting point) and pickup time. Pickup included

• With German-Speaking Guide

  Meeting Point/Pick-Up Time: Make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pickup location (meeting point) and pickup time. Pickup included

• With Spanish-Speaking Guide

  The tour is done with a Spanish-speaking guide or with an English-speaking guide together with a Spanish-speaking translator. Meeting Point/Pick-Up Time: Make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pickup location (meeting point) and pickup time. Pickup included

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

de, en, it, fr, es

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Fri

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Robert Arrigo & Sons

Know before you go

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• The time shown on the website or on your ticket is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be anytime between 8:30 AM and 9:15 AM, depending on where you are staying.
• The tour will be guided in the language you have booked, however please note that at times, depending on operational circumstances, the commentary might be provided by a multilingual guide (limited to a maximum of 2 languages).
• The tour in Spanish will be conducted by either a Spanish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a Spanish-speaking host serving as a translator.
• The boat trip at the Blue Grotto is optional (to be paid on location), and it’s always subject to favourable weather conditions. The fee for the boat trip is around €10 for adults and €5 for children (the fee can change without any prior notice).
• The provider reserves the right to change the order of the visits without any prior notice.
• Not recommended for travellers with mobility impairments

Photos