When you think of holidays in Malta, what springs to mind?
A flop and drop holiday in the sun? History and architecture? Well how's about an activity holiday?
In todays blog I'm going to show you some of the awesome activities available to you guaranteed to get the old adrenalin flowing again.
For water babies
Scuba Diving
The Maltese Archipelago's crystal clear blue Mediterranean sea is simply perfect for a spot of scuba diving. Gozo's The Blue Hole was once described by the legend Jacques Cousteau as "the best dive site in Europe!"
There are an abundance of caves, reefs and wrecks to explore! The marine life is diverse and thankfully the risk of encountering dangerous fish is extremely low, creating the perfect conditions for beginners and first time divers.
For more experienced divers there are lot's of challenging dives to choose from too.
There are numerous diving courses to choose from and trips organised by the many licensed dive schools located across the islands. All divers must present a valid medical statement form indicating that they are fit to dive. No worries if you arrive without this as all schools provide the service of a doctor to help with this for a small fee.
Sole Divers must have a buddy and must present a PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent certification by other agencies (e.g. CMAS Two Star Diver, BSAC Sport Diver, SSI Advanced Open Water, etc). It's always advisable to seek guidance from the dive centre as to where would be the most suitable place to dive depending upon weather conditions and experience.
Two great choices are,
Snorkelling
Some of the warmest sea temperatures in the Mediterranean can be found around the Maltese Islands, often into the winter. Therefore snorkelling can be enjoyed pretty much all year around. It's a super activity that all ages can enjoy and at very little cost too, as very little gear is required. Most boat tours also include snorkelling equipment too as part of the cost. There's so many cool things to see from a myriad of fish species to baby octopus and sea urchins.
Kayaking
The Maltese islands enjoy 300+ days of glorious sunshine and that along with the deliciously mild winters, make kayaking another awesome activity that you can enjoy all year round. Whether you’re a total novice who has never been in a kayak before, or totally experienced and wishing to explore the coastlines nooks and crannies alone, hiring a kayak is a doddle. You can rent from most beaches and guided tours are available too.
There is a super beginner-friendly paddle route from Gozo to Comino which you can arrange with Gozo Adventures starting at beautiful Hondoq Bay (the wonderful guys at Gozo Adventures collect you directly from the ferry terminal at Mgarr)
In Malta options include exploring the varied coastline along the North Western shores of Mellieha, where further around the tip you will find the explosively colourful Popeye Village and its dazzlingly turquoise water in Armier Bay. Sea Kayak Malta have some super options including Kayaking holidays.
Parasailing
I adore parasailing, it's totally exhilarating, and best of all no experience at all is required. Most water sport companies on the many beautiful beaches offer this option and for your peace of mind high safety standards are guaranteed.
You can soar through the air in tandem with a friend or loved one, or go solo. You will gently ascend to a height or around 70 metres enjoying the warm gentle breeze whilst taking in the breath-taking views of the azure blue Mediterranean below. This fabulous experience usually takes 30 minutes in total so you absolutely won't miss out on any precious swim and beach time either.
Sup Yoga
The islands offer an abundance of SUP (paddleboard) yoga classes which suite experienced yogis and beginners alike. How heavenly to swap your mat for the deep blue sea focusing on your breath with no distraction other than the calming sound of the ocean. Click for more info from the lovely people over at Outdoor Adventures.
Seawalking
If scuba diving or snorkelling doesn't float your boat how's about trying out a spot of Seawalking!
This is the newest and definitely most innovative activity to hit the islands and is fun for all of the family! (age 10+)
With the use of an awesome helmet you can stroll happily along the seabed in 10 metres of crystal clear water, enjoying the flora, fauna and marine life all around you.
For Seawalking, Waterworld Malta are your guys!
Flyboarding
Ever dreamt of flying? Then Flyboarding could be for you. It's pretty new, and is a totally unique water sport.
A Flyboard rider stands on a board connected by a long hose to a watercraft. Water is forced under pressure to a pair of boots with jet nozzles underneath which provide thrust for the rider to fly up to 22 m (72 ft) in the air or to dive headlong through the water down as far as one is willing to go. If that's not exhilaration then I don't know what is!
Again check out thrilling Flyboard options with Waterworld Malta
Surfing
For surfing, you need to find the waves! The best spots in Malta are Ghajn Tuffieha , Golden Bay, Mellieha Bay, Pembroke & San Thomas. In Gozo, Qbajjar and Ramla Bay are your surfing spots. Malta Surf School are the guys you need to connect with, they operate out of the most accessible area, Ghajn Tuffieha - this bay is suitable for all levels and has a soft sandy bottom.
For land lovers
Segway
How cool would it be to explore some of the narrow streets of Valletta, or to glide along stunning Dingli Cliffs or take in a breathtaking beach sunset on a Segway! This is a fun activity for anyone over the age of 12 and there are so many itineraries to choose from. Tours are also available on all 3 islands without breaking out any kind of sweat! If this sounds like a bit of you, then Segway Malta is for you.
Cycling
You may not want to do this in the summer months, but Malta is truly a cyclists paradise.
With quirky cobbled streets, stunning coastal roads, and pretty villages there is so much to explore! And with oodles of prehistoric ruins, mysterious caves, and country lanes, there’s certainly no shortage of things to explore. Whatever level of cycling experience you are at, the islands with their relatively petite size and delightfully smooth roads (truly) are ideal for cycling.
During the pandemic cycling became more popular than ever and new cycling routes have been created so there's never been a better time to get pedalling. There are cycle rental facilities galore but check out The Cyclist in San Gwann - this is a one stop shop for all of your cycling needs as well as road bike and electric bike rentals.
There are specialist Abta bonded tour operators offering cycling holidays too. For example Wheel2Wheel Holidays
Tuk Tuk Tours
I adore Tuk Tuk's I've corralled around the busy streets of Bangkok in them oodles of times. They are so thrilling!
Now you too can enjoy a similar thrill by taking a chauffeured Tuk Tuk tour of Gozo with Yippee Malta. Gozo is bursting with nature and 7000 years of vibrant culture; you get to explore the islands secret landmarks, spots inaccessible to larger vehicles, and explore its stunning coastline and breath-taking architecture. The Tuk Tuk’s are driven by multilingual storytellers and carry a maximum of six (6) people.
Rolling Geeks
Ah, this is so much fun I have dedicated a whole blog post to Rolling Geeks. You can check it out here.
Rolling Geeks offer the opportunity to explore Malta's beautiful Three Cities in an electric talking car with a built in selfie camera!
Quad Bikes and Sports Buggies
This is definitely one for the far sleepier roads of Gozo than Malta.
Quad Bikes, Buggies, Sports Buggies and E-Mokes are all rentable either solo with a map of suggested tour routes, or as part of an exhilarating safari taking you through Gozo's picturesque villages, beautiful country roads and stunning coastal routes. Check out Gozo Quad Hire who also provide free transport from the ferry terminal at Mgarr Gozo.
Abseiling
Another of the thrilling activities I have tried is abseiling and its fabulous! I abseiled from the top of a hotel here in the UK, imagine how awesome it would be to abseil in Malta, with its magnificent cliffs, and endless coastline. It truly is an abseiler’s paradise!
Whether you’ve never abseiled before or you're an expert, or maybe a parent wishing to give your kids the holiday of a lifetime, Malta has something for every type of abseiler. Abseiling Malta offer an array of abseiling packages.
Please don't forget that with every sporting and activity holiday you must ensure that you have adequate and relevant insurance cover.
Images courtesy of the MTA, Gozo Quad Hire, Yippee Malta, Segway Malta, Malta Surf School, Waterworld Malta and Gozo Adventures.
Another informative and interesting blog. Thank you