Winter
Sun Walking in a new and historic location!
For 2010 WalkWise International have tailor made a NEW
winter sun walking week to the Mediterranean archipelago of Malta and
Gozo. Situated between Sicily and the North African coast these islands
offer some of the most stunning views in the Med, and an average of 7
hours of sun every day, a perfect walking temperature in March! 7000
years of visible history from megaliths to dungeons, caves and the
citadels provide a mystical aspect to the islands. Blend with this the
narrow bustling streets, renaissance cathedrals and baroque palaces, not
to mention the white cliffs, blue seas, hidden coves and we have two
idyllic islands to explore!
Malta
Our first four nights will be at the 4* The Canifor Hotel on the islands
northern coast. The hotel is well appointed and offers good leisure
facilities including an attractive indoor pool, outdoor pools, gym, as
well as a coffee shop, games room, sun terrace with Jacuzzi, sauna,
hairdressing and massage facilities. All the bedrooms are nicely
decorated are en suite and h ave
a balcony. They are also equipped with air conditioning, ceiling fan,
direct dial telephone, hair dryer, safe and a mini-cooler. The hotel is
well located just a few minutes away from the attractive Qawra promenade
which will enable us to enjoy the evenings with a gentle constitutional
stroll, or if you prefer sample the local tourist facilities, bars,
shops and restaurants!
Walking on Malta offers some notable variety with a splendid rugged
coastline complete with dramatic white precipitous cliffs set against
the perfect clear blue Mediterranean waters, below. Good tracks give way
to quiet paths as we get further from the roads and we search out those
secluded coves and private beaches. Then to finish the day there are
some delightful traditional fishing villages, the most famous of which
must be the classical, whimsical, topsy-turvy, Sweethaven. But there is
so much more than the coasts to Malta, for there are some gentle rolling
hills and broad ridges which really bloom in early spring. In addition
it is these inland ways which reveal much of the islands history,
ancient palaces and castles of St John, hunting lodges, lost valleys and
quaint villages and our walks have been selected to really give you a
true feel of the history and beauty of the island.
Gozo
The second half of our trip is to the more tranquil and picturesque
island of Gozo. Miles away from the ordinary, this delightful haven is
situated a short ferry ride from Malta and merges an eclectic history
and an exciting culture with scenic views and world-famous Mediterranean
hospitality. Our hotel is the Calypso and it is perfectly positioned in
the picturesque fishing harbour of Marsalforn, only a stone’s throw away
from the bright, blue, Mediterranean Sea. Indeed it offers t he
perfect cocktail of comfortable surroundings, breathtaking views and
friendly service making it the ideal base to explore the island.
Hotel Calypso has a reputation for fine food and excellent service.
Fresh fare, seasonal ingredients and exciting recipes are the order of
the day whatever your palate and with six in-house options to choose
from you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice. All the hotel bedrooms have
delightful views of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, the picturesque
fishing bay of Marsalforn or Xaghra Hill. They are all en suite and are
equipped with a bath/shower, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, a balcony
or terrace, radio, colour television, mini-bar and safety deposit box.
Gozo is much quieter than Malta and with a maximum height of 190m, it is
far from mountainous either, but its history and coastline make it no
less interesting. Gozo is also the greener of the two islands, with a
complex network of springs allowing the cultivation of melons and grapes
which adorn the terraced hill sides. The coastline is also amazing, with
towering cliffs falling into the clear waters, tiny coves and red
beaches. There are numerous swimming lagoons and blue coves to tempt the
weary walker at the end of the day, but there are some very tempting
tavernas in the quiet and secluded villages to be enjoyed.
Remember this walking holiday is not in a mountainous
area. We will still offer two walks each day, so you can take it easy on
a shorter walk of around 7-8 miles and up to 700ft of ascent or walk a
bit further up to 12miles with a little more ascent.
NB - Some of the coastal paths are quite rugged and walking boots are
necessary. |
