Malta Pre-trip Option I: Birding, Sightseeing, History, and Culture

European Serin © Milan Zygmunt/Shutterstock

An optional cruise pre-trip to Sicily and Malta aboard the Sea Cloud brings much more exposure to Malta than is offered in the cruise program, with visits to the most important cultural sites enhanced with opportunities to seek resident birds and fall migrants.

Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Malta is famous as a crossroads of history’s greatest civilizations. Malta is one of Europe’s smallest countries, but what it lacks in size is made up for in charm. Prosperous and historic and culturally rich, Malta is a favored getaway for travelers from Europe and the United States.

On this pre-trip option, we’ll experience the island-nation of Malta beyond what is offered in the cruise program. We will have three days to explore the island, visiting a variety of important historical, birding, and scenic locations.

Malta’s illustrious history is on display everywhere, as evidenced by the fact that it hosts a greater density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any country in the world. Our itinerary visits a selection of prominent sites, each of which provides exposure to a slice of Maltese history and culture. On the first morning we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Three Cities district. We’ll journey inland to the remarkable St. Paul’s Catacombs, an expansive underground burial chamber used during Phoenician, Punic, Roman, and early-Christian times. On our second day, we’ll visit several key birding sites in the north part of the island, seeking a range of resident and migrant species. Last, we’ll travel to South Malta for a visit to the Neolithic site of Hagar Qim followed by lunch on the waterfront at Marsaxlokk, famous for its fleet of colorful fishing boats.

Late October is a good time to be in Malta for birding, as this is when the island’s resident species are joined by southbound passage migrants and arriving winter residents. Visits to the Buskett Gardens, Ghadira Nature Reserve, and Foresta 2000, the latter two BirdLife Malta sites, afford opportunities to seek a range of migrating shorebirds and landbirds.

Finally, our travels will showcase Malta’s scenic beauty, such as the Dingli Cliffs and Blue Grotto, highlighted by rocky uplands, towering limestone cliffs, and dramatic seascapes.

Three nights in Valletta at a high quality hotel, with very good food; visits to cultural and historical sites in tandem with birding opportunities throughout; easy physical conditions, with moderate walking and standing on a variety of terrain; warm conditions expected, but rain possible.

Blue Grotto, Malta © Jaroslav Moravcik/Shutterstock