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Surrounded by the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea and boasting beautiful rugged scenery, Malta is perfect for people who enjoy a side of adventure with their sunshine break. If you don’t fancy spending your whole holiday relaxing beside the pool, these 14 adventure activities on land and sea are sure to spice up your trip – and are great for keeping older kids occupied during half term.
Rock climbing
The limestone crags and rugged sea cliffs of Malta, Comino and Gozo are peppered with climbing routes – over 1300 at last count. These vary in difficulty and angle, with routes like the Chalice of Malice and Red Wall providing plenty of challenge. Even better, Malta is pretty off-the-radar in the climbing scene, so the peaceful rock faces don’t have much in the way of sheen or polish.
Cycling
Malta’s narrow country lanes, lined with rustic stone walls, were practically made for zipping along by bicycle. The distances between towns and villages aren’t huge, so there’s always a chance to stop for a refreshment or a wander around some historic attractions. You can see Sicily on a clear day from the high-altitude Victoria Lines, while the hills around Mġarr offer plenty of rolling ups and downs.
Archery
It only makes sense that Malta has some excellent archery schools. After all, it has incredibly rich military history dating back to the Middle Ages when the island was invaded by Arabs, Moors and Normans. Some schools, like Falcon Archery, teach traditional instinctive archery. If you do the two hour long basic course, you get a certificate – how’s that for a souvenir?
Hiking
Breathtaking scenes of the glittering Med, herds of shaggy goats grazing peacefully on hillsides and quaint villages that have barely changed for hundreds of years are common sights during hikes in Malta. The walk from Marsascala to Marsaxlokk Bay takes you past secret beaches people can’t reach by car, while the Ta’ Cenc Clifftop walk on Gozo offers incredible views of the sea.
Horse-riding
Galloping – or plodding – along beaches and forested tracks is another thrilling way to enjoy Malta’s unspoiled countryside. Don’t miss out on a sunset ride along Golden Bay – as you pass along the clifftops, watching the sun dip into the sparkling sea, you’ll catch glimpses of Gozo on the horizon. Because these events are run by the riding school, all abilities are welcome, and it’s a great intro to horse riding for teens and older kids.
Vibrant Valletta: 9 reasons to choose Malta for your next city breakGo-karting
Malta’s Badger Raceway go-karting track is always a fun day out. It has 17 different track layouts, each with lots of exciting twists and turns. The cars can reach speeds of up to 80mph, so it’s the perfect opportunity to unleash your inner daredevil. There’s also a viewing gallery on the roof, if you’d rather just watch.
Sailing
If you’ve always fancied yourself as a sailor, Malta is a great place to learn to sail. As it is an island nation, there are no shortage of sailing schools. Join in on a short two day course with Malta Sailing Experiences to get your head around the basics, or take part in a longer course with trips around the island.
If you’d rather relax while someone else handles the hard work, it’s easy to charter a yacht for a half day or full day. Your skipper will know some great places to go, but we recommend it-Tlett Hofriet on the south of Malta – these beautiful bays are concealed by dazzling white cliffs, and can only be reached by sea.
Jeep safari tours
If you want to get off the beaten tourist path and see the country’s wild side, it’s well worth booking in for a Jeep safari with Captain Morgan. These off-road vehicles head to places that even some locals don’t know about. At lunchtime you get to tuck into Maltese specialities, and if you’re visiting in summer there’s a scheduled stop for a swim – a must after driving through the dusty tracks of inland Malta.
Surfing
Malta flies under the radar when it comes to surfing, so it’s likely you’ll get the excellent swells and reef breaks all to yourself. Wave patterns can be a bit unpredictable – the sea can be calm for weeks at a time – but you’ll generally find the best surf in the northwest and southeast of the island. Golden Bay, Saint Thomas Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa are well worth a look.
Swimming
When the temperature soars, there’s nothing like a good swim to help you cool off. If you fancy something a bit more exciting than the hotel pool, head to L Aħrax Mellieha. This rock formation has a natural pool that’s been carved out by the sea for centuries. The Surfside Lido also has rock-cut pools, as well as a trendy restaurant and café bar. Don’t miss out on a dip in Gozo’s Inland Sea, either – connected to the Med by a window in the rock, this unique lagoon is well worth a splash.
Kayaking
Sea kayaking around the coast gives you the chance to soar under arches to explore limestone caves and hidden beaches, as well as simply enjoying the feeling of being out in the open water. You can hire kayaks from some resorts, but it’s better to take a professional kayaking tour. The guide will be able to bring you straight to the wonders of the coast, so you can just relax and forget about navigating.
Jet skiing
If you’d prefer a more high-octane way to explore the coast, hire a jet ski. Zipping through the water at high speeds is always exciting, and when you throw those same secluded beaches and caves into the mix it adds an extra element of joy to the holiday. You can join in on a jetski safari with an experienced guide, or just enjoy tootling about the bays on your own personal water scooter.
Check out 11 of the Best Events Happening in Malta in 2019Diving
Regularly named as one of the topthree diving location in the world, Malta is a must-visit for anyone who has –or wants to earn – their PADI license. The Blue Hole on the west of Gozo is oneof the most popular spots, as you swim through a crevice in the rock to thewide blue ocean and spot octopus and lobsters scuttling along the bottom.Cirkewwa in the north of the island even has a sunken statue of the VirginMary, and there’s a P-31 patrol boat wreck off the coast of Comino that’ssuitable for beginners.
Snorkelling
Avoid the sandy sunbathing beaches and head for the calm, crystal waters in Malta’s rocky bays for perfect snorkelling conditions. Fomm Ir-Rih Bay on the west coast of the island is one of the best spots. Set at the bottom of a steep path, the climb down is well worth at as you’ll be captivated by gorgeous under and above-water scenes. Over on Gozo, Mġarr Ix-Xini is one of the prettiest snorkel spots in the archipelago – make sure your underwater camera is fully charged!
Ready to go? Check out these Malta flight deals
Just a short three hour hop from the UK, Malta is a great choice for a spring or autumn half term holiday. We’ve found cheap flights to Malta from British airports to help you start planning your Maltese adventure.
Birmingham to Malta (7th to 18th July) from £48 return
Bristol to Malta (7th to 14th May) from £46 return
Cardiff to Malta (8th to 12th May) from £51 return
Exeter to Malta (21st to 28th May) from £38 return
London to Malta (2nd to 5th April) from £43 return
Manchester to Malta (8th to 15th May) from £51 return
None of those dates or airports work? Use our search tools to find cheap flights to Malta from every UK airport.
All flight prices are based on lowest estimates using Skyscanner’s search tools. Prices are subject to fluctuation and may be higher or lower based on demand. All prices were correct at time of searching on 7th March 2019.
