Too hot and dry? There's still plenty of opportunity to enjoy Malta's countryside during summer. Take some local tips.
Flickr/Susan Victoria Attard
It’s scorching hot during the day, there’s few trees in sight and you just don’t want to be trekking the Maltese countryside under the glaring sun, do you? The trick, in summer, is to enjoy the countryside at dawn, dusk and even at night! And since the rest of the island is rather dry from lack of rain, making it relatively uninteresting compared to what it's like in winter and spring, it's the time of year to explore the coast.
Here are some tips on what to do to make the most of Malta’s countryside in summer... it does tend to hang around for a while!
1. Do a sunset trek along the west coast
The Maltese coast is wonderful to explore anywhere and at any time - it offers a marvellous seascape on one side and an extraordinary landscape on the other. Do the west coast at sunset and you can also enjoy the awesome sight of the sun setting on the horizon. Almost the entire west coast of Malta is pristine, however, we recommend exploring Bahrija, Dingli Cliffs and Ghajn Tuffieha in particular.
2. Capture the coast during the golden hour
Just take your camera, no matter how amateur you may be. Malta’s rocky coast is certainly one of the island’s most picturesque highlights, and exploring it at dawn and dusk offers an opportunity not only to bask in the warm light of the ‘golden hour’, but also to capture some rather amazing photos. With a total shoreline of 136.8km, experiment with different backdrops, from prehistoric temples to extraordinary natural coastal features.
3. Go on a night hike
Summer nights in Malta are clear and there’s a wonderful starry sky to behold, away from the city lights. Alternatively, you can do away with the torches completely if you walk beneath the brilliant silver light of the full moon. Whether to soak in moonshine or marvel at the twinkling stars, the experience of a Maltese summer night trekking the countryside is memorable.
4. Sleep under the stars
You really don’t need much equipment to do this. The worst case scenario is a little too much humidity in the air, but lay yourself on a yoga mat and cover yourself with a light blanket and you’ll be just fine. It rarely rains in Malta in summer, but do check the weather forecast beforehand, just in case! You can choose to close your eyes at the beach, perched on a cliff or under some trees. In any case, the peace and beauty you’ll witness before sleeping and as you awaken will have you wonder why you don’t do this more often.
5. Have a picnic breakfast at sunrise
There’s nothing like sipping hot coffee and tucking into yumminess while watching sunrise from a pristine nature spot. Pack a picnic breakfast the night before, rise before dawn and head anywhere on the east side of the island to watch the sunrise. We recommend L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha, Selmun behind the barracks, the white Cliffs at Marsascala or Delimara.
BONUS: Do the full monty
Just have it all. Grab your camera, sleeping mat and a few snacks. Trek along the west coast heading northward from Bahrija to arrive at Gnejna, Riviera Beach and Golden Bay for sunset. Then, hike up Manikata and across Malta from west to east at its narrowest from Popeye Village to Mellieha Bay (two kilometres). From here, choose whether to head north to L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha or south to Selmun - both are at a similar distance. Settle, sleep under the stars and wake up for a sunrise picnic breakfast. Simply wonderful.