Are you a lover of the great outdoors, big on camping, or just a huge history geek?  

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then, we've got the perfect adventure for you!  

‘Gozo Bus Glamping’ is taking old and abandoned Maltese buses and turning them into luxurious overnight short stay accommodations. 

That’s right! Thanks to this original venture, you can now book a relaxing weekend-break in your very own converted Gozo bus. 

GuideMeMalta.com spoke to Matt, the mind behind this brilliant idea, to learn more about his journey. 

First things first - let’s take a deep dive into the bus’ history...  

'Bella', the Gozo bus, is a Bristol LH, built in UK in 1974, by the Eastern Coach Works for the Hampshire & Dorset Bus Company serving the two counties in the south of England.   

She was shipped over to Gozo by Borg of Victoria in November 1984. and served locals and tourists of the island as a route bus until she retired in 2004.  

Her British Leyland engine was rebuilt in Malta. She then retired to a garage in Fgura in 2011 where she rested until 2021.  

"Space and storage became an issue for the owner, and she was destined for the breakers yard. We rescued her, brought her back to life, and drove her home to Gozo," Matt explained.  

Before she knew it, Bella was no longer destined to be torn apart for scraps – rather, a much more pleasant future awaited her... 

The restoration process saw Matt and his partner find “original tickets, funny graffiti, and the driver’s sunglasses” as well as a handful of original signs and stickers hidden under layers of paint. 

After countless hours of hard work ‘Bella’ now rests on private land on the edge of Xlendi, making her “the last structure before paths wind into the neighbouring fields, cliffs, salt pans, and a 'secret beach!'"  

Matt and his partner thought Xlendi was the perfect peaceful location for Bella, away from all the construction noise and just on the edge of a Nature 2000 land. A perfectly convenient spot for hikers and nature lovers alike.  

The two even turned a neighbouring piece of wasteland into a beautiful garden with plants and flowers which are mostly edible.    

 So, what's next for Matt?  

Seems like this is far from the last project for Gozo Bus Glamping as Matt disclosed that he already has plans to get started on a second project involving a former London bus.  

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