Since the islands are activity-rich whilst geographically small, it is easy to pack in several different experiences in a short stay. Esther Lafferty shares her top tips for turning your visit into an action-packed adventure.

ON THE SEA

The Maltese islands have around 200km of coastline edged by crystal-clear seas that ripple in a palette of brilliant blues, from soft topaz and turquoise aquamarine to deep sapphire. It’s no wonder, therefore, that wherever you’re staying, it’s a fantastic destination for water sports.

Mellieha Bay in northern Malta is a top spot for sea-related activities, as its shallow, silky-warm waters lap onto the longest sandy beach you’ll find anywhere on the archipelago. Here, there’s a whole menu of family activities for all ages, from pedal boating and parasailing to water skiing and wakeboarding. It’s also the best bay on the island for windsurfing – and for the expert, it’s especially great between November and March, when windier weather promises an exciting experience.

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If you’re a sailor with an eye for the breeze or if you fancy a lazy afternoon on a yacht and would like to charter a skipper to circumnavigate the islands by sail, then the marinas in Valletta, Kalkara, Ta’ Xbiex, and Sliema are good places to start. Day charter rates start at around €500, depending on the season.

Other top spots for water sports are Riviera (Ghajn Tuffieha) Bay where you can join a surf lesson for around €40 a head, and Golden Bay where, alongside self-drive motorboats and paddle boards, you’ll find the latest sensation in semi-submersible watercraft, the Seabreacher. A marvel in modern engineering, it’s a thrilling underwater shark the size and shape of a sleek great white, which offers an extraordinary experience for €105, dipping and diving below the surface, rolling in the water, jumping high above the waves, and reaching speeds of up to 100km per hour.

To keep that adrenaline pumping and to explore coves, caves and cliffs further afield, an island-hopping jet ski safari will whisk you across to the small island of Comino where, in the iconic Blue Lagoon, the sea glows a stunning fairy tale turquoise. It’s a thrilling way to enjoy the rugged coastline. It’s also a great way to enjoy Malta’s Grand Harbour at speed. Prices range from €165 to €400 per two-person jet ski.

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If you prefer to be self-propelled, there’s sea kayaking for all levels of energy and expertise. You can even hire clear kayaks, which can be delivered to any of Malta’s bays, from which you can see the underwater world beneath you as you paddle (€20 for the first hour, after which they’re €10 per hour). Also available from many spots in Malta and Gozo, sea kayaking tours combine activity and tranquillity, so that as you explore the rugged coastal beauty that wraps the land, you’ll be earning your end-of-the-day gin and tonic.

Over in Gozo, you can set off from the famous Inland Sea heading through a ‘secret’ rock tunnel to open water beneath towering cliffs, or from Hondoq on the south-eastern edge of the island – it’s only a 20-minute kayak ride across the channel to Comino where, as well as the popular Blue Lagoon, there are impressive rock arches, hidden caves and beautiful quiet bays to discover at your leisure.

UNDER THE WATER

Beneath the surface of the aquamarine sea that surrounds Malta, there’s extraordinary visibility and a wealth of wonders to explore. With dozens of dive centres across Malta and Gozo, it’s a great place to take the plunge and explore the underwater world for the first time.

Malta is Europe’s number one scuba-diving destination with good reason: there are stunning rock formations and geological wonders including scores of underwater caves, arches and pinnacles, the iconic Blue Hole (an underwater rock chimney), and a peacock-blue ‘Z for Zorro’ swim-through in Comino’s Santa Marija caves. It’s a giant underwater playground for divers of all abilities, which also has a series of fascinating wreck dives, including a 10,000-tonne oil tanker and a Bristol Blenheim Bomber aeroplane in Valletta’s Grand Harbour – part of the legacy of Malta’s World War II heritage. Keep your eyes peeled for shoals of barracuda and solitary seahorses, rays and octopus. Typically, a guided shore dive costs around €50 and a 10-dive package ranges between €300 and €400. Some equipment may need to be hired separately.

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Although May to September provide the best conditions, since the weather is mostly mild and dry in the winter too, scuba diving is a pleasure all year round (although the winter best suits more experienced dry-suit divers).

Of course, if you prefer to stay on the surface rather than immersing yourself entirely, there’s still plenty to see. At almost every turn, Malta offers great snorkelling: wherever you see a swim ladder or can get to the water, you can head right in! In western Malta, the remote cove of Fomm ir-Rih is a top spot, and on Gozo, the waters of the long, thin Wied il-Ghasri are magical in the midday sun when the sun lights up the valley. Alternatively, for stronger swimmers, along the coast beneath the salt pans between Marsalforn Bay and Qbajjar, you’ll find an underwater moonscape riddled with craters and pockets in which to marvel at the marine fauna.

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ON THE LAND

If you prefer to keep your feet on land, or while you are waiting for your swimsuit to dry, there’s lots to keep visitors entertained across the islands. It’s great fun to take an off-road tour and explore hidden gems, picturesque valleys and off-the-beaten-track places on a quad bike, in a rugged 4WD or even by Segway. Prices vary depending on your vehicle, route and the length of the experience, but you can expect to pay anywhere between €50 and €150 per person for these activities.

Exploring the more remote countryside by bike is a quieter and more eco-friendly way to travel the lesser-known trails that the locals love. It’s 50km as the crow flies from Hermit’s Valley at Gozo’s north-western tip to the coast of Birzebbuga on Malta’s south-eastern edge, a route that takes you along rural roads and past the majestic walled city of Mdina with its glorious, narrow streets. Although there are no mountains in Malta, there are enough steep hills to offer a challenge to the regular cyclist, and over in Gozo, experienced mountain bikers can cycle around most of the edge of the island, a trail that’s around 50km.

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If you’re planning to take it a little easier whilst, in Malta, an e-bike hire is an alternative option across the islands, and at €180 for a week, it’s easy on the pocket too. It’s also a great way to visit Valletta’s traffic-free streets.

If, however, you fancy traversing a whole country – Malta, Gozo and Comino – in a single day under your own steam, on foot, by bike and kayak, then the October Maltese Falcon adventure race is for you: it’s a unique multi-sport outing which begins with a 15km night run illuminated only by the moon (we’d recommend a head torch too) in order to reach the first kayak leg by sunrise. It isn’t for the faint-hearted. Or leave the bike and ‘go ultra’, running the entire length of the islands.

ABOVE THE GROUND

With its many steep-sided valleys, striking crags and stunning sea cliffs, Malta is a mecca for rock climbing and abseiling: there are more than 2,000 bolted routes ranging from exhilarating beginner climbs to extreme options that challenge the best of the best. The best sports climbing areas in Malta are found in the south of the island. Start at the picturesque inland valley Wied Babu, where there’s good-quality limestone and an ascent that provides spectacular views of the Blue Grotto. Over in Gozo, the lush winding Mgarr ix-Xini valley has steep sides, with pocketed white walls perfect for the newcomer to the sport and orange overhangs for those ‘Chasin’ the Dream’ (a grade 7b climb), whilst ascending the giant limestone arch at Wied il-Mielah is a spectacular photo opportunity. Many climbers simply bring their own equipment, or you can book half-day sessions with resident experts for approximately €50 per person (minimum group size of two).

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Alternatively, if you fancy a more fleeting adventure high in the sky, sign up for a zipline adventure event (from €20 each) where all the family can fly over the land or the dazzling sea in a variety of pop-up locations.

A LAST WORD

As the sun sets on a visit to Malta, and the honeyed stone glows rose-pink and peach beneath a mellow twilight sky, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a sunset pony ride over the sand at Golden Bay, along the coast and cliffs, with panoramic scenes of Gozo across the sea (€45 per person for 90 minutes).

And once the sun has set, for a very different and more bohemian experience that will challenge you mentally and physically, in a rustic setting in Ramla Valley on the outskirts of Xaghra, Gozo, you can even try firewalking (€100 per head), and step across hot coals in your bare feet. The experience, like the Maltese islands, is something you’ll always remember.

This feature was first carried out in the Malta Insider International Visitors' Guide 2023/2024.