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1 Malta MELLIEHA 2018

2 WELCOME TO Malta Situated in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has been influenced greatly by its neighbours, historically, culturally and linguistically. Life is usually taken at a more leisurely pace than you may be used to The warmth of the Maltese people and the fascination of the island s 7,000 years of history enchant many of its visitors to return time and time again. The landscape of Malta is one of low hills with terraced green and brown fields. The coastline, although only 85 miles in total, is extremely varied, with cliffs, harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. The combination of natural 2 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk beauty, together with the many prehistoric sites found in every corner, make Malta an ideal island for walking and sightseeing. Our holiday programme will combine an exploration of the unspoilt areas of the island with visits to some of the many interesting remains of Malta s ancient heritage, including Neolithic temples, 4th century catacombs, Roman ruins and churches built by the Knights of St John.

3 ACCOMMODATION PERGOLA HOTEL Adenau Street, Mellieha MLH2014, Malta Tel: This 4-star Hotel is situated close to the centre of Mellieha, one of Malta s traditional villages, away from the hustle and bustle of the main resorts. Its central location means shops and amenities are close by, making it an ideal base. BEDROOMS There are 91 comfortable en-suite bedrooms, furnished with a hairdryer, safe (small charge), telephone, fridge, satellite television, air conditioning / heating, Wi-Fi and tea/coffee making facilities. FACILITIES The hotel has two outdoor swimming pools, the rooftop pool offering spectacular views across Mellieha Bay and Gozo. There is a further indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, small gym. For those who really want to indulge themselves, the hotel has a Spa offering a wide range of treatments (payable locally). MEALS All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. The hotel does cater for most dietary requirements; we advise you to discuss your requirements with the restaurant staff on arrival. Breakfast Breakfast is served in the Bonaventura Restaurant between 7.30am and 10.00am and is a self-service buff et offering a selection of hot and cold items. Evening meal The evening meal will be served buffet style with a selection of international and local dishes - usually including antipasti, salads Breakfast is served in the Bonaventura Restaurant between 7.30am and 10.00am and is a self-service buff et offering a selection of hot and cold items. and soup for starts, followed by a selection of hot savoury dishes. Desserts tend to be pies and pastries followed by tea and coffee. The hotel caters for most dietary requirements; we advise you to discuss your requirements with the restaurant staff on arrival. Our groups dine in the new rooftop Restaurant two evenings during the week and this meal is served to the table. Lunch You may be able to purchase a picnic lunch from the hotel. Alternatively it is possible to buy ingredients from local shops or on some days to eat at one of the local cafés; please check your walk directions for the various options available on your day s walk. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3

4 Guided Walking ITINERARY A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. In Malta you ll have a choice of two guided walks on each walking day. The cost of the transport to and from your walks each day is included in the cost of your holiday. Please note that the itinerary outlined below is Easier Walks: 5 to 7 miles (8-11km) with up to 700ft (210m) of ascent in a day. 4 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks. Harder Walks: : 7 to 9 miles ( km) with up to 1,400ft (420m) of ascent in a day.

5 Day 1: Arrival day The journey to the hotel in Mellieha is by minibus. Time permitting, your leaders will explain more about the walks on the first evening. Should this not be possible we ll meet after breakfast on the first morning of your stay. Day 2: Northern peninsula These walks explore the northern tip of Malta, from the older part of Mellieha village and onto rocky open ground to contour around the northern coastline with fine views of Gozo and Comino. Easier Walk: 5 miles (8km) with up to 500ft (150m) of ascent Harder Walk: 7 miles (11km) with up to 900ft (270m) of ascent Day 3: Valletta - sightseeing excursion The World Heritage City of Valletta merits a great deal of exploration and this sightseeing day will introduce you to the key sights. Our tour starts with a walking tour around the city with a blue badge guide, stopping at Upper Barrakka Gardens with panoramic views over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, and concluding with a visit to St John s Co-Cathedral. There is then free time for you to explore Valletta or maybe take the not-tobe-missed harbour cruise. Day 4: Dingli Cliffs to Blue Grotto or Mdina Today s visit is to the Dingli Cliffs, the highest point on Malta. We walk through Buskett Gardens (once the hunting ground of the Grand Masters) towards the Dingli Cliffs. Close to the cliffs we see the remains of Gharil-Kbir cave dwellings and a series of distinctive prehistoric cart ruts. This visit will be enhanced by a local guide who was brought up in the area. The afternoon is spent sightseeing with the option of: (a) visiting 4th century catacombs, the museum of Roman Antiquities and soaking up the atmosphere in the Silent City of Mdina or (b) visiting the temple complex of Hagar Qim, which can be seen before descending to Wied iz-zurrieq where there is the option of a boat trip to the Blue Grotto in good weather. Easier Walk: 5 miles (8km) with up to 300ft (90m) of ascent Harder Walk: 9 miles (14.5km) with up to 900ft (270m) of ascent Day 5: Free day Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: Gozo: For guests holidaying on Malta only, a day trip to Gozo is popular. Using a hired coach it is possible to see many of the popular sights on the island including the Rotunda Church at Xewkija, the sea arch and Inland Sea at Dwejra Bay and the delightful fishing village of Xlendi. The day is rounded off by a visit to Victoria, the island s capital, in order to walk around the ramparts of the citadel and visit the cathedral. Valletta: Although we visited Valletta on day 3, it is impossible to explore this World Heritage City in one day. On a return visit options available are the National Museum of Archaeology, where a fascinating collection of artefacts from Malta s prehistoric sites are housed; the War Museum, which tells the story of the siege of Malta during the Second World War; Manoel Theatre (a beautiful old theatre), and an inhabited 16th century patrician town house. Mdina & Rabat: Mdina is an important UNESCO Heritage Site. It is the oldest city on the island and derives its name from the Arabic word medina meaning walled city. Mdina is lamp-lit by night and often referred to as the silent city. The cathedral and cathedral museum are fascinating places with their rich cultural and religious treasures. The impressive palaces are still home to some of Malta s aristocratic families. Rabat is home to the famous catacombs of St Paul and St Agatha and the impressive St Paul s Church, which stands above a grotto where St Paul is said to have taken refuge after his shipwreck on Malta. Local information website: For information on Malta please visit Day 6: Marsascala and Marsaxlokk These walks link two traditional Maltese fishing villages on the south eastern corner of the island. We start at Marsascala harbour from where we follow the coast past a series of deep-cut bays and promontories. A delightful spot for lunch and swimming is reached before we continue along the shore through the sculpture park of Peter s Pool. There is an option to continue on to Delimara Point to stand only 200 miles north of Africa. We walk to Marsaxlokk, with its profusion of colourful fishing boats bobbing in the harbour, and Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 5

6 a quayside market. Easier Walk: 7 miles (11km) with up to 400ft (120m) of ascent. Harder Walk: 8 miles (13km) with up to 900ft (270m) of ascent. Day 7: Ancient city to sandy bays From the ancient city of Mdina the original capital of Malta we descend into the fertile Qleigha Valley and a series of manmade reservoirs called the Chadwick Lakes. There is time to view the wayside chapel and the honeycomb of ancient tombs beneath the Victorian Line fortifications along the escarpment ridge. After the Bingemma Gap we make our way mainly by coastal paths to Golden Bay where there will be time for a swim. Easier Walk: 6 miles (9.5km) with up to 600ft (180m) of ascent Harder Walk: 8 miles (13km) with up to 900ft (270m) of ascent Day 8: Departure day or transfer day for guests holidaying on Gozo. 6 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk In the evenings In Europe, our walking holidays continue into the evening. Enjoy a glass of wine or local beer whilst listening to your leaders outlining the next day's walks. After a relaxing evening meal you can chat with your fellow guests in the hotel bar or lounge area. One evening you can join your group to visit Mdina. Two of our evening meals are taken on the rooftop restaurant which has spectacular views across the bay to Gozo.

7 WALKING INFORMATION Your walking leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our Guided Walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest en route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions for things that they might do differently are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any element of your holiday, our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guide who will accompany you on a walk to enrich and enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local interest guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The map available for this area is 1:25,000 Kompass Map 235: Malta & Gozo. Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, tel: or visit Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 7

8 WALKING SAFETY We are committed to running our Guided Walking holidays in a safe manner and your co-operation with this is much appreciated. No outdoor activity can be 100% risk free; however, if you take sensible precautions and adhere to your leaders instructions, your holiday will be both safe and enjoyable. On the first evening of your holiday (dependent on arrival time), the leaders will give a short talk about safety on the walks we would ask everyone to attend. Walking as a group: Our leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole, and will show more caution over potential risks (such as bad or exceptionally hot weather) than an individual or couple might make on a private outing. Walks may be modified or cancelled following the leaders assessment of the day-to-day situation. Your leaders will refuse to accept any guest whose clothing, equipment, behaviour or walking ability is considered unsuitable, and where it could affect the safety and enjoyment of other guests on the proposed walk. It is your responsibility to follow the leader s guidelines, for the benefit and safety of the group as a whole. If you leave the group, then your leader will no longer have responsibility for you. For safety reasons, we stipulate a minimum party size of two guests in addition to the leader. First aid: In line with current practice, each leader carries a group first aid kit but is not able to supply any medication, including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines and antiseptic cream. Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry a minimum of two litres of water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a two litre hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be filled up from additional water sources as required. Your leader will inform you of the possibilities for replenishing your water during the walks. Your health: It is essential that you describe on your guest registration form any health condition or disability you may have. The leaders will treat this confidentially and may be able to take it into account on the walks; for example, by not delaying lunch if they know they have someone with diabetes in their party. EU citizens should ensure they have a European 8 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk Health Insurance Card (EHIC) prior to their holiday. There can be problems with medical authorities and insurance companies if you cannot produce this when you require treatment details are available at dh.gov. uk/travellers EHIC cards have an expiry date please check yours is valid before you travel. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for pre-existing illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on or holidayservices@hfholidays.co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. In Montenegro, there are reciprocal healthcare agreements with the UK that allow free emergency treatment. In non urgent cases payment (normally in cash) may be required. Further details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Turkey has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, and doctors generally expect payment in cash. Find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures. Money: Access to emergency money, preferably via a credit card, is very important as you never know when an emergency may arise. HOLIDAY TIPS Language: Maltese and English Currency: Euro Changing money: There are several ATM machines in Mellieha where you can obtain money. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with 3-pin plugs as per UK. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialling the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial a Maltese number 00356

9 WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Please note that some of our Atlantic island and Mediterranean destinations are also in mountainous areas and at high (up to 4,000ft) the temperatures can be as low as 0 C. You will need: comfortable outdoor clothing ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses small rucksack The following are also recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: camera personal first aid kit walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents FOOTWEAR We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. TRANSFER INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Malta Airport. From the UK we offer flights from several airports which may arrive at different times.. Please note that meals are not provided on most European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Where possible you will be met in the arrivals hall by an HF Holidays leader. The onward journey to Mellieha by coach takes approximately 45 minutes. For independent travellers: For guests who have booked their holiday without flight HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways: HF Holidays transfer coach from Malta Airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays flights (provisional HF Holidays flight times can be found on or by calling +44 (0) ). Cost per single journey is Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance. Our Airport Taxi service service operates at this resort, offering quick and easy transfers for guests booking their own flights. All prices are per taxi for single journeys, allowing you to mix and match different transfer options. From Malta Airport by taxi transfer 55per taxi single journey. Transfers and taxis must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer or taxi please call +44 (0) Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quote HX031 or book online at holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 9

10 linger a little LONGER Two weeks or more If you enjoyed your holiday on Malta, we recommend our holiday on the beautiful island of Gozo, with its secluded coves and spectacular coastline. Self-guided Walking For those who prefer to explore independently, on our Self-guided Walking holidays, in selected European destinations, you can discover unspoiled scenery, historic sites and the local culture at your own pace by following our carefully planned walking routes. Leisure Activities We offer a range of Leisure Activities holidays at some of our European destinations, including Discovery or Garden Tours, Photography, Painting, or Yoga. Worldwide From Alaska to Australia our Worldwide Journeys invite you to explore world famous destinations, and some lesser known gems, on six continents including Europe. SAVE ON OUTDOOR CLOTHING From time to time our outdoor clothing partners have special offers for our guests. Visit hfholidays.co.uk/partnerships to see the current offers. 10 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

11 RECOMMEND A FRIEND AND SAVE 50 Do you know someone who would enjoy our holidays as much as you do? Invite them to book a holiday and you ll receive 50! If you recommend HF Holidays to a friend who subsequently makes their first ever booking with us, we will give you 50 off your next holiday for each person recommended. Plus, as a welcome, we will also give your recommended friend or friends 50 per person off their holiday, meaning savings for everyone! Claim your 50 in three easy steps When your friend books a holiday, ask them to mention at time of booking your name and address. If they have never travelled with us before, we will give them a discount of 50 per person. We will send you a 50 voucher off a future HF Holidays break for each friend you have recommended. Terms & conditions apply, visit hfholidays.co.uk/raf for details. PATHWAYS FUND Last year guests donated 19,500 to our Pathways Fund and we spent 25,000 on projects. For more information on the projects the Pathways Fund has supported, plus how to donate, please visit hfholidays.co.uk/pathways HF Holidays continues to work in partnership with the Family Holiday Association to provide Feel Good Breaks designed to reward families who could not otherwise afford it with the gift of a break in the outdoors and the chance to spend quality time together. Help us continue this work by donating to the Pathways Fund. JOIN US TODAY AND BENEFIT TOMORROW HF Holidays is the only UK holiday provider that s a co-operative. We re owned by our members who help shape our business for future generations. Join our award-winning and sociably responsible society that s passionate about helping others to enjoy holidays in beautiful countryside. For a minimum purchase of shares you can benefit from: Members loyalty scheme earn points on your holidays and use as a discount on your next holiday Member-only events and holidays Members come first with advance registration for the holiday you want 10% discount at our country house bars 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor 15% discount at Rohan 25% discount at Hi-Tec Annual interest on your shares ALREADY A MEMBER? There are many ways for you to further your support: Help choose our Board Attend member events Encourage others to join us Increase your shares at any time Top up to 1,000 shares to become an investment member with enhanced benefits Give membership as a gift To join or increase your investment call our Membership team on , membership@hfholidays.co.uk or visit hfholidays.co.uk/membership Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 11

12 Contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY hfholidays.co.uk For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: (local rate) +44 (0) (from outside the UK) Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm. Emergency contact details: In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or between the hours of Friday 7pm to Monday 9am are: +44 (0) or