Full day Hagar Qim Temples and Maltese South from La Valeta

Once you are picked up from the hotel, you will start the day by visiting one of the oldest quarries in Malta. Located in the traditional Maltese village of Siġġiewi, The Limestone Heritage Park & ​​​​​​Gardens is a unique and innovative attraction that highlights the beauty of Maltese stone and its incredible 22 million years of history. You will enjoy the opportunity to immerse yourself in the eclectic history of the islands. Through an engaging audio-visual presentation and a very informative audio-guided tour, this attraction offers immense insight into the fascinating history and broad culture of the islands.

From here you will proceed to visit the Haġar Qim megalithic temple complex, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, the complex is located at the southern end of the island on the top of a hill overlooking the sea and the islet of Filfa, these temples are among the oldest religious sites on Earth and are described by the World Heritage Sites committee as “unique architectural masterpieces”, dating back to 3600-3200 BC. They are more than 5000 years old and were built before the pyramids of Egypt by approximately 1000 years.

The site consists of a central building and the remains of at least two other structures. The large courtyard and the monumental façade of the central structure follow the typical pattern of prehistoric Maltese temples. Along the outer wall, you can find some of the largest megaliths used in the construction of these structures, such as a 5.2-meter-high stone and a huge megalith estimated to weigh close to 20 tons.

Your next stop is Wied Iż-Żurrieq (Żurrieq Valley), where you will visit the magnificent Blue Grotto and appreciate the fantastic landscape and stunning views surrounding the entire site. The Blue Grotto is a complex of seven caves located along the southern coast of the island. This complex comprises a huge and imposing main arch, which measures approximately 30 meters high, and a system of 6 other caves, among which you will find the Honeymoon Cave, the Cat Cave, and the beautiful Cave of the Reflection.

After lunch, you will visit the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk. The town is the largest fishing port in Malta, and has been since ancient times; Today, most of the fish sold on the islands is caught by fishermen from this town. Traditional "luzzu" (brightly colored traditional fishing boats) and larger fishing boats line the sheltered harbor in a colorful display that has been the subject of countless photo ops.

Marsaxlokk is also popular for its many charming restaurants and pleasant cafes along its entire promenade and for its charming open-air market, which sells a wide variety of foods and a wide range of durable products, such as fish, locally produced honey, souvenirs, and much more.

You will end the tour with a visit to the Għar Dalam Cave, Malta's oldest prehistoric site, dating back to 5200 BC, Għar Dalam (meaning Cave of Darkness) is a 144-meter-long phreatic tube and cave, or dead end, located on the outskirts of the village of Birżebbuġa.

The cave contains skeletal remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently extinct in Malta at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, such as the dwarf elephant, hippopotamus, giant swan, deer, and bear, which have not lived on the Maltese islands for thousands of years.

It is also here that the oldest evidence of human settlement in Malta was discovered, around 7400 years ago. Due to its paleontological and archaeological importance, this site is considered one of the most important national monuments of the island.

Greca Tip: You can sail to the Blue Grotto depending on the weather. The supplement must be paid at the destination.