Malta may be small, but the islands punch way above their weight in terms of culture, leisure and excitement. With 300 days a year of sunshine, nearly any month is the best time to visit Malta; it’s the perfect location to enjoy the outdoors. Whether sitting by the beach, exploring historical sites or walking through ancient streets, there’s genuinely something for everyone here.
If you’re more adventurous, you’re very well catered for too. Here are five outdoor activities you can do (nearly) all year in Malta.
Photo: Jose A.
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1. ROCK CLIMBING AND BOULDERING
Essentially, Malta is a huge rock in the Mediterranean. Surrounded on all sides by dramatic coastline, rocky cliffs and hidden alcoves, it makes the perfect playground for anyone wanting to enjoy rock climbing or bouldering. Spring and autumn are the best times to climb on Malta. The sun still shines but the temperatures remain mild.
Malta currently has over 1,300 climbing locations and this number is growing steadily. Much of the coastline is yet to be surveyed by climbers, so there is always something new to climb. With a selection of top-class climbing schools around the island, you’re spoilt for choice!
2. DIVING AND KAYAKING
Being surrounded on all sides by clear blue water, you can bet Malta is good for diving and kayaking. Not just good, fantastic! With moderate sea temperatures of between 14 and 25 degrees for most of the year, and excellent visibility, anytime except during a windy storm is a good time to be in the water.
There are a number of good-quality dive centres around the islands that offer equipment, guided dives and instruction. Diving spots are plentiful and include Um El Faroud, Qawra Reef, the HMS Maori and Blue Hole, to name just a few.
Kayaking is equally well served on Malta and Gozo. A number of businesses offer kayak hire and tours of the coastline. Each offers a unique perspective of the island and the opportunity to explore places you would never see otherwise.
3. JET SKIING AROUND THE ISLANDS
If you like speed or want an engine to do the work instead of your arms, jet ski safaris are the way to go. You can explore Malta, Gozo and Comino on a jet ski and catch views of the coastline that are really unaccessible otherwise. You can hire a jet ski and go off and have fun, or you can join a guided safari around the coast. It’s entirely up to you.
Guided tours take in some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline around the islands, and provide a healthy dose of fun.
4. MOUNTAIN BIKING
All that sunshine and varied terrain makes Malta and Gozo the perfect place for mountain biking. Once you’re out of the built-up areas, you can discover miles and miles of mixed trail types covering rolling hills, rural farmed areas, rocky trails and coastal runs. There’s a real mix of trails on the islands, catering for all abilities.
If you’re a beginner, there are trail centres and operators that offer guided tours and lessons on techniques. If you want to go and explore, you can hire bikes by the day. If you’re after something more technical, take the ferry to Gozo and explore the technical terrain instead.
Three of the routes are well worth checking out—Dwejra, Zebbug and Mgarr. Dwejra is ideal for beginners, while Zebbug is a little more challenging. The routes around Mgarr are for advanced riders with a good level of fitness.
5. DISCOVER GOZO ON QUAD BIKES OR SCOOTER
If you prefer engine power over leg power, Gozo has a range of motorised activities both on and off the road. Why not take a quad bike and explore the island? You’re likely to see lots of quads around as they are the ideal way to explore. They fit down the narrow streets, can handle the rough terrain of the islands, and can go places most other vehicles cannot. We would suggest a guided tour to make sure you see the best there is to see.
If you want to explore the towns and villages of Gozo, a scooter may be more appropriate. There are dozens of scooter hire venues around the towns of Gozo and as long as you can ride a bike, you can handle one of these. Roads are very easy to navigate and most lead to the capital, Victoria, so even if you do go off exploring it’s very difficult to get lost.
Malta and its sister islands have the perfect climate for outdoor activities: lots of sunshine, mild temperatures in spring and summer, lots of rugged terrain, gorgeous coastline and warm waters. No wonder it’s so popular with people seeking adventure!
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