Prehistoric Temples & Highlights Of The South (Full Day Including Lunch)

This tour is ideal for those guests who want to visit Malta’s southern region and experience some of its most interesting highlights in just one day. Carefully designed to make your day truly memorable, we start by visiting one of Malta's oldest quarries, which has been transformed into an attraction for tourists and locals alike. Located in the traditional Maltese village of Siġġiewi, the Limestone Heritage Park and Gardens is an innovative and award-winning attraction that will take you on a journey of discovery, where history and nature blend together to give you a unique experience. Relish the opportunity to immerse yourselves in the islands’ eclectic history through an engaging audio-visual presentation and a very informative audio-guided walk-through. This attraction offers immense insight into the islands’ compelling history and broad culture. From here, we will proceed to visit the megalithic temple complex of Ħaġar Qim, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. The complex is located on the southern edge of the island on a hilltop overlooking the sea and the islet of Filfa. These temples are among the most ancient religious sites on Earth and are described by the World Heritage Sites Committee as “unique architectural masterpieces” dating back to c. 3600–3200 BC, they are over 5000 years old, predating the pyramids of Egypt by approximately 1000 years! The site consists of a central building and the remains of at least two more structures. The large forecourt and the monumental façade of the central structure follow the pattern typical of Maltese prehistoric temples. Along the external wall, one may find some of the largest megaliths used in the building of these structures, such as a 5.2-meter-high stone and a huge megalith estimated to weigh close to 20 tonnes. Our experienced guide will give you a detailed insight into the temples and their captivating history. Our next stop is Wied Iż-Żurrieq (Żurrieq Valley), where we will visit the magnificent Blue Grotto and appreciate the fantastic scenery and breath-taking views surrounding the entire site. The Blue Grotto is a complex of seven caves found along the southern coast of the island. This complex comprises a massive and very impressive main arch, which is approximately 30 metres in height, as well as a system of six other caves, among which you will find the Honeymoon Cave, the Cat’s Cave, and the beautiful Reflection Cave. Featured in numerous movies shot in Malta, owing to its natural beauty, enchanting structure, and perfect location, such as Cutthroat Island (1995), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), and Troy (2004), this extremely popular site attracts thousands of visitors each year, with many opting to see the amazing grotto up-close via local boat trips. Weather permitting, you will also have the time and opportunity to visit the grotto and caves by taking one of the boat trips organised by several local providers and available at a small fee payable on location (the boat trip is not included in your package price). After lunch, we will visit the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk. The village is the largest fishing harbour in Malta and has been so since antiquity. Today, the majority of fish sold on the islands is caught by fishermen coming from this village. Traditional “luzzu’s” (brightly coloured traditional fishing boats) and larger fishing vessels line the sheltered harbour in a colourful display that has been the subject of countless photoshoots. Marsaxlokk is also popular for its many delightful restaurants and nice cafés huddled along its entire promenade and for its charming open-air market, which sells a vast assortment of food and a wide array of durable goods, such as fish, locally produced honey and fruit jams, traditional sweets and other delicacies, local wines and liquors, souvenirs, clothes, shoes, traditional lacework and crafts, custom jewellery, accessories, and many more. This is the perfect location to enjoy a stroll in the unique settings of this quaint village where you can rub your shoulders with the locals, experience the Maltese way of life, and admire the lovely sea views while browsing the market, looking for ‘that’ perfect deal! We end our tour with a visit to Għar Dalam Cave, Malta’s oldest prehistoric site, dating back to c. 5200 BC. Għar Dalam (meaning Cave of Darkness) is a 144-metre-long phreatic tube and cave, or cul-de-sac, located on the outskirts of the village of Birżebbuġa. The cave contains the bone remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became 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 earliest evidence of human settlement in Malta, some 7,400 years ago, was discovered. Due to its paleontological and archaeological significance, this site is viewed as one of Malta's most important national monuments. Lunch is included during this tour. During the whole tour, our knowledgeable and experienced guides will provide you with riveting information and enhance your experience through narration and engaging storytelling.