Malta Luxury Travel Guide: Sun & Sea in the Mediterranean

On her latest adventure, our luxury explorer Claire traveled to the glistening Mediterranean island of Malta. These are the experiences, hotels, restaurants, and adventures Project Kaif handcrafted just for her.

Step 1: Choosing the Perfect Destination

After her wining and dining adventures in Porto, Claire wanted to continue her journey around Europe while trading in Porto’s culture, scenery, and activities for something entirely different.

On this trip, she wanted to get her blood pumping with a variety of physical excursions like hiking, cycling, and swimming. Claire also wanted to visit somewhere rich in history, where the ancient architecture would transport her to another era and bring history to life before her eyes.

With this in mind, Project Kaif sent Claire from hilly and quaint northern Portugal to stunning and historic Malta, an island nation in the sparkling Mediterranean Sea just south of Sicily.

With a history dating back to the Neolithic era, Malta has some of the most ancient still-standing constructions in the world, built by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Crusaders.

Although Malta is actually made up of a chain of islands, only the largest three are inhabited. Based on Claire’s interests, we selected the largest island - Malta Island - as her home base. From there, we narrowed down the ancient capital of Mdina as the perfect city for Claire.

Perched on a hill overlooking the rest of Malta, Mdina is best known for its ancient architecture, panoramic vistas, and frozen-in-time scenery. Captivating and romantic, this walled city has a history that spans more than 4,000 years.

Step 2: Where to Sleep, Eat, Drink, and Play

Stay: The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux

During her stay in Mdina, Claire lived like Maltese royalty at The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux, a beautifully restored 17th century palace.

Tucked away inside Mdina’s medieval city walls and perched on centuries-old bastions, The Xara Palace boasts stunning baroque architecture and 17 luxury guestrooms and suites.

Each individually-designed room features antique tapestries, paintings, and other romantic decor, as well as spectacular 180-degree views of Mdina and the surrounding landscape.

We booked Claire one of the most lavish suites in The Xara Palace, where she enjoyed her own private terrace with a jacuzzi and sweeping panoramic views.

Eat: de Mondion (Mdina) & Churchill (Gozo)

In addition to its romantic decor and exclusive rooms, The Xara Palace also boasts award-winning cuisine at its dazzling rooftop restaurant: de Mondion.

Consistently rated among the best restaurants in Malta, de Mondion serves up tantalizing dishes in elegant surroundings. Seasonal produce, authentic recipes and carefully crafted menus make dining at de Mondion a truly unforgettable experience.

Additionally, during her sailing trip to Gozo (more on that below) Claire dined al fresco by the sea at Churchill. This renowned restaurant serves up a variety of Maltese-Mediterranean fusion cuisine and cocktails, along with gorgeous ocean views.

Do: Cycling, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Sailing

Project Kaif curated a full custom itinerary for Claire, which included a variety of outdoor activities and excursions. She cycled across the Maltese countryside, sea kayaked just off Malta’s rocky shores, and hiked along the breathtaking Dingli Cliffs.

Claire also explored under the sea with a private scuba diving expedition. She ventured to shipwrecks and rocky reefs, where she saw seahorses, moray eels, damselfish, and other marine life.

One of the highlights of Claire’s trip was chartering a yacht and embarking on a private sailing trip to the nearby island of Gozo. Claire spent her day here sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling in the island’s stunning sapphire and turquoise waters.

For an additional dose of culture and history, we also arranged a day trip for Claire to visit the modern capital of Valletta. Lively and vibrant, Valletta is known for its baroque architecture and abundance of museums, cathedrals, and other cultural sites.

Step 3: Booking the Right Travel Arrangements

There a number of ways to get to Malta from the mainland, but the vast majority of travelers opt to arrive by ferry. For Claire, we wanted to offer something a bit more special and memorable.

We arranged for Claire to travel to Malta by seaplane, which included a scenic aerial tour of Malta Island, Gozo and Comino.

This private tour by air gave Claire a birdseye view of her destination, allowing her to get familiar with the landscapes and scenery before she even arrived.

Want to book your own luxury journey to Malta or elsewhere around the globe? Contact Project Kaif today to start planning your dream adventure!