Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, (21st September 2007):
Arrive in Malta. You will be met by our smart staff and guided to your transport from the airport Arrivals lounge to your luxury hotel. Check in at your luxury hotel located in the north side of the island, overlooking the lovely, calm, inspiring blue seas of the Mediterranean. The Hotel has been carefully chosen to blend in with your visit to the island. Gathering and meeting of all members of the group.
Day 2, (22nd September 2007):
We embark on our first visit to the Temples – a Tour to the Hypogeum, Hal Saflieni underground Temple, one of the most magnificent and powerful places in the world. Hal Saflieni is a Goddess Temple and one of the oldest sacred places in the world. The Hypogeum consists of halls, chambers and passages hewn out of the living rock and covering some 500m² over three levels, the lowest one being over ten meters below road level.
We shall also visit the Tarxien Prehistoric Temples close by, most probably a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Fertility whose statue was found in this same temple. This sacred site, dating from 3600 to 2500 BC, is the most complex of all temple sites in Malta and consists of four megalithic structures.
Day 3, (23rd September 2007):
The day of the Autumn Equinox. We will make a very early start today. Transport will take us from the hotel at around 0500 to the magnificent Temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra. Sunrise is estimated at 0700 but it is quite a bit of a trek to arrive at Mnajdra so we will need to allow ample time to be in position in time. An enchanting moment in one's lifetime, seeing the sun's rays penetrate the temple's entrance and follow the main corridors to light up the altar. This temple is vibrant with energy and never more than today, Spring Equinox.
Today, we will have ample time to explore both temple sites, Mnajdra and Hagar Qim. Expert guides will tell us all about their significance and orientation. We will dedicate most of the day to take in both temple sites, two of the main sites designated as world heritage by UNESCO. Transport will take us back to the hotel for a well deserved rest.
Day 4, (24th September 2007):
Today we will visit a very interesting site, Ghar Dalam – meaning The Cave of Darkness. The cave is some 144 meters deep but only the first 50 meters is safe enough for the public to view. The cave entrance also houses the Museum and we will take ample time to see the remarkable wealth of finds, from animal bones to human artefacts.
Second stop on our day's excursion is another temple site, Borg in-Nadur. A Goddess temple very close to the village of Birzebbuga in the south-eastern sector of Malta, Borg in-Nadur dates from around 2000 BC at the very end of the temple building phase (New Stone Age).
In the evening, we'll all gather for an interesting discussion and workshop about the Malta Temples by our guest speaker.
Day 5, (25th September 2007):
Today, we cross the channel between Malta and Gozo and travel by ferry to our sister island of Gozo, where we will explore the oldest temple of all, Ggantija. Ggantija, in Maltese means 'The Giant' and once we approach this temple, you will realize why it was so called. Dating back to around 3600 - 3300 BC, this megalithic complex of temples is justly claimed to be the most impressive monuments of European prehistory. Ggantija temples are the world's oldest free-standing structures, and the world's oldest religious structures, pre-dating even the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge in England. Numerous figurines and statues of a Mother Earth Fertility Goddess were found on this site and it is thus believed that the temples were the site of an Earth Mother Goddess Fertility Cult.
Close to the impressive Ggantija Temples (approx 700m) lies the Xaghra Stone Circle, which we shall also visit today. It is believed that this was in fact a temple serving both ceremonial and communal burial functions in relation to the Ggantija Temples in very much the same way that the Hypogeum was to Tarxien. (As seen on Day 2). We will stop for a meal and a deserved rest before continuing on this lovely day tour in Gozo.
A place worth visiting is Calypso's Cave, a cave rich in mythology and Greek Gods. In Greek mythology Calypso was the daughter of Atlas. She was a nymph living on the magical island of Ogygna. Calypso Cave is said to be the place where Odysseus was a 'prisoner of love' for seven years. He was imprisoned by Calypso, who promised him immortality if he would stay with her. But he escaped, as soon as the chance arose and returned to his wife Penelope. Myth, legend? Well worth a visit. Our transport will take us to the ferry and across the channel once again to return to our hotel at the end of the day.
Day 6, (26th September 2007):
Today, we will visit Malta's capital city Valletta, named after its gallant founder Grand Master Jean de La Vallette. We will walk around the city and visit the National Museum of Archaeology, where most remains and artefacts dug up from Malta's prehistoric sites are displayed. Of particular interest to us are the exquisite figures of The Sleeping Goddess found in the Hypogeum and Malta's Venus found at Hagar Qim. Due to current restoration works in the upper floor, only the prehistory section is open to the public.
A 45-minute trip will take us further north towards the lovely town of Rabat and Malta's ancient capital Mdina, known to many as The Silent City. There we will stop and visit the Domvs Romana (Roman Villa), the mosaics from the days of the Romans in Malta.
Day 7, (27th September 2007):
Visits to two ancient sites in the north west of Malta, Skorba Temples and Ta' Hagrat. Skorba Temple is a typical three-apsed temple and was built in the Ggantija phase (3600 – 3200 BC). Ta' Hagrat dates back to around 3600 – 3200 BC and is considered to be one of the earliest temple buildings in Malta. Ta’ Hagrat is overall much smaller than most of the Islands’ temples being about 15m long internally, but it is in a better state of preservation.
In the evening, we'll attend a Banquet Dinner, gathering and sharing our experiences of the last six days over sumptuous food and wine.
Day 8, (28th September 2007):
Departure day. Check out from the hotel. Transport will take us from the hotel to Malta International Airport to check in for the flight back. As always, our staff will be in attendance throughout.
Please note: The Itinerary is subject to change but you will always be advised of any changes well in advance. Exact pick up times will be duly announced on a daily basis during your stay by our staff.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* Half Board supplement is available as follows:
£85.00 - US Dollars 175 USD (145 Euros).
** Single room supplement is available as follows:
£100 sterling - US Dollars 185 USD (150 Euros).
What is included in our tours:
- Personally met on arrival at Malta Int. Airport
- Transfers from airport to hotel and vice versa
- Use of leisure facilities including tennis courts, fitness room, sauna and Jacuzzi
- Free entry to Hotel's Casino plus a welcome Lm5.00 voucher
- Transport from hotel to all sites/temples listed in tours and vice versa
- All entrance fees to every site/temple listed in tours
- On site services of a licensed, professional guide to all sites/temples
- Ferry expenses crossing over from Malta to Gozo and back
- Lunch at a first class restaurant on the Gozo day tour
- Fees to guest speaker/s on the conference evening
- Personal attention by Neolithic Tours staff accompanying to every site/temple
- Gala Dinner on the last evening of the tour.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Malta
Cultural Journey
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
