Mediterranean MarvelsEarn your action stripes by kicking off with a day on the water. At Borg Watersports in Golden Sands Bay, a group of us clambered into wetsuits and headed out on jet-skis to skip over waves at 35mph. After that adrenaline rush we swapped our jet-skis for a gentler form of transport, the canoe.
Paddling in and out of rocky outcrops, contemplating the clear blue water, was a peaceful way to explore the coastline, stopping off at a couple of sandy beaches inaccessible by car.
For a real getaway, the tiny island of Comino is a delight. Hiring bikes from the harbour is the best way to get around this Mediterranean jewel, but whatever you do, make sure you ride down to the Blue Lagoon, a stunning bay, which more often than not you’ll have to yourself. You can set yourself the challenge of swimming out to the little outcrop islands. As the island is small enough to hike across in 90 minutes, serious cyclists might prefer Gozo’s 40km route, particularly as it contains some tricky technical tracks and some steep climbs. Downhill mountain bikers should head to the remote north-west of the island.
One of the nicest locations on Gozo is an inland crag called Mgarr-ix-Ini that has several routes developed for rock climbing. Bouldering has recently become all the rage, too. Abseiling at Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay offers good views of nearby Comino bay.
Malta has one of the oldest polo clubs in Europe, so it’s not surprising that horse riding is a popular activity here. Explore the unspoilt countryside of Bidnija in the north with Bidnija Horse Riding (bidnijahorseriding.com).
Gozo Adventures offers a wide range of activities including hiking, climbing, diving, orienteering and biking.
