The Maltese islands are an ideal location for outdoor activities due to pleasant weather conditions all year round. The most popular of such activities are without doubt country walks and hikes as well as mountain biking and horse riding, which are enjoyed by both sports enthusiasts as well as tourists who love to spend time in the countryside.

Country Walks and Hikes

Malta has some very fascinating routes for country walks and hikes, which take you to secluded beaches, coastal cliffs, historic and archaeological sites and offer breathtaking views of scenic landscape which is rich in geological features.

More info on routes is available from the Ramblers’ Association of Malta

Mountain Biking in Gozo 

Mountain biking offers an excellent way to discover the breathtaking views that Gozo offers, so have a look at these biking routes in Gozo. Mountain biking in Malta is not advisable - because of busy and slippery roads biking (or even driving a scooter/motorcycle) can be very unsafe. Bike rentals in Gozo are available from a number of places, mostly in Victoria and offer relatively low rates.

For mountain bike rentals we recommend On Two Wheels.

Horse Riding

Horse riding is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike and the most popular stables can be found in the Western part of Malta, near Golden Bay. Scenic tours are offered, taking you around this rugged part of the island and offering spectacular views from higher grounds along the coast. Tours are led by by qualified instructors and all horses are well trained.

Other stables in the same area near the small village of Bidnija offer information online at http://www.bidnijahorseriding.com/.

Rock Climbing 

Malta is a great place for rock climbing, being one big rock in the middle of the Mediterranean with challenging cliffs to climb and abseil. Rock climbing in Malta is still relatively undiscovered but is gaining a reputation for offering some great climbing routes on all three islands – over 1,300 of them. Considering the islands only cover 316 square kilometres it’s easy to figure out that trying different routes on a holiday isn’t difficult and climbers are spoilt for choice in Malta. A varied selection of climbs are available, including traditional, sport, bouldering, deep water soloing and single and multi-pitch climbing.

Check out this article on rock climbing in Malta for more info!

Water Sports and Diving

Surrounded by sea, Malta offers a wide range of water sports, including more leisure jet skiing, water skiing and banana rides but also activities such as paragliding, sailing and of course diving.

Have a look at Diving in Malta and check out Gnejna water sports too - they offer banana rides, water skiing, ski lessons, paddle boats, canoes, self-drive boats, boat trips, diving/snorkelling and other beach facilities at the beaufiul beach of Gnejna bay.