Malta Pride Week (6-13 September 2025)

Valletta to Marsaxlokk - Gentle First Sail

• Distance: An easy 9 nautical miles
• Morning: Begin your first sailing day with a gentle cruise along Malta's southeastern coast to Marsaxlokk, a picturesque fishing village that's the perfect introduction to Malta's maritime charm.
• Sailing Experience: This short leg allows beginners to adjust to sailing, get comfortable with the boat, and develop their sea legs in relatively protected waters.
• Attractions: Feast your eyes on the colorful luzzu fishing boats with their distinctive "eyes" that are said to protect fishermen from evil. The rainbow of colors is almost as vibrant as your crew.
• Optional Activities: 
  • Browse the bustling Sunday market (if arriving on Sunday) for local treasures and souvenirs
  • Visit the remains of the ancient Tas Silg temple on the hill above town
  • Take a gentle stroll along the waterfront promenade, eyeing both the boats and their strapping crews
• Wine Tasting: Visit the Meridiana Wine Estate on your way to Marsaxlokk. This award-winning winery offers tastings of their elegant "Isis" Chardonnay and sultry "Melqart" Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend in a stunning converted farmhouse setting.
• Beaches: Nearby Pretty Bay in Birzebbuga offers a small sandy beach where you can cool off after your first sailing adventure.
• Culinary Delights: Dine at one of the waterfront restaurants offering the freshest catch of the day. Try local specialties at places like "La Nostra Padrona" or "Roots" where the seafood is so fresh it practically jumps onto your plate.
• LGBTQ+ Friendly Spot: While Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village, the waterfront bars welcome all guests with typical Maltese hospitality.
• Overnight: Drop anchor in the sheltered harbor of Marsaxlokk, surrounded by twinkling lights from the village as you enjoy your first night at sea.

Marsaxlokk to Golden Bay - Coastal Cruising

• Distance: About 10 nautical miles
• Morning: With your sea legs more confident, set sail westward along Malta's southern coast, rounding the southwestern tip before heading north to the golden paradise that awaits.
• Optional Stops En Route: 
  • Pause at the Blue Grotto for spectacular views of the sea caves
  • Take a refreshing swim at Ghar Lapsi, a natural swimming pool with crystal clear waters
  • Admire the dramatic Dingli Cliffs from the sea, rising 250m above sea level
• Wine & Spirits Experience: Arrange a private tasting at Marsovin Cellars in Marsa. Malta's oldest winery offers an extensive selection including their "1919" premium red, which is aged to perfection in oak barrels. If spirits are more your style, sample Maltese Fig Liqueur from a local producer - it's sweet, aromatic, and deliciously unique.
• Attractions: Upon arrival at Golden Bay, work up a sweat with a short hike to Għajn Tuffieħa (Twin Bays) - and yes, the "twin" views are as spectacular as they sound.
• Beaches: Golden Bay - where the hot bodies are as golden as the sand. Perfect for showing off your water sport skills. Blue Flag certified beach with facilities for water skiing and wakeboarding. 
  • Riviera Bay (Għajn Tuffieħa) - sneak away to this more secluded beach where tan lines are optional and inhibitions are left on your yacht.
• Optional Activity: Mount up for some horseback riding along the beach at sunset - a different kind of bareback experience to add to your vacation stories.
• LGBTQ+ Friendly Spot: Mingle with the beach crowd at Għajn Tuffieħa, where like-minded sun-worshippers gather to admire more than just the sunset.
• Dinner: Get hot around a beach barbecue under the stars, with your attentive crew serving up fresh local ingredients almost as delicious as the eye candy surrounding you.
• Overnight: Rock gently to sleep anchored at Golden Bay, dreaming of golden skin and sandy encounters.

Golden Bay to Mġarr, Gozo - Island Penetration

• Distance: An exciting 5.6 nautical miles
• Morning: Point your bow northward as you thrust toward Mġarr on Gozo, Malta's sister island that knows how to show sailors a good time.
• Port: Enter the picturesque Mġarr Harbor - an iconic sight that has inspired artists for generations with its magnificent beauty.
• Local Food Tasting: Let your tongue explore Gozitan delicacies (like ħobż biż-żejt, seductive pastizzi, and creamy local cheeses) hand-fed by your attentive crew.
• Gin Experience: Visit the Gozitan Gin Distillery, where small-batch artisanal gins are infused with local botanicals like Maltese juniper and wild thyme. Their signature Gozo Gin offers a distinctive Mediterranean character that captures the essence of the island in every sip.
• Optional Island Tour: Explore Gozo's hottest highlights (can be arranged through local taxi services): 
  • Stand erect at The Citadel in Victoria (Rabat) for commanding views of nearly the entire island
  • Dive deep into the Blue Hole (the Azure Window may have collapsed, but there are plenty of other holes to explore)
  • Get dirty at Ramla Bay with its distinctive orange-red sand that clings to all the right places
  • Enter the moist depths of Calypso Cave, where legend says Odysseus was "detained" for seven years by a nymph (wink)
  • Visit the prehistoric Ġgantija Temples, some of the world's oldest free-standing structures
• Wine Tasting: Arrange a tasting at Ta' Mena Estate, Gozo's premier winery, where you can sample wines made from indigenous Maltese grapes like Girgentina and Ġellewża. Their Marsamena red blend is particularly impressive, and they also produce excellent olive oils and local preserves.
• Local Food Experience: Wrap your mouth around a traditional Gozitan ftira (a hot, fresh flatbread topped with potatoes and local cheese that will make you moan with pleasure).
• LGBTQ+ Friendly Spot: Get cheeky at Gleneagles Bar in Mġarr Harbor, where the drinks flow as freely as the conversation.
• Dinner: Let Ta' Rikardu in the Citadel satisfy your appetite with homemade wine and farm-fresh food that's almost as organic as your vacation fling.

Overnight: Nestle into Mġarr Harbor for a night of gentle rocking.

Mġarr to Comino - Going Deep

• Distance: A teasing 2 nautical miles
• Morning: Cruise south from Gozo to the Blue Lagoon on Comino, Malta's smallest inhabited island with the biggest reputation for pleasure.
• Optional Circumnavigation: Sail around the tiny island of Comino, exploring its numerous caves and coves before anchoring.
• Swimming Spots: Choose between three spectacular options: 
  • Blue Lagoon - The most famous spot with its unbelievable turquoise waters
  • St. Nicholas Bay - A more secluded alternative with crystal-clear waters
  • St. Mary's Bay - Perfect for a more peaceful swimming experience
• Attractions: Dive into the warm embrace of the crystal-clear turquoise waters that will caress every inch of your body.
• Beach: Sneak away to Crystal Lagoon - the naughty little sister of Blue Lagoon where clothing is merely a suggestion. Feel the freedom of going au naturel as nature intended.
• Optional Activity: Get down and dirty with the local marine life while snorkeling in these penetrating blue depths. The area offers some of Malta's best snorkeling and diving sites.
• Sunset Gin Experience: As the day cools, indulge in a Lord Chambray Gin tasting on your yacht's deck. This Gozitan craft gin is infused with Mediterranean citrus and botanicals that perfectly complement the island sunset. Their Blue Lagoon special edition gin (named after your current location) features notes of sea salt and coastal herbs.
• Wine & Cocktails: Sample some chilled local wines on deck as the sun begins its sultry descent. Try the Camilleri Wines' Odyssey series, which pays tribute to Malta's maritime history with crisp whites that pair perfectly with your seafood dinner.
• Dinner: Enjoy a sensual sunset dinner aboard your yacht, dining al fresco as the sky puts on a show of passionate reds and purples.
• Overnight: Secure a hot spot to drop anchor in the Blue Lagoon (come early to claim your pleasure zone).

Comino to St. Paul's Bay - Beach Body Bonanza

• Distance: A short cruise of about 5 nautical miles
• Morning: Rise and shine, sailor! Point your bow southwest toward St. Paul's Bay on Malta's northern coast, where legend says the apostle Paul was shipwrecked in 60 CE (talk about a dramatic entrance).
• Attractions: Surrounded by breathtaking cliffs and caves, St. Paul's Bay offers a more tranquil setting than some of Malta's busier hotspots.
• Optional Sightseeing: 
  • Explore the St. Paul's Bay Wignacourt Tower, a 17th-century watchtower
  • Visit the nearby Malta National Aquarium
  • Check out the remains of the ancient Roman baths
• Craft Spirits Experience: Visit the Bristow Distillery in nearby Buġibba, where you can taste their award-winning Maltese Gin, infused with locally sourced botanicals including Maltese oranges, lemons, and wild Mediterranean herbs. Their St. Paul's Bay Gin special edition features aromatic notes inspired by the bay's natural flora.
• Beaches: Flaunt what Mother Nature gave you at the various small beaches and coves scattered along this picturesque coastline. Less crowded than southern beaches, perfect for more intimate encounters.
• Optional Activity: Explore the area's sea caves, or visit the uninhabited St. Paul's Islands just offshore, where the famous shipwreck supposedly occurred.
• LGBTQ+ Friendly Spot: Get tipsy and touchy-feely at the beach bars along the promenade where the atmosphere is relaxed and accepting.
• Wine Tasting: Let your palate be seduced by local Maltese wines at Vino Veritas Wine Bar, featuring vintages from small Maltese producers including the elusive Gellewza Frizzante - a sparkling rosé that's as refreshing as a midnight skinny dip.
• Overnight: Find your sweet spot anchored in St. Paul's Bay, enjoying the peaceful setting and spectacular views. 

St. Paul's Bay to Sliema & St. Julian's - Flirting with the Coast

• Distance: A sensual 10 nautical miles
• Morning: Cruise along Malta's northern and eastern coastline to reach the chic urban playgrounds of Sliema and St. Julian's, hugging the coast to enjoy spectacular views of Malta's seaside cliffs and bays.
• Optional Stops En Route: 
  • Anchor at Mellieħa Bay for a mid-morning swim at Malta's largest sandy beach
  • Visit the scenic St. Agatha's Tower (Red Tower) for panoramic views
  • Pause at picturesque Salina Bay to admire the salt pans
• Attractions: Flaunt your stuff along Tower Road, indulge in retail therapy at The Point Shopping Mall, and strut your sexy self along the Sliema promenade where the locals can't help but stare.
• Urban Gin Tasting: Stop by The Gin Bar in St. Julian's, home to over 100 different gins including Malta's own Strait Gin. For a true Maltese gin experience, try their Maltese Citrus Flight featuring gins infused with local lemons, oranges, and tangerines, each paired with the perfect tonic and garnish.
• Beaches: Drop your inhibitions (and maybe more) at Fond Għadir, a small rocky beach perfect for showing off that beach body you've been working on. For a more gay-popular spot, head to Balluta Bay where the LGBTQ+ crowd loves to see and be seen.
• Optional Activity: Indulge in a spa treatment at one of St. Julian's luxury hotels - the perfect way to pamper your body before a wild night out.
• LGBTQ+ Friendly Spot: Shake what your mama gave you at The Birdcage Lounge in St. Julian's, where the cocktails are as cheeky as the clientele. For a more cruisy atmosphere, Reflections Bar offers a local vibe where you can meet Malta's hottest residents.
• Wine Dinner: Experience the ultimate wine pairing at Caviar & Bull, where sommelier Aaron Briffa expertly matches each course with premium Maltese wines. Try their signature seafood dishes with the Emmanuel Delicata Grand Vin de Hauteville Viognier - a luscious white that's as smooth as your best pickup lines.
• Overnight: Find your perfect position anchored in Sliema Creek or St. Julian's Bay.

Disembarkation in Valletta - The Morning After

Before 09:00: Peel yourself away from your yacht (and possibly your new friends). Exchange numbers, share those "private" photos, and promise to meet again next year for another wet and wild adventure!

Hit up the Malta Pride festivities with the locals and others who have traveled to the hot island to get together!