Goddess Tours International
The Goddess in Malta and Gozo
A sacred sites tour of Malta for women
Next Tour - early Spring 2014
The Sleeping Lady from the Hypogeum
The islands of Malta and Gozo at the crossroads of the Mediterranean are home to a vibrant Goddess culture dating back at least 6000 years. Here were constructed temples in the shape of the Goddess’ body, which, when excavated, were found to contain fertility figurines, large and generous in their proportions. All the sites give off a strong feeling of reverence for all things female, as well as peace and abundance. This Tour will visit all the main temples on Malta and its smaller twin sister island of Gozo, including the amazing underground burial chamber and shrine of the Hypogeum.
Hagar Qim temple
There will also be time to relax and explore the beautiful, vibrant islands and to soak up the atmosphere of these special places. The Tour will be led by experienced Goddess-celebrating guides Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis who have both been to the islands a number of times and have led Groups there in the past.
- See Malta from the inside
- Experience the Maltese temples with informed guides
- All accommodation arranged
- Transportation to all the sites
- Time for rest and recuperation
- Be with a small Goddess-loving Group
Goddess base from Tarxien temple
The Tour
Introduction
Malta and Gozo are on the ‘must visit’ list of everyone who has an interest in ancient Goddess civilisations – “the oldest free-standing religious architecture in the world” as one Travel Guide [Baedeker] puts it. There are still many mysteries about these sites and the people who built them, and this Tour will attempt to unravel some of these conundrums and provide a spiritual context for experiencing these beautifully-preserved places. Tour Guide Cheryl Straffon has researched and written about this prehistory and visited these islands a number of times to try and reach back to the people who lived here and built these sites. Joint Tour Guide Lana Jarvis has also visited both islands, and together they will lead this Tour to the sacred places on Malta and Gozo, at a beautiful time of the year when Malta is blossoming with the beauty of late Spring and the coming Summer.
Mnajdra temple
Itinery
The Tour is centred on Malta for the first week in a good quality Hotel (3 star) near Melliera Bay in the north-west of the island, away from the busy main towns and with a beautiful sandy beach alongside the clear blue Meditteranean sea. From here, we will go out on day trips to the principal temple sites of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien and the Hypogeum, and the archaeological museum in Valetta. There will also be other opportunites to explore the sights and places of interest on the island, or to just relax with peace and solitude. There will also be a trip to the island of Gozo where we will visit the magnificent temple site of Ggantija, and the small Archaeological Museum in the capital of the island.
Hypogeum on Malta
Details of sites
Having arrived at our hotel and settled in, the first day of the Tour will visit the temple sites of Hagar Qim and its neighbouring site of Mnadjra (now re-opened and enclosed in its new protective dome). There is much to see and experience at these two sites, including ritual chambers, carved stones and places were Goddess figurines were found. Later in the week there will be visits to the temple of Tarxien and the amazing underground ritual chamber known as the Hypogeum, about which Marija Gimbutas has said: “It represents the Goddess’ regenerative womb. This image of the tomb-as-womb, combined with symbols of regeneration, add further testimony that the hypogea and burial tombs of Malta were sacred ceremonial sites for ritual participation in the great round of death and rebirth”. We shall also visit the capital city of Valetta and the fascinating Archaeological Museum there, as well as the mysterious ‘cart tracks’ in the south of the island.
We will also cross to the smaller island of Gozo, where we will visit the beautiful temple of Ggantija, and the Archaeological Museum in the capital Rabat. We also hope to be able to have access to the temple of Mnadjra at dawn for the Spring Equinox alignment, when light from the rising sun enters the temple opening.
Ggantija temple, Gozo
Tour Guides
Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis.
Costs
The total cost for the full 8 day Tour is £950 (shared accommodation) and £1050 (single accommodation) [Payment may be made in your own currency equivalent to these sterling amounts].
This includes:-
- Collection from Malta airport, transfer to hotel, transfer to Gozo by ferry, and return to Malta airport.
- Accommodation in twin or single rooms in Hotels.
- Transportation to all the sites
- Informed tour-guiding and ceremony with guides Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis.
You are responsible for making your own arrangements for the following:-
- Transport to Malta
- Your travel insurance
- Your own meals (we will usually eat together as a Group)
- Adequate footwear, sun lotion protection, and anything else you may need
As we shall be a small Group, it means that we can try and look after your individual needs as much as possible. Malta and Gozo are beautiful destinations and we shall be on hand the whole time to make sure that you have a deeply fulfilling and nurturing time there.
Important things to note:-
If you choose the shared room occupancy you are responsible for providing a room mate. If you wish, we will endeavour to select a room mate for you from any others who have booked for the Tour in this way, but if we are unable to do so, then you will need to pay the single room occupancy supplement. This is a standard requirement for tours of this nature.
A deposit of £100 sterling (or local equivalent) must be paid at the time of booking this Tour, and the balance no later than 8 weeks before the commencement of the Tour. You have 28 days in which to change your mind about the booking, after which time the deposit becomes non-refundable. This covers any administrative and cancellation charges that we may have to pay. If you are forced to cancel your booking after paying the full amount, the following refunds will be given: Before 8 weeks prior to the Tour – total amount less £100. Between 8 – 4 weeks prior to the Tour – 50% refund. Within 4 weeks – no refund. If we are forced to cancel the Tour for any reason, we shall refund any money paid in full.
The prices for this Tour are set at a rate current at - Seprtember 2012. We hope that this price will be the final price you pay, but in these uncertain economic times, if the exchange rate between the pound and the euro changes significantly before the beginning of the Tour, we reserve the right to impose a surcharge to reflect this which will be no greater than the change in rates. We shall only do this if there is a significant fall or rise in the exchange rate.
We shall endeavour at all times to ensure that care is taken of your needs and abilities, but equally you are responsible for your own safety, and by signing up for the Tour, you agree to absolve the Tour and its organisers from any responsibility for your own safety.
Booking
You download details of our "A sacred sites tour of Malta and Gozo for women" as a PDF document, 50kb.
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Gnejna Bay, Malta
For more details of Malta's sites read 'The Goddess in the Temple'.