After being collected at the Mgarr Ferry Terminal from Malta we travelled through Victoria the Capital of Gozo to Xewkija where my ebike and guide awaited to take me on an amazing leisurely journey for a 20 mile ride through glorious countryside, clifftops, beaches and villages.
We headed North East towards Xaghra but on the outskirts of town we turned down a narrow country lane which we followed through small farms for 2 miles before heading back to the main road. We could have rode on to Ramla Bay and Ramla beach to visit the Calypso Cave but instead we skirted the eastern boundary of Xaghra Northwards for 3 miles to Marsalforn, all the while stopping to take photos of all the beauty that is Gozo.
At Marsalforn we stopped to buy a packed lunch and water before pushing on for just another mile to the Salt Pans where we stumbled upon a promotion video being recorded for Red Bull by one of their Pro cycling stunt men.
Another mile along the cliff tops to Reqqa Point and Billinghurst Cavern, past Wied il-Ghasri to Wied ll-Mielah before heading for the Crafts Village of Għarb.
Gozo is famous for granite carving, silver filigree and lace, hand-blown glassware and honey which can all be seen here in Gharb being crafted by skilled locals who will be happy to sell you their unique wares.
But that will have to wait for another day, as we turned sharply Eastwards to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu, a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine located close by.
The church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu and is the only place where we met with a small group of tourists come to visit this site.
Across the road is a long track leading up to the shrine from farmland in the valley with stations of the cross carved in marble.
After a stop here for more photographs, we cycled on through Ghasri with church domes pointing to the sky over every valley, back towards Victoria, passing the Gozo Folklore Museum, the old prison, Gozo Museum of Archeology, the Opera House, St.Georges Basilica through the very heart of Victoria St.Francis Square to the South coast at Mgarr ix-Xini with amazing views of the secluded bay.
From Mgarr ix-Xini it was Northwards again for the last 4 miles through Tingi and Batista with it’s rotunda of St.John Baptist Church to our start and finish point at Xewkija.
This cycle ride was the most picturesque, leisurely cycle ride I’ve ever done in my life, and I never wanted it to end. There are so many alternative cycle routes to take on the Island of Gozo, and already I’ve mapped out a couple which I’ll do when I next return to Gozo in a few months time.
This ebike Ride will take me back through San Lawrenze and Blue Hole to Dweirja Bay and the Inland Sea Dive-site to take a boat trip from the Inland Sea and dive centre, through and under the cliffs out into the open sea to view where the Azure Window stood until recently.
Follow the coast down from here past Dwejra Bay, Fungus Rock, Wardija Punic Temple, SAN Raflu Lake to picturesque Xlendi Bay with a visit to Xlendi Tower and return to Xewkija and Victoria through the farms of Munxar.
There are just so many routes to safely ride cycles either off road or even on road, or you could just as well hire a Segway tour and pretty much do just the same mileage.
Of course if neither of these activities is for you, these cycle and Segway routes can just as easily be done by walking, there’s a bus route to many parts of Gozo to get you to the start point or from the finish point of your tour.
For more information videos of Malta and Gozo, please click the link to my Malta and Gozo playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUPhHmcJ8CuBlBZYtMZ_BfDRNZAm6NKaw