How to find a hiking buddy in Malta

Short answer: the quickest ways to find a hiking buddy in Malta are to join a walking or outdoor group that already runs regular hikes, book a guided nature walk run by a local organisation, or post your own hike as a plan with a clear meeting point, start time, pace and number of places, and let people ask to join. Whichever route you take, start in the cooler months, pick a well-known trail and meet at a public, easy-to-find starting point.

Malta is small, but its countryside is surprisingly varied: high cliffs on the south-west coast, the old British fortifications of the Victoria Lines across the middle of the island, valleys, coastal paths and, a short ferry ride away, Gozo. Many of those routes are more enjoyable, and safer, with company. This guide covers where people actually find hiking partners on the islands, how to set up a hike with people you have not met before, and what to check before you go.

Where to find a hiking buddy in Malta

There is no single noticeboard for hikers in Malta, so most people use a mix of the options below. We have only included types of group we could confirm; names and schedules change, so always check that a group is still active before you rely on it.

Walking and outdoor groups

Meetup lists a range of social and outdoor groups in Malta; search Meetup’s Malta listings for “hiking”, “walking” or “outdoor” and look at when each group last held an event. A small group that meets every couple of weeks is more useful than a large one that has gone quiet. Facebook groups for expats, students and walkers are another common place where someone posts “walking the cliffs on Sunday, anyone in?”. Read each group’s rules before posting.

Guided nature walks

Local organisations run occasional guided walks that are a good way to meet people who enjoy the countryside. BirdLife Malta’s events page, for example, lists guided nature walks from time to time, and popular ones can be fully booked, so sign up early. A guided walk is a low-pressure start: you get a route, a leader and a group, and you can swap numbers with anyone you got on with for the next hike.

Paid guided hikes

Private guides and activity companies offer guided hikes, usually for a fee per person or per group. These suit visitors and anyone who wants a route planned for them, but you tend to walk with the people you brought, so they are less useful for meeting new hiking partners.

Your existing circles

Colleagues, classmates and gym or running friends are often the easiest first hiking partners. If you already run, our guide on finding a running buddy in Malta covers clubs and groups that overlap with the hiking crowd.

Post the hike yourself

If none of the above fits your day, pace or route, post the hike as a plan. You decide where and when, how many people can come and how fast you will go, and people who like the sound of it ask to join. This works well for specific routes, early starts and small groups of three to six. The section below explains how.

When to hike in Malta

Malta’s tourism authority, on its Visit Malta walking page, says that a visit between October and May is ideal for hiking and walking. That matches the experience of most walkers: summer days are hot, many trails have little shade, and the limestone reflects the heat back at you. If you do hike in summer, start very early, finish before the middle of the day and choose short routes near the sea.

In the cooler months, the countryside is greener, the light is softer and long coastal walks become realistic. Daylight is shorter, though, so plan your finish time with sunset in mind, especially on cliff-top paths where you do not want to be walking in the dark.

For route ideas, Visit Malta lists a series of countryside walks, and the Great Walks Malta website publishes maps and notes for longer coastal routes. Use them to choose a route before you invite anyone, so your plan can say exactly where you are going. If you are after trail descriptions rather than company, a dedicated trail guide is the better read; this page is about finding people to walk with.

How to post a hike as a plan

A hike is one of the easiest plans to host with people you have not met before: it is free, it happens outdoors, and walking side by side makes conversation easy. On MeetNow, a host posts a plan at a public place with a date, a time, a number of seats and who pays, people ask to join with a short note, and the host decides who comes. For a hike, set it up like this:

1. Pick a public, easy-to-find meeting point. A village square, a church parvis, a well-known bus stop or a car park at the trailhead works better than “somewhere along the path”. Everyone should be able to find it without your phone number.
2. Name the route and the distance. “Victoria Lines, around 6 km, some uneven steps” tells people far more than “a nice walk”. If you are not sure of the distance, give the start and end points and an estimated duration.
3. State the pace and the level. Say whether it is a relaxed walk with photo stops or a steady hike, and whether there are steep or rocky sections. People will choose your plan because it matches their level, which makes the day better for everyone.
4. Set a small number of seats. Three to five guests is plenty for a first hike. A small group stays together on narrow paths and is easier to keep track of.
5. Choose who pays. Most hikes are free. If you plan a coffee or lunch at the end, say “pay your own” so nobody is surprised.
6. Set an end point and a way home. Mention whether the route is a loop or ends somewhere else, and which bus stop or car park is nearby, so guests can arrange their own way back.
7. Read the notes and choose your group. A note such as “I walk most weekends and I’m comfortable on rocky paths” helps you pick people who will enjoy the route. You can also limit who can join, for example by gender or age range, if that makes you more comfortable.
8. Use the group chat for the details. Once guests are accepted, use the group chat to confirm the meeting point, what to bring and a contact plan if someone is running late.

If you would rather join than host, our guide on how to ask to join a plan explains what to write in your note.

Example plan description

Here is an example of a hike plan that sets clear expectations:

Sunday morning walk along the Victoria Lines. Meeting at 08:00 at the parish church square in Mġarr. Easy-to-moderate route of roughly 6 km with uneven steps in places, about 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace with stops for photos. 4 seats. Free; optional coffee afterwards, pay your own. Bring at least 1.5 litres of water, sun protection and proper shoes. The route ends near a bus stop, so you can make your own way back.

The description answers the questions people actually have: where, when, how far, how hard, what it costs and how to get home. Adjust the route and times to the trail you choose, and only mention what you have checked yourself.

Tips for a good first hike with new people

• Keep the first one short. Two to three hours is enough to know whether you enjoy walking together.
• Walk at the pace of the slowest person. Agree at the start that nobody gets left behind, and stop at junctions to regroup.
• Share the route. Post the route in the group chat so everyone can follow it on their own phone.
• Plan a natural ending. A café, a bus stop or a viewpoint gives the group a clear end, and a coffee afterwards is often where people swap numbers for the next hike.
• Do it again. Hiking friendships grow from repeat walks, so suggest the next route before you part.

Hiking is only one of many plans that work well with new people. For other ideas, from coffee to dinners, see our guide to finding people to hang out with in Malta, or read which app is best for meeting people in person.

Safety box

FAQ: finding a hiking buddy in Malta

What is the best time of year to hike in Malta?

Malta’s tourism authority describes October to May as the ideal time for hiking and walking. Summer hikes are possible if you start very early and keep them short, because many trails have little shade.

Are there hiking groups in Malta?

Yes. Meetup and Facebook list social and outdoor groups that organise walks, and local organisations such as BirdLife Malta run occasional guided nature walks. Check that a group has recent events before you rely on it.

Is it safe to hike alone in Malta?

Many people do, but hiking with others is safer, especially on cliff paths and in summer heat. If you go alone, tell someone your route and finish time, stay on known paths and carry water and a charged phone.

How many people should I invite on a hike?

For a first hike with people you have not met, three to five guests is a good size: small enough to stay together on narrow paths and big enough for easy conversation.

Does a hiking plan cost anything?

Most hikes are free. If you add a coffee or lunch at the end, say “pay your own” in the plan so everyone knows before they ask to join.