Aussie chef Shane Delia made a conscious decision a few years ago to dedicate the next stages of his life to promote his Maltese roots, to really help the hotspot shine – just as it deserves.“If I can do that through a culinary lens then I would have lived a very fulfilled life,” he told news.com.au. The Melbourne-based restaurateur and TV personality has already helped put the nation on the map through his love of food – but he wants to do more.In November last year, he showed off the vibrant flavours of Malta through his new SBS Food series, Shane Delia’s Malta. During the six-part series he uncovered the hidden influences of Malta’s past and how the Phoenicians, Arabs, British and the Knights of Malta, all left their mark on the island’s flavours and cooking styles.“I’ve already done the French side with my traditional training, and leaning into Europe,” he said.“But I wanted to lean into the Middle Eastern side of where Maltese ancestry comes from and I spent 18 years of my life doing that.”Delia is the man behind Maha, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Melbourne with Mediterranean influences that has earned him One Hat in The Age Good Food Guide, annually since 2009. “Being Maltese has shaped every part of my culinary journey,” he said.And his mission continues with his first ever personalised group tour of his Motherland that he carefully curated alongside Aussie travel company, Luxury Escapes, for its latest series.“You’ve all seen my reels and stories. The food I’ve been cooking, the cooking classes, the TV show, everything I’ve been doing to promote Malta,” he wrote in an Instagram post announcing the new series.“This is the tour to come on. Personal, with me, going to the places I love, meeting all my favourite people, doing my favourite things, diving into the magical waters of the Mediterranean, staying in beautiful accommodation and seeing Malta on the go.”He will guide travellers through the rich flavours, history and culture of Malta and its sister island, Gozo, on an eight-day itinerary starting in April next year. “Historically, Malta is home to more significant archaeological structures than any other place on Earth,” Delia told news.com.au. “We’ve got things that predate the pyramids by thousands of years. And all through the Millennia, Malta has played an important part in the shaping of the world.”He visits twice a year and said while you’d think he’d be over it by now, that is certainly not the case, as the tiny nation of just over half a million people has so much to do, see and offer.The capital, Valletta, spans just 0.8 square kilometres, making it the smallest national capital in the European Union.“Every day of the tour is going to be focusing on a different area and woven through that is some great food moments,” Delia explained.“For example, I’ll be joined by a great friend of mine who is one of the most prominent pastizzi makers on the island.“He is going to take us into his factories and teach people how to make pastizzi by hand.”Pastizzi is Malta’s most famous traditional street food – a small, diamond or triangle-shaped savory pastry made of flaky, crispy, and layered dough. They are typically stuffed with either a creamy ricotta cheese filling or a curried mushy pea mixture.“He has a beautiful restaurant, cooking local produce in one of the old cities – and we will be taking over his whole restaurant for one evening while he cooks for us and I help him present,” Delia said.“We will also be doing walking tours of the streets and pointing out where to get the best local treats and stopping to talk to the guys in the bakery – it’s a real local vibe.”Delia reveals that a lot of the locals they will be meeting along the way are good friends of his, which is what separates this tour from all the others. “It’s going to be very fun and I think people will get a lot from the banter and the real camaraderie. I mean, these are my friends, I haven’t just gone and taken a bog standard Maltese tour and then slapped my name on it.“I’ve actually curated this with the guys at Luxury Escapes and the people in Malta to make sure that we’re doing the right things and staying at the right hotels.”One of the hotels is the Michelin Key-awarded Phoenicia Malta which Delia describes as “the grandest of grand hotels in Malta”.“It’s just stunning,” he added.Alongside unforgettable culinary experiences, the group will also experience Malta’s epic landscapes and rich heritage, including Mdina, the ancient, fortified city that famously served as King’s Landing in the first season of Game of Thrones.“Growing up with a strong connection to my Maltese heritage, I’m excited to have the opportunity to share this destination with travellers and introduce them to the Malta I know and love,” he said.The Luxury Escapes tour of Malta has been prompted off the back of a surge in demand, with bookings up 22 per cent versus last year.According to Visit Malta, Aussies are among the international markets contributing to its tourism growth, which rose 13.2 per cent in 2025, reaching just under 4.1 million visitors overall.“There is no other destination in the world I have a more personal connection with. For me, Malta has always been the centre of the universe, and it’s so humbling to now see the rest of the world catch up,” Delia says.Specifically for the Aussie market, visitor arrivals showed a notable jump of 19.3 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year.“While Italy, France and Greece continue to attract travellers year after year, Malta boasts rich history, spectacular coastlines, understated European glamour and an exceptional food scene that remains relatively undiscovered,” Luxury Escapes co-founder and CEO, Adam Schwab explained.“Shane’s personal connection to Malta and passion for its cuisine will give our travellers access to experiences they simply couldn’t have on their own and really bring their trip to life.”The Malta Signature Series Tour is priced from $13,130.00 per person including all internal transfers, luxury accommodation, behind-the-scenes guided tours, select meals, and exclusive access to culinary experiences.