From Malta: Gozo & Comino Full-Day Buggy Tour with Lunch

Gozo rewards getting off the main road. This full-day outing combines self-drive buggies, country tracks, coastal views, and a boat ride around Comino, giving you much more than a standard sightseeing loop. I like the freedom of driving a two-seat automatic buggy and the chance to reach places such as Wied il-Ghasri and the Ta’ Cenc Cliffs. I also like that lunch, fuel, helmets, and transport from Malta or Gozo are included. The main caution is the €450 insurance excess, plus the occasional risk of a buggy being replaced by a jeep if vehicles develop a fault.

The day has real variety: dusty tracks in Gozo, a Maltese picnic, a boat crossing, and a summer swim stop at Comino’s Blue Lagoon. Guides including Wissar, Ouissem, and Yannick have been praised for keeping the convoy organized and explaining the route well, but this is a long, active day. You need to be at least 21, hold a full driving license, and be happy with sun, wind, road dust, and a little bouncing around.

Key things to know before booking

• Brand-new buggy fleet launched in August 2024: The automatic buggies seat one driver and one passenger and have seatbelts.
• Gozo’s quieter corners are the main event: The route can reach the Inland Sea, Wied il-Ghasri, Qbajjar Salt Pans, and Ta’ Cenc Cliffs.
• Comino comes at the end: The return boat passes the island’s caves and includes a summer swim stop at one of the lagoons.
• Lunch is included: You get time to stop, eat Maltese dishes, and recharge instead of rushing from one sight to the next.
• The €450 excess matters: Third-party insurance does not cover the first €450 of a claim, which you must pay after an accident.
• Weather can change the boat plan: If the Comino boat trip cannot run, ferry tickets are provided instead.

Why this Gozo day is different from a bus tour

Gozo is small, but its best views are not all lined up beside wide roads. A bus can show you major sights, yet a buggy lets you follow narrow country routes and rougher tracks that reach more isolated coastal corners.

That is the appeal here. You are not simply being driven between photo stops. After a safety briefing, you take the wheel and follow a local lead driver in convoy. The automatic controls keep the driving simple, while the seatbelts and helmets add basic protection on uneven ground.

You should still think of this as an active motor tour, not a gentle scenic ride. The buggies go on and off road, so dust, bumps, heat, and wind are part of the package. If you want a quiet day with long stops at museums, this is the wrong fit. If you want to see Gozo while doing something physical and a little playful, it makes much more sense.

The tour suits couples and friends particularly well because each buggy seats two. Families can also enjoy it, though the driver must be 21 or older with a valid full license. Provisional and learner licenses are not accepted.

From Malta pickup to the Gozo crossing

Pickup is arranged from your hotel or the closest accessible point. You need to provide a mobile number, preferably one that uses WhatsApp, along with your accommodation details. The exact pickup point and time are sent after booking, and you should arrive five minutes early.

For cruise passengers, the stated meeting point is outside Magazino Hall at 8:00 in the morning, with a return at about 6:00 in the evening. That makes this possible as a shore excursion, but the timing is tight enough that you should check your ship’s all-aboard time carefully.

The transport system is designed to gather people from different parts of Malta before the crossing. One particularly useful touch is live vehicle tracking, which can help you see where your minibus is instead of standing around wondering if you missed it.

At the crossing, you may travel on a Yippee boat when weather allows. If conditions require the regular ferry, the ticket is provided. The boat option adds a pleasant start to the day, while the ferry is the practical backup when the sea is not cooperating.

The operation can involve a sizable group during the transfer stage. One Christmas departure involved more than 100 people arriving through several minibuses, all being guided together toward the ferry and then the buggy meeting point. That organization is reassuring, though anyone expecting a tiny private outing from hotel door to trail should keep the wider transport operation in mind.

The buggy briefing and choosing your role

Once you reach Gozo, you are taken to the buggy area for instructions. You receive a safety and operational briefing before setting out in convoy. The team explains the controls, the difference between buggy and quad options, and the insurance terms.

The buggies are automatic, so you do not need to manage a clutch or manual gear changes. Each one carries one driver and one passenger, with seatbelts fitted. Helmets, hairnets, fuel, and raincoats when needed are supplied.

Bring your original license if possible. The conditions also state that pictures and copies of licenses can be accepted along with a form of identification, but your license must be valid and not provisional or for learning. Since license checks can affect whether you drive, do not assume an expired or temporary document will pass.

The insurance point deserves more attention than it usually gets. The buggies are third-party insured, but the first €450 of any claim is excluded. In plain terms, you are responsible for that amount if an accident produces a covered claim. Drive within your ability, follow the lead driver, and take the briefing seriously.

Inland Sea, Wied il-Ghasri, and Gozo’s rougher routes

The route is built around Gozo’s natural sights rather than a long list of town visits. Your guide leads the convoy along scenic coastal roads and country trails, mixing paved stretches with off-road sections.

The Inland Sea near Dwejra is one of the signature stops. It is a sheltered body of water linked to the sea by a rock tunnel, and it gives you a good sense of Gozo’s unusual coastal geology. An optional boat trip at the Inland Sea is not included, so budget separately if you want that extra outing.

Wied il-Ghasri offers a narrow sea inlet cut into the coast. It is the sort of place that benefits from arriving by a smaller vehicle, since the setting feels more tucked away than Gozo’s main resort areas. The route gives you a chance to see the island beyond its headline attractions, though stop lengths can vary with the day’s convoy schedule.

The Qbajjar Salt Pans provide a very different view. Flat stone pans run beside the coast, where seawater is collected and evaporated for salt. The site is especially good for seeing how local work and coastal conditions have shaped the island. It is not a polished attraction with lots of facilities, so bring water and accept that the appeal is visual and local rather than heavily presented.

At Ta’ Cenc Cliffs, the open coastal views become the focus. You get a strong sense of Gozo’s exposed edge, with the buggy route adding an adventurous way to reach the area. Stay with the guide and obey instructions near cliff sections. The itinerary includes the cliffs as a sightseeing stop, not as an invitation to approach unsafe edges.

A Maltese picnic with time to slow down

Lunch is a useful part of the day because a buggy tour can otherwise become a string of short stops and hurried snacks. The included picnic is served during an extended break, giving you time to sit down, eat, and cool off.

A Christmas departure included a broad selection of Maltese dishes, which suggests the meal is more substantial than a basic sandwich. Exact contents can vary, so do not book this expecting a particular dish unless the operator confirms it.

This pause also helps with the physical side of the tour. Driving in sun and wind takes more out of you than a normal road trip, especially when you are also walking around stops. Bring sunglasses, water if you prefer your own supply, and closed-toe shoes that will stay secure on uneven ground.

The return boat, Comino caves, and the Blue Lagoon

After the Gozo portion, the day shifts from dusty tracks to open water. The return journey uses a boat reserved for Yippee clients when weather conditions permit, and it sails around Comino’s caves.

The cave sightseeing is a strong finish because you see the coast from a completely different angle. Rock formations that look modest from land become more dramatic from the water, and the boat provides a moving view rather than another roadside stop.

In summer, the boat stops at one of Comino’s lagoons for a swim. The Blue Lagoon is the best-known name attached to this part of Malta, and the water stop adds a welcome chance to cool down after the buggy ride. Bring swimwear and a towel, and remember that the swim stop is seasonal and weather dependent.

Do not treat the Comino section as guaranteed in every season. If the sea is unsuitable, the boat element may not run and ferry tickets are provided instead. That is a sensible safety decision, but it means the experience can finish with less sightseeing than expected. The itinerary is strongest in warm weather when you can use the swim stop.

Guides and group organization

The lead driver matters here because you are following rather than navigating independently. A good guide sets a steady pace, explains what you are seeing, and keeps the convoy together at turns and stops.

Wissar has been singled out for being informative and for keeping a large Christmas-day operation running smoothly. Ouissem has also received warm praise, while Yannick has been described as a capable and pleasant French-speaking guide. French, Arabic, and English are available.

The product is described as a private group, yet the transfer operation can be large. The most useful way to understand this is that your buggy activity follows a lead guide in convoy, while pickups and ferry movements may bring many Yippee customers together. If personal attention is your top priority, ask how many buggies will be in your departure group.

There is also a practical warning about vehicle availability. On one August departure, two buggies were out of service and a jeep was used instead. A refund of €100 was promised in that case but had not arrived at the time of the complaint. That does not mean a replacement will happen on your day, especially with the newer fleet, but it is worth confirming the vehicle arrangement if driving a buggy is the main reason you are booking.

Is the $135 price good value?

The listed price is $135 for a group of up to one, so check the booking screen carefully to confirm whether the final charge is per driver, per buggy, or another unit. Pricing labels for vehicle tours can be easy to misread.

Value depends on what you would otherwise pay for separately. This package includes pickup and return, the Gozo crossing, a self-drive buggy, fuel, safety equipment, a guide, lunch, and the return boat or ferry arrangement. You also get access to off-road routes and a Comino swim stop in the right season.

That is a lot in one long day, especially if you are staying in Malta and would otherwise need to organize transport to Gozo, hire a vehicle, find a guide, and arrange a boat trip. The price becomes less attractive if you do not want to drive, if the Comino section is cancelled, or if you are charged extra for the optional Inland Sea boat trip.

The strongest value comes from the combination rather than any single stop. You get an active outing in Gozo and a coastal boat experience around Comino without having to manage the connections yourself.

What to bring and who should skip it

Pack sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, and closed-toe shoes. A license is essential for anyone who plans to drive. Raincoats are supplied when needed, but light, practical clothing is still the sensible choice.

You should not bring alcohol or drugs, and pregnant women are advised not to take part. Anyone uneasy about off-road driving, exposed coastal scenery, or a long day with several transport stages should choose a slower Gozo tour.

This is best for adults, couples, friends, and families with an eligible driver who want movement and variety. It is less suitable for anyone seeking a quiet, highly flexible day or a tour focused on indoor sights.

Should you book the Gozo and Comino buggy tour?

Book it if you want to drive through Gozo rather than simply look at it, and if the combination of rough tracks, coastal stops, lunch, and a summer swim sounds like a full day well spent. The strongest features are the access to quieter sites, the capable lead guides, and the efficient pairing of Gozo by buggy with Comino by boat.

Think twice if you cannot accept the €450 insurance excess, need a guaranteed buggy, or are visiting outside the season when the swim stop operates. Before paying, confirm the exact price unit, the expected vehicle, pickup time, and what happens if the Comino boat is cancelled.

For an active first look at Gozo with a splash of Comino at the end, this is a strong choice. Just arrive prepared for dust, sun, convoy driving, and a day that keeps moving.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

It is presented as a full-day experience. Cruise passengers are advised to meet at about 8:00 and return at approximately 18:00, though your exact timing depends on pickup and transport arrangements.

What license do I need to drive a buggy?

You must be at least 21 and hold a valid full driving license. Provisional and learner licenses are not accepted.

Can I use a copy or photo of my driving license?

The tour information states that pictures and copies of driving licenses can be accepted along with a form of identification. Bring the original valid license if you can.

How many people fit in one buggy?

Each automatic buggy seats one driver and one passenger.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic is included, with an extended stop for eating and resting. The exact dishes may vary.

Is the Blue Lagoon swim guaranteed?

No. The swim stop takes place during the summer season and depends on weather and sea conditions. If the Comino boat trip cannot operate, ferry tickets are provided.

Is the Inland Sea boat trip included?

No. The Inland Sea Dwejra boat trip is optional and costs extra.

What happens if I cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers reserve now and pay later booking.