From Malta: Gozo Quad Bike Tour & Comino Boat Tour w/ Lunch

Gozo is made for four wheels. This seven-hour trip combines a 570cc quad bike ride with a private boat outing around Comino, so you see far more than you could on a standard coach tour. I like the way the route reaches Sanap Cliffs, Dwejra Bay, Wied il-Mielah, the Xwejni Salt Pans, and other corners of Gozo that are easy to miss. I also like the practical setup: hotel pickup, helmets, a guide, lunch, and island transport are all included.

The main drawback is that this is a long, active day, and the quad ride can be bumpy. I would think twice if you have bad joints or dislike convoy driving. Lunch has also been uneven for some people, and the Comino boat section depends on the weather. Still, guides such as Dave, Kris, Joseph, Mahmoud, and Mayron have earned especially warm praise for keeping the pace safe, friendly, and informative.

Key points at a glance

• Powerful 570cc quads: You ride a substantial ATV rather than a small recreational vehicle, with room for one driver and one passenger.
• Gozo’s best-known viewpoints: Sanap Cliffs, Dwejra Bay, Wied il-Mielah, Xlendi, the salt pans, and countryside villages fill the route.
• Traditional Gozitan lunch: A light local meal is included at a restaurant in or near Sannat, with snacks and dessert.
• Private boat to Comino: Weather permitting, you cruise past the Blue Lagoon, bays, and coastal caves after the quad tour.
• Summer swimming stop: The Blue Lagoon swimming stop takes place only during the summer months.
• Useful backup plan: If the sea is too rough for the private boat, communal ferry tickets are supplied instead.

Why this Gozo day trip works so well

A typical Malta excursion to Gozo gives you a bus window and a set of crowded stops. This one gives you a quad, open air, and a more active way to cross the island. You still follow a planned route, but the convoy moves through country lanes, villages, coastal roads, and some rougher stretches.

I like the balance. The day is not only about driving. You stop often for views, photos, short walks, and explanations about the island. The route includes enough riding to make the quad worthwhile, but it does not ask you to spend seven straight hours gripping the handlebars.

Guides are a major part of the experience. Dave is praised repeatedly for his humor, local knowledge, and patient way of helping first-time riders. Other highly regarded guides include Kris, Joseph, Saif, Steve, Atef, Mahmoud, Mayron, Leon, Chris, Emilio, and Joe. The exact guide depends on the date, but the pattern is clear: safety and group care are treated seriously.

The tour has a rating of 4.7 from 906 reviews, and the strongest praise centers on three things: well-managed transport, friendly quad leaders, and the amount of Gozo seen in one day. That is useful because the route involves several moving parts, including a minibus, boat transfers, quad riding, lunch, and another boat trip.

Pickup, Marfa, and the crossing to Gozo

Pickup is offered from many locations around Malta and Gozo, including hotels and selected public meeting points. You receive the exact instructions by WhatsApp or email, and you should arrive five minutes early. A vehicle holding a Yippee sign handles the transfer, though traffic can cause delays.

The first road transfer can take about an hour. This is not the most exciting part of the day, but it saves you from arranging a separate trip to the ferry terminal. It also makes the experience practical if you are staying in Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian’s, Mellieha, Qawra, or another part of Malta.

From Marfa, you board a private boat reserved for the tour group, weather permitting. The crossing adds a pleasant start to the day and avoids the feel of simply lining up for a standard ferry. If conditions are unsafe, the operator uses the Gozo Channel communal ferry instead. That means the Gozo portion should still go ahead, but the private-boat experience is not guaranteed.

At Mgarr Harbour, your quad guide takes over. Before you ride, you receive a safety briefing, a helmet, and instructions for convoy driving. Drivers must be at least 21 and hold a valid driving license. Provisional and learner licenses are not accepted, though pictures or copies of a license can be used with identification.

Riding the 570cc quads across Gozo

The quads seat one driver and one passenger. If two people are sharing, you can take turns, as several couples do. That can make the price more attractive and gives both of you a chance to drive, though you should be comfortable changing seats and keeping up with the group.

These are 570cc machines, so they have plenty of power. That is part of the fun, but it also means you should not treat the ride like a gentle sightseeing cart. The day includes paved roads, country trails, and some off-road sections. The exact amount of rough riding varies, and one person wished for more off-road time, while others thought the mix was just right.

Your guide leads from the front and watches the group. The convoy stops regularly, so you can rest your hands, take photographs, and hear about the next site. One useful sign of good management is that guides have helped riders who fell behind or felt nervous. In one case, a guide noticed that a rider was uncomfortable operating the quad and offered a different arrangement so the person could still enjoy the outing.

The ride can be bumpy. If you have back or joint problems, this is worth taking seriously. Closed-toe shoes are required, and sunglasses and a hat are sensible in strong sun. Bring water, though the lunch stop includes ice water.

Sanap Cliffs, Sannat, and the first big views

The Rotunda of St. John Baptist Church is one of the early sightseeing stops. The church gives the route a cultural start before the quads head toward the coast and open countryside. You get about 15 minutes here, so think of it as a short orientation stop rather than a full church visit.

At Sanap Cliffs, the pace slows for a longer look. The cliffs offer broad sea views and a rugged edge to southern Gozo. This is one of the spots where riding pays off: you arrive with the wind still on you, then have time to step away from the vehicle and enjoy the view.

The stop at Xlendi is shorter, around 15 minutes. Xlendi is a well-known coastal inlet, and the brief visit is enough for a quick look and photographs. Do not expect a long beach break here. The tour has many stops to fit into one day, so the schedule favors variety over lingering at one place.

Pjazza l-Għejun allows roughly 45 minutes. The longer pause gives you a chance to settle into the day and see a different side of Gozo beyond the major coastal viewpoints. The route then continues to Dwejra Bay, another major highlight, with about 45 minutes for sightseeing.

Dwejra Bay and Wied il-Mielah

Dwejra Bay is one of the most dramatic parts of the island. The coast here is shaped by wind and sea, and the stop gives you time to enjoy the rocky shoreline and open views. It is also a good point for photos, particularly if you want more than the usual town-and-harbor images from Malta.

Wied il-Mielah follows with about 30 minutes. This coastal feature is less familiar to many first-time visitors, which is part of its appeal. The route does not simply repeat the most famous postcard stops. It takes you to a range of natural sites and lets the guide explain what you are seeing.

The benefit of a guide here is practical. You do not need to work out which road leads to each viewpoint or worry about parking the quad in an unfamiliar place. You follow the convoy, stop where directed, and have someone nearby to answer questions.

The tradeoff is that you are not fully independent. If you want to spend an hour photographing one cliff or wander at your own pace, a self-drive rental would suit you better. This tour is built around covering ground safely with a group.

Għasri Valley and the Xwejni Salt Pans

The stop in Għasri Valley gives the ride a change of mood. After the exposed cliffs and coast, you move through an inland area with a quieter country feel. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, enough to break up the drive and take in the surroundings.

At the Xwejni Salt Pans near Żebbuġ, the sea and local work traditions meet. The pans form a distinctive pattern along the coast, and the stop offers a good chance to understand how Gozo’s shoreline has been used as well as admired.

This part of the itinerary also shows why the quad is useful. You are not restricted to one waterfront town. You cross different parts of the island in a single day, with the guide handling the route and timing.

Crystal Lagoon, lunch, and a needed pause

Crystal Lagoon appears later in the day, with around 25 minutes for the stop. The water and rocky coast make a sharp contrast with the inland sections. During the summer schedule, the day may also include a swimming opportunity, though the swimming stop is weather and season dependent.

Lunch takes place around Sannat and lasts roughly 45 minutes. A traditional Gozitan meal, local snacks, dessert, and water are included. This is more than a convenience. After several hours on a quad, a proper seated break gives you time to cool down, eat, and talk with the group before the final boat section.

The food has received mixed praise. Many people find it plentiful and a good introduction to local flavors, while a few have found the quality modest or wanted more choices for food allergies. If you have dietary restrictions, tell the operator in advance rather than assuming the set meal can be changed.

Comino by boat: Blue Lagoon and coastal caves

After the quad tour, you return to the boat for a short cruise around Comino. The route passes the Blue Lagoon, other bays, and the island’s sea caves. The boat operators have been praised for bringing the boat close to the caves, giving you strong photo opportunities without adding another long activity.

In summer, the Blue Lagoon stop may include swimming. It is a fine way to finish a warm day of riding, but you need to bring your own swimwear and towel. In cooler months, or if the sea conditions are unsuitable, the swimming part does not happen.

The Comino section is explicitly weather dependent. If the private boat cannot operate safely, communal ferry tickets are provided. That is a fair safety policy, but you should not book this experience solely for a guaranteed Blue Lagoon swim or cave cruise.

Some trips include music on the boat, and the cruise is generally treated as a relaxed finish rather than another demanding activity. After a full day, that change of pace matters.

What the $135 price means

The advertised price is $135 per group up to one person, so check the booking screen carefully to see how the charge applies to your party. The value comes from the amount bundled into one day: pickup and return transport, the boat crossing, quad hire, guide, helmet, safety briefing, Gozitan lunch, and the Comino boat trip.

If you arranged these elements separately, you would spend time comparing operators, finding transport to Marfa, arranging a quad rental, and working out how to reach Gozo’s viewpoints. Here, the cost buys coordination as much as it buys the vehicle.

I think the price makes the most sense for a couple or small group that wants an active day and would otherwise book several separate outings. It is less attractive if you only want a quiet Blue Lagoon visit, a long swim, or a slow lunch.

The biggest extra financial consideration is the insurance excess. The first €450 of any claim is excluded, meaning the driver or hirer may have to pay that amount in an accident. Read the rental terms closely and drive within your comfort level.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this tour if you want to see much of Gozo in one day without driving a rental car yourself. It suits couples, friends, and families with older children who enjoy a little noise, movement, and outdoor activity.

First-time quad riders are not automatically excluded. Several people had never driven a quad before and found the instructions and guide support reassuring. Still, you need a valid license, confidence on a motor vehicle, and the ability to handle rough roads.

The tour is not suitable for children under five or anyone over 150 kilograms. It may also be a poor match for anyone with bad joints, a strong dislike of convoy travel, or a need for a special diet unless the meal arrangements are confirmed beforehand.

Bring a valid driving license, identification, closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, and a towel. Do not bring alcohol or drugs. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty or damp, especially if you plan to swim.

Should you book the Gozo quad and Comino boat tour?

Book it if you want an energetic, well-organized overview of Gozo with a boat finish. The strongest reasons are the broad route, the capable guides, the powerful quads, and the amount of transport handled for you. Guides such as Dave, Kris, Joseph, and Mayron have helped make the day feel safe and personal rather than mechanical.

Skip it if your ideal island day means staying in one bay, avoiding bumps, or choosing every stop yourself. Also keep your expectations realistic about lunch and remember that the Comino boat and swimming portions depend on weather.

For most active visitors, this is a strong value-packed day. You get coastal views, inland roads, local food, a proper quad adventure, and a taste of Comino without having to piece together the day yourself.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about seven hours, including transport, the Gozo quad tour, lunch, and the Comino boat section.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from Malta, Gozo, or the closest accessible point to your accommodation.

What license do I need to drive?

Drivers must be at least 21 and present a valid driving license. Provisional and learner licenses are not accepted. A picture or copy of the license can be used with identification.

How many people can ride one quad?

Each quad seats one driver and one passenger. Two people can take turns driving if they meet the driver requirements.

Is the lunch included?

Yes. A traditional Gozitan lunch, local snacks, dessert, and water are included.

Does the tour include a Blue Lagoon swim?

A swimming stop is available during the summer months, but it is subject to weather and sea conditions. It is not guaranteed year-round.

What happens if the private boat cannot operate?

If weather makes the private boat unsafe, communal Gozo Channel ferry tickets are provided instead.

What should I bring?

Bring a valid driving license, identification, sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, and closed-toe shoes.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children under five are not permitted. The tour also has a maximum weight limit of 150 kilograms.