GOZO All Inclusive Self Drive 4×4 Jeep Day or Sunset tour

Gozo packs a lot into one day. This tour links clifftop views, ancient temples, salt pans, and Comino’s clear water with boats and an open-air UTV ride, so you can see far more than you could on foot. I like the included hotel pickup and the boat connections, and I also like the mix of guided sightseeing and free time at the Blue Lagoon. The main caution is organization: pickup instructions can conflict with the booking confirmation, and a busy day may begin with confusion.

You should also know that this is not a quiet, slow tour. It covers much of Gozo in about seven hours, with short stops and a group of up to 30 people. Weather can change the route, boats may be replaced by a full-day tuk-tuk tour, and the sunset version skips Ggantija because the temples are closed later in the day.

Key points to know before booking

• Boat access to Comino is included, weather permitting, with a return boat reserved for the tour group.
• The Blue Lagoon is a swim stop in summer, but winter visits may be viewing-only if conditions allow.
• Drivers must be at least 21 and carry a valid driving licence. Provisional licences are not accepted.
• Ggantija is optional and costs extra, and it is not available on the sunset route.
• The itinerary covers Sanap Cliffs, Xlendi, Dwejra, Ta’ Pinu, salt pans, Marsalforn, and Comino, but most stops are brief.
• The correct pickup time comes from the local operator, not necessarily the default time shown by the booking platform.

What kind of day is this?

I see this as a greatest-hits tour for Gozo and Comino, not as an in-depth visit to one village. You ride in forward-facing UTVs, use boats and ferries, stop at major sights, and hear commentary about Maltese and Gozitan culture.

The advertised tour lasts about seven hours, not counting transfers. From Valletta, a morning pickup begins around 8:00 a.m., with return around 6:30 p.m. The sunset route generally begins around 12:30 p.m. and may return around 10:30 p.m. Pickup times for other parts of Malta and Gozo vary.

I like the way the transport is arranged for you. Hotel pickup, the crossing to Gozo or Comino, a return boat, and the ride back to your original meeting point remove much of the usual island-planning work. You do not need to piece together buses, ferries, and boat trips on your own.

The trade-off is a full schedule. A ten-minute stop is enough for a photograph, but not for a long walk or a museum visit. If you prefer lingering over lunch or spending half a day swimming, this may feel rushed.

Pickup details matter more than usual

Give the operator your mobile number, including the country prefix. A WhatsApp number is preferred, and you should also provide your accommodation details. The local office sends the actual pickup time and meeting point by email or WhatsApp.

This matters because the default confirmation can show the wrong pickup time. The operator says the final instructions sent after booking are the ones to follow. Arrive five minutes early and look for transport displaying a Yippee sign.

One unpleasant problem reported on this tour involved a passenger arriving according to the voucher time, only to find the vehicle had already departed. Another group spent more than an hour at Mgarr while staff sorted passengers between lists and routes. The day eventually continued, but the start was stressful.

My practical advice is simple: check WhatsApp and email the day before, then confirm the pickup time if anything looks unclear. Keep the operator’s contact details handy, and do not rely only on the automated booking message.

Crossing the water by boat and ferry

The tour may use a boat reserved for its own passengers, along with a ferry whenever needed. That is one of the strongest parts of the package. You get the pleasure of approaching the islands from the water without having to arrange each crossing separately.

The order can change. Some departures visit Comino first and Gozo second, while others reverse the sequence. This can affect your swim time, lunch timing, and the order of the island stops.

Boat operations depend on weather. If conditions do not permit the planned boat services, the experience changes to a full-day tuk-tuk tour in Gozo. That is a useful fallback, but it is not the same experience. If Comino and the Blue Lagoon are your main reason for booking, check the forecast and keep your expectations flexible.

Bring swimwear even if you choose the morning route. In summer, the Blue Lagoon is intended as a swimming stop. In winter, you may only get a view if weather conditions allow.

Sanap Cliffs and Xlendi Bay

Sanap Cliffs provide one of the tour’s best quick views. They are among Gozo’s highest points, with sightlines toward Malta and Comino. The stop lasts about ten minutes, so treat it as a lookout rather than a hike.

I like this early taste of Gozo because it gives you a sense of the island’s open, rocky setting. You can take photographs and enjoy the height, but you will not have time to explore the cliff area at length.

Xlendi is another scenic stop, known for blue water, surrounding cliffs, and Xlendi Tower. The supplied schedule does not give a precise duration for this visit, so the amount of free time may vary with the day’s route.

Xlendi is popular and has restaurants, bars, accommodation, and swimming spots along its rocky shore. On a short group tour, though, you should not expect a leisurely seaside break. Think of it as a chance to see the bay and take in its setting before moving on.

Fontana and the Ggantija Temples

Fontana is a small village near Victoria, with a population of about 1,000. Its connection with nearby Xlendi and local fishing gives it a more residential feel than Gozo’s main resort areas.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes. The focus is a spring dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, along with a short look at the village’s character. This is a modest stop, but I appreciate its local scale. It helps break up the famous viewpoints with a glimpse of everyday Gozo.

Ggantija offers a much older story. These megalithic temples are UNESCO-listed and predate the Egyptian pyramids. They are among the world’s oldest free-standing structures, which gives the site real weight even if you know little about prehistoric Malta.

The temple visit is optional, and the entrance fee is not included. The planned stop is about 20 minutes, which is short for an archaeological site. You will need to decide if the extra ticket and limited time are worth it to you.

For history-minded visitors, I would seriously consider adding Ggantija on the morning departure. The sunset route cannot offer it because the site will be closed. If you want only a quick look at Gozo’s coast, you may prefer to use the time elsewhere.

Dwejra Bay and the Inland Sea

Dwejra Bay brings together several of Gozo’s most photographed natural sights. You have about 30 minutes here, followed by around 20 minutes at the Inland Sea.

The Inland Sea is a seawater lagoon connected to the Mediterranean through a narrow opening in the rock. Its unusual shape makes it different from a standard beach stop. The waterway and surrounding limestone give the area a strong sense of place, even when you are visiting quickly.

An optional boat trip at the Inland Sea costs extra. I would treat it as a bonus rather than a required part of the day, since the tour already includes several boat rides. If you want to spend your budget on swimming or lunch, skip the add-on and enjoy the shore.

These stops can be affected by wind and sea conditions. The guide may need to adjust the plan, especially if small boats cannot run. That is one reason not to judge the experience only by the exact order printed before departure.

Ta’ Pinu and the Xwejni Salt Pans

Ta’ Pinu National Shrine is one of Gozo’s most important religious sites. Its stone architecture and isolated setting make it a striking pause in the day, even for people who are not visiting as pilgrims.

You get around 15 minutes here. That is enough to see the exterior and absorb the setting, but not enough for a detailed architectural visit. I suggest dressing respectfully and keeping the stop quiet. This is an active place of worship, not simply a photo stop.

The Xwejni Salt Pans offer a different view of island life. Shallow, geometric pools stretch along the coast, where seawater evaporates and leaves salt crystals behind. The pans reflect centuries of local skill and the practical use of Gozo’s shoreline.

The scheduled stop is about ten minutes. It is short, but the salt pans are among the more distinctive sights on the route. I would make sure your camera is ready before arriving, since you may have only a few minutes to take in the pattern of the pools and the sea beyond them.

Marsalforn and the northern coast

Marsalforn is one of Gozo’s main resort towns, set between the hilltop communities of Xagħra and Żebbuġ. It has hotels, restaurants, bars, a small sandy beach, and rocky swimming areas around the bay.

The stop is useful because it shows another side of Gozo. Sanap and Dwejra feel exposed and natural, while Marsalforn is arranged for seaside life and tourism. You may have time to see the bay, but the overall schedule does not promise a long beach break.

The nearby Qbajjar area is associated with Marsalforn and adds to the northern coastal setting. If you are hoping to swim here, ask the guide how much time is available. The main swim opportunity on the combined tour is usually Comino.

Lunch on Comino and the Blue Lagoon

The meal is described as a light traditional Gozitan lunch or dinner, with a three-course meal served outdoors on Comino. That sounds generous for a day with so many transport connections, though you should not expect a long restaurant-style sitting.

Food is included, which improves the value of the package. You avoid spending part of your short sightseeing day searching for a place to eat. Water is not specifically listed as included, so I would bring some or plan to purchase it along the way.

The Blue Lagoon is the tour’s most anticipated stop for many people. Its clear water and pale rock make it a natural place for a swim, and summer departures are scheduled to include swimming time. Winter departures may offer viewing instead, depending on conditions.

Do not assume the swim stop is guaranteed. One itinerary change caused a group to miss the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon swim stops because of sudden weather changes. The company did apologize, but the experience shows why weather flexibility matters.

The Comino caves are another highlight. A motorboat takes you along the island’s rocky coast, where limestone has formed caves reaching more than 40 meters. The water around the caves is clear, and the boat ride gives you a good look at formations that are difficult to reach from land.

How much value do you get for $112.13?

At $112.13 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit Gozo. But the price includes hotel pickup, island transport, a boat crossing, ferry tickets when required, a meal, a leader, UTV transport, and the return journey.

If you tried to arrange all of that separately, the cost and planning would rise quickly. The package makes the most sense for a first visit, a short stay in Malta, or anyone who wants to see both Gozo and Comino without renting a car.

The price is less attractive if you want long visits at each sight. You pay for breadth, not depth. Ggantija and the Inland Sea boat trip cost extra, and personal expenses and gratuities are not included.

The UTVs have forward-facing seats, which is useful for families. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and drivers must be 21 or older with a full valid driving licence. A provisional licence will not be accepted.

Morning or sunset?

Choose the morning tour if Ggantija matters to you, since the temple option is unavailable later. Morning also gives you the best chance of fitting in the full sightseeing route before the evening.

Choose sunset if you care more about late-day light and a slower-feeling finish around the coast. You will not receive the Ggantija option, and the return to Valletta can be around 10:30 p.m.

The two routes are slightly different, so do not book one assuming it will follow the other exactly. Both versions depend on weather and boat operations.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad look at Gozo and Comino in one day. It also suits families who value forward-facing UTV seats, couples who want a mix of scenery and swimming, and people who would rather have transport and lunch bundled together.

It is less suitable for anyone who dislikes fixed schedules, busy transfers, or short photo stops. Independent visitors with several days in Malta can see Gozo at a slower pace and spend more time in Victoria, Xlendi, Dwejra, or the temples.

The average booking lead time is about 29 days, so popular dates may fill in advance. Group discounts are available, and the maximum group size is 30.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum coverage in one day and value included transport, a meal, and access to both Gozo and Comino. The cliff views, salt pans, Dwejra, Ta’ Pinu, Blue Lagoon, and Comino caves give you a varied introduction to the islands.

Skip it if your ideal day means choosing one place and staying there. Before booking, confirm the real pickup details, check the weather, and decide if Ggantija is worth the added fee. With those points settled, this is a practical and scenic way to fit two Maltese islands into one busy day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The sightseeing portion lasts about seven hours, excluding transfer time. The full day is longer when hotel pickup and return transportation are included.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and return transportation are offered from your hotel or the closest designated pickup point in Malta or Gozo. The operator sends the final time and location after booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A traditional Gozitan lunch or dinner is included, described as a light meal and also as a three-course outdoor meal on Comino.

Is the Blue Lagoon a swimming stop?

In summer, the Blue Lagoon is planned as a swim stop. In winter, viewing is offered if weather conditions permit.

Is the Ggantija entrance fee included?

No. Ggantija is optional, and the entrance fee must be paid separately. The sunset tour does not offer the temple visit because it is closed later in the day.

What licence do I need to drive the UTV?

Drivers must be at least 21, fully qualified, and able to show a valid driving licence. Provisional licences are not accepted.