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

Gozo is at its best when you leave the main roads. This two-seat buggy tour takes you along country tracks and coastal routes that ordinary buses cannot reach, with stops at the Inland Sea, Wied il-Ghasri, Qbajjar Salt Pans, and Ta’ Cenc Cliffs. The day ends on the water, sailing past Comino’s caves toward Blue Lagoon.

I like the mix of driving and sightseeing, and I like that lunch is built into the day instead of treated as an afterthought. Guides such as Wissar, Ouissem, and Yannick have been praised for keeping the convoy together and explaining the places along the way. The main caution is the €450 insurance excess, which you must pay if you are responsible for a claim.

Key points at a glance

• A real off-road route: The buggies use narrow country trails and coastal tracks that large tour buses cannot handle.
• One buggy fits two: Each automatic vehicle has one driver and one passenger, with seatbelts and helmets provided.
• A full Gozo circuit: Expect the Inland Sea, Wied il-Ghasri, Qbajjar Salt Pans, Ta’ Cenc Cliffs, and other stops chosen by the guide.
• Boat time is part of the reward: Return by Yippee boat past Comino’s caves and Blue Lagoon, with a summer swim stop if conditions allow.
• Lunch keeps the day moving: A picnic of Maltese dishes is included during a longer rest stop.
• Check the insurance carefully: Third-party cover applies, but the first €450 of a claim is the driver’s responsibility.

Why a buggy is a smart way to see Gozo

Gozo is compact, but its best scenery is scattered across quiet roads, rough tracks, cliffs, salt pans, and small coastal corners. A standard sightseeing coach can show you the headline sights, but it cannot easily reach every narrow route. A buggy gives you more control and lets you feel the change from paved road to open countryside.

You drive in a small convoy behind a lead vehicle. That matters because you are not left to work out the route on your own, yet you still get the fun of handling the vehicle yourself. The guide sets the pace, gives directions, and brings the group back together at each stop.

The buggies launched with a new fleet in August 2024. They are automatic, fitted with seatbelts, and designed for one driver plus one passenger. I would choose this format for couples, friends, and families with an adult driver who wants something more active than a sightseeing bus.

This is not a quiet island tour. You will deal with dust, sun, road movement, and a few rougher tracks. Closed-toe shoes are required, and sunglasses are useful. If you prefer a polished ride with little physical effort, a regular Gozo tour may suit you better.

Crossing from Malta to Gozo

Pickup is included from Malta or Gozo, usually at your hotel or the closest accessible meeting point. You need to send a mobile number with the international prefix, preferably a WhatsApp number, along with your accommodation details. The pickup time and exact meeting place are confirmed later.

The transport company uses a Yippee sign, and you should be ready five minutes before the stated time. The crossing to Gozo is by Yippee boat when weather allows. If the boat cannot operate, a ferry ticket is provided instead.

That opening transfer is more than a simple commute. It gets the group onto the island and gives you early views across the water before the driving begins. The operation may involve several minibuses meeting at the ferry or boat departure point, so follow the staff’s instructions and stay with the group.

Cruise passengers have a specific arrangement: pickup is outside Magazino Hall at 8:00 in the morning, with the return expected at about 6:00 in the evening. If you are staying elsewhere in Malta, allow the entire day. The booking information labels the duration inconsistently as 24 days, but the described activity is clearly a full-day tour.

Getting behind the wheel in Gozo

Before setting off, you receive a safety and operating briefing. The staff explain the controls, convoy rules, and insurance. This is the moment to ask questions, especially if you have never driven an automatic buggy before.

Drivers must be at least 21 and must hold a full, valid driving license. Provisional and learner licenses are not accepted. The operator states that original licenses are preferred, while copies or photographs may also be accepted with a form of identification. I would bring the original whenever possible, since it avoids a last-minute argument at check-in.

Each buggy has room for one driver and one passenger. That makes the price worth considering carefully. The listed price is $135 for a group up to one, but the final cost shown at booking should be checked against your party size and vehicle arrangement. Two people sharing one buggy may get good value from the day, while a solo driver is paying for a full vehicle and a guided program.

Helmets, hairnets, fuel, and raincoats when needed are supplied. You should bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, and closed-toe shoes. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women.

Inland Sea and the roads around Dwejra

The Inland Sea is one of the tour’s most memorable sights. It is a sheltered body of water connected to the open sea by a natural opening in the rock. The buggy route gives you a look at this unusual coastal setting without asking you to spend the whole day in a vehicle on paved roads.

An optional boat trip at the Inland Sea is available at an extra cost. It is not included in the tour price, so decide on the day if you want to add it and if time and conditions allow. The main tour continues even if you skip this extra.

This part of Gozo shows why the buggy format works. The setting is not just a single viewpoint. You move through open ground and coastal routes, then stop to take in the rock formations and water. Bring a phone or camera, but protect it from dust and keep both hands free while driving.

Wied il-Ghasri and Qbajjar Salt Pans

Wied il-Ghasri is a narrow coastal inlet cut into the rock. From above, it looks like a deep crease in the coast, with steep sides leading down toward the sea. It is a stop for scenery and photographs rather than a guaranteed swim.

The Qbajjar Salt Pans offer a completely different view. Shallow rectangular pools have been cut into the coastal rock for salt production. Their simple lines contrast with the rough shoreline, and the area gives you a quieter look at Gozo’s traditional coastal work.

The guide leads the convoy between these places, so you are not trying to navigate unfamiliar tracks alone. Ouissem, Wissar, and Yannick are among the guides associated with particularly strong experiences on this route. Yannick has led in French, while the tour also operates in English and Arabic. If language matters to you, select the right option when booking and confirm it before the day.

Ta’ Cenc Cliffs and Gozo’s open country

Ta’ Cenc Cliffs give you a wide coastal view and a sense of Gozo’s exposed southern edge. The cliffs are a good reminder that this tour is not only about speed. The best parts come from stopping the engines, taking in the sea, and letting the guide explain where you are.

Between the named sights, the route includes countryside tracks and less obvious places. The exact order can change with road conditions, weather, and the needs of the convoy. That flexibility is useful because it lets the guide make practical choices rather than forcing every group through a fixed sequence.

You should not expect a race. The convoy format means the group moves together, and the point is to see more of Gozo from the driver’s seat. If you want maximum speed or complete freedom to choose your own route, this is not the right kind of buggy outing.

Lunch, rest, and a useful break

A picnic is included during an extended stop. The food includes an array of Maltese dishes, giving you more than a quick packaged snack and a chance to try local flavors without searching for a restaurant in the middle of the route.

The lunch break also matters physically. A day of driving, sun, wind, and rough tracks can be tiring, especially for the passenger who has less control over the pace. Use the stop to drink water, eat properly, and check your belongings before setting off again.

The exact menu is not specified, so anyone with strict dietary needs should ask before booking. The picnic is practical rather than a formal restaurant meal. That keeps the tour moving and leaves more daylight for Gozo’s coast.

Returning by boat past Comino

The return crossing is one of the strongest parts of the day. Instead of simply retracing the morning transfer, the Yippee boat sails around Comino’s caves and toward Blue Lagoon. You get a change of pace after the buggy ride, with the shoreline viewed from the water.

During the summer season, the boat stops at one of Comino’s lagoons for a swim. Bring a towel and swimwear, and keep in mind that this stop depends on weather and sea conditions. The Blue Lagoon can be crowded at popular times, but the boat view and the chance to swim from the vessel give this part a different feel from simply arriving on shore.

The Comino segment is not guaranteed. If weather prevents it, ferry tickets are provided instead. That is an important distinction if Blue Lagoon is the main reason you are booking. You receive the Gozo driving day either way, but you should not treat the swim and cave cruise as certain.

Safety, insurance, and the real cost

The buggies are third-party insured, but the first €450 of any claim is excluded from the cover and must be paid by the driver or hirer in the event of an accident. Read this condition closely before you drive, and make sure you understand what the operator considers your responsibility.

The briefing, helmets, seatbelts, and lead vehicle add useful structure. Still, you are operating a motor vehicle on mixed surfaces, so the responsibility is real. Drive at the guide’s pace, leave space in the convoy, and do not treat the tour as a competition.

At $135 for a group up to one, the value depends on how many people share the buggy and how much of the program you use. You are paying for transport from Malta, the Gozo crossing, the vehicle, fuel, guide, picnic, equipment, and the return boat arrangement. For two people sharing one vehicle and making full use of the day, it can be a strong package. Confirm the exact live price, since the displayed group wording is unusual.

The current rating is 4.8 from 39 ratings, but one practical warning is worth noting. On one occasion, two buggies were reportedly unavailable and a jeep was used instead, with a promised refund still pending at the time of the complaint. That appears to be an exception, and the fleet was newly launched in August 2024, but I would ask what happens if your selected vehicle is unavailable.

Who should book this Gozo day?

I would choose this tour if you want Gozo’s scenery with a bit of action and do not want to spend the day sitting on a coach. It works especially well for two people who can share a buggy and for families with an adult driver who meets the license rules.

It is also a good match if you want several types of scenery in one day: cliffs, salt pans, a rocky inlet, country tracks, and a boat ride around Comino. The multilingual guide options make it easier for groups that do not all speak English.

I would think twice if you dislike rough roads, need a guaranteed Blue Lagoon swim, or want a slow and highly flexible day. The itinerary covers a lot, and the convoy structure limits your ability to linger at one stop. The €450 insurance excess also deserves serious attention.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Malta plans depend on weather, but they do not remove the need to check the sea forecast before the tour.

Should you book it?

Book this Gozo buggy tour if you want an active full-day outing with a clear route, a guide, lunch, and a memorable return by boat. The best reason to choose it is the combination of off-road access and coastal sightseeing. You see parts of Gozo that are difficult to reach by bus, then finish with Comino’s caves and a possible swim.

Before paying, confirm the exact price for your party, the language of your guide, the accepted license documents, and the insurance excess. If you accept those conditions and understand that weather can cancel the Comino section, this is a lively and practical way to cover a lot of Gozo in one day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

It is described as a full-day experience. Cruise passenger pickup is at about 8:00 in the morning, with return around 6:00 in the evening. The booking information also displays a duration of 24 days, which appears to be an error.

Can I drive the buggy with a provisional license?

No. Drivers must be at least 21 and hold a full driving license. Provisional and learner licenses are not accepted. Original licenses are preferred, although photographs or copies may be accepted with a form of identification.

How many people fit in one buggy?

Each automatic buggy seats one driver and one passenger. Seatbelts are fitted, and helmets are provided.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic with Maltese dishes is included during an extended rest stop. The specific menu is not provided.

Is the Blue Lagoon swim guaranteed?

No. The return boat trip, cave sightseeing, and summer swim stop depend on weather and sea conditions. If the Comino part cannot operate, ferry tickets are provided.

What should I bring?

Bring your driving license, sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, and closed-toe shoes. Helmets, hairnets, fuel, and raincoats when required are provided.