Gozo Full-Day Quad Tour with Private Boat to Gozo & return

Gozo is best seen with a little movement, and this full-day quad tour gives you plenty of it. You ride through valleys, village roads, coastal tracks, and rough country that large coaches cannot reach, with stops at Dwejra Bay, Ramla Bay, Xlendi, and the Xwejni Salt Pans. The return by powerboat, passing Comino’s sea caves and Blue Lagoon, gives the day a fine finish.

I like two things here. First, you see a broad sweep of Gozo in one day, from the red sand of Ramla to the strange rock shelves of the salt pans. Second, the guides, including Mark, Benny, Michael, Kiko, Andrew, and others from the rotating team, are praised for keeping the ride friendly and safe while adding local stories. The main drawback is the transport at the start can feel less tidy than the quad tour itself, and lunch is filling but not lavish.

Key things to know before you book

• Ride across most of Gozo in one day: The route links coast, valleys, villages, cliffs, bays, and country tracks.
• Choose your role: You can drive your own quad or ride as a passenger with a qualified driver.
• See places beyond a coach route: The quads reach rougher tracks and lesser-used corners of the island.
• Lunch and tastings are included: Expect a three-course meal with a choice of main dish and basic drinks.
• Return by sea: The powerboat heads toward Malta through Comino’s caves and the Blue Lagoon.
• Drivers need the right documents: You must be at least 21, hold a full driving licence, and bring another official photo ID.

Why a quad is a good way to see Gozo

Gozo is compact, but its sights are scattered. A standard sightseeing bus can show you the main landmarks, yet it cannot give you the same sense of moving through the island’s open country. On this tour, you follow a guide rather than worrying about navigation, then stop often enough to take in the views and hear what makes each place special.

The quad is the main event, not a short add-on. You spend much of the day riding over changing ground, with stretches through Simar and Ramla valleys, around Victoria, and along the coast near Marsalforn Bay. The route also includes Kercem Heights, Ta’ Pinu, the quarries, and Xlendi.

I would not book this expecting a full-throttle off-road adventure. The tour uses a mixture of tracks, roads, and rougher paths, and one person specifically wished for more off-road riding. Think of it as a sightseeing tour with an engine and dust on your shoes, rather than a technical driving course.

The group can reach up to 30 people, so this is not a private island expedition. Still, the guide-led format makes the day simple. You follow the lead vehicle, stop together, and let the staff handle the route.

Starting the day from Malta or Gozo

Pickup is offered from hotels in Gozo and northern Malta. If you are staying in southern Malta and are not part of a group of at least three, you need to make your own way to the Gozo ferry departure point near Marfa in Mellieħa.

That detail matters. The day is long, about 10 hours, and the first part involves getting to the island before the quad riding begins. Some pickups and boat arrangements can take time, especially when several people are being gathered. Allow extra patience at the start rather than expecting the morning to run like a private transfer.

Once you reach the Gozo base, you receive a safety briefing, helmet, and hairnet. You then take your place as a driver or passenger. Drivers must be at least 21 and fully qualified, with a valid driving licence and one other official photo ID. Provisional licences are not accepted.

If you want to ride as a passenger, book that option only when you are accompanied by a driver. Children and younger riders may travel as passengers from age six, under adult supervision, but they cannot be booked as drivers.

Wear trainers or other flat, secure shoes. Bring a small backpack rather than a large suitcase. In summer, pack swimwear and a towel. In winter, bring a rain jacket, since the tour operates outdoors and depends on suitable weather.

Dwejra Bay, where Gozo gets dramatic

Dwejra Bay is one of the day’s strongest stops. Sea water pushes around pale rock, and the coast feels carved into bold shapes. You have time to look across the bay, take photographs, and see the area around Fungus Rock, locally called Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral.

The bay has several ways to enjoy the water. You might swim in the open bay, in the calmer Inland Sea, or around the Blue Hole area. Swimming is seasonal and weather dependent, so do not treat it as guaranteed, but bring your bathing things if you would like the chance.

Optional boat trips at the Inland Sea and Dwejra are not included in the tour price. If you choose one, entrance fees are extra. This is worth remembering because the main tour already includes a great deal, but small add-on costs can accumulate during a full day.

You will have about 30 minutes here. That is enough for a look and photographs, though not enough for a leisurely swim, long walk, and boat trip all at once. If you want every activity, ask the guide how much time is available before paying for an optional ride.

Salt pans and the craft of sea salt

The Xwejni Salt Pans are a quieter stop on Gozo’s north coast, just beyond Qbajjar Bay near Marsalforn. Here, rectangular pools have been cut into the flat coastal rock. Together they stretch for roughly 3 kilometres and have been used for about 350 years.

The salt is made by letting seawater evaporate in the sun. During summer, local families can still be seen gathering the crystals and storing them in caves cut into the rock. You get only about 10 minutes here, so this is a quick photo and explanation stop rather than a full visit to a salt-making facility.

I like this pause because it shows a working side of Gozo. You are not only ticking off scenic points. You are seeing how the island’s coastline has been used by local families over many generations.

Ramla Bay and the red sand

Ramla Bay is one of Gozo’s most memorable coastal stops. Its broad beach has reddish sand, giving it the local name Ramla il-Ħamra, or the Red Sandy Beach. The valley behind it remains relatively open, with green ground and old agricultural terraces running down toward the shore.

You have around 30 minutes, enough to stretch your legs, take photographs, or enjoy a quick swim when conditions allow. Cafes and a stall sit back from the beach, but this is not an overbuilt resort strip.

The stop works well as a contrast to Dwejra. Dwejra is about rock and sea formations; Ramla is about open sand, cultivated valley walls, and a more relaxed seaside view. Roman remains are also associated with the area beneath the sands, though the tour does not promise an archaeological visit.

If you want a long beach afternoon, this is not the right format. The tour keeps moving, and the 30-minute stop is designed to give you a taste of the bay rather than a full beach day.

Ghasri Valley and the Inland Sea

Ghasri Valley is a narrow coastal inlet enclosed by high, rugged sides. Reaching the bottom involves roughly 100 steps, so use the stop sensibly and wear proper shoes. The creek is photogenic from above, while walking down gives you a closer look at its tight channel.

The Inland Sea at Dwejra is a seawater lagoon connected to the Mediterranean through a natural opening in the rock. The opening formed after a sea cave roof collapsed, leaving a sheltered body of water behind it.

These places show why the quad route is useful. The guide can link several coastal features without asking you to arrange separate buses, taxis, and boat times. You get variety, though the trade-off is limited time at each point.

Xlendi Bay and the lunch break at Xewkija

Xlendi is a former fishing village with a small sandy shore, shallow water, and rocky edges suitable for swimming and snorkelling. Restaurants, bars, and hotels line the bay, so it feels more developed than Ghasri Valley or Ramla.

The bay is also known for underwater rock formations and is used by beginners and experienced swimmers. You may have time for photographs and a short look rather than a full water session, since the tour has many stops to cover.

Lunch is scheduled in Xewkija and lasts about an hour. The included meal has three courses: soup or pasta, then fish, chicken, or pork, followed by dessert. Drinks include soda, water, juice, tea, or coffee.

The food is described as simple and pleasant rather than gourmet. One useful point is portion size: if you usually need a large lunch after active riding, you may find it modest. Still, having a sit-down meal included adds real value to a 10-hour excursion, especially when you do not need to search for a restaurant during the busiest part of the day.

Food tasting and shopping stops are also part of the route. These give you a chance to sample local products and browse, but personal purchases are your responsibility.

Ta’ Pinu, Kercem Heights, and the island’s inland views

The route also passes Ta’ Pinu, Kercem Heights, Victoria, the quarries, Marsalforn Bay, and other viewpoints. Some are brief pass-by sections or photo stops, so do not expect a guided interior visit at every landmark.

Ta’ Pinu is especially striking from the open country around it. Kercem Heights gives you a broader view over fields and valleys. Victoria adds an urban and historic counterpoint, while the quarries reveal another side of Gozo’s pale limestone.

This mix is one of the tour’s best features. You are not spending the whole day at beaches or only following the coast. The route keeps shifting between villages, farmland, rock, and sea.

Your guide matters here. The strongest part of the experience is not simply the number of stops, but the way the staff keep the group together and explain what you are seeing. Names such as Mark, Benny, Michael, Kiko, Andrew, David, Jason, and Victor appear among the guide team, though you will not necessarily have the same person on every departure.

The ride back through Comino

After the Gozo portion, hotel guests in Gozo receive a return 4×4 transfer. If your accommodation is in Malta, the return includes a roughly 20-minute powerboat ride.

The boat route passes Comino’s sea caves and the Blue Lagoon. This is a scenic finish and gives you a different view of the islands after a day spent on land. One practical detail: a separate cave boat trip may cost about €5 and require cash, so carry some money if you want to join an optional ride.

The Blue Lagoon section is brief, not a long beach stop. That can be a blessing during crowded periods, when a short view from the water is more pleasant than a long stay among heavy summer crowds. Treat it as a final boat circuit, not a full Comino visit.

Is the $112.96 price good value?

At $112.96 per person, the price is fair if you plan to make the most of the full day. It covers the quad, helmet, insurance, guide, transport arrangements, food tasting, lunch, and the return boat for those going back to Malta.

The biggest value is time. Organising Gozo’s salt pans, Dwejra, Ramla, Ghasri, Xlendi, Ta’ Pinu, Victoria, and Comino independently would require careful transport planning. The tour also takes you to rougher areas that are awkward to reach by ordinary bus.

The price does not cover personal spending, optional Inland Sea or Dwejra boat rides, tips, or any excess payment connected with a vehicle accident. Read the driving terms closely. The package is generous, but it is not an all-costs-covered day.

Who will enjoy this Gozo tour most?

You are a good match if you want active sightseeing, broad island coverage, and a social group outing. It suits couples, friends, and families with older children who are comfortable around quad bikes. Passengers can enjoy the scenery without driving, provided they are booked with a driver.

I would choose it over a standard coach tour if you care more about movement and variety than long museum visits. I would choose a slower private tour instead if you want extended time at each beach, church, or village.

You also need to be comfortable with dust, sun, changing weather, and a long day. The ride is fun, but it is not passive sightseeing. Drivers should have confidence with a full-size vehicle and must meet the licence rules.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund, but last-minute changes within 24 hours are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to cover a lot of Gozo in one energetic day and like the idea of reaching viewpoints by quad instead of sitting on a bus. The strongest reasons are the wide route, the friendly guide team, the included lunch, and the powerboat return through Comino.

Skip it if your priority is a quiet beach day, a private experience, or serious off-road riding. For most active first-time visitors to Gozo, though, this is a good-value way to see the island’s major natural sights and a few rougher corners without handling the logistics yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Gozo quad tour last?

The complete experience lasts approximately 10 hours. The quad portion is described as a full-day adventure, with transport to Gozo, sightseeing stops, lunch, and the return journey included.

Can I drive my own quad bike?

Yes. You can choose to drive your own quad, provided you are at least 21, fully qualified to drive, and carry a valid driving licence plus one other official photo ID.

Can I book only as a quad passenger?

Passengers can book only when accompanied by a driver. Children and younger riders must be over six, supervised by an adult, and booked as passengers rather than drivers.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are offered from Gozo and northern Malta hotels, or from a nearby collection point. If you stay in southern Malta and are not in a group of three or more, you need to reach the Gozo ferry departure point independently.

What food is included at lunch?

Lunch includes three courses: soup or pasta, a choice of fish, chicken, or pork, and dessert. Soda, water, juice, tea, or coffee are included.

Are the optional Dwejra boat trips included?

No. Entrance fees for the Inland Sea and Dwejra boat ride are not included. Optional activities require separate payment.

Is the return boat to Malta included?

If your hotel is in Malta, the return includes a roughly 20-minute powerboat ride through Comino’s sea caves and past the Blue Lagoon.

What should I wear?

Wear trainers or other flat shoes. Bring a small backpack. In summer, pack swimwear and a towel. In winter, bring a rain jacket.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 30 participants.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted.