GOZO All Inclusive Self Drive Jeep day tour wt Blue Lagoon

Gozo’s best feature on this tour is the self-drive UTV. You are not sitting in a minibus watching the island pass by. You drive in convoy, following a local lead driver along paved roads, rough tracks, and routes that reach remote bays and broad coastal viewpoints. The automatic vehicles seat one driver and five forward-facing passengers, so families and small groups can share the fun.

I like the mix of off-road driving and major sights, especially Dwejra Bay, Wied il-Għasri, the salt pans, Ta’ Pinu, and the Citadella. I also like the private boat connection to Comino, with a possible sail past sea caves and the Blue Lagoon. The main drawback is time: seven hours covers a lot, so several stops are short, and the boat portion depends on sea conditions.

Key points to know before you book

• Six-seat automatic UTVs: One person drives, while five passengers face forward rather than sitting in awkward side-facing seats.
• A full Gozo circuit: Expect Dwejra Bay, Xwejni Salt Pans, Wied il-Għasri, Ta’ Pinu, Xlendi, Marsalforn, the Citadella, and more.
• Lunch is included: The meal features Maltese nibbles, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a Maltese dessert.
• Comino by private boat: The return crossing is reserved for Yippee clients when weather permits, with the Blue Lagoon and sea caves included in the route.
• Driver rules matter: You must be at least 21 and carry a valid full driving license. Provisional licenses are not accepted.
• Plan for the insurance excess: The first €450 of any claim is the driver’s responsibility in the event of an accident.

Why the UTV makes Gozo more fun

Gozo is small enough to see in a day, but its best corners are scattered. A standard sightseeing bus can show you the headline stops, yet it cannot give you the same sense of movement as driving an all-terrain vehicle through the countryside.

The UTVs are fully automatic, which keeps the driving simple. You still need to be comfortable behind the wheel, but you are not managing a manual gearbox while trying to follow a convoy. The forward-facing seating is another practical plus. Six people can share one vehicle, making the $165 price easier to justify for a family or group.

The route includes off-road sections, sandy ground, valleys, and access roads near less-developed coastal areas. The point is not technical driving. It is the combination of control, fresh air, and changing scenery. One moment you may be crossing a rough track, and soon after you are looking over a cliff or stopping beside an old stone church.

You follow a lead vehicle, so you are not expected to navigate Gozo alone. That makes the tour more relaxed than renting a vehicle independently, particularly if you have never driven on Malta’s roads. At the same time, the convoy format means you need to stay with the group and follow the guide’s instructions.

Starting with hotel pickup and the crossing to Gozo

Pickup is available from many points across Malta and Gozo, including hotels, ferry areas, major resorts, and selected public locations. The exact time and meeting point arrive after booking by WhatsApp or email, so provide a working mobile number with the country prefix.

Be ready five minutes early. Malta traffic can cause delays, and the transport team uses a Yippee sign. The seven-hour activity time does not include the transfer time, so your full day will be longer than seven hours if you are staying in Malta and need a pickup.

The crossing to Gozo is arranged by Yippee, with a boat reserved for its clients when conditions allow. If the sea is rough, the crossing and return use the Gozo Channel communal ferry instead, with tickets supplied. This weather backup is useful, but it means the exact feel of the day can change with the sea.

Dwejra Bay and the western coast

Dwejra Bay is one of Gozo’s most dramatic stops. You get time for a break, photographs, guided sightseeing, and views along the coast. The area is known for its rugged rock formations and the Inland Sea, which gives the stop a strong visual payoff even if you have only a short visit.

The UTV route adds something here. You are not simply dropped at a viewpoint and sent back to the vehicle. The approach and nearby tracks are part of the experience, and the guide can keep the convoy moving through the western side of the island.

Do not expect a long, leisurely visit at every stop. This is a broad tour, not a single-site excursion. If Dwejra is your main reason for visiting Gozo, you may want more time than this schedule provides.

Ggantija and Gozo’s ancient past

The Ggantija Temples are included as a sightseeing stop, with entrance listed as part of the visit. These megalithic structures are among Gozo’s most important archaeological sights, and they give the day a useful change of pace after the driving.

The temples are valuable because they show that Gozo’s story reaches far beyond medieval villages and coastal scenery. You get a short cultural stop alongside the outdoor adventure, rather than an entire day of historic monuments.

Time is limited across the route, so check how much of the temple site you can visit during the stop. If you want a slow archaeological visit with detailed reading and plenty of time indoors, this tour may feel brisk. If you want to add one major ancient site without giving up the coast and UTV driving, it works well.

Salt pans, Wied il-Ghasri, and the northern shore

At the Xwejni Salt Pans, you see one of Gozo’s most distinctive coastal sights. The flat salt beds contrast with the rough shoreline, and the stop lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough for photographs and a quick look, though not a long walk through the area.

Wied il-Ghasri is another 30-minute sightseeing stop. This narrow inlet cuts into the coast and gives you a close look at Gozo’s limestone terrain. The setting is especially appealing if you prefer unusual natural formations over standard beach scenery.

The route also includes Marsalforn Bay, where the listed sightseeing time is about 10 minutes. That is more of a quick orientation and photo stop than a proper visit. The schedule favors variety, allowing you to see several parts of Gozo without spending half the day in one town.

Ta’ Pinu, cliffs, and rural Gozo

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu receives about 15 minutes. Its isolated setting and striking exterior make it an efficient stop, even if you do not have time for a long interior visit.

The wider route includes views toward Sannap Cliffs and Ta’ Cenc Cliffs, along with Gozo’s valleys and rural roads. These are the moments when the UTV format earns its keep. You can cover open ground quickly, stop for wide views, and experience the island as a place of farms, stone walls, and high coastal edges rather than only as a collection of monuments.

The guide leads the convoy and provides information in several languages. English, Arabic, French, German, Polish, Spanish, and Dutch are available. One named guide connected with the experience is Stephan, and the supplied feedback specifically praised him as a strong guide. You should still confirm your preferred language when booking.

Xlendi Bay, the Citadella, and the quick-stop tradeoff

Xlendi Bay is listed for a five-minute sightseeing stop. That is enough to glimpse the bay and take a quick photograph, but not enough for a swim, meal, or extended walk. The short timing is important: do not book this tour expecting long free periods in each coastal town.

The Citadella in Victoria receives about 30 minutes. This fortified hilltop area is one of Gozo’s essential sights, with views across the island and a strong sense of place. A half-hour can give you a useful look, but it will not cover every corner or museum.

Another unspecified sightseeing stop lasts about 30 minutes, while additional short stops are listed along the route. The exact points can shift with the season and the day’s conditions. In summer, the schedule changes to make room for a swim stop, so the points of interest may differ slightly from cooler-season departures.

Lunch with Maltese flavors

Lunch is a light traditional Gozitan meal. It includes Maltese nibbles, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a Maltese dessert. This is not presented as a grand restaurant meal, and you should approach it as a filling pause between driving and sightseeing.

The vegetarian baked pasta gives the meal a substantial center, while the local nibbles and dessert provide a taste of Malta without taking too much time. Tell the provider about dietary requests or food allergies before the tour day.

The meal matters because food is included in the $165 price, along with transport, the UTV, the Gozo crossing, the boat ride, and the guide. That makes the cost more reasonable than comparing it only with a basic sightseeing transfer. Still, the value depends on how much you want the driving experience. If you mainly want a boat trip and a swim, a cheaper boat-focused outing may suit you better.

The Comino boat, sea caves, and Blue Lagoon

After Gozo, the boat portion takes you toward Comino. The cruise includes Comino and the Blue Lagoon, with about 20 minutes listed for each boat segment. Weather permitting, the return sailing passes sea caves and includes a summer swim stop.

This is a pleasant finish because you see Gozo from the water after spending the day on land. The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s most recognizable sights, and the boat approach gives you a different view than simply arriving by road or ferry.

Keep your expectations realistic. The Blue Lagoon portion is a boat cruise, not a guaranteed long beach stay. Sea conditions control the route, and severe weather can shift the return to the communal ferry. Bring beachwear if you are visiting in summer and want to use the swim stop, along with a towel and sunscreen.

What the $165 price really includes

At $165 per person, this is not a budget sightseeing ride. You are paying for several moving parts:

• Pickup and return to your original meeting point
• Transport from Malta or Gozo
• A modern six-seat automatic UTV
• A multilingual lead guide
• The Gozo crossing
• A light Gozitan lunch
• A private boat connection to Comino when possible
• The Blue Lagoon cruise and possible swim stop

For a group of friends or a family that will share one UTV, the price has stronger value. The vehicle is the main attraction, and the package saves you from arranging separate transport, lunch, and boat tickets.

The insurance condition deserves attention. The first €450 of any claim is borne by the driver or hirer in an accident. Read that carefully before booking, and choose your driver responsibly. A valid license is required, and the driver must be at least 21. Provisional licenses are not accepted.

Who should book this Gozo day?

I would choose this tour if you want active sightseeing, broad coverage, and a little controlled adventure. It suits families with older children, friends who want to share the wheel, and first-time visitors who would rather follow a local lead vehicle than plan Gozo’s roads themselves.

It also suits people who want both land and sea in one day. You get cliff views, ancient temples, a basilica, salt pans, bays, a fortified city, lunch, and Comino. That variety is the strongest reason to choose it.

I would think twice if you want a slow cultural tour. The Citadella, Ggantija, Dwejra, and Ta’ Pinu all deserve more time than a packed route can provide. I would also reconsider if you dislike convoy driving, rough tracks, or the responsibility of a €450 insurance excess.

The experience is wheelchair accessible for foldable wheelchairs, and a small lightweight pushchair can be accommodated with advance advice. Child car seats are available on request. Pregnant people are specifically advised against taking part.

Booking advice and what to pack

Bring your full driving license, sunscreen, comfortable clothing, and beachwear in summer. Pack a towel if you plan to swim, since towels are not included.

Give the provider your accommodation details and a mobile number, preferably WhatsApp. The exact pickup point and time are sent after booking, and the meeting point may be near your hotel rather than directly outside it.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Malta plans may change, but the sea conditions remain outside anyone’s control.

Should you book it?

Book this Gozo tour if the idea of driving a UTV through coastal tracks sounds as appealing as the sights themselves. Its best features are the automatic six-seat vehicle, the broad route, the included lunch, and the boat connection to Comino.

Skip it if you want long swims, extended museum visits, or a quiet day built around one or two places. The schedule is active and tightly packed. For the right person, though, $165 buys a lively full-day sampler of Gozo by road, track, and sea, with the useful safety net of a local lead driver.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts seven hours, not including transfer time to and from your pickup point.

What age must the driver be?

Drivers must be at least 21 years old and must provide a valid full driving license. Provisional licenses are not accepted.

How many people fit in one UTV?

Each UTV seats one driver and five passengers. All seats face forward.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes Maltese nibbles, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a Maltese dessert.

Is the boat to Comino guaranteed?

The boat crossing and return boat are provided when weather permits. If sea conditions are severe, the crossing uses the Gozo Channel communal ferry instead, with tickets provided.

Does the tour include a swim stop?

A summer swim stop is included when weather permits. Bring swimwear and a towel, since they are not provided.

What languages are available?

The instructor languages are Arabic, French, German, Polish, Spanish, English, and Dutch.

What is the insurance excess?

The insurance cover excludes the first €450 of any claim. The driver or hirer must pay that amount in the event of an accident.