GOZO All Inclusive Self Drive Jeep day tour wt Blue Lagoon

Gozo’s best sights come with a little engine noise on this self-drive UTV tour, which trades the usual sightseeing van for an automatic all-terrain vehicle. You follow a local lead driver to Dwejra Bay, the salt pans, Ggantija, Ta’ Pinu, Cittadella, and several bays, then finish with a boat ride toward Comino and the Blue Lagoon.

I like the mix of road and off-road routes, and I like that lunch and the return boat are included rather than treated as extras. The strongest guide feedback names Stephan as a friendly, informative leader, while another account calls the UTV a real toy and praises the smooth hotel pickup and quick crossing to Gozo.

The main catch is that this is a packed day. You should also take the €450 insurance excess seriously, since that amount is excluded from the cover and can fall to the driver after an accident.

Key points to know before booking

• Drive your own automatic UTV: Each vehicle has one driver and five forward-facing passenger seats.
• See a wide slice of Gozo: The route includes Dwejra, Ggantija, Xwejni, Wied il-Għasri, Ta’ Pinu, Xlendi, Cittadella, and Marsalforn.
• Lunch is built in: Expect Maltese snacks, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a Maltese dessert.
• The boat ride is part of the value: A boat reserved for Yippee clients carries you to Comino and past sea caves when conditions allow.
• Summer adds swimming: A swim stop is included in summer, weather and sea conditions permitting.
• Drivers need the right paperwork: You must be at least 21 and carry a valid driving licence. Provisional licences are not accepted.

Why the UTV changes your Gozo day

Gozo is small enough to see in a day, but its best points are spread across the island. A conventional coach can cover the mileage, yet it tends to turn the day into a sequence of quick photo stops. Here, you ride in a smaller convoy and take part in the movement between places.

The UTVs are fully automatic, so you do not need to manage a manual gearbox while watching the road. The design also suits a group: one person drives while up to five passengers sit facing forward. That makes this more practical for a family or a group of friends than a two-seat quad bike.

You follow a lead driver rather than finding your own route. That matters on Gozo, where narrow lanes, rural tracks, and changing road surfaces can make independent exploring slower than expected. The guide also keeps the convoy together and helps you get from one stop to the next without constant map reading.

The ride is not described as a technical driving course. Think of it as a sightseeing day with an off-road flavor. You may cross sandy sections, reach remote bays, and travel through valleys, but the main purpose is to connect Gozo’s major sights in an active way.

Pickup from Malta or Gozo

Pickup is offered from many hotels and set meeting points in Malta and Gozo. The exact place and time arrive after booking by WhatsApp or email, so give the operator a mobile number with the country prefix. A WhatsApp number is preferred.

You should be at the pickup point five minutes early. Malta traffic can cause delays, and the transport vehicle carries a Yippee sign. Since the seven-hour activity time does not include transfer time, your total day will be longer than seven hours, especially if you are staying in Malta rather than near the Gozo departure point.

This wide pickup network is convenient, but it also means you should not assume the listed meeting point is right outside your hotel. Wait for the confirmed instructions. The operator sends the closest pickup point and the correct time after your accommodation details are provided.

The crossing to Gozo is by a Yippee boat when weather allows. If the sea is rough, the crossing and return use the Gozo Channel communal ferry, with tickets provided. That is less private, but it is the sensible backup and keeps the day moving.

Dwejra Bay starts the sightseeing

Dwejra Bay is one of Gozo’s most striking coastal areas, and it gives the tour a strong opening. You get a guided visit, time for photographs, and views across the rocky coast. The route here is especially well suited to a UTV because the appeal is not just the final viewpoint. The ride through the area is part of the experience.

Dwejra also includes the Inland Sea, one of the island’s signature natural features. You should expect a scenic stop rather than a long free period for exploring. The day has many points to cover, so bring a camera but keep your timing in mind.

The coastal setting can be breezy and exposed. Sunscreen, comfortable clothing, and sensible footwear are useful, even though the tour description does not require specialist gear.

Ancient Ggantija and the island’s rural side

Ggantija Temples adds a major archaeological stop to a day that could otherwise focus only on scenery and driving. The temples are among Gozo’s best-known historic sights, and their inclusion gives the route more substance than a simple coast-and-beach outing.

The schedule lists sightseeing at the entrance, so do not assume that a long interior visit is included. If Ggantija is a priority for you, check the amount of time available on the day and whether admission beyond the listed stop is part of the plan.

From there, the route moves through several very different parts of Gozo. At the Xwejni salt pans, you get roughly 30 minutes to see the traditional salt-making area beside the coast. It is a calm counterpoint to the UTV ride, with low coastal views and a sense of working countryside.

Wied il-Għasri brings another change of scenery. This narrow coastal valley is one of the island’s most photogenic spots, and the stop lasts about 30 minutes. The road and track access are part of the appeal, but the terrain can be uneven. Wear shoes you are happy to use near rocky ground.

Ta’ Pinu, Xlendi, and the island’s famous viewpoints

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu receives a shorter 15-minute sightseeing stop. That is enough to see the setting and take photographs, but not enough for an unhurried visit. The basilica is worth including for its distinctive setting and religious importance, though people who want a detailed church visit may find the time brief.

Xlendi Bay gets only around five minutes on the published schedule. Treat this as a quick look and photo pause rather than a beach visit. The bay is one of Gozo’s familiar coastal scenes, but the tour cannot give every major stop a long stay and still fit in the boat, lunch, and driving.

The route also includes Ta’ Cenc Cliffs among the advertised points of interest. These high coastal views are one reason the UTV format works well: you are moving through open country instead of spending the whole day inside a vehicle with fixed windows.

Some itinerary entries do not name the exact sight, but they allow about 30 minutes for sightseeing. Your guide may adjust the points slightly, especially in summer when a swim stop replaces or alters some sightseeing. The precise order can change with weather and operating conditions.

Cittadella and Marsalforn Bay

Cittadella is Gozo’s historic fortified center and another welcome change from the coast. The tour allows about 30 minutes for sightseeing, giving you time to see the stone walls and central setting. It is a compact visit, not a full museum afternoon, but it helps you understand Gozo as more than a collection of beaches and viewpoints.

Marsalforn Bay follows with a shorter stop of around ten minutes. This is another quick coastal pause, useful for photographs and orientation. If you want a long swim, cafe break, or waterfront meal at Marsalforn, this tour is not designed for that.

The route’s strength is variety. In one day, you move from prehistoric temples to salt pans, a basilica, fortified streets, cliffs, and bays. The drawback is equally clear: most stops are introductions, not deep visits.

Lunch with Maltese and Gozitan flavors

Lunch is a light traditional meal rather than a grand restaurant event. It includes Maltese nibbles, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a Maltese dessert.

I see this as a useful inclusion because it removes one decision from a tightly scheduled day. You do not need to leave the group searching for food, and the meal gives you a taste of local-style dishes rather than a generic fast-food stop.

The meal is described as sufficient, not lavish. If you need a large lunch after hours of driving, pack an extra snack. Notify the operator before the tour about food allergies or dietary requests. The supplied meal is vegetarian in its baked-pasta component, but you should still explain any restrictions in advance rather than relying on the menu description.

The return boat to Comino and the Blue Lagoon

The boat portion is one of the tour’s strongest practical advantages. Yippee reserves a boat for its own clients, and the return sailing includes Comino, sea caves, and the Blue Lagoon when the weather permits.

The schedule gives about 20 minutes for Comino and another 20 minutes for the Blue Lagoon as a boat cruise. This is a scenic sailing, not a full beach day on Comino. You may pass the caves and see the famous water from the boat, but do not book this tour expecting several hours at the Blue Lagoon.

In summer, the return trip includes a swim stop when conditions allow. Bring swimwear and a towel if you want to use it. Swimwear and towels are not included, so this is an easy detail to miss.

The sea remains the deciding factor. In severe conditions, the return uses the communal ferry instead of the reserved boat. That means you may lose the scenic cave sailing, but you still have a planned way back to Malta.

What the $165 price really buys

At $165 per person, the tour is not a bare sightseeing transfer. The price includes pickup and return transport, the Gozo crossing, the UTV, a multilingual leader, lunch, and the return boat arrangement. For a visitor trying to combine transport, driving, food, and several coastal stops in one day, that package can be good value.

The price makes less sense if you mainly want a long swim or extended time at one location. You are paying for range and convenience. You cover much of Gozo, but you accept short stops and a firm schedule.

The self-drive element also adds value for people who want to operate the vehicle rather than sit in a coach. If nobody in your group wants to drive, the appeal drops, although the UTV can still carry passengers in forward-facing seats.

Pay close attention to the insurance condition. The cover excludes the first €450 of any claim, and the driver or hirer is responsible for that amount after an accident. Drivers must be at least 21 and show a valid licence or a picture of it. Provisional licences are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this for active couples, families with older children, and groups of friends who want a full Gozo sampler without arranging ferries, meals, and transport separately. The six-seat UTV setup is particularly useful for groups that want to stay together.

It also suits people who prefer a guide-led route but still want some control over the day. You drive, but you do not have to plan every turn or decide which remote track is suitable.

It is less suitable for anyone wanting a quiet, slow cultural tour. The schedule is busy, the driving is a central feature, and several stops are short. Pregnant participants should also note that the activity includes UTV travel and off-road routes, so personal suitability should be considered carefully.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, with foldable wheelchairs and small lightweight pushchairs accepted by arrangement. Child car seats are available on request. Give the operator advance notice for these needs.

Practical tips for a smoother day

• Bring your driving licence, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and beachwear.
• Pack a towel if you plan to swim.
• Give your phone number, accommodation details, and dietary information when booking.
• Wait for the exact pickup instructions before planning your morning.
• Arrive five minutes early at the confirmed pickup point.
• Expect traffic delays in Malta, particularly during the transfer.
• Keep personal items secure during the UTV portions.
• Remember the €450 insurance excess before you agree to drive.
• If sea conditions worsen, expect the communal ferry rather than the private boat route.

Should you book this Gozo UTV tour?

Book it if you want a high-energy overview of Gozo, especially if driving, coastal views, and a boat ride all appeal to you. You get far more variety than a simple beach excursion, and the combination of Ggantija, Cittadella, Dwejra, salt pans, lunch, and Comino makes the $165 easier to justify.

Skip it if you want long visits at each sight, a relaxed beach day, or a guaranteed Blue Lagoon swim. The best reason to choose this outing is the complete package: a guide-led UTV route, useful transfers, food, and sea time in one busy day. Stephan’s friendly, customer-focused guiding style is a good sign for the personal side of the trip, but the biggest decision remains your comfort with driving and the insurance excess.

FAQ

How long does the Gozo UTV tour last?

The activity lasts seven hours, not including transfer time from your pickup point. Your full day will be longer if you are collected in Malta.

Do I need a driving licence?

Yes. Drivers must be at least 21 years old and provide a valid driving licence or a picture of it. Provisional licences are not accepted.

How many people fit in each UTV?

Each modern automatic UTV has one driver and five forward-facing passenger seats.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes Maltese nibbles, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a Maltese dessert. Tell the operator in advance about allergies or dietary requests.

Is swimming included?

A summer swim stop is included when weather and sea conditions allow. Bring your own swimwear and towel, since they are not provided.

What happens if the sea is too rough for the private boat?

If sea or weather conditions are severe, the crossing and return use the Gozo Channel communal ferry. Ferry tickets are provided.