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

Gozo is made for open-air exploring, and this tour covers a remarkable amount of the island from the seat of a quad bike. You ride behind a guide along country roads and dusty tracks, stopping at Dwejra Bay, Ramla Bay, Xwejni Salt Pans, Xlendi, and the Inland Sea.

I like two things right away: you get both transport and sightseeing in one package, and the return by powerboat gives the day a lively finish. Guides such as Mark, Benny, Michael, Andrew, and Kiko are repeatedly praised for keeping the ride safe, friendly, and informative.

The main drawback is that this is more of an active sightseeing circuit than a close look at Gozo’s culture. You cover a lot, but the schedule can feel brisk, and the tour does not include the Citadel or much time in Gozo’s towns.

Key points to know before booking

• Ride across much of Gozo in one day: The route links coastal views, valleys, beaches, villages, salt pans, and famous rock formations.
• Choose your quad role carefully: Drivers must be at least 21, hold a full driving licence, and bring another official photo ID. Passenger tickets only work when paired with a booked driver.
• Lunch and tastings are included: Expect a three-course meal, drinks, local food sampling, and a shopping stop.
• The boat transfers add real value: The private boat ride to Gozo and the roughly 20-minute return powerboat trip pass Comino’s sea caves and the Blue Lagoon area.
• Pack for the season: Bring swimwear and a towel in summer, a rain jacket in winter, and flat shoes or trainers.
• Expect a group activity: The maximum group size is 40, though the experience on the island is divided among guides and quads.

Why a quad is a useful way to see Gozo

Gozo is compact, but its best-known sights are spread around the island. A normal walking day cannot connect Dwejra in the west, Ramla Bay in the north, Xlendi in the southwest, and the salt pans near Marsalforn without spending much of your time arranging transport.

The quad solves that problem while giving you an outdoor experience rather than a ride in a tour bus. You follow a guide, stop often for photos, and see stretches of Gozo that are difficult to reach on a standard sightseeing route. You also get the fun of riding without having to plan every turn yourself.

You can book as a driver or passenger. A driver must be at least 21 and fully qualified to drive. Bring a valid driving licence and one other official photo ID. Provisional licences are not accepted.

Passenger places are not independent seats. You can only book one if someone in your party has booked a driver ticket and will share the quad with you. Young passengers must be over six and must be supervised by an adult. Children and young people cannot be booked as drivers.

The route is designed for sightseeing, not racing. Some people wish there were more off-road riding, while others appreciate the steady pace and regular stops. If your priority is a thrilling technical ride, this may feel tame. If you want a practical way to see Gozo while having some fun, it fits better.

Getting to Gozo by boat

Pickup is offered from hotels in Gozo and north Malta, or from an assigned nearby collection point. South Malta is different. Unless your party has three or more people, you normally need to make your own way to the Gozo ferry departure point.

The exact pickup instructions depend on where you stay, so include your accommodation details when booking. A few people have found the transfer arrangements less clear than the island portion, and occasional waits at the quay are possible. Give yourself a little patience at the start of the day.

The private boat transfer is one of the better features. Instead of treating the crossing as a dull gap between Malta and Gozo, the tour turns it into part of the outing. On the return, the powerboat takes about 20 minutes and passes the sea caves around Comino and the Blue Lagoon.

The boat can be lively in rough weather. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where the motion feels gentler and keep your belongings secure. Optional boat access at the Inland Sea or Dwejra is not included in the price.

Safety briefing and the first ride

At the Gozo Pride Tours base in Ix-Xewkija, you receive a safety briefing, helmet, and hairnet before setting off. The team explains the controls and organizes drivers and passengers before the route begins.

Guides including Mark, Benny, Michael, Andrew, Dave, Kiko, and others are often singled out for their calm manner and good organization. The guide leads from the front, gives information at the stops, and helps keep the group together. That matters on an unfamiliar island, especially if you have never used a quad before.

You need flat shoes or trainers. Bring a small backpack rather than a large day bag, since you will be riding for much of the day. Insurance and third-party liability cover are included, but an excess fee may apply in the event of a vehicle accident.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. In wet weather, a rain jacket is essential. One useful practical lesson from the experience is simple: Gozo’s weather can change, and wet clothing can make a long ride uncomfortable.

Dwejra Bay and the Inland Sea

Dwejra is one of Gozo’s strongest scenic stops. The coast here is all pale rock, open sea, and striking formations. The area includes the Inland Sea, Fungus Rock, and the Blue Hole, one of the island’s best-known underwater sites.

You have around 30 minutes at Dwejra. That is enough for photos and a look around, but not enough for a slow visit to every feature. The Inland Sea is a lagoon connected to the Mediterranean through a narrow opening in the rock. Its unusual shape came from a sea cave whose roof collapsed after a geological fault formed in the limestone.

Fungus Rock, known locally as Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral, has an unusual story. During the time of the Knights of Malta, a plant growing there was believed to have healing powers. The rock was guarded, and taking the plant could bring severe punishment.

An optional boat ride at the Inland Sea or Dwejra costs extra. The tour price covers the main sightseeing experience, not every activity at the stop, so keep some money available if you want to add it. Some people also prefer to use this pause for photos rather than squeeze in another boat ride.

Xwejni Salt Pans and Marsalforn Bay

On Gozo’s north coast, the Xwejni Salt Pans form a broad checkerboard cut into the rock beside the sea. The pans stretch for about three kilometres and have been used for salt production for roughly 350 years.

You get about ten minutes here. That sounds short, but it is enough to see the pattern of the pans, take photos, and hear how salt is collected during the summer. Local families have passed the work down through generations, and some of the salt is stored in caves carved into the coastal rock.

This is a quick scenic stop rather than a full visit to a working salt operation. The area is best appreciated from the edge, where the geometric pans meet the open coast.

The route also passes Marsalforn Bay, a popular seaside town. You do not get a long town visit, but the ride helps connect the coast’s different moods, from working salt pans to a more developed resort area.

Ramla Bay and Gozo’s red sand

Ramla Bay is one of the finest beach stops on Gozo. Its red sand gives it the local name Ramla il-Ħamra, meaning the red sandy beach. The broad shore is backed by a fertile valley, protected dunes, and old terrace walls.

You have about 30 minutes here. That is enough for a walk, photos, or a quick swim if conditions and timing allow. In summer, bring swimwear and a towel. Do not expect a full beach afternoon, since this is one stop in a busy circuit.

Ramla is appealing because it feels less built up than many Maltese beaches. A few cafés and stalls serve the area, but the valley remains open and rural. Roman remains lie beneath the sand, adding another layer to the setting, though the tour does not present Ramla as a formal archaeological visit.

Ghasri Valley and Xlendi Bay

Ghasri Valley is a narrow inlet surrounded by high rock walls. Reaching the water involves about 100 steps, so the tour’s stop is mainly for viewing and photography rather than a full walk down to the cove.

The creek extends for about 300 metres and feels quite different from the wide beaches at Ramla and Dwejra. You see Gozo’s coastline shifting from open bays to tight, sheltered channels.

At Xlendi Bay, the mood changes again. This is a former fishing village with a small sandy beach, shallow water, restaurants, bars, and hotels. The bay is also popular for swimming, snorkeling, and underwater exploring along the rocky edges.

The tour may not give you enough time for a full meal or long swim at Xlendi, since lunch is scheduled elsewhere. Still, it is a useful stop for photos and a quick look at one of Gozo’s most popular coastal villages.

Lunch, tastings, and the shopping stop

Lunch takes place in Xewkija and lasts about an hour. The included meal has three courses: soup or pasta, followed by fish, chicken, or pork, then dessert. Water, soda, juice, tea, or coffee are included.

The food is useful fuel for a day on the road, though portions may feel modest if you arrive very hungry. The meal is also scheduled relatively early, around late morning on some departures, so a small breakfast is sensible.

Along the way, you stop for food tasting and shopping. Local produce and drinks may include prickly pear liqueur, and the shopping stop offers regional items and souvenirs.

This part divides opinion. If you enjoy trying local products or want a simple souvenir, it adds variety. If you prefer every minute to be spent riding or seeing historic sites, the stop can feel like sales time. The tour is not built as a serious food tour. Food is included to make the day easier and to give you a taste of local products.

What the price includes at $117.91

At $117.91 per person, this is not the cheapest way to cross to Gozo, but the price covers a great deal: boat transfers, the quad, helmet and hairnet, guide, lunch, tastings, insurance, and pickup or a nearby collection point on the stated routes.

The value depends on how you use the day. If you would otherwise pay separately for transport, a quad rental, lunch, and a boat trip, the package is practical. It also removes the need to map out a route linking distant parts of Gozo.

You are paying for convenience and coverage rather than long stays at each sight. The tour is a strong choice for a first day on Gozo, especially if you want to see the coast and countryside in one outing. It is less suitable if you want slow museum visits, extended beach time, or detailed exploration of Victoria and the Citadel.

The tour is often booked around four weeks ahead, so popular dates may fill. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, except when the operator cancels because of poor weather.

Who should book this Gozo quad tour?

I would choose this for an active couple, a group of friends, or a solo visitor who wants a structured day with plenty of scenery. It is also a good option if you are staying in Malta and want to see Gozo without organizing ferries, taxis, lunch, and a return trip yourself.

It suits you if you enjoy:

• Riding outdoors rather than sitting on a coach
• A full schedule with many stops
• Coastal views and countryside roads
• Short photo breaks instead of long visits
• A boat ride at the beginning or end of the day

I would choose another experience if your main goals are Gozo’s churches, museums, village life, or the Citadel. One stop in the route does not replace time in Victoria, and the tour’s emphasis is clearly on scenery, movement, and fun.

The most useful expectation is this: you will see a lot, but you will not linger everywhere. Guides such as Mark, Benny, Michael, Andrew, and Kiko help turn the route into a relaxed group experience, yet the schedule still has to keep moving.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an energetic first look at Gozo and like the idea of riding between the sights rather than simply being driven past them. The combination of quad riding, lunch, local tasting, and a powerboat return gives you a full day for a reasonable all-in price.

Skip it if you want deep cultural visits, a quiet beach day, or serious off-road riding. For most active visitors, though, it is a smart way to cover Gozo’s best coastal scenery in one day, with guides who help you feel safe and oriented along the way.

FAQ

How long does the Gozo quad tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Gozo Pride Tours on Triq Tal-Horob in Ix-Xewkija, Malta. Pickup or a nearby collection point may be arranged depending on your accommodation and the route.

Is hotel pickup available from Malta?

Pickup is offered from north Malta and Gozo hotels on the stated routes. Unless your group has three or more people, south Malta hotel pickup is not provided, so you need to travel independently to the Gozo ferry departure point.

Can I ride as a passenger instead of driving?

Yes. Passenger tickets are available, but you must be accompanied by someone who has booked a driver ticket and will share the quad with you.

How old must I be to drive a quad?

Drivers must be at least 21 years old and fully qualified to drive. You must bring a valid driving licence and one other official photo ID. Provisional licences are not accepted.

Can children join the tour?

Children and young passengers can only ride as passengers. They must be over six years old, supervised by an adult, and must not be booked as drivers.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes three courses, with soup or pasta, fish, chicken, or pork, followed by dessert. Soda, water, juice, tea, or coffee are also included.

Are the Dwejra and Inland Sea boat rides included?

No. Entrance fees and optional boat rides at the Inland Sea or Dwejra are not included.

What should I bring?

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