GOZO All Inclusive Self Drive Jeep day tour wt Blue Lagoon

Gozo’s best views are not all beside paved roads. This self-drive UTV tour takes you across rough tracks, cliff roads, valleys, and coastal paths, with a local lead driver showing the way. You get more freedom than on a standard sightseeing bus, without having to plan every turn yourself.

I like the mix of off-road driving and classic Gozo sights, especially Dwejra Bay, Wied Il-Għasri, the salt pans, and Ta’ Cenc. I also like the return by boat, which can include Comino’s sea caves and the Blue Lagoon when the weather allows. The main drawback is the pace: seven hours is a lot of ground to cover, and the insurance excess of €450 is worth taking seriously.

Key points at a glance

• Six-seat automatic UTVs: One qualified driver can take up to five passengers in forward-facing seats.
• A full Gozo circuit: See Dwejra, Ggantija, Xwejni, Wied Il-Għasri, Ta’ Pinu, Xlendi, Marsalforn, and Cittadella.
• Driving, not just riding: You follow a lead vehicle in convoy, with off-road sections and remote bays along the way.
• Gozitan lunch included: Expect Maltese nibbles, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a local dessert.
• Boat time built in: Yippee clients use reserved boats for the Gozo crossing and return to Malta, weather permitting.
• Summer swim option: Bring beachwear for a possible swim stop, although sea conditions can change the plan.

What the UTV day is really like

This is not a quiet island tour from behind a coach window. You sit behind the wheel of a fully automatic UTV, then follow a local guide in convoy across Gozo. The vehicles have forward-facing seats for one driver and five passengers, making them practical for families and groups of friends.

The appeal is simple: you get the fun of driving without needing to navigate alone. The guide handles the route and leads you through sections that include roads, rough tracks, sandy ground, valleys, and coastal approaches. You still need to pay attention, follow instructions, and drive responsibly.

The tour lasts seven hours once the main activity begins. Hotel or meeting-point transfers from Malta or Gozo take extra time, so keep much of your day free. Pickups are available from a long list of hotels and public meeting points, but the exact time and location arrive after booking by WhatsApp or email.

A guide named Stephan has been specifically associated with this experience, and the tour can operate in Arabic, French, German, Polish, Spanish, English, and Dutch. The multilingual setup helps, particularly when the group includes people from several countries.

Driving rules and the €450 insurance excess

You must be at least 21 and hold a full driving licence. Provisional licences are not accepted, and you should be ready to show the licence or a picture of it. If you do not want to drive, you can ride as a passenger in the UTV.

The insurance cover excludes the first €450 of any claim. That amount becomes the driver’s responsibility in the event of an accident, so I would treat the UTV as a real vehicle, not a theme-park toy. Go slowly on rough ground, keep a sensible distance from the vehicle ahead, and listen closely to the guide.

The vehicles are modern and automatic, which removes the work of changing gears. Still, off-road driving takes care. Dust, bumps, narrow approaches, and uneven ground are part of the experience. If you want a soft, polished sightseeing day, choose a regular island tour instead.

Crossing from Malta to Gozo

The day begins with pickup from Malta or Gozo, depending on your accommodation. Yippee provides transport to the start point, and the exact instructions are sent after booking. Arrive five minutes early, and allow for traffic delays in Malta.

The crossing to Gozo is arranged by boat reserved for Yippee clients when conditions permit. If the sea is rough, the crossing and return use the Gozo Channel communal ferry instead, with tickets provided. This is an important practical point: the private boat plan depends on the weather.

The boat arrangement adds variety to the day. You are not simply driving around Gozo and then retracing the same route. The sea crossing becomes part of the outing, and the return may include views of Comino’s caves and the Blue Lagoon.

Dwejra Bay and the western coast

Dwejra Bay is one of Gozo’s essential coastal stops. The area is known for dramatic rock formations and open sea views, and it gives you an early taste of the island’s rougher side. The tour includes time for a break, photographs, guided sightseeing, and views along the route.

Dwejra’s appeal is visual rather than commercial. You come here for the rock, water, and wide horizon, not for a long list of shops or indoor attractions. The UTV format is useful because it keeps the visit connected to the rest of the day instead of making Dwejra the entire focus.

The schedule is active, so do not expect a long, unhurried walk at every stop. You will have time to look around and take pictures, but the guide must keep the convoy moving.

Ggantija, Xwejni, and Wied Il-Għasri

Ggantija Temples add an ancient site to a day otherwise centered on cliffs and driving. The itinerary includes a visit to the entrance and sightseeing, but an admission duration is not specified. If entering the temple complex is important to you, confirm the exact arrangements before setting out.

At Xwejni Salt Pans, you get a very different view of Gozo. The salt pans sit by the coast and form a striking pattern against the pale rock and sea. The scheduled visit lasts about 30 minutes, enough for photographs and a look around without turning the stop into a full historical visit.

Wied Il-Għasri is another coastal highlight, with a narrow inlet cut into the rock. The tour allows around 30 minutes here. This is the kind of stop where comfortable shoes help, especially if the ground is uneven. The schedule does not promise a long walk down into the inlet, so think of it as a scenic visit rather than a hike.

Together, these three stops show why the UTV format works. You move from ancient stonework to working coastal features and then to a rugged natural inlet, all within a compact day.

Ta’ Pinu, Xlendi, and the southern cliffs

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu receives about 15 minutes of sightseeing time. The basilica is an important religious site in Gozo, and the short stop gives you a chance to appreciate its setting and exterior.

Ta’ Cenc Cliffs are also listed among the places visited, although the schedule does not assign a separate stop length. These cliffs are valued for their high views over the coast. Your time there may depend on the day’s route and seasonal adjustments.

Xlendi Bay receives a brief five-minute sightseeing stop. That is enough for a quick look and perhaps a photograph, but not enough for a meal, swim, or extended walk. This is one of the clearest signs that the tour is designed as a broad overview rather than a slow exploration of each village and bay.

If Xlendi is your top priority, you may prefer a dedicated visit. If you want to see it along with many other parts of Gozo, the quick stop is useful.

Cittadella and the northern bays

Cittadella, Gozo’s fortified hilltop center, is scheduled for about 30 minutes. You can expect a short visit focused on the old walls, elevated views, and compact historic center. The time is enough to get your bearings, but probably not enough for a detailed museum visit or a long wander through every lane.

Marsalforn Bay gets around 10 minutes. This is another quick coastal pause, giving you a sense of one of Gozo’s best-known seaside areas without building in beach time.

The tour also includes several unnamed sightseeing stops of around 15 to 30 minutes. These likely provide room for viewpoints, route changes, or local points of interest, but the supplied schedule does not identify them precisely. That means the order and exact stops can shift, especially in summer when a swim stop may replace some sightseeing.

Lunch with a Gozitan flavor

Lunch is light rather than lavish. It includes Maltese nibbles, vegetarian baked pasta, water, and a Maltese dessert. That should keep you going through an active day, but you should not book this expecting a long restaurant meal or a menu of several main courses.

The vegetarian baked pasta is useful for a mixed group, and dietary requests or food allergies can be given in advance. Tell the operator before the tour day, not when lunch is already being served.

I see the lunch as a practical part of the package. It saves you from having to find food while moving between distant stops, and it gives you a taste of local food without taking too much time from the route. If you need a large meal or have strict dietary requirements, bring a small extra snack and notify the provider early.

The return by Comino and the Blue Lagoon

The return boat is one of the strongest parts of the day. When sea and weather conditions cooperate, the boat passes Comino’s sea caves and the Blue Lagoon. The listed boat times are around 20 minutes at Comino and 20 minutes at the Blue Lagoon, so treat this as a scenic cruise rather than a guaranteed long stop ashore.

In summer, the return may include a swim stop. Bring swimwear and a towel if you want to take part. Neither is supplied, and the swim depends on the weather.

The Blue Lagoon is best understood here as part of the boat experience. The schedule does not promise time to explore the shore or settle in for a full beach afternoon. If you want to spend several hours swimming at the Blue Lagoon, book a dedicated Comino or Blue Lagoon outing instead.

If the sea is too rough, the boat plan changes to the communal Gozo Channel ferry. You still get back to Malta, but you lose the special cave and lagoon sailing. This is not a flaw in the tour. It is simply the reality of planning a sea excursion in Malta.

What the $165 price includes

At $165 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Gozo. The value comes from combining several costly or time-consuming pieces into one day: transfers, transport to Gozo, the UTV, a guide, lunch, boat crossings, and a broad island route.

You are also paying for the ability to drive. A standard bus tour may cost less, while a private vehicle and separate boat trip can cost more once fuel, parking, food, and ferry arrangements are added. The right comparison depends on what matters to you.

I think the price makes the most sense for a small group that wants an active day and does not want to organize each part separately. It is less compelling for someone who mainly wants a quiet beach day, a long visit inside museums, or extended time in one village.

Tips for the chauffeur are not included. Also remember the €450 insurance excess. That possible cost matters more than a small saving at booking, so read the driving terms carefully.

Who should book this Gozo tour

This suits you if you want to:

• Drive rather than sit on a coach all day
• See many of Gozo’s major sights in one outing
• Mix coastal scenery, historic places, and off-road tracks
• Travel with family or friends in one six-seat UTV
• Add a boat ride and possible swim to an island tour
• Avoid arranging Malta transport, Gozo transport, lunch, and ferry tickets separately

It may not suit you if you want long visits at every stop. The schedule is broad and brisk, with only five minutes at Xlendi and short visits at several other places.

It is also a poor match if you are uncomfortable driving on rough terrain or do not want to accept the insurance excess. Passengers can enjoy the scenery without driving, but the whole experience is built around the UTV format.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, with foldable wheelchairs and small lightweight pushchairs accepted when advised in advance. Child car seats are available on request. Pregnant women should note the off-road nature of the activity and check suitability before booking.

Practical advice before you go

Bring your driving licence, sunscreen, comfortable clothing, and beachwear. Add a towel if you plan to swim. Wear shoes that can handle uneven ground, although the supplied information does not require a specific type.

Give Yippee your mobile number, preferably WhatsApp, plus your accommodation details. The provider sends the exact pickup point and time after booking. Since Malta traffic can cause delays, wait at the marked pickup point five minutes early.

Keep your phone protected from dust and spray. Bring water beyond the included lunch supply if you normally drink a lot in the sun. The day combines driving, sightseeing, and boat time, so you will be more comfortable with light clothing and sun protection.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That is useful when your Malta plans are still changing, but it does not remove the need to check the final pickup message carefully.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a high-energy Gozo sampler with real driving, a long list of scenic stops, a simple local lunch, and a boat ride back toward Malta. The combination is hard to match in one organized day, and the UTV gives you a more active role than a standard sightseeing vehicle.

Skip it if your ideal Gozo day means lingering at one beach, exploring Cittadella in detail, or taking a relaxed meal with no fixed route. Also skip it if the €450 insurance excess makes you nervous.

For most families and friend groups, the best choice is to share one UTV, let one confident licensed driver take the wheel, and treat the route as an energetic overview rather than a slow cultural tour. Book with realistic expectations, pack for sun and water, and you will get the most from this unusual way to see Gozo.

FAQ

How long does the Gozo UTV tour last?

The main 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 hold a valid full driving licence. Provisional licences are not accepted.

How many people fit in one UTV?

Each fully automatic UTV seats one driver and five passengers in forward-facing seats.

Is lunch included?

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

Is the boat crossing included?

Yes. Boat transport to Gozo and back to Malta is included when weather conditions allow. If the sea is too rough, the Gozo Channel communal ferry is used and tickets are provided.

Does the tour include the Blue Lagoon?

The return boat route includes the Blue Lagoon as a scenic cruise when conditions allow. The schedule does not promise a long stop ashore.

Can I swim during the tour?

A summer swim stop is included when weather and sea conditions permit. Bring beachwear and a towel because they are not provided.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from many hotels and meeting points in Malta and Gozo. The exact location and time are sent after booking by WhatsApp or email.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If sea conditions are severe, the crossing and return use the communal Gozo Channel ferry. The itinerary can also change slightly by season and weather.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Foldable wheelchairs are accepted when advised in advance. Small lightweight pushchairs are also accepted with prior notice, and child car seats are available on request.