Malta’s Splendour Excursion – Trips in Blue Grotto & Comino

The best thing about this Malta excursion is the private boat. You are not tied to a large group or a fixed list of stops. Your skipper can spend more time at a quiet cove, take you into caves, or move on when the Blue Lagoon feels too busy. I especially like the mix of swimming in clear water and seeing the coast from the boat, plus the chance to shape the day around your group.

I also like the compact five-hour format. It covers Comino, parts of Gozo, Malta’s Blue Grotto and a short Mdina visit, which is useful if your time is tight. The main consideration is cost: the advertised $235 price is per boat for up to six people, but the skipper and fuel are listed separately at €99 each. Sea conditions can also change the route.

Key points at a glance

• A private boat for up to six people: Your group gets the boat to itself, with seating, a sun deck and a canopy for shade.
• A flexible Comino route: Ask to spend more time at the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, caves or quieter bays.
• Swimming and snorkelling built in: Masks and snorkels are supplied, and you can enter the water from the boat.
• Several skippers receive special praise: Mario, Harry and Joe are noted for friendly service, local information and flexibility.
• A wide five-hour circuit: The plan includes Comino, Gozo’s Mgarr Harbour, coastal bays, Mdina and the Blue Grotto.
• Extra costs need attention: Food, drinks, barbecue supplies, fishing gear, the skipper and fuel are not included in the base price.

Why a private boat changes the Comino experience

Comino is best seen from the water. Its coast is cut with small inlets, rock arches and caves, and a boat lets you look into places that are difficult to reach on foot. You can also see the color changes in the sea more clearly from offshore, from pale green near the rock shelves to deep blue in the channels.

A private charter matters most at the Blue Lagoon. This is one of Malta’s most famous swimming spots, so it can feel busy. With your own skipper, you can stop for a swim, move away from the main crowd, or ask for a quieter place nearby. The boat does not remove the popularity of the lagoon, but it gives you more control over how long you stay.

The route is designed for people who want more than one postcard view. You can snorkel, swim, look into caves, stop at beaches and listen to local stories as you travel. If your group includes strong swimmers, the skipper can also point out places suitable for cliff jumping, but you should follow the skipper’s safety advice and only use approved spots.

Five hours from the Blue Lagoon to the Blue Grotto

Five hours is a useful middle ground. A shorter trip could give you one main swimming stop, while a full-day charter would suit people who want a slower pace. This outing tries to fit several parts of the Maltese islands into one half-day.

The route can be adjusted, so the exact order may change. Weather, tides, shallow water and sea conditions can affect both the route and the departure or return point. Think of the stops below as the planned range rather than a guarantee that every place will receive equal time.

Comino’s caves, coves and small islands

The Comino section is the heart of the outing. You pass rocky cliffs and small bays, with stops at places such as Cominotto Island, Roofless Cave and Pigeon Rock. These names are more than a checklist. They give your skipper a chance to show you the unusual shapes along the coast and explain how the islands fit into Malta’s past.

Cominotto is a small island beside Comino, and seeing it from the boat helps you understand the narrow channels in this part of the archipelago. Roofless Cave offers the kind of coastal view that is hard to appreciate from land. Pigeon Rock adds another distinctive marker along the route.

You may spend part of this section simply looking from the deck. That is useful because not every stop needs to be an active swim. The coast is full of details, and the boat’s movement gives you changing views of rock walls, openings and sea passages.

Blue Lagoon swimming time

The Blue Lagoon is the stop most people will have in mind when booking. The water is clear, and you can swim directly from the boat or walk along the shore. Snorkelling equipment is included, so you do not need to pack your own mask and snorkel.

I would treat the lagoon as a place for a refreshing swim rather than expect a private beach experience. Its fame means it may be the busiest part of the route. The advantage of the charter is that you can discuss the timing with the skipper and ask to balance the lagoon with less crowded places.

Bring a towel, swimwear, sunscreen and sunglasses. A cash supply is also advised. The boat includes an ice cooler, but food and drinks are not included, so plan your supplies before departure.

Crystal Lagoon and the quieter water stops

Crystal Lagoon is another major swimming point. The name reflects the clear water, but the appeal is also the setting, with rock around the sheltered area and a close view of Comino’s coast.

This is where the private format can feel particularly worthwhile. You can ask for time to swim and snorkel instead of rushing through a series of photo stops. If someone in your group prefers to stay dry, the boat provides seating, a sun deck and a canopy for shade.

The route may also include smaller coves and beaches. These are useful alternatives when the main lagoon is crowded or when your group wants a slower stop. Harry, one of the skippers praised for this trip, is specifically noted for helping a group find more private bays. That is exactly the kind of request worth making before you leave the harbour.

Crossing to Gozo through Mgarr Harbour

The trip crosses toward Gozo, Malta’s northern island, and passes through the channel to Mgarr Harbour. The harbour gives you a different view of the islands, with boats, coastal buildings and the entrance to one of Gozo’s main arrival points.

The Gozo portion also includes Hondoq Bay, Crow Rock and Tal-Halfa Beaches. Each stop may be brief, especially if you spend a long time swimming at Comino, but they widen the picture beyond the Blue Lagoon.

Hondoq Bay is a good example of why a boat route can be more useful than a single-destination cruise. You see another part of the coast without needing to arrange separate transport. The same is true of Crow Rock and Tal-Halfa Beaches, which help fill out the day with different coastal views.

You should ask the skipper at the start how much time is realistic for Gozo. A flexible itinerary is valuable, but five hours is still a fixed window. If your priority is swimming, the route may need to give up some sightseeing time. If you want to see as many places as possible, individual stops will be shorter.

The Mdina stop needs a little planning

The advertised plan includes roughly 30 minutes in Mdina, Malta’s old capital. This is a striking change from the open water. Mdina is known for its old streets, tall bastions, legends and horse-drawn carriages.

Thirty minutes is enough to get a quick look, enjoy the atmosphere and take in the views from the fortifications. It is not enough for a full visit. You will not have time to explore every lane, spend long inside buildings or take an unhurried meal.

Because Mdina is inland, ask the operator how this part connects with the boat charter and where the transfer occurs. The supplied meeting points are at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo and Cirkewwa in Malta, while the boat portion runs from the coast. The itinerary includes Mdina, but the exact transfer arrangement is worth confirming before you pay.

If you care most about the sea, you may prefer to keep this stop short. If this is your only chance to see Mdina, the brief visit gives you a useful first taste of the old city.

Finishing at Malta’s Blue Grotto

The final coastal highlight is the Blue Grotto on Malta’s southern side. The site is made up of six caves, natural arches and very clear water. From the boat, you can see the openings and the way light changes inside and around the rock.

The Blue Grotto is a scenic finish because it feels different from Comino. Comino is mainly about swimming, small bays and island channels. The Blue Grotto is more about large rock formations, open views and the contrast between shadowed caves and bright sea.

Do not assume the Blue Grotto portion means a long cave visit on foot. The supplied plan describes seeing the caves and arches from the boat. Ask the skipper what sea conditions allow on the day, since the route can change with wind, waves and tides.

The skippers make the biggest difference

A private boat is only as good as the person handling it. The strongest part of this experience is the skipper’s role in shaping the day and making the route feel personal.

Mario is praised for being considerate, accommodating and well informed about the area. He also helped point out places to find food and drinks. If you want local context rather than a silent transfer between stops, ask questions as you go.

Harry receives similar praise for humor, local information and flexibility. One group wanted quieter bays, and he adjusted the outing to suit that preference. Another group described him as funny and informative, which matters on a five-hour boat ride because a good mood can shape the whole day.

Joe is noted for attentive service and a strong focus on safety. He also took photographs for a group and helped keep people comfortable during wet weather. These details suggest that the service can be warm and hands-on, not just a basic boat ride.

The skipper has final authority over safety decisions. That includes cancelling, postponing or changing the charter, altering the route, and changing departure or landing points. This is normal for a sea excursion, but it is important to understand before you build a tight schedule around the trip.

What is included, and what you still need to pay for

The boat comes with comfortable seating, a sun deck, a shaded canopy, safety equipment, an ice cooler, Bluetooth speaker and WiFi. Port and marina fees, taxes and lagoon permits are included. Masks and snorkels are also supplied.

The base price is $235 per group of up to six, not $235 per person. That can be good value for a family or group of friends. Split between six people, the boat portion is about $39 per person before the extra charges.

The skipper is listed at €99 and fuel at €99, both outside the base price. Since the price is shown in dollars while these fees are shown in euros, confirm the final total and currency when booking. A full group of six will get the best per-person value. For two people, the same fixed costs make the charter much more expensive.

You must provide your own food and drinks. Party food, party beverages, barbecue supplies and the barbecue itself are not included. Fishing equipment and a fishing cooler are also excluded, so this is primarily a sightseeing, swimming and snorkelling trip.

Timing, meeting points and sea conditions

The Malta meeting point is near Cirkewwa Kiosk at the Gozo Channel Terminal. The Gozo meeting point is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mgarr Harbour Terminal. Pickup is included from the designated meeting points, but arrive 30 minutes early to allow for traffic or delays.

The charter lasts five hours, and lateness does not extend the trip. That matters if you are travelling to Cirkewwa or Mgarr from another part of Malta. Build in extra time rather than trying to arrive just before departure.

Starting times depend on availability. A later departure can offer different light, and one October outing returned with a memorable sunset. Still, do not book a late start only for sunset unless the operator confirms the timing for your date.

Sea sickness is another real consideration. One person specifically advised against the trip for anyone sensitive to motion. If you know you get seasick, ask about conditions and choose your seat carefully. The skipper can make the final call on safety, but no boat can remove all movement on the water.

Who will enjoy this private charter most?

This trip suits a group that wants to swim, snorkel and see several islands without sharing a large boat. Families, couples travelling with friends and small groups of up to six will get the clearest value from the private format.

It is also a good choice if your group has different interests. One person can swim while another stays on deck under the canopy. You can ask for more quiet coves, more cave viewing or more time at a lagoon.

It is less suitable if you want a slow, detailed visit to every stop. The five-hour window covers a lot of ground, and the 30-minute Mdina visit is only an introduction. It is also not the best fit if you dislike boat movement, need a fully fixed route or want all food and drinks included.

Should you book Malta’s Splendour Excursion?

I would book this if your priority is a small-group day on the water with room to change the pace. The private boat, flexible stops and combination of Comino, Gozo and the Blue Grotto give you more variety than a simple Blue Lagoon transfer.

Before booking, calculate the complete price with the €99 skipper fee and €99 fuel charge. Then ask how the Mdina stop is handled, what route is likely for your date and how much time you can reasonably spend swimming.

For six people who love being on the water, the cost can make sense. For two people, compare carefully with shared cruises. If you are comfortable with sea conditions and bring your own food, towel and sun protection, this is a practical way to fit Malta’s best-known coastal sights into half a day.

FAQ

How long does the private boat charter last?

The charter lasts five hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price applies to one private boat for up to six people.

What locations are included in the planned route?

The route includes Comino, the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto Island, Roofless Cave, Pigeon Rock, parts of Gozo, Mgarr Harbour, Hondoq Bay, Crow Rock, Tal-Halfa Beaches, Mdina and the Blue Grotto.

Is snorkelling equipment included?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included.

Can I swim from the boat?

Yes. The itinerary allows you to swim directly from the boat at the Blue Lagoon and other suitable locations.

Is the skipper included in the advertised price?

No. The professional skipper is listed separately at €99.

Is fuel included?

No. Fuel consumption is listed separately at €99.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food, drinks, party supplies and barbecue supplies are not included.

Where are the meeting points?

The Malta meeting point is near Cirkewwa Kiosk at the Gozo Channel Terminal. The Gozo meeting point is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mgarr Harbour Terminal.

Can the route change?

Yes. The skipper can change the route, stops, departure point or return point because of weather, tides, shallow water or other valid safety reasons.